Is Your 1st Expectation God?

What is your 1st expectation? Your life style is your answer! If you have a headache do you call out to God first or do you run to the medicine cabinet? If you lack do you call family member or friend, or do you go to God in prayer? So many in this society run to the government to cure the woes; however God has told us to call out to Him and He will deliver us!

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Is Your 1^st Expectation God?

Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

This is a favorite passage of many saints of God, I am not the exception. Down through the years the church has sung “They That Wait Upon the Lord”. However lets back up a few verses from the song and listen to the questions of God.

Have you not Known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. Oh saint of God, God is provoking us into remembering who He is! Meditate on His greatness and remember He gives power the weak and strength to those without might. In consideration of His greatness now sing the song! “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like a eagle. They shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint. Teach me Lord to Wait.”

This waiting on the Lord is not an inactive twiddle your thumbs until He comes. It more like a waiter or waitress serving. In that very serving walking running you will find extraordinary strength. Remember the greatness of God, He does not grow weary of faint, so put your expectation in Him.

Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other;

God will gird you to show others His greatness. I find it so interesting He keeps reminding His people of His greatness. He longs for us to exclusively trust in Him because He is God.

Ephesians 3:10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

The manifold wisdom of God has made a way for us. We have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Christ. The door has been opened wide for our expectation to be God 1^st.

Isaiah 45:22 "Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 23 I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.

How shall we respond to God calling out to us? “Look to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth. God keeps reminding His people “I am God”. Why would God need to keep provoking us to remember He is God and there is not another. Us men are fast to look away finding another answer, when all the while Jesus is the only answer. What is it we look to 1^st in our adversity? Those who will call out to God have a promise of salvation and the sureness of His Word which can not return it must be fulfilled. Is it any wonder Jesus declare men shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Isaiah 43:10 "You are My witnesses," says the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD, And besides Me there is no savior. 12 I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses," Says the LORD, "that I am God. 13 Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?"

God has a strong desire that you would know and believe in Him! He is the only true God and there is no other. What do we look to for saving. Only God can save and there is no other. When God works there is no reversing it. He spoke the world into existence; He can speak life into circumstance no matter how bleak it looks to you! So often we are calling our mom or dad, brother, sister, and friend. God wants you to call to Him first and He will save you! When we look to other people or perhaps even the government to save us out of our trouble, how is it we are surprised? Would a mother and father wonder why their child is calling out to a stranger for help? Yet where is our first call?

Jeremiah 33:2 "Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name): 3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

God has invited you and is looking for you to call on Him. When we do call to Him are we asking for His help or are we asking Him to have this or that one to bless you? Where are your expectations?

Luke 12:22 Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 "Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 "And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 "If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 "If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? 29 "And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 "For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 "But seek the kingdom of God , and all these things shall be added to you. 32 "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

You have much more value than the birds and God takes care of them; will He not also take care of you? His care for you is not based upon how much you have sown so that you may reap! Jesus said it “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn”; God will take care of you! The victory is in what you are seeking. If you are seeking the stuff there is no victory. However, if you are seeking the Father, His kingdom, and righteousness all the things you need will be added unto you.

Where is your seeking? Another way to put it is where is the object of your faith? If God is your God and the object of your faith is Jesus Christ you will win! Keep seeking the kingdom and God will take care of the stuff. “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”! What is your 1^st expectation? Turn your eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face…

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

Seeking the Father 1^st is a trusting issue. Will you keep your mind on your problems and fears or will you turn your eyes upon the One who can deliver and save. You can walk in perfect peace if you will but set your mind upon Him. Trusting in the greatness of God will change your expectation? Trust God 1^st!

Psalm 91:14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation."

Where are your affection set? If you will set your love upon God there are some strong and mighty promises. If your love is upon Him you can call and He will answer. He will be with you in trouble; can you receive it? God Himself has promised “I will deliver him and honor him.

Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

What is the object of your love and desire? If your 1^st expectation is God you will know the fullness of the abundant life Jesus promised. Many believers are not interested in having their life hidden in Christ. They want their life and God to bless; this is not the kingdom of God way. If any man comes to God he must deny himself and pick up his cross and follow Jesus diligently.

Psalm 62:1 Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. 3 How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, Like a leaning wall and a tottering fence. 4 They only consult to cast him down from his high position; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, But they curse inwardly. Selah 5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. 7 In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

This passage is one of my favorites! My expectation is from God. I will not put my confidence in man! God only is my rock, my defense and I shall not be moved! God is the only safe refuge; God is the only true hiding place! Men will fail you; Jesus never fails! Where is your expectation? So many times we have trouble in our relationships because of misplaced expectations. Well she did not do this or he did not do that… Husband put your expectation in God; wife put your expectation in God. Our 1^stexpectation should always and ever be in our faithful God!

Isaiah 25:9 And it will be said in that day: "Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."

It will be said in THAT DAY: has that day arrived? Is it time to come to that day? Behold this is our God; we have waited for Him! We have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation. Is this your day to make God your 1^st expectation?

1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

May our expectation ever be in Jesus the precious Son of God; my redeemer lives!

(I might get back to edit this... might not) :-)

Taking the Limits Off God

Revive your people oh God is our cry; and it is rightfully so. However, before God can revive we must have hearts that will take the limits off God!

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“Taking the Limits Off God”

Psalm 78:41 Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel . 42 They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy,

God’s children time and again have put the limits on God; however, God is calling for us to take the limits off Him. We as God’s children can limit, slow down, and or stop up the Spirit of God from freely working in our lives. Like one of those kiddy cars with a governor on it, we can put the pedal to the metal we don’t go no faster; it is being restricted because of the limits placed on it.

It is my prayer that God will expose our mindsets that limit His power working in us. That His people will have the courage to exalt His truth above our thoughts and imaginations that hinder His truth.

Song 2:15 Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes.

We cry out revive us oh Lord and we forget little foxes can spoil the vine. Those small foxes are not purposefully ruining the vineyard they just want some of those grapes. In so doing they bite the vine and damage it. The vine can no longer be supported by the roots because the fox bit the vine and damaged, slowed down, or completely stopped the flow.

Numbers 12:1 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 So they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?" And the LORD heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.) 4 Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, "Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!" So the three came out.

Here in Numbers God rebuked Miriam and Aaron for speaking against Moses His servant. In the end Aaron and Miriam repented. However, what is it we can learn from them? Is one of the foxes spoiling the vine our lips that speak against the leaders God has ordained for us? To murmured and complain against God’s man is a great way to limit what God is doing. Aaron and Miriam complaint stopped the children of Israel from moving forward for a season.

If the enemy can get us to speak against God’s man he has effectively brought in the small fox to spoil the vine. Can we cry out for revival in one breathe and find fault and complaint against God, His leaders, and His church in the next. The Apostle Paul himself was quick to repent for speaking against God’s ordained leadership; in Paul ’s case the leadership was in the wrong.

Acts 23:5 Then Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Complaining and murmuring is poison to the work of God in our life. It is indeed a small fox spoiling the vines. Where there is envy and strife there is every evil works. The spirit of strife begins with a spirit of murmuring and complaining.

“I did not get picked” or “they did not invite me” or “they have their own click”. These are all lines that are the bait of satan to bring disunity, bringing in the fox to spoil the vine. Let us be wise of satan’s devises that limit the power of God. If we will walk with a spirit of unity, encouragement, and praise the governor will be broken and the anointing will be allowed to move freely.

We can not hold to the spirit of complaint and disputing while at the same time holding fast the word of life. We either hold lazily to the spirit of complaint and disputing or purposefully hold to the word of life. Complaint easily flows while the spirit of encouragement and blessing are learned through exercise.

1 Timothy 4:7 But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

Oh that mindsets would be broken that enables us to limit the power of God in our lives!

James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

An old wives’ fable when you are sick call the doctor. God’s Word declares if you are sick call for the elders of the church. No I am not preaching against doctors! However I am preaching against the mindset that has never called for the elders of the church! We have how many prescriptions and have not yet submitted ourselves to God’ word commanding us to call for the elders. Much of the mindset of the church, if you are sick stay home from church; call the doctor early Monday. When our traditions have taken the place of being obedient to God words we have restricted God. We have placed the governor on Him limiting His power in our life. If doctor Jesus is our doctor let God be our first priority.

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Worry itself is one of those foxes that spoil the vine. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. Where ever you treasure is there will our heart be also. God has commanded us to seek His face; is it His face we seek? Is it the kingdom of God that has our first priority or is it the next football game? You can tell what a man treasures by what he pursues. 3 hours of television and 5 minutes of prayer show our pursuit. A morning of golfing with 15 minutes of devotion time show what we pursue. 3 hours reading a novel and 10 minutes in the Word show what we treasure and pursue. We cry out God send revival we spend an hour or so in the church service and 3 hours at the movie theater. Am I preaching against doing things of pleasure? Let me answer this way. Jesus had times of getting away; however His pursuit in life was doing the will of the Father.

Matthew 12:50 "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Have we have limited the power of God by not pursuing the will of the Father? Is the fox that spoils the vine our own selfish pursuit? Have we given the enemy a foothold in our lives that limits what God can do for us?

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews chapter 11 is said to be the hall of fame of faith. God will reward those who diligently seek Him. It is God’s desire that we join those in this great hall of fame!

Psalm 27:8 When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." 9 Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me.

I was in a prayer meeting. While praying the word came to me “I am your reward”. I was anticipating God to use me in prophesying in that morning service and I thought that was the first words I would begin to speak. Many times that is how God does it. When I got home I asked God about it. Lord there was no appropriate time to share this word you put in my heart, how come? God spoke to my heart immediately “the word was for you Bruce”. I begin to weep. God is my reward! What else could one need than for God to be the cherished reward?

Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."

God Himself is our shield and our exceedingly great reward. Seeking His face has great dividend. We can take the limits off God. No governor on our car’s throttle! We can keep the fox out of our vineyard!

Matthew 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Holdfast the word of life. The word that God speaks is to be treasured beyond life itself. Consider God’s will and word precious like the pearl with great price. Don’t miss the point of the individual who had holy truth and was willing to take what was precious and throw it out like scraps from the table. Slopping the pigs and feeding the dogs with what is holy was the shame.

Psalm 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

Israel limited God because they would not remember all that God had already done!

Ephesians 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

The Word is filled with ways to take the limits off God and allow Him to work freely. What we speak is so important. Godly fellowship with godly encouragement opens our hearts to His power working in us. Remembering what God has done with a thankful heart brings glory to the Father!

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to rejoice, pray, give thanks, quench not the spirit, hold precious prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. These are great keys to taking the limits off God.

(I might get back to edit this... might not) :-)

“Children of God Behold the Kind of Love”

The love of God is so great! We all can use a greater revelation of His great love. Behold the manner of love.

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“Children of God Behold the Kind of Love”

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1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

What kind of love is it that we are called the children of God? Consider the manner of love that God bestowed up on us; a love so great it makes sinners separate from their sin and righteously can be called the children of God. What kind of power of transformation that makes the unholy holy?

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

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The greatest demonstration of love is that Jesus died for the sins of the world; however we are speaking of the love of God toward the children of God. I love Romans 5, it is the much more chapter in scriptures. If the demonstration of love is Christ dying for us while we are sinners is great, the Word declares there is a much more to this demonstration. Behold the much more love of God! The wrath of God is for the unbeliever the children of God are saved from the wrath based upon the great sacrifice of Jesus. God has no intention of pouring out His wrath on His children. It is the manner of love the Father bestowed on the children! If the Father’s love is demonstrated to the sinners by the sacrifice of Jesus there is a much more to that truth of love. If reconciled by the blood of Jesus we shall be saved much more by Jesus life! Behold the manner of love.

The children of God have the power of the endless life ministering to and for them! Let me say it again the death of Jesus was for the transformation from sinner to children. The life of Jesus is for the children to live in fullness and abundant life!

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Hebrews 7:16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Remember we are considering the love of the Father toward the children! The demonstration of the love of the Father is much more for the children.

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Romans 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

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The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

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The Father’s love is so great the word asks “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?” It is based on the love that the Father has for His children. We are made more than conquerors “through Him who loved us”.

Jesus death paid the sin penalty; His resurrection brings us abundant life. Behold the love of the Father. It is His desire to freely give us all things!

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Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross,thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

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Through Jesus Christ we have had the enmity between the Father and us put to death. There is no wrath to face because the wrath of God was poured out upon Jesus at the cross. He who knew no sin became sin that we might become the righteousness of God. Those who have come into the covenant have no need of fear. Perfect love cast out all fear. Not your perfect love toward God but the revelation of the great love of God toward those who believe. If while you were a sinner how much the more…

John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

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While the wrath of God remains for those who will not believe, the correction of God is for all legitimate sons. One of the greatest signs of the love of God is He corrects His children. His love brings words of life to set you free.

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Hebrews 12:6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, 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?

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Human fathers may correct their children out of wrath; however our heavenly Father corrects us out of His love. God deals with you as with sons! What a promise for those who belong to God. Let me say this strong uncommon word to you. If you are living in a life style of sin and can go on sinning without correction it is because you are not a child of God and you do not abide in His love. It is the children of God whom God corrects. The Lord chastens and scourges every son whom He receives. If you have not had the experience of God correcting you, examine yourself and see if you are in the faith. The much more love of God brings correction to every son whom He receives. If you are without correction then you are illegitimate and not sons. In fact the KJV says you are bastards. Bastards would be those without a legitimate father.

Some may say this is too strong of a word to bring! However they are far too many false conversion into the kingdom of God . All who say Lord, Lord are not necessarily children of the Father. One strong sign is, true children face the correction of a loving Father who calls them and draws them away from ungodly living.

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Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

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The grace (divine influence upon our heart) of God that brings salvation has appeared! Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust. Grace also teaches us what to pursue; our pursuit should be soberly and righteously ever be looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Yes the strong love of God we need to consider is not a love that leaves us to our own ways and devises; the strong love of God leaves us in pursuit of Him. What are you chasing? Wherever your treasure is there will your heart be also. Submission to the correction of the Father will yield a wonderful harvest of abundant life.

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2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

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Those who have truly been touched by the Love of God are compelled and constrained by it. Consider the love of God is so great the it compels me in the right direction. The importance of the constraining factor, is not so much it is keeping us from doing evil, but instead it is compressing us to live for Christ! Consider like a tube of toothpaste if you will. When you apply pressure to the tube the paste comes out at the end. The paste is being compressed into coming out. The love of God is much like that. Once one has truly experience that love they no longer desire to live for themselves but are compelled to live for the one who died and rose again for them. The love of God is so great it brings transformation! Child of God consider the great love of God!

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“May I Please Have Your Ear?”

God wants our ear, living by the word that proceeds from the mouth of God brings sweet glorious victory. Jesus has provided eternal life.

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“May I Please Have Your Ear?”

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Jesus said it, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” This word has been in my spirit for months. It seems the Holy Spirit keeps drawing me back to this precious truth.

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Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"

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When Jesus spoke words they were always from the heart of God. One awesome passage that brings out this truth is John 1:18

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John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

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When Jesus was declaring about the Father it was not some off handed second hand, he said that she said that he said. Jesus declared the truth from the bosom of the Father. It was not, "How are you today?" " Fine, and how are you?" Have you ever had someone ask you how you are and before you could get out a heart felt answer they had moved on to speak to another? God’s word is not so surface! God’s word is sharp and powerful, God’s word is intimate and speaks life to heart.

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Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

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God’s words are so powerful they get past the words of an acquaintance. His words are so powerful they move past the words of a friend! His words are words that divide between your spirit, soul and body. His word moves directly to the thoughts and intents of the heart. When you are wounded you don’t need the niceties of an acquaintance; a word from a friend may be of some help but often still falls short of dealing with the issue behind the issue, the issue of the heart! God’s words are words that affect and effect the heart.

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Luke 8:15 "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

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God’s word does not affect everyone the same; it is only those who give ear to His word with a noble and good heart that bring the godly and desired results. How many times does the Word of God speak to him who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit speaks? Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God! May I please have your ear? God is not asking much. He just wants an ear that will hear with a noble and good heart. At the risk of repeating myself several times, God wants your ear to hear His Word so that you may live there-by!

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Matthew 3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

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Before Jesus began His earthly ministry the Father spoke at His baptism. The Father has spoken that Jesus has His seal of approval! What a way to get started, the Father speaking from heaven. "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!" What words of affirmation!

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John 12:44 Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 "And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47 "And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 "And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak."

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Words to live by from the Father is the command of everlasting life!

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Hebrews 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

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The Father speaks to us by His Son Jesus Christ! Jesus speaks of the purging of our sin; Jesus speaks of everlasting life!

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Hebrews 1:8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions."

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The Father has spoken directly to the Son, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.” If you want to live by the words that proceed from the mouth of God you must believe that Jesus is God. The Father calls Jesus God; The Father has reaffirmed the anointing Jesus has and had came from the Father Himself!

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John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." 41 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." 42 And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, 'I have come down from heaven'?" 43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 "Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

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Jesus has declared the Father to us and has exposed us to the will of the Father. Shall we hear His Word and live? The Father has clearly pointed that the object of your faith must be in Jesus the one who has taken away the sin of the world this is the Word of life to live by.

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Everyone who has heard and learned from God the Father comes to Jesus. If one does not come to Jesus be assured they have not heard from or have been taught by God. He who believes in Jesus has everlasting life. It not just the start of your faith journey; it is the journey the just shall live by faith. What is the object of faith; always and forever Jesus Christ and Him crucified and resurrected! Nothing else can bring eternal life!

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Matthew 17:1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"

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So many are not living by the words that proceeded out of the mouth of God; yet here on the Mount of transfiguration the message is clear from the Father. While Peter was suggesting a tabernacle for Moses and Elijah and Jesus the Father spoke this is my beloved Son hear Him!

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So many are still busy trying to build a tabernacle for Moses and Elijah. Moses pointed to the coming Messiah and said hear Him Elijah taught us by life experience to hear the still small voice of God! It is all about Jesus and hearing His voice. He spoke, "My sheep know my voice and another they will not follow." Those who are living by the words that have proceeded out of the mouth of God are tuned to the voice of Jesus. His voice is still speaking today; His blood is still speaking today. Indeed His voice will speak yet once again and all that can be shaken will be shaken. All that is in the grace and divine influence found in Jesus Christ alone will remain and walk in victory. Can God have your ear?

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