1 john 4.4

^4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
^5
They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
^6We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

 

I just came to me the power of memorizing scripture (which is something I know already) I felt this morning that I need to send out a text to the men's group about what part of the sword (scripture) are you memorizing today. Then I thought, Lord what do I need to meditate on? Then I hear "He who is greater in me is greater than he who is in the world" I think sometimes we don't want to believe that.

 

Scripture says that He dwells in our hearts through faith. Scripture says if you are rooted and grounded in LOVE then. I believe only then will you be able to understand the depth, width, height and the length that the LOVE of Christ which passes knowledge. That you will be filled with the fullness of GOD!

 

How much planner does it have to get?

Ephesians 5

Yesterday while watching Robert Morris on the computer I became much convicted. He was talking about Ephesians 5 we all know that one.

²² Wives, submit to your husband's as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

 

It stirred something in me. Robert asked "what is Holy Spirit saying to you right now?" H. S. said that I am still walking in rebellion. He who knows what to do and does not do it that is sin to him.

So what do we have here really?

Rebellion, jealousy, pride not praying with my wife like I should

Here is the bottom line, Holy Spirit says when you draw near to me I will draw near to you.
What kind of relationship do you expect to have when you are separated from the Lord? You have to stay intimate. How do you expect to be intimate with your wife if are not intimate with the Lord?

At War with God

War with God,                                 

This really spoke to me and I just wanted to share it with you because it is powerful. The first sentence of this article just nailed me. It is sad when you know the right thing to do and don't do it. I believe that is called sin! Take it a step further, Rebellion.

Lord I come to you right now and confess rebellion, I confess jealousy and Lord I ask that you take these from me or show me where they come from. I am ready for these things to be gone in my life. I am ready for your correction.

Amen

If the Lord puts me on your heart would you call and pray over me.

Thanks Kevin

I know the article below is long so if you want me to email you the document just let me know.

At War with God (James 4:4–10)

The root cause of every war, internal and external, is rebellion against God. At the beginning of Creation, you behold perfect harmony; but sin came into the world, and this led to conflict. Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4), and lawlessness is rebellion against God.

How does a believer declare war against God? By being friendly with God's enemies. James names three enemies that we must not fraternize with if we want to be at peace with God.

The world (v. 4). By the "world," James means, of course, human society apart from God. The whole system of things in this society of ours is anti-Christ and anti-God. Abraham was the friend of God (James 2:23); Lot was the friend of the world. Lot ended up in a war, and Abraham had to rescue him (Gen. 14).

A Christian gets involved with the world gradually, as I pointed out in chapter 4 of this study. First, there is "the friendship of the world" (James 4:4). This results in being "spotted" by the world (James 1:27) so that areas of our lives meet with the approval of the world. Friendship leads to loving the world (1 John 2:15–17), and this makes it easy to conform to the world (Rom. 12:2). The sad result is being condemned with the world (1 Cor. 11:32), our souls saved "yet as by fire" (1 Cor. 3:11–15).

Friendship with the world is compared to adultery. The believer is "married to Christ" (Rom. 7:4) and ought to be faithful to Him. The Jewish Christians who read this letter would understand this picture of "spiritual adultery" because the Prophets Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Hosea used it when rebuking Judah for her sins (see Jer. 3:1–5; Ezek. 23; Hosea 1–2). By adopting the sinful ways of the other nations, and by worshiping their gods, the nation of Judah committed adultery against her God.

The world is the enemy of God, and whoever wills to be a friend of the world cannot be the friend of God. Neither can he be if he lives for the flesh, for this is the second enemy James named.

The flesh (vv. 1, 5). By "the flesh" is meant the old nature that we inherited from Adam, that is prone to sin. The flesh is not the body. The body is not sinful; the body is neutral. The Spirit may use the body to glorify God, or the flesh may use the body to serve sin. When a sinner yields to Christ, he receives a new nature within, but the old nature is neither removed nor reformed. For this reason, there is a battle within: "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other so that you do not do what you want" (Gal. 5:17, niv). This is what James terms "your lusts that are in your members" (James 4:1).

Living for the flesh means grieving the Holy Spirit of God who lives in us. "Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to live in us longs jealously?" (James 4:5, niv, margin) Just as the world is the enemy of God the Father, so the flesh is the enemy of God the Holy Spirit. There is a holy, loving jealousy that a husband and wife have over each other, and rightly so. The Spirit within jealously guards our relationship to God, and the Spirit is grieved when we sin against God's love.

Living to please the old nature means to declare war against God. "The carnal mind is enmity against God" (Rom. 8:7). To allow the flesh to control the mind is to lose the blessing of fellowship with God. Abraham had a spiritual mind; he walked with God and enjoyed peace. Lot had a carnal mind; he disobeyed God and experienced war. "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom. 8:6).

The devil (vv. 6–7). The world is in conflict with the Father; the flesh fights against the Holy Spirit; and the devil opposes the Son of God. Pride is Satan's great sin, and it is one of his chief weapons in his warfare against the saint and the Saviour. God wants us to be humble; Satan wants us to be proud. "Ye shall be as God," Satan promised Eve, and she believed him. A new Christian must not be put into places of spiritual leadership "lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil" (1 Tim. 3:6).

God wants us to depend on His grace ("But He giveth more grace"), while the devil wants us to depend on ourselves. Satan is the author of all "do-it-yourself" spiritual enterprises. He enjoys inflating the ego and encouraging the believer to do it his own way. In spite of Jesus' warnings about Satan's plans, Peter fell into the snare, pulled out his sword, and tried to accomplish God's will in his own way. What a mess he made of things!

One of the problems in our churches today is that we have too many celebrities and not enough servants. Christian workers are promoted so much that there is very little place left for God's glory. Man has nothing to be proud of in himself. There dwells no good thing in us (Rom. 7:18); but when we trust Christ, He puts that "good thing" in us that makes us His children (2 Tim. 1:6, 14).

Here, then, are three enemies that want to turn us away from God: the world, the flesh, and the devil. These enemies are left over from our old life of sin (Eph. 2:1–3). Christ has delivered us from them, but they still attack us. How can we overcome them? How can we be the friends of God and the enemies of the world, the flesh, and the devil? James gives us three instructions to follow if we would enjoy peace instead of war.

Submit to God (v. 7). This word is a military term that means "get into your proper rank." When a buck private acts like the general, there is going to be trouble! Unconditional surrender is the only way to complete victory. If there is any area of the life kept back from God, there will always be battles. This explains why uncommitted Christians cannot live with themselves or with other people.

"Neither give place to the devil," cautions Paul in Ephesians 4:27. Satan needs a foothold in our lives if he is going to fight against God; and we give him that foothold. The way to resist the devil is to submit to God.

After King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, and killed her husband, he hid his sins for almost a year. There was war between him and God, and David had declared it. Read Psalms 32 and 51 to discover the high price David paid to be at war with God. When he finally submitted to God, David experienced peace and joy. This too he recorded in Psalms 32 and 51. Submission is an act of the will; it is saying, "Not my will but Thine be done."

Draw near to God (v. 8). How do we do this? By confessing our sins and asking for His cleansing. "Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded." The Greek word translated purify means "make chaste." This parallels the idea of "spiritual adultery" in James 4:4.

Dr. A.W. Tozer has a profound essay in one of his books, entitled, "Nearness Is Likeness." The more we are like God, the nearer we are to God. I may be sitting in my living room with my Siamese cat on my lap, and my wife may be twenty feet away in the kitchen; yet I am nearer to my wife than to the cat because the cat is unlike me. We have very little in common.

God graciously draws near to us when we deal with the sin in our lives that keeps Him at a distance. He will not share us with anyone else; He must have complete control. The double-minded Christian can never be close to God. Again, Abraham and Lot come to mind. Abraham "drew near" and talked to God about Sodom (Gen. 18:23ff), while Lot moved into Sodom and lost the blessing of God.

Humble yourselves before God (vv. 9–10). It is possible to submit outwardly and yet not be humbled inwardly. God hates the sin of pride (Prov. 6:16–17), and He will chasten the proud believer until he is humbled. We have a tendency to treat sin too lightly, even to laugh about it ("let your laughter be turned into mourning"). But sin is serious, and one mark of true humility is facing the seriousness of sin and dealing with our disobedience. "A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise" (Ps. 51:17).

Sometimes we hear a believer pray, "O Lord, humble me!" That is a dangerous thing to pray. Far better that we humble ourselves before God, confess our sins, weep over them, and turn from them. "To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word" (Isa. 66:2). "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit" (Ps. 34:18).

If we obey these three instructions, then God will draw near, cleanse us, and forgive us; and the wars will cease! We will not be at war with God, so we will not be at war with ourselves. This means we will not be at war with others. "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever" (Isa. 32:17).

Put the government of your life on His shoulders, and let Him become the Prince of Peace in your life (Isa. 9:6).

 

1 Peter 2.9

When I woke this morning the first thing I heard was draw near to me and I will draw near to you. So, why do I fight it? I have no idea and it is very frustrating. So why not be joyful that I heard the Lord this morning? What do you think that is? I know this, that whatever is going on in me right now I don't like it. I feel like I am on the hot seat, but I don't know what that hot seat is. ……………… Now that I pondered that question a moment it is jealousy. I am getting worn out. There is something every day that gets touched. Just yesterday I noticed it trying to raise its ugly head again with Kelly and Rachel. She asked me if I minded them going shopping, which I said "go ahead". What I noticed was the whole time she was gone I wanted to look at porn because I was annoyed and it should not be that way. Lord help me in this area because I do not know what to do and it saddens me even right now and it brings me to tears.

I sit here thinking back to a time where I was once where I had to say the scripture below

1 Peter 2:9 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the manliness of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

This is what Jesus did. He called you and me out of the darkness and into his light where there is no sin and we have to choose to stay in that light. In the light there is only one kind of Jealousy and that is righteous jealousy. God is jealous for me and He wants all of me.

I have something else but I will put that in a separate post, it really spoke to me.

Be Blessed today and walk it out

Kevin

 

James 3:16

(NLT)
16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

I would like to say that I enjoy going through the rough patches in my life, but I don't. I have been sifted and it has not been fun. There is however glory to be had and I received it. There is a good possibility that the root to my porn issue (which is the symptom) is close. Ten days ago when I went to see Marylin (marriage counselor) in her office the Lord showed me that I had jealousy in my marriage. He showed me that I was jealous of Kelly's kids. At the time I did not know exactly what that looked like, now I do. There were events that transpired over the weekend in my home. These events included Jacob, Rachel and Rebekah in no certain order. Monday I typed up an email to send to my wife. When I read it I decided that I would not email it to her. After I wrote it I received an email inviting me to lunch Monday. So what I did was email it to this person that I was going to have lunch with. I knew we would talk about it at lunch. While we were talking the Lord gave him the scripture in James and I was just taking back. That is exactly what has been going on with me. We can talk about pride but it is the jealousy and the pride that brought satan to where he is today. I don't want to be compared to him.

The truth of the matter is this. I have not just been jealous in my marriage of Kelly's kids, but of my parents as well and as I look back it is in a lot of areas in my life. I can tell you this …. Flesh and blood did not reveal this to me. So what do I do with this new revelation? I am still chewing on it.

There is more to come on this matter, because the verses before and after have really spoken to me as well. This I know …. Right now I am not content in many areas of my life like I thought I was………….. That is okay, one step at a time.

Kevin

Another thought ……. So if you are jealous and selfish you will have disorder and evil of every kind in your life. That just does not sit well with me. But it is true.

When I am jealous (now that I know what it looks like) it is not even controlled chaos, it is total and complete disorder, I am mad, angry, passive aggressive, dishonest. Can we just say it … I am asshole and a good one at that. That evil … that's the porn. My Achilles heal

2 Peter 1

This whole devotion spoke to me this morning, especially the middle part. I know for myself that there are times when I am excited about the morning time with the Lord and sometimes it seems like it is just a habit. I don't want that in my life. That is where the last sentence comes in. I want my life to be simple … like a child

Kevin

 

May 12th

Make a habit of having no habits

For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful. 2 Peter 1:8 (R.V.).

When we begin to form a habit we are conscious of it. There are times when we are conscious of becoming virtuous and patient and godly, but it is only a stage; if we stop there we shall get the strut of the spiritual prig. The right thing to do with habits is to lose them in the life of the Lord, until every habit is so practised that there is no conscious habit at all. Our spiritual life continually resolves into introspection because there are some qualities we have not added as yet. Ultimately the relationship is to be a completely simple one.

Your god may be your little Christian habit, the habit of prayer at stated times, or the habit of Bible reading. Watch how your Father will upset those times if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes—'I can't do that just now, I am praying; it is my hour with God.' No, it is your hour with your habit. There is a quality that is lacking in you. Recognize the defect, and then look for the opportunity of exercising yourself along the line of the quality to be added.

Love means that there is no habit visible, you have come to the place where the habit is lost, and by practice you do the thing unconsciously. If you are consciously holy, there are certain things you imagine you cannot do, certain relationships in which you are far from simple; that means there is something to be added. The only supernatural life is the life the Lord Jesus lived, and He was at home with God anywhere. Is there anywhere where you are not at home with God? Let God press through in that particular circumstance until you gain Him, and life becomes the simple life of a child.

 

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NKJV)
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

Mercy and Grace

 

Sometimes my heart feels so displaced

My faith feels like it has gone away.

All I can do is get on my knees and pray.

God, I just ask for your Mercy and Grace.

 

Lord, it is you that I look too.

I raise my hands to praise You.

I reach to the Heavens and sing.

The Heavens declare You the King.

 

Lord, I breathe You in.

Take away my sin.

I look to You for peace.

It only comes from him.

 

Your faithfulness is so true.

I only look to You.

Your arms surround me.

You are the power, this I see.

 

So many times, we want it our way.

God says, "you must pray,

And I will help you in my time.

Have faith, everything will be fine."

 

Do not rush your life,

You are not going anywhere.

If you leave,

You will be with me.

 

Lord, when I reach out,

Your presence makes me want to shout.

I tell everybody I can about You.

I know now, that is what I am to do.

 

I will witness and I will be true.

Everybody needs to know you.

If they do not.

I will keep trying, that is what I will do.

 

I will only do this for You.

O'Lord, I exalt You

Lord, I give you all of my praise.

Your word is the only thing that is true.

 

By kevin gwyn @ prayer vigil 3/27/2002 4:45 am ÓCopyrighted 3/29/2002

Micah 7:8-9

It has been a very long and hard week. I fell and got back up. It is like everything blew up in my face this week. Issues at home, me walking in a passive aggressive behavior towards my wife. Not really getting a day to recoup from Quest in Michigan, because I had to go immediately to work as soon as I got back. (three of the hardest physical days for me in the last 6 years) I went to work for a friend of mind building an arbor. The customer we worked for was a total jerk. Worst person I ever worked for. By the third day I was ready to chunk it all and beat his ass into the ground.

I said to another person who has not been on quest but knows about quest this comment. "It would be just like God to put this man on a quest that I would be serving on"She said"how you would deal with it" my comment was to love him right where he is at. She said would you be able to do that? I said "right now with it this fresh, I would probably pull out of the event, but then the Lord wouldn't let me".

Long week, but I am coming back. The passage below is on my dash and deems appropriate to me at this time as I draw near to him and he will draw near to me

 

 

Micah 7:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me.
9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord, Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case And executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness.

 

Habakkuk 3

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NLT)
¹⁷ Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, ¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! ¹⁹ The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. James 1:2-4 (NIV)

As I was led to this passage this morning, it made me think. If everything was stripped from me like Job, Would I still love the Lord? I believe I would. Would you? Here is the deal though, you may never know unless he takes you there, and if He does then praise Him.

That is where the next passage takes you. When you are stripped or you feel your world is crumbling where do you run? Do you run to the Lord? Do you run somewhere else? Porn, alcohol, food or whatever?

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I don't know where you are right now, but where ever you are it is right where He wants you. You have a choice. You can run to Him or ……………. Well it is your choice

It has been an incredible week. I have seen smiles come from brokenness.

This Michigan Quest is almost over, but the Quest for the Lord is not. Thank you Lord for letting me be a part of you Glory

Thank you Jesus when you made the way when you said "it Is DONE!"

While I am singing

At 10.23 am today as I am worshiping the Lord during our time today on Quest, something happened. While I am singing ……. Verbally singing I hear the Lord loud and clear over my singing.

He said

"I love you Kevin" That is the first time I have ever heard Him say that to me. It brought me to tears.

Thank you Jesus!

I have always told people that God loves you, but have been uncomfortable in doing so in my heart. I mean, I did it because that is what the word says.

Now it will come from the heart and I am pumped and I love you

 

Kevin

 

1 Timothy 2

This happens a lot to me. My bible reading comes from the scripture that my devotion is based on. It could be Oswald Chambers, or Men of Integrity, 90 minutes in Heaven. Just where God leads me. So this morning I was lead to Oswald. This morning was about living for God even when you don't feel like it or you are not inspired. 2 Timothy 4:2 (NASB95) 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. It means for the staff, to get on the bus when you know you have so much to do and maybe you feel like you shouldn't be going. So now it is all about trusting the Lord and walking it out. That was really good. So I decided to read in 2 Timothy 4 this morning. (Now remember I am serving on Quest this week) So I went to 2 Timothy (so I thought) The Lord landed me in 1 Timothy and it starts off "Pray for all Men"

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NASB95)
1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

When I first read this I thought "why didn't I get this in the beginning of this prep work?" Because it was not time yet. This is what I think Holy Spirit is saying that we as staff really need to press in the next few days in prayer for the men on this event. Second that we need to press in and pray for the staff as well so the questers will see us as Jesus with skin on. They see a staff that walks in peace and in Unity. The biggest thing is the men that are on this event that are lost. The men who got it in their head but not in their heart. The men who think they got it and they don't. I hear the number 7 for what it is worth.

One more thing to add, has anyone read James lately?

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren).
27 External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world. James 1:26-27 (AMP)

So after pondering verse 2, I was taking back to James 1.26-27, this is a life passage for me. Let me explain.

Verse 26 to me says talking the talk, maybe throwing a few stones, being religious

Verse 27 to me says, when you minister outside of your home you better be ministering inside of your home, because if you are not then you wife and children will be the widow and orphans and the ministering that you do outside of your home will be worthless (futile, barren) So as a staff member of this quest. Minister to your family before you leave and be fessed up. Amen Kevin

Luke 12

On April 13^th I wrote about being an unworthy slave.

9 "He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he?
10 "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.' "

So, today I am reading Luke 11 and move into 12 when I come across this,

Luke 12:35-38 (NASB95)
35 "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.
36 "Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.
37 "Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.
38 "Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
I need to focus on being the unworthy slave and be ready when he comes.

The other thing he gave me this morning was verse 22-25

Luke 12:22-25 (NASB95)
22 And He said to His disciples, "For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life (life translates to soul), as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.
23 "For life (soul) is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
24 "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!
25 "And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life's span?
AMEN! For me this verse speaks says "let the chips fall where they fall toady and tomorrow. What I get done I get done. I am not in control anyway.

I also believe the verse 35 is for the staff of Michigan Quest.

35 "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.

Be Blessed today and walk it out!

Kevin

Oswald Chambers

It is always interesting how God works. I opened my devotion this morning to April 27^th after looking at my calendar to see it is the 22^nd. So I guess I was supposed to read this day. Anyway I think the devotion speaks for itself.

Are you seeking great things for yourself? Not seeking to be a great one, but seeking great things from God for yourself. God wants you in a closer relationship to Himself than receiving His gifts, He wants you to get to know Him. A great thing is accidental, it comes and goes. God never gives us anything accidental. Nothing is easier than getting into a right relationship with God except when it is not God Whom you want but only what He gives.

If you have only come the length of asking God for things, you have never come to the first strand of abandonment, you have become a Christian from a standpoint of your own. 'I did ask God for the Holy Spirit, but He did not give me the rest and the peace I expected.' Instantly God puts His finger on the reason—you are not seeking the Lord at all, you are seeking something for yourself. Jesus says—"Ask, and it shall be given you." Ask God for what you want, and you cannot ask if you are not asking for a right thing. When you draw near to God, you cease from asking for things. "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him." Then why ask? That you may get to know Him.

Are you seeking great things for yourself—'O Lord, baptize me with the Holy Ghost'? If God does not, it is because you are not abandoned enough to Him, there is something you will not do. Are you prepared to ask yourself what it is you want from God, and why you want it? God always ignores the present perfection for the ultimate perfection. He is not concerned about making you blessed and happy just now; He is working out His ultimate perfection all the time—"that they may be one even as We are."

 

After I read this then He gave me the other scriptures to go with this devotion. Very fitting don't you think. Be blessed today and walk it out. Kevin

 

^8
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4

 

5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh," says the Lord. "But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go." ' Jeremiah 45:5 (NKJV)

11 Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
12 I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. "Philippians 4:11-12 (AMP)

2 Corinthians 2:6

It has been a very busy week and I am tired. Three different times this week I have been lead to Luke 17. This morning as well. I did not see what He wanted me to see. I was a little depressed about it. I went to the store and when I came back I started over. This time I got out my quest list and started to pray for them and I was reading over their emails when I came across one that I needed to respond too. Which lead me to 2 Corinthians 10:5 which we all know,

Corinthians 10:5 (DARBY)
5 overthrowing reasonings and every high thing that lifts itself up against the knowledge of God, and leading captive every thought into the obedience of the Christ;
But it was verse 6 that I had never noticed before. It leaped off the page.

2 Corinthians 10:6 (NKJV)
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

1556 ἐκδικέω [ekdikeo /ek·dik·eh·o/] v. From 1558; TDNT 2:442; TDNTA 215; GK 1688; Six occurrences; AV translates as "avenge" five times, and "revenge" once. 1 to vindicate one's right, do one justice. 1a to protect, defend, one person from another. 2 to avenge a thing. 2a to punish a person for a thing.

 

I thought this was really good. You take that thought captive and what happens? You avenge, you get revenge, you protect and defend your mind from the enemy. Holding everythought captive is walking in obedience. Hmmmm

Be Blessed and walk it out

Kevin

Luke 17a

"Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? 'Father, get me out of this'? No, this is why I came in the first place. I'll say, 'Father, put your glory on display.' " John 12.27-28 msg

 

As I was reading this morning in Luke 17 again at the verse where Luke 17.33^

Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

The word life is translated from the Greek word psuche it changes the whole meaning when you put soul in there in place of the word life
5590 ψυχή [psuche /psoo·khay/] n f. From 5594; TDNT 9:608; TDNTA 1342; GK 6034; 105 occurrences; AV translates as "soul" 58 times, "life" 40 times, "mind" three times, "heart" once, "heartily + 1537" once, and not translated twice. 1 breath. 1a the breath of life. 1a1 the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing. 1a1a of animals. 1a12 of men. 1b life. 1c that in which there is life. 1c1 a living being, a living soul. 2 the soul. 2a the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.). 2b the (human) soul in so far as it is constituted that by the right use of the aids offered it by God it can attain its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life. 2c the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body).

 

      "Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.

       "If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me. John 12.24-26

 

Just a little something to think about

Kevin

 

Luke 17

As I was praying this morning and asking where should I go.  I was led to
Luke 17:7-10 (NASB95)
7 "Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come immediately and sit down to eat'?
8 "But will he not say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink'?
9 "He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he?
10 "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.' "

 

After reading I realize that this scripture is not only for me but for everyone.  We all have a choice every day. Now it is your choice and my choice to be the unworthy slave.

 

Lord, 

We are all unworthy slaves and we thank you.  Lord I ask that you would bless and stretch who ever reads this.  Guard their hearts, their minds and their souls.   To get everything that you have for them,  To leave nothing to chance but to stay focused on you.  I bind the enemy up.

In Jesus name

Psalm 35

Psalm 35:22-25 (NIV)
22 Lord, you have seen this. Don't be silent. Lord, don't be far away from me.
23 Wake up! Rise up to help me! My God and Lord, stand up for me.
24 Lord my God, when you hand down your sentence, let it be in my favor. You always do what is right. Don't let my enemies have the joy of seeing me fall.
25 Don't let them think, "That's exactly what we wanted!" Don't let them say, "We have swallowed him up."

Yesterday, I watched the movie Flywheel with my wife for the seventh or eighth time. Those movies always make me tear up. Holy Spirit is always moving. Anyway there is a part in the movie where he chooses not to defend himself. Most people in his situation would have. He chose to be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to become angry. He walked away and asked the lord in prayer to defend him because he could not. Other witnesses came forward and defended him.

My point is how many times when we are persecuted do we choose to let the Lord defend us? Or do we choose the flesh way out instead to prove we are right? Hmmmm something to think about.

 

Be blessed today and walk it out

Kevin

1 Peter 5

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NASB95)
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

This is where I am at, I am worn out mentally and physically, I am ready for this weekend ….. Rest

 

Kevin

Phil 4

Yesterday morning was a tough morning, after I got in my truck to go to work. I begin to feel overwhelmed with everything that is going on right now. I have lots of work, several estimates and in the middle of 30 days of prep for the Michigan Quest. While driving I called a couple of men in my life to pray for me ….. nobody answered.

Then it occurred to me …. Maybe I should pray myself! What a concept. I wonder how many times we call people to pray for us or pray for our situation instead of praying ourselves. Is it better that they pray because we think their prayers are better than ours, do we think they do a better job?

So I prayed …. I just didn't throw a prayer up I took authority. I was in tears driving down the road crying out to God. I noticed after about 30 minutes that I had peace about the day, that I was content. Content just like Paul

Philippians 4:7 (AMP)
7 And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:11-12 (AMP)
11 Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
12 I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.

Be Blessed and walk it out

Kevin

Luke 4.13

Luke 4:13 (NASB95)
13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.

Time to be on guard today. Where is sin? Crouching outside your door ….. Always

Luke 4:18 (NASB95)
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Kevin, Because He anointed Kevin to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Kevin to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed,

This is who I am

Kevin

Be blessed today and walk it out