Consecration

Not Able!


green leaf tree on top of mountain during daytime

The Apostle Paul stated: “who is sufficient for these things…” (II Cor. 2:16). He also reminds us that “our sufficiency is of God” (II Cor. 3:5)! He has placed DREAMS [as with Jacob] in our hearts and minds at very early stages in our lives. He has shown many of us what we will be and do, many years prior to those things coming to pass. Others of us have destinies waiting to be fulfilled and things yet to be realized. God has placed quite a few of us in undeserved places, and given us the ability to perform way beyond what we could have been or done on our own. His Spirit patiently directs those who are led by it and He gives us glimpses into the mind of Christ to perform the will of God. Who then is sufficient? Who is able? Who knows the mind of God? Yet…God reveals His plans by His Spirit, bringing us to new vistas…new dimensions. Even when we falter, He is ever present to strengthen us for seemingly insurmountable tasks. God is our strength! We come to learn that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us! And if we need encouragement…there is a spark in our lowly spirits that God has shown us where He alone continues to ignite in His times!

You are not able! You do not qualify to boast of your abilities. They are God-given and without Him we can do nothing! Be humble! Wait on the Lord, and be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord!

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A Memorial. Your Memorial?


The Red Sea
When your children ask you, ‘What are these
stones to you?’ you’ll say, ‘The flow of the
Jordan was stopped in front of the Chest
of the Covenant of God as it crossed the
Jordan—stopped in its tracks. These stones are
a permanent memorial for the People of Israel.’”
(Joshua 4:6-7)

beach dawn dusk ocean

The following is the thoughts of this author’s mental picture of Israel’s Red Sea deliverance based on the Bible along with comments about our memorial:

The Egyptian army pursued the children of Israel into the massive sea bed! Their purpose was to enslave them again or possibly kill scores of them there in a mass grave. God looked at this scene and overthrew Pharaoh’s great army of 600 elite chariots of soldiers, along with all of his other superior fighters on chariots. The one angel of God stood between the fleeing Israelites and the insane Egyptians. At one point…the Egyptian armies were thrown into confusion as a result of God’s presence. He caused their chariot wheels to bog down in miry surfaces of the sea as they retreated…finally realizing God was fighting for His people! Moses stretched his hand out over the sea and the raging sea collapsed over the escaping Egyptians, killing them all! The Israelites meanwhile, continued journeying the opposite route with a corridor of waters (mounted on their left and right) ushering them to the shore on the other side! After safely coming to the land, the Israelites saw the dead bodies of the Egyptians that were washed ashore!

Oh…the praises that must have erupted at one of the greatest deliverances recorded in history! The children of Israel’s praises were encapsulated in the following words from their song!: Exodus, chapter 15 – click here.

After coming forth from the bowels of the Jordan sea, the children of Israel were commanded to set up 12 massive stones (near Jordan’s banks) as a perpetual memorial and to remind future generations of the power of God’s deliverance. These succeeding generations would see the stones and ask what was their purpose. Thus, the traditions of the elders was verbally passed down as generation after generation came to realized the realness of Israel’s mighty God!

Your Memorial?

You should have a memorial…how our great God has delivered you from what would otherwise have been humanly impossible to be delivered from! This memorial should be a place in one’s heart and mind of the power of God. It is a memorial of the past that gives hope for the future!

Never forget where God has brought you from? How He has placed people in your life to change you for the better? Remember your elders and your instructors, those who made a difference during your seasons of unrest. Don’t forget men and women who have helped you. Be thankful!

God has lovingly held back and made many restrictions in our lives! He has also set us free from all kinds of bondages! Like the children of Israel, let’s stop and give memory to the wisdom of a loving God. Israel saw the death of the Egyptians and yet were delivered from death. Look around you and you too will witness violent and premature deaths, as well. But God has spared our lives another day, and so, every new day should be a memorial of the past day. Give thanks and be thankful for these types of memorials are good things!

 

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Make Something Happen — Pray!


prayer-4979713_1920When we begin to pray — consistently and with purpose — God will begin to work in the realm of the spirit. Things will happen that had not occurred before. We will begin to experience the power of God working through our lives. God will give appointments that we did not previously place on our calendars. He will send us to men…and men to us. We will naturally expect the unexpected. What seemed impossible (after consistent prayer) is now on the horizon!

Our purpose for ministry is renewed when we pray. Our senses are sharpened and we will truly have a “purpose-driven” life. Prayer opens new challenges! Our name finally comes up once again before God to be used by Him.

When we pray, chains fall! Lifestyles change. Depression has no place! The power that once held us is at bay. God’s riches blessings are upon our lives as we walk in the Spirit.

Pray always. Don’t faint…and watch God make something happen!

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A Little Known Fact About Worship.


ICEA – “Church at Study”

A Biblical Look at
One Aspect of Worship:
The Act of Bowing!

The history of biblical worship can be found in the Old Testament. The first account of the word “worship” seems to be used in Genesis 22:5. This is where God tested Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. At the base of the mountain, Abraham stated to his servants to wait while he and his son would go over to “worship”. It is interesting to note that the word worship here (as defined by Strong’s – 7812) has the meaning “to bow down”. While the word “praise” (Strong’s – 1984) in many of David’s accounts and in a number of psalms…meant to “halal” or “shine” or “boast” of the Lord’s doings. David’s influence of praise (sometimes mixed with music), along with Israel’s worship, are an example for us today! An excellent account of this is found in II Chronicles 29:29-30. Worship seems to cover many aspects — with or without music, as well as standing, sitting, or kneeling. The one aspect the author chooses to focus on is BOWING, which is found in the scriptures below. (You may also click on the following text to print this handout:)

(Click Here to Print Handout on Worship and Bowing)

Genesis 24:26-27 26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord. 27 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.
Genesis 24:48 48 And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter unto his son.
Genesis 24:52-53 52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. 53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
Exodus 4:31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.
Exodus 12:27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
Exodus 34:8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.
Joshua 5:14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?
II Kings 5:18 In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing.
I Chronicles 29:20 And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the Lord, and the king.
II Chronicles 7:3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord
II Chronicles 20:18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.
II Chronicles 29:29 The king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.
II Chronicles 29:30 And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
Nehemiah 8:6 And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Job 1:20-21 20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Palsm 22:29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
Psalms 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
Psalms 99:5 Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
Psalms 132:7 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
Isaiah 44:15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
Isaiah 44:17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.
Isaiah 46:6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
Daniel 2:46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.
Daniel 3:5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
Daniel 3:6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Daniel 3:10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
Daniel 3:11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well:…
Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Matthew 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Matthew 28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
Mark 15:19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
Acts 10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
I Corinthians 14:25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
Revelation 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Revelation 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
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Delight!


Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will
give you the desire of your heart.
(Ps. 37:4)

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The heart — being the depths of our mind and thoughts — can be a unique and personally emotional place. The bible tells us that the heart has its issues and who really knows it (Jer. 17:9).  Proverbs 14:10 reads: “The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy.” Many of us have attempted to share our past experiences with others. We sensed they were not fully able to grasp our account of the moment we were trying to convey. No one can really share in the feelings of another’s deep and personal experiences. The word vicarious is no doubt a word that comes close to experiencing what others have experienced, but very few know the seat and aspirations of the hearts of others. It is true that some have the skill to probe human hearts, but only do so — not really knowing exactly what will surface (Prov. 20:5; I Cor. 14:24-25).

Only God fully knows the heart — this personal and secluded place! He knows what we long for and what really is our heart’s desire! What each person longs for is just as unique as who we are and as complicated as our hearts. God has the option and ability to answer the desire (or longings) of the heart. He has given us two clear methods of receiving from Him. One method we are familiar with and that is simply asking Him. He will give good gifts to those who ask Him (Matt. 7:11). The second method seems not as well travelled. That method is to DELIGHT one’s self in what God has an interest in. If we delight ourselves in Him, we can see our families begin to come together. If we give time for personal and systematic Bible study, He will turn His favor toward us and begin to work on our behalf. If we make time for Him, He will bless our endeavors. If we will give to the community and volunteer (as unto the Lord – Col. 3:23), we will look around and realize God has answered our prayers and given us the desires of our hearts! Mountains will be moved, relationships will be mended, business matters will materialize, and we will rejoice that God has done all things well!

God’s watching to see what you and I will do. What we take an interest in will determine the outcome of the blessings from God! Will you accept the challenge to delight yourself in the Lord so that He may give you the desires of your heart? Do it and watch God move!

 

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