Looking For God, Not At Him

Matthew 2:9-11King James Version (KJV)

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

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.

The wise men, looking for the Child who's star they followed, came to Judea, made their way to Bethlehem and found the Child with his Mother.  They presented him with gifts and worshiped Him.  They were on a mission for a while, looking for the King of the Jews who had been prophesied.  They came expecting to find Him, prepared with tribute and in an attitude of worship.

They didn't find Him in a palace.  He was not surrounded by servants or an army.  They found the Child in a house with His mother.  They saw the sign, the star resting over the place.  They didn't question the choice of vessel, but worshiped this precious gift from God.  They were looking for God's gift, not at the container.

Too often, we let circumstance and packaging determine our willingness to accept what God has given.  We get like Naaman when looking for a healing from Elisha (2 Kings 5).  Elisha gave him a relatively simple task to do in order to be healed.  Because it wasn't extraordinary and because the prophet wouldn't tell Naaman directly, Naaman felt like it wasn't good enough for him.  He was willing to keep the disease because the healing wasn't packaged in a way he thought was appropriate.

So it can be with with us.  Sometimes we can get caught up in how the message or correction or conviction is delivered and we miss the point of the message, the visitation or the blessing.  Our discipleship requires that we learn to look past the presentation, and sometimes, even our own experience with people and focus in on God and following the Holy Spirit.  That may not be easy, but it is moving in perfection.

Christ was not what most people expected in His earthly ministry, but He was exactly what we all needed.  God may choose to address 'that' area in your life or my life in an unexpected way, but it will end up being the exact right answer...if we can get past the packaging.

Open the present.  Receive the gift.  Don't worry about the box or the paper or how it got delivered.  When it comes from the Father, it is exactly what's needed.

James 1:17 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Peace and blessing to you.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.youarechosen.net) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

The Struggle is Real and So Is Our God

Philippians 3:13-15King James Version (KJV)
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

The Struggle is Real and So Is Our God

Last week, we talked about how the hard work of our salvation has already been done.  We don't have to focus on losing Christ; He's not going anywhere.  So, being born again is easy.  We confess and believe.  But that doesn't mean we don't have work to do.  

Where there's work, there's a struggle and there is a struggle in the walk.  Our struggle isn't external.  As we are reminded:

Ephesians 6:12

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

What we wrestle with in this walk in Christ is what comes from the inside.  Attacks are real, but the battleground is in how we think.  Our response to any attack first begins as a thought.  That's why Paul challenged us with renewing our mind (Romans 12:1-2).  After all, as a man thinketh, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). 

This mind-renewing process is the work.  To be Christ-like means to think and then act as Christ would.  That involves study and exercise.  Its one thing to 'know' a thing about Christ.  It is something else to be able to move in it.  Moving in flow with the Holy Spirit becomes the source of our testimonies.

Our testimonies of going through and getting over are important.  They are important for those who are new in Christ, as well as to those who are seasoned,  to understand that the process takes time and effort.  The transition is instant.  The transformation takes time.  It's like working out.  YES it's hard when its new.  And sometimes, it's hard even when it's your lifestyle.

I have a friend who is a fitness monster.  She does kettle balls, and runs marathons and eats a very healthy diet.  She recently found herself in the middle of a squat challenge and daily she shared just how hard it was to meet the challenge.  If someone who is physically active and strong struggles with a challenge then of course it will be difficult for someone who spends more time on the couch than the bike.  Her confessions were tremendous encouragement to this couch potato to get up.  Being challenged is just part of it.  The real strength is having the courage and conviction to face the challenge.

But, it can be done.  There is no shame in the struggle.  There is only shame in not taking the opportunity to get better when the opportunity is given.  When God presents us with the challenge to get stronger in Him, He is fully prepared to meet our need and see us completely through it. But, we still have to choose to get up and move to it.

Beloved, whatever it is you've been challenged with in Christ, it's time to stand up, face it, and follow after the Holy Spirit.  Provision has already been made.  It may in fact challenge you.  You may want to quit. But press on. 

It's ok to feel like you're alone because then you can remind yourself that He said He would never leave us or forsake us and you'll feel His presence.  It's ok to feel anxious and afraid because then you can remind yourself that He said He wouldn't leave us comfortless and you will be comforted. It's ok to feel like you don't have what you need to make it because He said that He would meet all our need and you will see provision.  

Every challenge we face is just another opportunity for God to glorify Himself in our lives.  So rejoice, and give praise.  He's got this and He's got you.

Romans 8:28 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Philippians 4:8 

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Peace and victory.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.youarechosen.net) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

Poverty and Strength

Proverbs 10:15

15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

Wealth and poverty are interesting.  They are as much mental states as they are material states. When someone is secure in their situation, it doesn't matter how much actual money they may or may not have.  Their sense of peace gives them strength, regardless of their bank balance.  Whereas someone could have the wealth of Midas, but if they're expecting it all to go away, they have no wealth.  Their poverty mindset feeds their eventual destruction.

I have a friend who is an advocate for the poor and homeless.  He does tireless work which is good because the problem seems to get worse from day to day.  He recently posted the following:

It is a common condition of being poor...you are always afraid that the good things in your life are temporary, that someone can take them away, because you have no power beyond your own brute strength to stop them.

Those of us who may have come from meager or modest means an probably feel the truth in the statement "afraid that good things in your life are temporary."  That perpetual anticipation of the other shoe dropping permeates every action when you've grown accustomed to 'not having'.  It's that poverty mindset at work even when by all measures you're no longer poor.  

The Holy Spirit showed me that this can even infect our spiritual lives.  

It is a stressful condition when you feel like you have to keep a death grip on everything and everyone to keep from losing them or it.  It's exhausting.  And when your strength is exhausted, the expectation is that it will all go away.  

Not so in Christ. In Christ, receiving is the real strength...not struggling to keep from losing but yielding to the will of the Father to have it all.

Loved one, when it comes to Christ, be encouraged.  Our Savior said that He would be with us always (Matthew 28:10) and that He would not leave us comfortless (John 14:18) and that we would receive power (Acts 1:8).  All of this is given, and given freely to those who will follow.

Its been a hard fight.  You may have worked and scraped for everything you have.  You may feel it's an insult to God to ever expect anything that you haven't worked, sweat and bled for. But, He already did the sweating and the working and the bleeding for you...for me.  

2 Corinthians 8:9

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

The hard work of our salvation and our restoration to the Father has already been done.  We don't work to keep the Father's love.  Our charge is to open our hands and our hearts and receive from the Father through the Son.  The work that we do then is because of the Father's love; a love that we can never lose...we can only refuse it.

Jesus already did the work to keep you.  Won't you let Him?

John 10:27-30

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.youarechosen.net) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

No Fear

2 Timothy 1:7

⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

When the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write these words to Timothy, he was encouraging this young pastor in his ministry and in his calling.  The press and criticism and non-compliance of the people did and can get to be much on a young pastor.  Whenever we are walking in our callings, regardless of the type of calling, the walk, the press, they can all get to be heavy.  The enormity of the task can be overwhelming.  It can be downright scary.  So, we need to be encouraged along the way.

If you have been born again in the Body of Christ, then the spirit of love, power and a sound mind is your birthright.  Fear is not from God.  Moving in the things of God may make us fearful, but when we are following after the will of God in our lives, then we should not give room to the fear.  It's not part of the will.

That is not to say that things don't look scary.  It is perfectly reasonable to be afraid of the task that God has called us to.  I can imagine that walking across the Red Sea bed looking up at walls of water was overwhelming.  I'm certain that getting tied up and thrown into a burning furnace would have buckled my knees.  Being thrown into a den of lions wouldn't have brought out my brave side.  But, when we move in the will of God, we need to learn to shut out the fear and sometimes, shut out reason and take it on faith.

There is an old adage that says if you're going to pray, don't worry and if you're going to worry, don't pray.  While trite, it gets at the point.  If we are walking in the will of God, why are we worried?  We may not know the details of the deliverance, just as Moses didn't when he and the nation reached the shores of the Red Sea.  But, he knew that God had promised deliverance.

Beloved, whatever you're facing today, face God first.  Be in His presence and assured of His will for your life.  His hand on your situation should be as real to you as the situation itself.  If not, seek Him more than the problem.  The deliverance may manifest in something that a person does, but it will originate at the hand of the Father.

When Jesus prayed before His crucifixion, He prayed that we would have His peace and His joy.  He knew we would face turmoil and opposition, so instead of praying persecution away, He prayed that we would have peace and joy.  And His prayers are answered.

Today, and everyday, in your walk in Christ, peace.  After all, you and I have been give a spirit of love, power and a sound mind.

The peace of God to you.  And no fear.

2 Timothy 1:13-14King James Version (KJV)

¹³ Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.youarechosen.net) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

Favor

John 17:13-21King James Version (KJV)

13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Here is the favor that applies to all who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior...Jesus, himself, prayed to the Father on your behalf and on my behalf.  He prayed that we would have His joy fulfilled in our lives.  Jesus himself prayed for us to be kept, by God.  He prayed that we would be sanctified through the truth.  All these things, and more, Jesus prayed on our behalf.

All this, because of a profession.

And if that's not enough expressed favor;  if that still feels too far away, God Himself expressed it first.

John 3:16-17King James Version (KJV)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Today, beloved, walk in the favor of God.  All was sacrificed to give it to you.  Such a precious gift should be received with the same love with which it was given.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.youarechosen.net) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.