sin

Parables: Discerning Wheat and Weeds
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Parables: Discerning Wheat and Weeds

Parable - Discerning Wheat and weedsRead Matthew 13:24 – 30

I love when Jesus explains the parable He just told, and in this case, He does just that.

Matthew 13:36 – 43 NKJV.

This is a powerful parable. It is a truth seldom people want to hear. In the parable of the Wheat and the tares we see mixed growth: wheat vs. the tares. We can likened it to mixed character in the church or in this world and absolute separation of all people into two classes

Will everyone who attends Hope Fellowship make it? I would like to think that if the rapture occurred on a Sunday morning during our service, that the room would be completely emptied, but according to this parable that would be highly unlikely.

Tares: “an injurious weed resembling wheat when young” (Matt. 13:24–30) [google.com]]

The word translated “tares” in the King James Version is ζιζάνια (zizania), plural of ζιζάνιον (zizanion). This word is thought to mean darnel (Lolium temulentum), a ryegrass which looks much like wheat in its early stages of growth.

Roman law prohibited sowing darnel among the wheat of an enemy, suggesting that the scenario presented here is realistic. Many translations use “weeds” instead of “tares”.

Similar metaphors are wheat and chaff, replacing (growing) tares by (waste) chaff, and in other places in the Bible “wicked ones” are likened to chaff.

Tares look like wheat, but tares hinder the wheat. It makes for a lush look at harvest time but there is no fruit in a tare. They are weeds.

This parable and message is not an easy one, in fact this is a wake up call for everyone to see where they stand, either being a Wheat or a weed. We have to discern our own spiritual condition today hearing this parable.

We can go to church and sing the songs and even give in the offering but that doesn’t get you to heaven. It is a heart condition and a lifestyle, I believe, that will differentiate you from being wheat or weeds.

In the Parable of the Sower we looked at previous to this parable, the seed is the Word of God.

Luke 8:11 NKJV
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Those who received that word into their hearts and proved it to be the transforming Word, are now “children of the kingdom.”

James 1:18 NKJV
Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.

This parable presents the problem of evil. The fact of the mingling of the evil with the good is a condition of things confronting us in all levels of society, all forms of government, in the home and in the church. No matter how we separate or look at it, seeds of corruption seem to find their home and grow to huge weeds in good fields.

The real and the counterfeit are ever with us. Good and evil are inextricably interwoven in our society.

In the Parable of the soils, there was one sower, one kind of seed, and several results. In the Parable of the Tares and Wheat there are two sowers, two kinds of seed, and two harvests: one good, and the other bad. In the first parable there are four kinds of soil; here the forth kind, the good soil is before us.

The Parable of the Tares (Weeds) and the Wheat

1. The Field.

Why does the field yield both wheat and tares? Some Bible commentaries have assumed because of the reference to “wheat” that our Lord taught the field to represent the Church or Christendom. It shows that the church today is an imperfect body. Jesus taught that the field is the world — His field.

Matthew 13:38 NKJV
The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

It is safe to say the field is the world, and also the church. We can not deny that within the church or in the church as a whole, there are tares and wheat. We, as the church, need to be aware and wake up to this fact. Some of us will go to heaven and some will not. This is a hard saying. Also, the church is a light in this world. We have to shine brightly for the world to see the way. How brightly are you shinning for God’s Kingdom?

Note the expressions, His field, and Thy field, which assert that the Master is the Owner, Lord, Husbandman of this world of man.

Psalm 24: 1 – 2 NKJV
The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.

This field is therefore a world that God loved, and yet the enemy catches away the good seed, and also sows tares.

John 3:16 NKJV
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.

I want to have everlasting life! How about you?

2. The Two Sowers.

The audience receiving this further parable is the same as before, namely, the crowd assembled on the shore, as well as the disciples in the boat. To these Jesus described the two sowers so different in character and purpose.

a. The Householder. There was the “man” revealed as the “householder”, and as “the Son of Man” (Matthew 13:24, 27 and 37).

In the previous parable “the sower” stands for all proclaimers of the Gospel, even Jesus Himself. Here, “the sower” is Jesus only. As the Creator, He made man upright, created him in His own likeness, that is, planted within him holy principles and aspirations.

b. His enemy. The other sower is referred to as “his enemy,” or “an enemy,” and “the wicked one,” “The devil” (Matthew 13:25, 28, 38, 39).

Think about it, it was not long before Satan sowed tares in God’s wheat; Adam and Eve. The word Jesus used for His enemy was diabolos, the traducer (to expose to shame or blame by means of falsehood and misrepresentation), the liar, the one who is against all that is true, high and noble. This enemy is Christ’s enemy.

Jesus has always been the object of satan’s hatred. Jesus is the bright and morning star. He is the lily of the valley. He is more precious than anything in heaven or on earth. Satan hates Jesus and all that is good.

Throughout history the trinity of good and the trinity of evil stand opposed to one another:

*Father God and the world:

1 John 2:15 – 17 NKJV
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

*The Spirit and the flesh:

Galatians 5:17 NKJV
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

*Christ and Satan

Genesis 3:15 NKJV
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between our seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.

In this parable his enemy sowed in a field that was not his. In this world people think it is okay to do what they want, where they want, with whom and what they want to do it with. These are characteristics of Satan. In spite of prevailing evil in the world, it is still Christ’s world and when He returns to it as “the Prince of the kings of the earth,” it will be a purer world in which to live.

The cunning and scheming of the enemy is seen in his action of sowing his tares among the wheat while the servants slept. It wasn’t the fault of the servants who slept. They are not to blame. It was night time and people slept during this time. This really shows the cowardly nature of the devil, in choosing the darkness for his terrible work. Evil is sown secretly, and the enemy loves darkness because he is evil.

3. The Two Products.

The Son of Man sows wheat in His field and “his enemy” sows weeds among the wheat.” The enemy would never think of sowing the wicked among the wicked. He sows the wicked among the good, and the two together constitute Christendom, what are we to understand about the products in this parable?

a. The Tares (Weeds).

The devil’s action was motivated by pure malice, for tares, like weeds, have never been a marketable product. Tares are “darnel,” a seed scarcely distinguishable from wheat seed (and not until it is sprung up can the difference be detected).

Tares are not what we understand by the term but some obnoxious form of plant, or wild corn, and poisonous as food. Tares! The enemy is vigilant and unresting who has so many to sow; tares of fleshly wisdom, of pride, of procrastination, of sin, and the list goes on.

Because it is hard to tell the difference between tares and wheat when they are not mature, this gives us insight into Satan’s subtle working. His method or weapon here is “opposition by imitation.” The bad are sown among the good, and the difference is not always discernible. Many who are not the Lord’s yet resemble those who are: they go to church, pray, read the Bible like Christians, but are, Christless not Christlike.

Sowing tares among wheat is a form of revenge. The object of this revenge was to poison of some of the wheat, and much labor would have to happen to get rid of it. How wicked men become when they give way to revenge.

Tares are the children of the wicked one.

Matthew 13:38 NKJV
The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

What a difference of nature between the “children of the kingdom” and “children of the wicked one.” The latter do not draw their origin from the wicked one, but many mould their character by his promptings, and are therefore called his children.

John 8:44 NKJV
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

These are the ones whom Satan sows among “the children of the kingdom.”

b. The Wheat.

“The good seed,” “the wheat,” “the children of the kingdom” all these represent the same thing. In the previous parable “the seed” was the word of the kingdom, here. “the good seed” is the product of that precious word received, understood and obeyed, namely, those who through such become “children of the kingdom.”

The Son of Man, as the sower or householder sows only good seed: lives transformed by, and embodying the word of truth. It is the Redeemer’s purpose to sow His redeemed ones in this world of sin and misery in order that there may be fruit for His glory and satisfaction for His travailed soul.

This is why He has sown you where you live and labor. As one bought with a price and born of His Spirit, and a new creation in Him and heir of eternal life, He expects you to bear fruit in the corner of the field of this world, in which he sowed you.

The two questions

The servants of the Householder or the owner of the field asked Him two general questions:

1. “Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?” (Matthew 13:27b NKJV)

The first question is in two parts, with the first part acknowledging that the field was the Householder’s and that He had done the sowing, and that He had sown only good seed.

The earth is the Lord’s. He also originated and first spread the Gospel, and nothing but the gospel. But the second part of the first question brings us to the deepest of all mysteries namely, the origin of evil and how it continues in the world.

This problem of the parable is as old as the human race. Why was Judas permitted to be counted among the twelve? Why was the early church almost wrecked by false brothers? Why does God allow the sin and sorrow blemishing His world today?

Jesus said, “An enemy has done this.” But why is the enemy so active, after almost two millenniums of Christianity, sowing more tares than ever in God’s field? This is one of the mysteries to be revealed. Christians should be mainly concerned with victory over evil rather than a full explanation of it. One of the main reasons is that the enemy knows his fate. He knows he will not win so he is trying to mess with God’s world and deceive as many people as he can before the end of the age. Don’t let it be you that he deceives.

2. The second question, “Do you want us then to go and gather them up?” (Matthew 13:28b NKJV)

Suggest that the servants were eager to rid the field of its obnoxious weeds at once. The Householder’s reply is in two parts:

First of all, he refers to the growth of the wheat and the darnel. In its unripe condition the wheat and the darnel looked alike, and to try and destroy the one, would be beyond the wisdom of servants.

The Second part of the answer is taken up with the final harvest. “Let both grow together until the harvest.” Not forever will the good seed and the tares be intermingled. The time of separation will come, when angels, and not men, will come, when angels, and not men will secure the wheat and burn the tares.

Mathew 13:39, 41 – 42 NKJV
The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels… The son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

The Two Harvests.

Describing the time of harvest, Jesus said that the reapers will be able to distinguish between wheat and tares, and that the separation between them will be effected in this way: “First, gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matthew 13:30b NKJV)

Such a harvest of destruction for the tares/weeds is to take place at “the end of this world.”

The destruction of the tares are to be bound up in bundles. As the gathering together of the tares into bundles takes place in the field, it is interesting to watch how this process of binding the tares into bundles is very fast and speedily.

After the gathering and binding of the weeds, there comes their destruction by fire. The time of such a harvest is appointed a day in which he will judge the world.

Acts 17:31 NKJV
Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.

We will be judged for all that we have done. No one will escape it.

As to the time the reapers obey the summons of the Householder to deal with the tares, Jesus said it would be at “the end of the world,” or age – the end of the Gentile age when Christ returns to earth as King and gathers out from His Kingdom all things that cause stumbling. The final judgment upon Satan, evil angels, and all who died outside of Christ.

Let’s look at Matthew 13:40 – 42 NKJV
Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

“Burned in the fire” is a most solemn phrase. As the “tares” symbolize all lost souls, we cannot make light of their future after such a declared fate. Jesus affirmed the utter destruction of the tares.

The “furnace of fire” and “wailing and gnashing of teeth” described the horrors of Hell, and of the final home of the wicked, the Lake of Fire. These words that describe hell are hard to contemplate and absorb.

Trust me it will be a quick thing for those who are not children of God to be thrown into the lake of fire.

The words, “cast” or “thrown” into the lake of fire has a deeper meaning. The flinging expresses indignation, abhorrence and contempt. God has given all of us numerous chances to change our lifestyle and thinking. He has wooed and drawn us with His lovingkindness and some of us are still resisting. When judgement comes, there will be no more mercy and grace. Judgement will happen quickly and speedily.

The “furnace of fire” denotes the fierceness of the torment: the “wailing” signifies the anguish this causes: while “the gnashing of teeth” is a graphic way of expressing the despair of all who go there.

Matthew 8:12 NKJV
But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

They will be castaways with no one to rescue them because the judgement has come.

The doom of the wicked will be fearful!

Revelation 20:11 NKJV
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

What Jesus said about the bundles burning was not words to a parable but a solemn revelation and declaration of fate.

Hebrews 2:1 – 3 NKJV
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.

But what a different harvest that waits the wheat, which is to be gathered into the divine barn. There will be no tares in that barn, just as there will be no wheat in the furnace of fire.

The question is, When will the gathering of the wheat of the Son of Man take place? When Jesus returns to the air then there will be gathered out all His wheat from the field of this world. What a gathering of the ransomed that will be!!!

1 Thessalonians 4:15 – 17 NKJV
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Is not His Father’s House the Barn He will gather us into?

John 14:1 – 3 NKJV
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

God’s chosen are gathered from the four winds are to be where He is!

Matthew 24:30 – 31 NKJV
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

What a glorious destination awaits the righteous, who are to shine as the stars forever. Exaltation and blessedness are to be theirs throughout eternity!

Matthew 13:43 NKJV
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

They have been called to God’s eternal glory in Christ!

1 Peter 5:10 NKJV
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

A ravishing prospect is the portion of all who have been saved by grace.

Daniel 12:1 – 3 NKJV
At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.

2 Timothy 2:12 NKJV
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

There is a further thought to stress as we come to the conclusion of looking at the Parable of the Wheat and Tares, namely, we still live in an age of grace when tares can become wheat, or sinners can become righteous. The parable doesn’t say there can’t be a change for those tares. By Jesus’ power the enemy can be defeated, and his enemies slaves made into God’s servants. Children of the devil, they can yet become children of the Kingdom, and thus be saved from the final, terrible judgment of the wicked.

Counterfeit members in the Church can be changed into genuine and profitable members. We have to remember that we are wheat and will be sifted by Satan. Jesus told Peter that he was wheat and that as such he was to be sifted by Satan, and that in the sifting the chaff, or tares, would disappear.

Luke 22:31 – 33 NKJV
And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

Let’s search the field of our heart and see whether the enemy has sown any tares in it. The more the Lord has of our heart, the less the devil will have. Today, turn from any worldly way of thinking and give your life fully over to Jesus. Walk in His ways and stay close to Him. Don’t be one of the tares at the end that will be bundled up and thrown into the furnace of fire for eternity!

Your sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.KrisBelfils.com
www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com
www.KrisBelfils.Wordpress.com

Resources: Pastor Kris Belfils and Herbert Lockyer “All the Parables of the Bible”

God is Bigger Than The Grave
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God is Bigger Than The Grave

Easter is one of the most celebrated Holidays in the Christian world. It is the very crux of the Christian faith. Christ, who was sinless, came to earth and showed us the right example of how to live. He died and rose again. He also took our place and sacrificed His life for us. In doing so, he had authority over death and the grave. God is truly bigger than the grave.

We celebrate Easter every year, but do we really realize what is available to us all because of what Christ did on the cross and rose again for you and I?

In the book of Acts, the disciples preached about Christ and focused on His resurrection. The resurrection makes the difference from any other religion. Death, the grave was conquered once and for all. This was done for you and I.

Christ wants us to live a victorious life. Once we ask Jesus in our hearts as Lord and Savior, we are born again. In other words, we are new.

2 Cor. 5:17 NKJV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

What Jesus did for you and I can never be taken away from us. Even if people don’t believe, we know it is true. When Jesus died, He went to Hell and took the keys. He is bigger than the grave!

It was an amazing thing what Jesus did for us. He also carries the keys of the grave with him.

Rev. 1:18 KJV
I am He that liveth, and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

We have nothing to dread if we put our trust in Christ.

To hold the keys means He holds the power over the dark world; Hell. Our Savior has this authority as He had been raised from the dead by His own power. This shows that Christ has dominion over hell and death. He can raise the dead and destroy the living. Power over life, death, and the grave!

We see that when He raised Lazarus from the dead.

Read John 11:40 – 44

Lazarus hands and feet were bound.  He was alive but could not go anywhere or do anything.  Lazarus’ head was also bound.  He couldn’t hear, see, or speak.

Many Believers are bound up.  They are spiritually alive, but bound up where they can’t go anywhere or do anything for the Lord.  They are bound up so they can’t hear the voice of Jesus, see spiritual things, or speak or share the Word of God.

What grave clothes do you still have on? What is keeping you bound up? Many of us are walking around in our own grave clothes thinking we are okay, but in reality we are the walking dead.

Grave clothes are not what you are wearing physically, but a state of being, or a state of mind. Grave clothes represent things you use to do when you were spiritually dead. Grave clothes represent addictions and worldly things we hold on to. Grave clothes represent things in your past you keep holding on to.

Some Grave Clothes you may be wearing

1. Bad memories

You may be living and reliving bad memories from you past and they torment you. It is time to shed those dirty grave clothes once and for all. This is being obsessed with the grave. You are looking to what was and missing it and wanting it back. We can never live in the past. The past is done and gone away. Living and reliving memories of the past is like constantly looking in the review mirror of your life. You will get in a accident if you don’t start keep your eyes forward to the present.

Philippians 3:13 – 14 Amplified Bible
I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

2. Sin

Galatians 5:19 – 21 NKJV
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

If we settle for less than a passionate relationship with God, we will start to die and eventually fall into a rut or a pit. We become “grave tenders” of our lives instead of living life to its fullest. We see other people living life and enjoying it, yet in our own lives we are dead. We tend our very own grave, and often times we fight or force others to stay away from our grave. A. W. Tozer states in “Rut, Rot, or Revival” that we are in a “circular grave” when sin has entered our hearts. Sin will separate us from God. This is a fact.

A circular grave has no ending and no beginning. In other words, you can’t remember when or how you got in the mess you are in, and you can’t find a way out on your own. You are dead inside. You see no hope, and no way of escape. A dead corpse has no way of reviving it self. A dead corpse needs intervention from a living source to bring life back. Don’t fool yourself by thinking you can get out of this circular grave on your own. Allow the Giver of life to breathe new life back into your dead places in your heart. Allow God to show and direct you out of your circular grave and bring you on solid ground to stand boldly in Him. It will cost you your control. It will cost you your pride, but it is well worth having new reviving life back into your spirit again.

Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

We all have sinned and need a Savior. Receiving Jesus Christ into your heart as Lord is the first step to a revival in your heart, but there is more to repentance then just receiving Christ in your heart. If one is truly repentant they will turn 180° in the opposite direction of their sin.

Satan will try and trip us up in sin. This causes bondage in our hearts and spirit, and a barrier preventing our hearts to be revived. Being aware that sin separates us from God helps us to do our best to stay away and even run from the appearance of evil. The more you fall in love with God the more you want to obey Him and do what pleases His heart.

Tozer also states that, “Since only sin offends God, and sin is extremely deceitful, it can be present doing its deadly work while the people may not be aware of it at all until it is called to their attention.”

Once you realize the sin that is causing you to feel separated from God, immediately repent and ask God to forgive you. The short term pleasure of sin is not worth the long term separation from God. The after affects of sin is not worth the pleasures of pleasing God and being close to him.

It is natural to be a better person when we are closer to God. It is natural to experience more of God and His love when sin is not in the picture. Allow God to show you right now if you have sin in your life that is separating you from Him. Take the time to repent and walk away from the debilitating and crippling sinful action.

Romans 8:15 (MSG)
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid,“grave tending” life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, “What’s next Papa? God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who He is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us an unbelievable inheritance!

Nothing is worth missing out on our inheritance from God. No sin is so good that it overshadows what we receive from God. No earthly pleasure is more pleasurable then getting closer to God and experiencing His joy and abundant life He has for us. The sacrifice of leaving our sin behind is nothing compared to the relationship we gain with God.

3. Disbelief

Sometimes we are plagued with disbelief or doubt. We find more pleasure in worldly ways. We don’t want to be told what to do.

2 Tim. 3:1 – 4 Amplified Bible
But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God.

4. Obsessed with self

Being obsessed with self means it is all about you and what you want, when you want it, and how you want it. You are always thinking of ways to satisfy yourself.

Romans 8:6 – 11 The Message Bible
Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored. But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells – even though you still experience all the limitations of sin – you yourself experience life on God’s terms. It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s!

5. Addictions

Approval addictions, drug addictions, money addictions, food addictions, these and many more are grave clothes that God wants to remove from your life. See them for what they are… dead carcasses. No life, as a matter of fact they suck all the life out of you and leave you with shame, pain, and destruction.

Christ’s blood sets the addict free!

Proverbs 20:1 NKJV
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 6:26 NKJV
For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.

6. Put off the “Old man”

Eph. 4:22 NKJV
“…that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts”

Col. 3:8 – 9 NJKV
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

All these things are from the old life, old self, or old nature. These things should be shed off of us once we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. We leave behind the old life and break away from it.

“It’s time to take your grave clothes off!”

God is trying to get you to a certain place and move you to another level. He is trying to move you to another level of grace, another level of His anointing, another level in your relationships, another level in your finances. He wants to change the way you think or look at life. You have to take your grave clothes off to get there

Sometimes the grave clothes are our own power or abilities. We have to be stripped of our own power to allow God’s power to manifest. If he does this, will you still serve Him? (Job – He gives and takes away)

The Lord will strip you down of your pride and humble you so that He can lift you up instead of you lifting yourself up. We all need to get to the place and say, “For God I live and for God I die.” Then you are ready for the next level in life.

When we are wrapped up in grave clothes we can’t work because our hands are bound. We can’t walk in light because our feet are bound. When we are wrapped in grave clothes we can’t witness or talk for the Lord because our mouths are bound. Bondage prevents us experiencing life and freedom in Christ!

Being in a rut and not wanting to get out of it is really a grave with the ends knocked out. Be revived in your spirit from sleeping or from death. Don’t allow your life to just drift. Have purpose and desire. Find your place in God and what His purpose is for your life.

Replace the grave clothes and put on…

1. Put on Christ

Gal. 3:27 NKJV
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Rom. 13:14 NKJV
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

2. Put on the new self

Eph. 4:24 NASB
and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Col. 3:10 NASB
and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—

3. Put on the elect of God

Col. 3:10 – 17 NASB
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

4. Put on the whole armor of God

Eph. 6:11 NASB
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

5. A new heart and spirit

Eze. 36:26 NKJV
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

6. Gladness

Psalm 32:11 Amplified Bible
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you who are upright and in right standing with Him]; shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 100:2 Amplified Bible
Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!

7. Put on love

Colossians 3:14 NKJV
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Jesus came and conquered the grave. It’s time you give your grave clothes over to Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life. He lives and wants you to have abundant life! He is all powerful and nothing, no one can take His power away.

God is bigger than any grave you may be carrying, pursuing, or wearing. It is up to you to let it all go and run to the resurrection and the life! Jesus came to give us all life, real life with meaning. He wants to heal your broken heart and bind up any wounds you may have from your past. When you receive Christ in your life, you have made the best decision you will ever make. It is an eternity decision. Where will you go after you die? If I were you, I would run to the One Who conquered the grave and holds the keys of death and hell. I would choose eternal life with Christ any day over eternity in Hell. Choose life!

Your sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.KrisBelfils.com
www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com
www.KrisBelfils.WordPress.com

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20 Things The Blood Of Jesus Does For Us!

20 Things the Blood of Jesus Does For usWe were born into a sinful world. Everyone of us. This world is corrupt, evil, fleshly, and worldly! Those terms all describe someone without God. This is you and I and what we were born into. The world will dive deeper and deeper into its own evil desires. It is human nature did you know that? Human nature is to look out for ourselves and to do what feels good to our flesh. Human nature doesn’t care about others as much as it cares for itself. All murder, rape, robbery, embezzlements come from our selfish human nature, not to mention the devil has his hand in all of that too. All unforgiveness, bitterness, grumbling and complaining, gossiping, and so much more stem from a fallen world. When God created it in the beginning, none of this was present until Adam and Eve disobeyed and ate from the fruit of good and evil. God knew it would happen and had a plan.

Jesus was crucified and paid the ultimate price for you and for me. His blood was shed on the cross for our salvation, but there is so much more that the blood of Jesus does for us. The blood of Jesus is powerful. Isn’t it any wonder that people try to get Jesus out of schools, politics, government, any institution and more. Truth can offend, and Jesus’ name offends many. But, if you embrace what He did for you and believe and receive it for your own life, it doesn’t offend, but saves you from God’s wrath and eternity in hell.

In this discussion we will look at twenty things the blood of Jesus does for us. This is powerful! I believe it will make you want to worship Jesus more and set you free from any evil that is trying to control you.

1.      It remits sins.

The word remit means: to transmit or send (money, a check, etc.) to a person or place, usually in payment, to refrain from inflicting or enforcing, as a punishment, sentence, etc., to refrain from exacting, as a payment or service, to pardon or forgive (a sin, offense, etc.), to slacken; abate; relax: to remit watchfulness (Dictionary.com)

Matthew 26:28 Amp
For this is My blood of the new covenant, which [ratifies the agreement and] is being poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus paid the price for our sins. His blood was shed. His blood had to be shed or there would be no remittence, or payment, or pardon for all the wrong the world has done. This is a done deal. Christ’s blood was spilt, therefore we have forgiveness if we receive this payment. We can refuse this powerful gift and not accept it. To me this would be crazy. It all comes down to believing. We either believe it happened or it didn’t. Your choice. But the prices was paid nevertheless and is available to all people.

2.      It gives life to those who consume it.

John 6:53 Amp
And Jesus said to them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, you cannot have any life in you unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood [unless you appropriate His life and the saving merit of His blood].

Whosoever by faith trusts in the death of Christ and spiritually partakes of the body and blood of Christ. So does he also who eats in loving remembrance of him the emblems that represent his body and blood. We take communion on a regular basis to remember what Christ did for us. We need His salvation for our spiritual lives. It is safe to say that If Christ is present, life is present, but when Christ is absent, then death is present.

We taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). Jesus Christ, the true Bread, is that to the soul which bread is to the body, nourishing and supporting the spiritual life. Our bodies couldn’t live without food and our souls can not live without Christ. Those who have received this Bread are to be the distributors of it to other hungry souls.

I am sure you have heard the term, “I am hungry for the Lord!” This means that the one saying it wants more of God. They want to receive more of Him in their life. They have spent time in His presence and it brings a craving for more. They have depleted what spiritual nourishment they had and their spiritual bodies need more to maintain and continue.

When we consume, believe, receive Christ’s selfless act on the cross we have His resurrected life in us.

3.      It causes us to dwell in Christ and He in us.

John 6:56 Amp
He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood dwells continually in Me, and I [in like manner dwell continually] in him.

Barnes Notes Commentary states: To dwell or abide in him is to remain in the belief of his doctrine, and in the participation of the benefits of his death. Jesus dwells in believers by his Spirit and doctrine. When his Spirit is given them to sanctify them; when his temper, his meekness, his humility, and his love pervade their hearts; when his doctrine is received by them and influences their life, and when they are supported by the consolations of the gospel, it may be said that he abides or dwells in them.

Jameson, Fasset, and Brown state: As our food becomes incorporated with ourselves, so Christ and those who eat His flesh and drink His blood become spiritually one life, though personally distinct.

Christ’s flesh is meat, food indeed; for the soul, partaken of by faith.

4.      It is the means by which Jesus purchased the church.

Acts 20:28 NKJV
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Jesus purchased the church by His shed blood. He literally died so the church would be established. This is powerful. I hear people telling me that the church is not something God established but man created it. This is not true. Christ died for the church and you and I are that church. Yahoo God made all things new!

5.      It is the means by which Jesus becomes our atonement through faith.

Romans 3:25 Amp
Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.

Jesus was our sacrifice and we receive this sacrifice through faith by His blood. We know in the Old Testament in order for you to be forgiven you had to offer a sacrifice on the altar. Blood had to be spilt. Something had to pay the price for your sin. Now, Jesus was that ultimate sacrifice. His blood was spilt for your sin.

Propitiation means: an atoning sacrifice (Webster’s Dictionary). It is a big word with a simple meaning: Jesus’ blood was shed for our sacrifice.

6.      It justifies us and saves us from wrath.

Romans 5:9 NKJV
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Romans 5:9 Amp
Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God.

We are justified which means to render just or innocent. We are innocent all because of the blood of Jesus. This means that God’s wrath will not come on us. Is God mad? No, but he is a just God and sin separates us from Him.

God hates sin and unrepentant sin receives His wrath (Romans 1:18-21). Sin is always an act of unbelief in that we choose to trust in ourselves although we have no excuse. God made a way for us to be rescued from His wrath. It is like having to take a test, but the teacher gives you all the answers. God has given us a way out from His wrath and eternal damnation and that is through His Son’s blood. We are justified (innocent) and saved all because of what Jesus did on the cross for you and I.

7.      It redeems us.

Eph. 1:7 Amp
In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor,

We all need a Savior. We all need forgiveness. Even if you don’t believe it, it is true. We need Someone to redeem us. Redemption means to “ransom in full” (Strongs Hebrew and Greek Definitions). We are delivered from sin and the evil consequences of sin because Jesus went and shed His blood.

1 Peter 1:18 – 19 Amp
You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold, But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot.

Nothing can purchase, redeem, ransom, us from eternal damnation except for the blood of Jesus! People have denied its power. But it still is strong and mighty to save from generation to generation. Christ blood will never lose its power, ever! No matter what man says, no matter what our circumstances, no matter what we think, Christ’s blood redeems us from all evil. We can stand in that! We can function in that! We are over-comers because of that! Whoot Whoot!

8.      It brings those who were far away from God near to Him.

Eph. 2:13 Amp
But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near.

In the Old Covenant (Old Testament) common people were not permitted to approach the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle. That is where God’s presence dwelt. It was a holy place. Only Priests were allowed to come and offer sacrifices for the people before God. This showed the distance from God to man was far away. But after Christ gave up His last breath, the veil of the curtain into the Holy of holies was ripped in two signifying an ultimate sacrifice was made and all mankind can now approach God through His Son. We are made close to God through the blood of Jesus.

The saints are a people near to God. Salvation is far from the wicked until they believe. Instantly, when we believe and receive what Christ did for us we are brought near to God. We owe Christ everything. We can commune with God daily. We have hope that God will not turn His wrath against us because He sees His Son when we approach His throne, and not our mistakes. Hallelujah!

9.      It grants us the forgiveness of sins.

Col. 1:14 Amp
In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.

We are forgiven. Common sense tells us that we have messed up and there is no “un-doing” our mistakes. But the blood of Jesus changes everything. It makes all things new: you and I. We are new. The blood of Jesus redeems us and therefore we are forgiven. It is only grace that we are saved through faith. Not of our works so we won’t and can’t boast about it. Each one of us deserves punishment for the wrong we have done. Yet, Christ’s shed blood represents our ransom paid and we don’t owe for our mistakes. We humble receive this and walk daily in obedience to God and His word. We don’t go back to the way we use to be before His blood and presence came and changed us. We don’t want to! When one has tasted freedom they don’t want to go back to bondage. It is only when we are deceived that we think the bondage is better then our freedom. Be wise to this tool of the enemy. Satan makes the right look wrong and the wrong look right. The more you read the Bible, and stay close to Jesus, the more you will see it as black and white instead of gray.

10.    It brings peace and reconciliation to God.

Col. 1:20 Amp
And God purposed that through ([a]by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled [b]back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross.

Col. 1:20 NKJV
And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Reconcile in the dictionary means: to restore to friendship or harmony. God reconciled mankind to himself, because of the fall, through the bloodshed of His Son’s blood. We are made right with God as born again believers.

Have you ever had a friendship that went sour and there was no peace. When you thought about what happened your peace was gone and all you experienced was torment and anguish? But when you were able to go and ask for forgiveness, or they came and asked for your forgiveness, your peace came back. True reconciliation will bring peace to every heart! This is healthy! Both parties need to give. In this case of Christ’s blood, God gave His Son, and we give our lives back to Him. It is a beautiful picture of reconciliation.

11.    It has obtained eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:12).

Heb. 9:12 Amp
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Eternal, no one can take this redemption away from you. It is everlasting redemption. Christ’s blood removes transgressions from the soul eternally. It will continue forever. It is not a temporary deliverance leaving the redeemed in danger of falling into sin and ruin. We can fall away and choose to walk away from God, but His redemption is always available for every soul.

This is called an eternal redemption, because it extends to the saints in all ages; backwards and forwards; it includes eternal life and happiness; and such as are sharers in it shall never perish, but shall be saved with an everlasting salvation (John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible).

12.    It cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Heb. 9:14 NKJV
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Cleanse your conscience… That is, purge, purify, or sanctify your conscience. Guilt is the main thing we harbor in our hearts after we have done something wrong. Offerings in the Old Testament gave external purification but never gave peace to a troubled conscience. It couldn’t remove the guilt when one would remember what they did. Guilt makes a us troubled when we think of death and the judgment; it is guilt only which alarms us when we think of a holy God; and it is nothing but guilt that makes the entrance into another world terrible and awful. If we had no guilt we would never dread our Maker, nor would the presence of our God be ever painful to us. If we had no guilt we would not fear to die – for what have the innocent to fear?

Christ’s blood removes our guilt from our conscience

Heb. 9:14 Amp
How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God?

Dead works? The works of sin are dead works. Duties themselves, performed without faith and love, are dead works; nor can they procure life. Even the works of believers themselves are sometimes performed in a very lifeless manner and can be dead works. Dead works are those things we do to try and be perfect, or to gain approval of man. Dead works is a huge category with much involved. Bottom line is dead works do not please God and will never get you to heaven. But Christ’s blood cleanses us from all of that so we can serve a living God wholeheartedly, and without shame. When we truly grab ahold of our salvation from Christ, we are set free from dead works and we no longer have to strive to be good or right with God. Christ’s blood immediately takes care of all of that. Then, we can’t boast about what we have done, no, all glory goes to Christ and we are humbled and in awe of Christ’s power of His blood!

13.    It is the means by which we enter the most holy place with boldness.

Heb. 10:19 Amp
Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus,

The word boldness can also be rendered liberty. We have full liberty to enter into the presence of God, and not only that, we have full liberty to enter into Heaven (The Holiest of holies) by Christ’s bloodshed. Before Christ died and entered into heaven, there was no such access to the throne of grace as man needed. Man had no offering which he could bring that would make him acceptable to God. But now the way was open. Access was free for all, and all might come with the utmost freedom.

This means we can boldly come to the throne of God with our praise and worship and with our petitions. We have access through the open door Christ made. How awesome is that?! We no longer have to go through a priest. Now, personally, we can enter into the presence of God 24/7 and will not be turned away. I love this. Truly I can’t imagine not being able to have this access. It is a beautiful thing. God’s presence changes everything. We get to access His presence when we pray. We get to come into the Holy of holies when we worship together. We get to boldly come to the throne of God with the boldness of Christ’s sufficiency and not our own! What wonderful communion and fellowship we now have all because of Christ’s shed blood.

14.    It speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Heb. 12:24 NIV
to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Cain killed Abel all because Abel’s sacrifice of the animal was received, but Cain’s sacrifice of the first fruits of the land was not. Why? Blood has to be shed for a true sacrifice in the Old Testament. Christ’s blood is a better sacrifice then Abel’s all the way around. Abel’s was received but he had to perform another sacrifice the next time he sinned. Today, Christ was the ultimate sacrifice and there will be no other. Christ willingly went to the cross where as Cain killed Abel and Abel’s blood was no sacrifice but was murder on Cain’s part.

A better word is that Christ’s blood covers it all; from when He first died, for past generations, present, to future generations, Christ sacrifice is complete and we don’t need another. God ordained this for all of us. We don’t have to wait for another divine sacrifice. Jesus was sacrificed and His blood speaks volumes.

15.    It sanctifies us.

Heb. 13:12 NKJV
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

Sanctify in the Webster’s Dictionary means: to make (something) holy, to give official acceptance or approval to (something). Jesus’ blood stamps God’s approval on your life. No matter what people think, or even what you think, God approves of you all because of Christ’s sacrifice. This sets us apart from the world. We have Christ’s mark or brand on us and we are His. We are fully loved and accepted by God through the blood of Christ.

16.    It makes us complete for every good work.

Heb. 13:20 – 21 NKJV
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

By ourselves we are not complete, we are not perfect. But with Christ we are complete and perfect. I love the cross of Christ. I’ve written songs about the cross and what Jesus has done for me. One of my songs is entitled; “Cross of Grace.” It speaks of seeing all the wrong I have done and scared of what others may think of me. I remember writing the song out of my own struggles. One day God showed me this huge cross, bigger then my house, and said, “You can hide behind that!” The realization of hiding behind Christ’s cross makes people see what Christ did and not my own works. Christ’s blood completed me and changed my mistakes into a beautiful message of brokenness. Christ’s blood makes me complete for anything He has called me to do. If anyone questions me ministering for God I just hide behind Christ’s cross and they can’t question that, ever!

There will be times you will be promoted, not because of your merits, but because of Who you belong too. God’s favor, because of His Son’s blood, goes before us and makes a way where there seem to be noway. People have questioned what I do, but they can’t question what Christ has done in me!!! That is why the criminal in jail, who comes to know Jesus, gets a pardon, or transforms their life for God’s glory and speaks of His goodness. No one can argue with a testimony. What God did in you is truth, and you are complete for every good work He will have you do.

17.    It cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

1 John 1:7 Amp
But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

Walking in the light may include the three following things: 1. Leading lives of holiness and purity, being a light in the world. 2. Walking in and embracing the Truth, even when someone opposes you. 3. Enjoying the comforts of your faith which includes the joy it gives.

Christ’s blood cleanses and removes all sin from our life. To any and every sin that we are aware of, there is power in that blood to remove it, and to make us wholly pure. There is no stain made by sin so deep that the blood of Christ cannot take it entirely away from us.

The Bible tells us that God casts all our sins into the depths of the sea, never to be seen again (Micah 7:19). As far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12). It is not a part of us any longer. It is removed from us. When God sees you He doesn’t see our mistakes, no, He sees His Son and what His Son has done for you. He sees a cleansed vessel who shines for His glory.

18.    It bears witness in the earth along with the Spirit and the water.

1 John 5:8 KJV
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

How did water, blood, and spirit bear witness to the fact that “Jesus is the Son of God”? Water was a witness bearer because when Jesus was baptized in water, Jehovah himself expressed His approval of him as His Son. (Matt. 3:17) Jesus’ blood, or life, given as “a corresponding ransom for all,” also showed that Jesus is God’s Son. (1 Tim. 2:5, 6) And the holy spirit testified that Jesus is the Son of God when it descended upon him at his baptism, enabling him to go “through the land doing good and healing all those oppressed by the Devil.”—John 1:29-34; Acts 10:38.

The blood is a witness along with the Spirit and the water that Jesus was the Son of God and takes away the sins of the world.

19.    It is the means by which Jesus washes us.

Rev. 1:5 Amp
And from Jesus Christ the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead [first to be brought back to life] and the Prince (Ruler) of the kings of the earth. To Him Who ever loves us and has [once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood,

How can blood wash away our sins? Christ has removed the pollution of sin from our souls by his blood; that is, his blood has been applied to cleanse us from sin. Blood can be represented as having a cleansing power only as it makes an atonement (Webster: the reconciliation of God and humankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ) for sin.

Christ’s blood does wash us white as snow. We are pure and holy all because of what Jesus did for us. When we receive His atonement our sins are washed away! I love this! We no longer have spots or blemishes, or wrinkles, we are pressed and cleaned through the blood of Jesus.

20.    It is the means by which we overcome the accuser of the brethren.

Rev. 12:11 Amp
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

The word, “They” in this passage represents the church. The blood of Jesus overcomes the devil! The enemy thought he conquered the church by killing Jesus, but he only set Jesus up to be resurrected in power and glory!!! That is why we can say, “By the power of Christ’s blood satan you are defeated. You have no power!” We can apply the blood of Christ with our words over our homes, children, church, finances, relationships, and anything that needs to be overcome from the accuser.

The accuser of the brethren is the devil himself. He will accuse you of your past and that you are not forgiven; which is a lie! Satan will feed you lies in your mind to try and deceive you into thinking there is no power in what Christ did on the cross. Be aware of this. Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy. Don’t listen to the accusations either. Overcome the enemy by the power of Christ’s blood. It is finished and complete.

So much we can learn from the blood of Jesus. We will always have power when we stay connected to the power source! There is power in the blood of Jesus!

From one blood bought child of God to another,

Pastor Kris Belfils
http://www.KrisBelfils.com
http://www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com
http://www.KrisBelfils.WordPress.com

 

Content written by Pastor Kris Belfils, the list was from:

20 Things the Blood of Jesus Does

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What’s Behind Door Number 1, 2, or 103?

Whats Behind Door #1, Door #2, or Door #103

Matthew 20:16b Amp

“For many are called, few are chosen.”

It is said with regard to those who do not profit by their opportunities that “many are called, but few are chosen.”

Many people are called to great and amazing things. The world should be amazed at Christians.  We should be the world’s heroes. People need heroes. They need somebody to look up too. They need somebody to admire, somebody to point them in the right direction.

Every little kid loves to play superheroes! I remember my daughters, when they were younger, loved to pretend they had superpowers. Playing with their cousins in the swimming pool and all of them deciding what superpower they would have.  One would be able to be invisible, while another would have superhuman strength. One of their cousins couldn’t come up with something so she just said, “Superpowers” as they were all swimming in the pool. Cute!

If we provided the world with an example of Jesus they would be encouraged and given hope!

Many are called, few are chosen.

Many are called to do great things but few will do great things, Why? Because few will take responsibility for the call. It doesn’t end with a call, that’s where the work starts. First comes the call, then comes the work, then comes the sacrifice, then comes the never giving up, and then comes the “going all the way through.”

A lot of people are called to do great things but we have a wrong mindset, a wrong mentality about what God is asking us to do.

Everybody has equal opportunity. Everybody has all the power of God available to them but not everybody is willing to do their part. One of the things we can not delegate, and I am a great delegator, you can not delegate personal responsibility.

Personal responsibility comes with a price. Time, energy, and maybe even our money. There are many distractions that can prevent us from fulfilling what God wants us to do with our life.

We have to fight distractions. Don’t allow the distraction to win. If you vier off course, get back on. No excuses. Be tenacious in achieving or fulfilling what God has called you to do. Discouragement, fear, regret, and much more can prevent us from fulfilling the call.

Doors of distraction come when you are least expecting it. Get your mind made up and stay focused. Someone calls you to go have lunch and they are paying, be ready to say, “No, I better take a raincheck because I have my mind made up to finish what I have started.”

DISTRACTION THIEVES

1 Corinthians 16:9 ESV

“For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

God will open up doors of opportunity to us. Remember Many are called and few are chosen. We all have potential for success and doing great things in life. The enemy doesn’t want you to succeed with your call because it will inevitably take territory away that he has stolen. His game is to steal, kill, and destroy, so anything that is contrary to that, he will attack. His attack comes in many schemes. One of his biggest is to distract a faith-filled person from their call and their passion and purpose.

I was reading about a new crime wave in the United States. It is called Distraction Thieves, and it happens more often than you might imagine. Frequently, seniors citizens and people who are not aware of their surroundings, are the targets of Distraction Thieves.

A Distraction Theft usually is performed by at least two people, although some distraction thieves work alone. When two people work the scam as a team, it usually involves one person distracting the victim, while the other helps themselves to the victim’s unattended belongings. These crafty thieves accomplish their distraction in a variety of ways and will use every trick in the book to get inside your home. They may come to the door as a team, pretending to be inspectors, utility workers or sales people for pest control businesses, roofing companies or other home improvements.

Once inside your home, the crime will begin. Working as a team, one of the thieves will engage the victim in a conversation or phone sales pitch to divert the victim’s attention while the other thief sneaks away to swipe the victim’s belongings.

Other distraction thieves prefer to work alone. They go house-to-house knocking on doors. If no one answers, the thief may go around to the rear of the house and look for any easy way to get in. If someone answers the door, the thief will try a variety of excuses to try to trick you into letting them in your home. Here are some of the distraction thief’s most common lines: I’m here to check your pipes, check your telephone line, check the water, you’ve won a prize or I’ve lost my pet. Others will ask for a glass of water, a pen or piece of paper to jot down a note or ask permission to use your toilet.

Once inside, it’s a green light for the thief to distract you long enough to case your home for valuables and find an excuse to be alone to take what is yours.

This happens in our Christian life too. We can have good intentions to start something, and even get part way through it, and then something distracts us and we never finish what we started. We need to learn how to recognize Distraction Thieves in our own life and how to deal with them.

Distraction thieves come in many forms and causes us to chase after many doors that were never opened to us. I believe satan puts these doors of distraction before us to prevent us from accomplishing a task that God has given. Thus the title to this message: Door #1, Door #2, or Door #103! We end up with so many doors, or so much on our plate, which God never intend for us to have.

1.  Distraction Thieves rob you of your focus.

This is the primary goal of a distraction. Some distractions are unpreventable like needing to help a child, but most of the distractions in our life are preventable and conquerable.

Even while I was studying and writing down some notes on this message I found myself being distracted all the time. I would be studying and then a thought would come to my mind; “I need to get something to drink.” So I would get up to get a cup of coffee and then remember I didn’t make my bed that morning, so I went into my bedroom and made the bed. While I was there I noticed some things that needed to be picked and put away. I stopped and realized I was a victim of DISTRACTION THIEVES and quickly went back to my table and started to study again. Then my phone would send me a notification and distract me to look at what or who it was. I had to turn off my phone. Then go back to work on my message. Then my dogs were outside and started to bark from someone passing by and I had to go and let them inside to prevent them from disturbing the neighborhood. You see there will always be distractions. Some we can stop, while others need our attention.

A distraction thief in church is someone getting up to go get a drink, or snack, or go to the bathroom, etc. This is what happens: Mrs. Jones decides she is thirsty. She gets up from the middle of row three and has to walk in front of all sitting in row three. All those behind row three now have noticed Mrs. Jones getting up. They are not paying attention to the speaker and their message, but all their focus is now on Mrs. Jones. They start to assess her clothes and what she is wearing. They start to wonder where she is going, all the while the pastor is up front speaking to just a few who didn’t see Mrs. Jones get up. DISTRACTION THIEVES!

2. Distraction thieves steal valuables.

TIME. One of the most valuable things God has given us is a new day. With a new day comes 24 hours. Within those 24 hours we usually have between 16 to 18 hours of awake time. What are you accomplishing during that time. Do you use your time wisely? The Bible tells us to number our days (Psalm 90:12). This means to not waste them but be wise with them.

Don’t allow your time to be stolen. Ask God to help you order your day and to stay focused. We can never make up the time we have wasted, but we sure can do something great in the gift of a new day God gives. Today is a new day! Allow God to be your all in all everyday and see what You and Him can accomplish together!

PEACE. We can get anxious and worry about circumstances in our life and this makes us lose our peace. Losing our peace distracts us onto a hamster wheel of spinning around and  around and getting no where.

Another distraction peace robber is being too competitive. We are too focused on being the  best, being first, or always showing you know things better then others. Let go of this distraction because there will ALWAYS be another person around who has a higher score. Just relax and enjoy the life God has given you. Some say a little competition is good for you. But I believe with some personalities it feeds the competitive monster and it only gets bigger. We are not hear on earth to compete with each other but to complete each other, Amen!

Having peace is valuable. It brings rest to our spirit.

PURPOSE. We are here on this earth to give God glory, telling others about Him, and communing with our glorious Lord. To live a life of obedience and integrity in honor of our King. Being distracted will take away from all this and steer us possibly onto a road never intended for you to go down.

Protect your relationship with Christ. Treat it as the most precious thing you have (which it is). Be determined to fulfill your purpose on this earth that God intended for you to have. As a Christian we need to remember that we have value and God planned for you to be born for His glory and pleasure. It is a privilege and honor to worship Him because He is worthy. We were also formed for fellowship in God’s family. That is why we are to go and fellowship with the body of Christ.

Hebrews 10:25 Amplified Bible

“Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.”

As a Christian we were created to be more like Jesus everyday. Think about any distraction that has changed your focus from this and walk away from it. We have Christ living within us as a born again Christian and we are shaped to serve God in any way and in any area that is needed. Serving God and others brings much joy because it takes the focus off of you and your problems. Your purpose is NOT to receive all the time. Your purpose also is to give. Are you a giver? Have you shared your heart and testimony with others?

3. Distraction Thieves prevent us from moving forward.

We all like momentum and increase. Things build on other things. Speed can build more speed. We can see it at a construction sight how the foundation has to be built first before the first floor, and the first floor has to be built before the top floor.

Luke 14:28 NKJV

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.”

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FynWETakS9U

Getting things accomplished, learning new things, progressing and growing in our relationship with Christ and others. Everyone has a purpose on this earth. We can get distracted from the call on our life by many things and this distraction prevents, or at least puts it on hold; progress.

LAZINESS. Do you know laziness is a distraction thief? It is! It prevents us from being who we are in Christ. I don’t think anyone is called to laziness. We are all created for a purpose. Laziness can stop your forward progress, and possibly prevent you from ever doing or going anywhere in Christ. “Well I am too tired to go to church!” “It is too hard to keep on keeping on!” “Why do I always have to do it an no body else?” Excuses, whining and complaining, got the children of Israel nowhere. If you are tired, find time to rest and rejuvenate yourself. Sometimes we need to take a vacation. That is what vacations are for: rest and rejuvenation! This is not what I am talking about. What I am referring to is plane old being lazy. Lazy with your walk with Christ. Lazy in doing anything in life.

IMPATIENCE. Impatience can prevent us from moving forward. Our impatience is a sign of pride and selfishness. It is all about you and what you want. Have you ever been driving your car in front of an impatient driver? They honk their horn, wave their fist, swerve all over, speed recklessly, just to get a head of you. This causes accidents. It causes anxiety in the person who is impatient, and also to those around them, and most of the time it never gets them quicker to where they are going. Obey the laws of the land and follow them. There are reasons why they are in place. They are there for our safety.

Are you an impatient person? Learn some self-control and not get upset when things don’t go your way. It is not all about you all the time! There might be reasons why your boss or authority in your life wants things done the way they do them. Just relax, honor their position, and do what is required with a submissive attitude. Don’t be impatient with God. Surely He knows what is best for your life.

SIN. Doing things that are not okay, is not okay! Sin immediately stops our forward motion. It separates us from God. We can’t candy-coat sin and think we will be okay either. Sin is sin. Doing something that God warns us not to do is sin. It is wrong. Now before you get all mercy and grace over this realize God loves you and has a blueprint for your life called the Bible to live by. The Bible is not a ticket to establish legalism or to be free to do as you please. God has set up important guidelines for Christians to follow.

Sin takes us down a long hard, distractive road that is destructive. It steals our joy. It hurts our relationship with God. It can cause harm to those we love. It distorts our view of what is right and wrong. It makes you see through dark glasses which creates its own world of bondage and no hope. That is why God has placed in His Word warnings and also help when it comes to sin. That is why He sent His son. To help us be set free from sin and all the wrong we have done in life.

Sin is deceptive. We might not even know we are sinning. What is truth gets distorted and we decide we are okay and give into our fleshly desires all the more.

If you are caught up in sin, there is hope. Look at your life. Are you really truly at peace and have joy? When we are doing something we know we shouldn’t do, we will not have true peace and joy. We will have turmoil, guilt, darkness, shame, regrets, and so much more. The easiest and quickest way to get out of sin is to repent: confess and ask for forgiveness and then never go back to it again. This will turn your bondage into freedom instantly!

For the sake of time these are just a few Distraction Thieves. I am sure the Holy Spirit is showing you more in your life even now. Recognize them and learn how to deal with them. How about the self-pity door or the people pleaser door just to name a few more?

From one Distraction fighter to another,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.KrisBelfils.com

www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com

www.KrisBelfils.wordpress.com

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Brokenness

brokenness_wide_t_nv

Matthew 16:24 – 25 NKJV

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

GIVING UP CONTROL: BROKENNESS

It is human nature to look out for yourself. You don’t have to teach a baby this. One of their first words they may say is, “Mine!” Parents work hard at teaching their children to share and to look out for others.

 “The pronouns “my” and “mine” look innocent enough in print, but their constant and universal use is significant. They express the real nature of the old Adamic man better than a thousand volumes of theology could do. They are verbal symptoms of our deep disease. The roots of our hearts have grown down into things, and we dare not pull up one rootlet lest we die. Things have become necessary to us, a development never originally intended. God’s gifts now take the place of God, and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstrous substitution.”

A. W. Tozer “The Pursuit Of God”

We can be controlling and stingy at times. What does it mean to give God control of our lives? If we give God control, will He totally change us into something we don’t want to be? After all, allowing God to have control, with His time and purposes, takes too long.

How many of you have “helped” God out by going ahead with your own idea of what should happen?

Even if God birthed within us a vision or a goal, we try to hurry up the process in our own wisdom and power. But all we end up doing is make a mess of things.

We either do one of two things when it comes to control:

1. We don’t wait and take control our self.

a. We can see this mistake with Sarai (Sarah).

Genesis 16 (recap) Sarai had her Egyptian maid, Hagar, conceive Abraham’s child and Ishmael was born. Eventually, in God’s time, He allowed Sarai to conceive and Isaac was born. The two brothers fought, and their descendants fight to this day.

Sarai knew the promise that God gave Abram that his descendants would be as many as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5).

Sarai had yet to give Abram a child. She was old and well past child bearing years.

Genesis 16 shows us what happens when we try to make something happen in our time instead of waiting on God for His time and purpose.

When we don’t wait for God’s time, and try to make things happen in our own time, only mistakes are made. Waiting is one of the hardest things for us humans to do, but when we do, we are blessed.

Our self-sufficiency can destroy us and our pride will prevent God’s favor and blessing to manifest in our lives.

The flesh is hard to tame. The only thing that will tame it is to lay it down at Christ’s feet and say, “Have your way in me.”

2. We submit and give God control

          a. Jesus gave up control to the Father when He literally laid down His life for His Father’s will.

Jesus said it well in Matthew 26:39b (Amplified Bible) “…My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire.”

The process of surrendering our all to Christ can be a difficult and painful process, yet extremely rewarding once we do it.

Philippians 1:21 (NKJV)

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Dealing with your flesh

Now dealing with your flesh is hard. Your flesh or your will, doesn’t want to die.

It will scream out at you to stop. It will scream out in self-pity to have its way. Be aware of it when the time comes for you to let go of your control to God. If self-pity wins, sin has won. Press through the pain of letting go of your will. You will feel uncomfortable.

Peter, when he stepped outside of the boat, I’m sure, felt uncomfortable. His flesh said, “This doesn’t feel right.” “I’ve never felt this way before.” His spirit wanted to reach Jesus, but his flesh wanted to go back to the familiar (the boat) and be safe and comfortable again.

The world will tell you to look out for yourself, stand up for your rights, but God requires us to be broken and have a contrite heart.

Psalm 51:17 NKJV

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and contrite heart – These, O God, You will not despise.”

It’s never fun to die. It costs us something. Our will has to die. Flesh wants to run when it is costly or painful.

Amy Wilson, with the Christian Literature Crusade, expresses this thought well:

“God, harden me against myself,

The coward with pathetic voice

Who craves for ease and rest and joy.

Myself, arch-traitor to myself,

My hollowest friend,

My deadliest foe,

My clog, whatever road I go.”

A. W. Tozer states in “The pursuit of God” about dying to our flesh: “You have to pull it from its roots. The ancient curse will not go out painlessly; the tough old miser within us will not lie down and die obedient to our command. He must be torn out of our heart like a plant from the soil; he must be extracted in agony and blood like a tooth from the jaw. He must be expelled from our soul by violence as Christ expelled the money changers from the temple. And we shall need to steel ourselves against his piteous begging, and to recognize it as springing out of self-pity, one of the most reprehensible sins of the human heart.”

Sounds like fun, right! Our flesh will scream to have its way. We are only deceiving our self if we let it win. Part of our flesh is our pride. Pride comes in so many packages. One big package is our stubborn will.

There has to be brokenness within us to bring us to the place of giving God control.

What is brokenness? 

I think brokenness is more an attitude than an incident. There are many elements to brokenness.

1. Brokenness is a state of true humility.

a. We can try and be humble, but true humility is realizing our need for God. It is a knowing that life evolves around Him and not us.

b. True humility is a heart that wants to continually please God first and foremost above our own needs and wants.

c. True humility will prove itself. It proves the one whom it represents.

If we are walking in true humility, we will not want to be seen, or to be first in line, or to be expecting others to wait on us.

d. True humility will look out for the interests of others instead of always looking out for itself.

e. A true sign of humility is a person who is willing to serve, even when no one is looking. Are you a true humble servant?

2. Brokenness is the absence of pride.

There is a kind of pride that has a “Look at me” spirit attached to it. When you see it in others, it leaves a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach. Have you ever watched American Idol or some other talent show? There are contestants who think they are “all that!” and there are contestants who are humble. Often those who think more highly of themselves then they should never make it on the show. They usually get mad and start shouting profanities because they didn’t get to go on to Hollywood and continue with the contest.

I’ve encountered prideful people many times as a Pastor and a Worship Leader working with a teams or people in the congregation. Satan fell from heaven because of his pride (Isaiah 14:12 – 15). I can see why worship team members may struggle with wanting to be seen, and even churches struggle over what kind of music is to be played during the service.

When working with teams, I’ve found the members who have pride built up in their hearts are the hardest to work with. The truly broken, humble members will want to help out in any way or in any place there is a need. Prideful members will want to be seen and want to have their way.

Those members, who have pride in their hearts, eventually will have to choose between two choices.

When pride is in our hearts, we have one of two choices we can make;

1.  We will finally notice the pride and want to change

2.  We will harden our hearts and continue deeper in our pride. This could possibly lead to destruction.

Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Isaiah 64:6 NKJV

“But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Since experiencing first hand the destruction from my own pride, I’ve tried to warn other people of this possibility, but the only true school is the school of hard knocks. We all have to live it to really understand it.

Pride is an element that will defile us if never addressed. It’s easy to allow pride to build and grow in our hearts. It’s easy to shrug it off, as if it is not important. If you don’t think you have a lot of pride in you, don’t be deceived, everyone is susceptible to “pride buildup.”

Mark 7:20 – 23 (NKJV)

“And He (Jesus) said, ‘What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.’”

We should never think we can handle pride. Always lay the compliments people give you at the foot of the cross and leave it there. These “jewels” that were given to you are really Christ’s.

There is much grace for those that rid pride from their lives. It is an on going process. We will always be tempted with pride or self sufficiency, especially if you are in ministry of some sort. Practice laying down your pride and self will before God.

After pride was revealed in my heart, brokenness came. I saw and smelled the stench of my righteousness. I have seen first hand what my pride caused in the lives of so many people.

How does brokenness come?

►We can make bad choices

►Circumstances out of our control (Someone or something happened to you)

►We come to the reality of our humanity compared to God’s holiness and wisdom

►We come to the end of ourselves. (Prodigal son)

3.  Brokenness makes us reach up to God (Someone Who is bigger then us).

As a human, we are “fixer.” We try to fix the problem like Sarah and we end up making a bigger mess. I arrived there from my own hands of my attempted suicide. How could I have come to that place? I use to be able to trust myself in hard times. Never did I think I would ever try and kill myself… Have you ever thought that?

It has been many years now since that dreadful dark time in my life, but from that time came brokenness in my heart which I desperately needed.

I’ve thought long and hard about brokenness and what it really means spiritually.

Brokenness is…

…The realization of who I am compared to God.

…A true humility and submissive heart to God.

…A heart’s cry of desperation to a loving God.

…Waiting on God’s time, not mine.

…Laying down my crowns and dreams for God’s

…Not wanting my will, but God’s

…Letting go of my control to God.

…A heart of obedience and thankfulness towards God.

…A realization of my self-righteousness compared to God’s

…A knowing that I’m lost without God.

Why is it so important to be broken before the Lord? 

1.  Our pride can keep us from a close relationship with God.

1 Peter 5:5b (NKJV)

“…God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

2.  Being broken automatically gives us a teachable heart. It gives us grace to walk through any struggle or circumstance humbly and with open ears to wise counsel.

3.  When we are broken and humble before God it makes us more sensitive to others and their needs. We have compassion and understanding towards others and what they are going through. If you lack compassion, chances are you are prideful.

4.  God can use broken things more than He can use rigid things.

Brokenness and pride cannot coexist. God cannot use a person who is not broken and completely surrendered to Him. We need to be pliable in God’s hands. Remember His is the Potter and we are the clay.

“A lack of brokenness causes a person who is used by God to become proud and arrogant. However, when one is broken, their heart resists pride. Therefore, they can be used to a greater degree.”

Pastor Cho, Seoul Korea

Broken things God used: (“Broken to be used!”)

1.  Jesus was broken, yielding to His heavenly Father’s wishes instead of His own. (Luke 22:42) He allowed His precious body to be broken for all of us.

2.  Jesus took the five loaves of bread and broke them to feed the huge crowd (Mark 8:1 – 10)

3.  The sinful woman brought the costly perfumed oil and broke it and poured it on Christ’s feet. It meant nothing until she broke it open and poured it out for her Savior (Matthew 26:7, Mark 14:3, and Luke 7:37).

God uses broken things. Brokenness causes repentance and desperation for Him. There has to be a deep brokenness in us to experience all that God has for us. Broken vessels for God’s glory. Relying upon His sufficiency not ours. This moves the heart of God!

At my point of brokenness, all I could do was cry. When people would come and talk to me about my past, I was tearfully broken. I couldn’t stop the tears.

Sometimes brokenness is all we have to offer people. This is a good place to be. God can take our brokenness—our nothing, and multiply it into something. God is working on our behalf. We can trust Him in the middle of our brokenness.

Where are you today? Where is your heart? Do you have pride or arrogance built up in your heart? Have you tried to fix things on your own? Have you given your control back to God?

God never allows brokenness to come without making you whole again. You will see how much God loves you, and to what extent He will go too bring total and complete healing into your life from any circumstance you’ve experienced in the past, or what you may be going through right now. Trust God to bring healing and wholeness to your life. He never leaves you incomplete. Unlike human nature, God’s nature is to fix us. First He usually brings us to a place where we see our humanity and then, once we discover humility, God starts the healing process in us in such a way we are totally and completely healed of any pride. Then, somehow, someway God makes beauty from ashes, especially the ashes that were started by our own match we lit.

You will be triumphant as you walk humbly with God and others. God is good all the time, even when He brings correction into our lives. Yield to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. You will be forever changed for God’s glory. It’s a safe place to be in the Potter’s hands.

Blessing,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.krisbelfils.wordpress.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

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Does God Order Our Steps? (5 Steps in our Walk in Life)

We are all on a journey. This journey is to the heart of God. This journey is to be more like Jesus more and more each day. It is to live our lives and follow God’s direction. This journey is to the purpose and destiny God planned for us. But how does one travel on this journey? Each one of us use a certain form of transportation as we go. It is the steps we take in our walk with God. We are all confronted with decisions and choices. We need guidance and wisdom to make the right steps.

Life is a walk. Each day we take steps. Our tomorrow is determined by the steps we take today.

One thing I’ve found out in my own walk: 

-When I am following God’s word and obeying His voice, I step correctly.

-When I try to do things on my own, or ignore God’s word, I end up taking the wrong steps, and find myself down a road I never wanted to be on.

Did you know that the words, “Path, steps, ways, walk, and go” can all express our journey?

Psalm 119:105 (KJV)

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

I like how the Contemporary English Version stats it:

(CEV)  “Your word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk.”

And the Message expresses it this way:

(MSG)  “By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.”

We all need a “beam of light on our dark path.” God is the light of the world! He is Light.

1 John 1:5 

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”

Why not ask the God of light to show you where to take your next step? Stormie Omartian states in her book; “Just Enough Light For The Step I’m On:”

“Sometimes only the step I’m on, or the very next one ahead, is all that is illuminated for me. God gives just the amount of light I need for the exact moment I need it. At those times I walk in surrender to faith, unable to see the future and not fully comprehending the past. And because it is God who has given me what light I have, I know I must reject the fear and doubt that threaten to overtake me. I must determine to be content where I am, and allow God to get me where I need to go. I walk forward, one step at a time, fully trusting that the light God sheds is absolutely sufficient.”

Stormie Omartian

(Copyright 1999 by  Harvest House Publishers)

There have been many times in my life I didn’t know what to do in some desperate or troubled times. I would seek God and ask Him for direction. Sometimes He did not answer as quick as I would like. During the waiting time, I would love His word and walk in His ways. I did this because I love Him, not because I am obligated. There is pleasure in obedience. We worship God with our obedience. God honors our obedience and brings blessings to us. King David spoke about walking in His righteousness and how that pleased God;

2 Samuel 22:20 – 25, 33 & 34, 37 (TNIV)

20)“He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I am not guilty of turning from my God. All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight…33)It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and causes me to stand on the heights…37)You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.”

One might read this passage and think David is full of himself, and pride and arrogance. We can have a critical eye and think David is full of self-righteousness. But these passages are not written from an arrogant heart. They are from a heart who knows he is walking in obedience to God’s word. David realized that God rewards and helps those who follow His laws. David wrote what He saw God do in his own life.

I write in my journal often. It is literally writing my heart to God. I look at David’s writings as his journaling to God. He poured out his thoughts and emotions, and expressed praise of what God had done in his life!

God does reward and direct the steps of the righteous!

Psalm 37:23 & 24 (KJV)

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”

Rejoice for the steps of a righteous man or woman are ordered of God. God does order our steps as we follow and obey Him. We can be comforted to know that His rod and staff are there to correct and guide us (Psalm 23:4).

Good News; our Good Shepherd is always with us guiding our every step. If we start to veer to the right or the left too much, the Good Shepherd comes with His staff of guidance, and His rod of correction, and gently nudges us back on the path we are to take. Our job is to yield to His correction. If we don’t heed to His gentle nudges, God will use His rod and staff a little firmer until we change our direction, even if it takes breaking our legs (like shepherds have to do at times to the sheep) to bring the correction. He will help us heal and to stay on the right path if we yield to His correction.

We are such creatures of habit and so resistant to change that God sometimes has to shut off the way things were in our lives so He can bring us into the way He wants us to be. New beginnings don’t happen without something ending.

Steps in our walk with God

Step 1. Seek God’s will. 

If you don’t know what to do about a decision you are facing right now, seek God and ask Him for direction. Stop trying to figure it out with your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 & 6(NKJV)

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

We need God’s wisdom! Our own understanding or thinking can be wrong. Seek the Lord when faced with a major decision. Seek God’s wisdom in every area of your life.

King Solomon gave great advise to his son about wisdom and we should do the same.

Proverbs 4:10 – 12, 18, 26 – 27 (NKJV)

“Hear my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble… But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.”

Remember that the choices we make today will mold our tomorrow. Think about the steps you are taking today. Are they good steps? Are you stepping correctly?

Ask God to help you make good choices. We need to give up our control and allow God to have control of our lives. He knows what we need. He knows what steps we need to take and why, this is why we need to seek God’s will.

Step 2. Look for His direction. 

He will show you where to walk if you would just look for His direction. Sometimes God directs us through His word. Other times He directs us through hearing Him speak in our hearts. God uses people, places, and even things to direct us and get our attention.

God can place a thought in your heart and then confirm it by His word or by other ways. God will always confirm what He has been speaking to you. A friend might say something that pricks your heart to what God has said to you earlier. You might be driving down the road and you notice something and it brings to mind what God has spoken in your heart earlier.

There are never coincidences in a Christian’s life. Those so called, “coincidences” are really God speaking to you and giving you direction. Don’t overlook God’s confirmations and His flashes of light to bring vision to your path. You asked God for direction, receive it as an answer and take action.

Step 3. Obey what God tells you to do. 

We can find ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time simply because we didn’t do what God was telling us to do, or we neglected to ask Him what we were supposed to be doing before we made decisions. Or perhaps we asked Him, but we failed to wait for an answer before we went ahead and did what we wanted to do. So much grief can be avoided by living an obedient life.

We serve a God who will pick us up if we fall or stumble. God knows we have trouble hearing Him. He is patient with us. Remember; the closer you get to God, the easier it is to hear His voice! I encourage you to snuggle right up into His lap and rest there knowing He receives you and wants to be close to you too. When you are in God’s lap, and leaning on His chest, you truly hear His heartbeat, and know His voice. It is a safe place.

If we make a mistake and fail, God will not condemn us. That is the work of the enemy. When we make a mistake, and come to the Father for mercy, He will give mercy.

What ever you need from God today; be it direction, love, acceptance, wisdom, financial healing, emotional healing, or whatever you need, God will always receive you and listen to your cry for help.

Step 4. Never be in a hurry.

Don’t be in a hurry to make something happen in your life. That will only lead to a mistake. Steps take time. A baby never learns how to run first, they learn how to walk. Their steps are clumsy and unstable. That is the same way we are too. Don’t be ashamed of your “baby steps” you are taking right now. They will eventually lead to bigger steps and take you places you’ve never been before.

If I am pressured to make a decision, I see it as a “red-flag.” I’ve learned to wait and not make a decision under pressure. When in doubt… wait! It doesn’t hurt to wait a few hours, a day, or even longer.

Make sure while you are waiting that you don’t take things in your own hands. Too often people don’t wait for God’s direction. They think God didn’t hear or he is taking too long to answer, so they decide to take a step on their own, in their own wisdom. This is a wrong choice. The word “wait” use to be a four letter word to me. Well it still is, but it was hard for me to wait. I wanted the answer right away and I wanted it my way. But God requires us to wait sometimes. It doesn’t necesarily mean you did something wrong and the answer is “no.” We humans give up  too easily on God and waiting for His answer. Remember to not be in a hurry. God’s time table and ours can be two different things. Trust that God is working on your behalf. It takes time to work out the details for your miracle, especially if another person is part of your answer. God is working on their heart too. God weaves circumstances together, at just the right time, to bring our answer. You might be ready, but someone or something else isn’t.

God is not a God to pressure you into a decision. That is the character of our advisory, the devil. When God directs, He will allow you time to make a choice. Remember He is gentle and loving. He never pressures you to quickly make a choice.

God will direct your steps and show you what path you are to walk as you give Him control and desire what He desires. If you are confused as to what to do in a decision you have to make, now is the time to seek what God wants. Lay down your desires and listen and wait for God to direct you into what path your feet are to walk.

How do we know we are walking in God’s path for our life?

Deut. 8:6  (HCSB)

“So keep the commands of the LORD your God by walking in His ways and fearing Him.” 

Obey the Lord and His instructions of His word. This is walking in His ways. Do it with a loving heart to please your Lord. God will always bless an obedient heart.

Step 5. Take a step!

We can go from one end of the pendulum swing to the other. At one end we are in a hurry and step too quickly into something, and on the other end, we never take a step at all. God wants balance in your life. He wants to bring you to a place you are not one extreme or the other. Again, this is part of trusting God. It is also self-control.

Sometimes fear grips our hearts and it frightens us to not do anything. We are afraid of making the wrong choice. We are afraid of failing. But if God has shown you something to do, step out in faith and take a step, even if you are afraid. Joyce Meyers has a saying, “Do it afraid!” 

God will meet you in your act of faith and soon your fear will turn into strength to endure the unknown. It will feel awkward to step out in something you’ve never done before or walk where you’ve never walked before. I am sure Peter, when He stepped out of the boat onto the water, felt awkward. His flesh felt uncomfortable because he never stepped onto water before. Peter pushed past his fear, and pushed past what his flesh felt like. He took the first step and began to walk on water.

Your flesh will scream at you to STOP! Flesh wants comfort. Flesh wants its own way. When you die to your flesh, and press into what God has for you, you step into a repositioning of God. Joseph was thrown into a pit. It was not at all the dream he had of his brothers bowing down to him. What looked like a demotion, God was making it his first step in his promotion.

Remember baby steps lead to bigger steps. It was a process Joseph had to go through to see the dreams from God come to completion. In the meantime, he lived an upright life and loved the Lord in all he did. God does not look away from that. As a matter of fact, it draws God to us. Joseph’s steps were ordered of the Lord because he was a good man who followed His God.

I would like to share from my journaling I wrote when God was teaching me how to walk.

“The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord. I am righteous because of what Your Son did on the cross for me. I am Your righteousness.  I strive daily to follow Your will and continually ask You to show me what you want me to do in every area of my life. Therefore, I know my steps are ordered by You, and You show me the right path for my life. I desire to increase and not decrease. I desire your way, your path, your steps for my life because you created me and You know exactly what I was created for. I might have an idea, but truly You know all and I lean on and trust the One who knows all. I take one step at a time and I know you are there at every step. If I stumble, You are there to pick me up. I don’t have to be perfect to walk the path you laid out for me. I just trust You for each step knowing You light every step I am about to take so I can follow Your leading. I love You Lord for who You are in my life.”

Sin can tie God’s hands of direction

If you find yourself in sin, or in the middle of some bad choices/steps, God is there waiting to help you. God will show you where to step if you ask Him. He is waiting for you to repent and turn from your sin. You tie up God’s hands to help until you repent and turn to God for His direction. He can pick you up from the wrong path, and place you back on the right path, as you give Him back control of your life.

Take one step at a time as the Lord leads and directs you. Don’t get frustrated when you don’t see the entire path in front of you. We are in a “faith-walk.” Each step is a step of faith! Always know that God is there to make sure we stay on the right path.

You may ask, “Why doesn’t God illuminate the road before me so I can really see clearly? Remember that too much light is hard to take. It can blind our vision. No, God only gives us the right amount of light so we stay dependent on Him for the next step and not get overwhelmed with the road ahead.

We can trust God with our life. He sees clearly and see the entire road ahead of us. He knows what we need to stay on course. He has all the answers to our questions. Sometimes our questions seem unanswered. Can you praise God in the middle of unanswered questions? Can you worship God in the middle of the unknown? I say we can! This becomes a sacrifice of praise that God is looking for.

God will give you enough light for the step you are to take next in your life. Don’t be in too much of a hurry or you may take a wrong turn. So to answer the question; “Does God Order Our Steps?” the answer is, “Yes” as we trust and rely on Him to guide us and not try to figure it out on our own.

Enjoy the journey in this life and God will take you places you never dreamed were possible.

In His steps,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com