The Lord's House Community Church

 

“Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  

 

Thought for Today:   What does joy mean to you and what role does the second fruit of the Spirit play in your daily walk with God? Some people think of joy as an emotion that is activated by their feelings. Others equate joy with happiness. Numerous scriptures in the Bible describe joy as a virtue that God gives to His people. The joy that God provides is gladness, contentment, rejoicing and peace that is anchored in your faith in Him alone. This joy cannot be found in people, work, money, possessions or even in church attendance. It is found only in your personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Following a period of despair in my life, I experienced the restoration of joy and I  testify to you that “joy comes in the morning!”  

 

Yes, the Lord did it! He restored my joy! The word tells us “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10b). There is a strength that grows in your soul when you choose to receive the joy of the Lord. God’s great joy defeats sadness, sorry, despair, despondence and even depression. So even in the midst of the storms and stresses of life, you can anchor your faith in God and experience the joy of the Lord. He will fill you with His joy in you and that joy will give you the strength to move forward.  

 

 

How will you know that you have His joy? When troubles come, rather than drowning in them, you will rise above them by singing a song of joy. And the joy of the Lord will lift your spirit, restore your soul and He will be your strength.  

 

 

 

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”  

 

Character counts! Your character is critically important in every aspect of your life and witness as a Christian. When applying for a job, applying for admission to a college, applying for a security clearance and other endeavors you must have people who will attest to your good character. When you accept Jesus as your Savior and believe on His name, He begins a process of changing your character and nature to be like His. He literally infuses you with His nature so that people begin to take notice of His character in you. This inner process is called regeneration or spiritual transformation. He wants to change your thoughts and attitudes to be like His. He wants the fruit of the Spirit to be in evidence in your life.  

 

John 1 describes Jesus calling Philip as His disciple and in Philip’s excitement of meeting the Savior, he calls his friend Nathanael to introduce him to Jesus. Jesus immediately noticed Nathanael approaching Him and speaks about his excellent character saying: “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Shocked and amazed at the recognition from the Savior, Nathanael responded to Jesus by asking Him: “How do You know me?” Jesus responded: “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”   At a distance, Jesus took notice of Nathanael because of the purity of his character and nature. Never having met him until that encounter, Jesus discerned that there was no deceit in his heart. Jesus had given Nathanael an eternal character reference!

 

Would Jesus give you His character reference? Are you living a life of Christ-like character? Does your character reflect Christ even when you face adversity? Are you guarding your heart against evil? Make a decision to confess, repent of your sins and allow the Holy Spirit to transform your character to be more like Christ’s.  

 

 

Scripture: Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  

 

This is our time and season for transformation! We begin the year with 21 days of prayer and fasting to surrender to God and allow Him to take control of our lives. It is during this time that we ‘consecrate’ ourselves which means ‘to be set apart’ for God’s use.  Consecration requires a renewed mind. As the year gains momentum, we seek God’s face, deny our flesh and feed our spirit. God desires draw you closer to Him in order to speak to your heart and mind. He wants to tune your spirit in His presence, renew your mind, tune your ears to His voice and tune your eyes to His movement. He desires to prepare you to do His good, acceptable and perfect will.  

 

However, to truly be transformed by this time of self-denial, our prayer and fasting must please God. The Lord God must be pleased by our time with Him. It is critically important that we confess and repent of all sin and have a right spirit in the presence of God. For that to occur, we must mean business with God and set aside intentional time daily to worship, pray, fast and study of His Word. Be intentional! Be transformed! Hear God’s voice as you start the year.  

 

 

 

 

Ephesians 4:7-8 “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”  

 

Receiving a gifts is a beautiful thing! Whether expected or unexpected, most of us enjoy being recipients of gifts that someone took the time to purchase and give to us. Online shopping has made the process of gift giving more convenient and faster. We all know that Amazon.com is the largest online retailer and many of us shop using their many online portals. The purchasing process can be challenging at times, but there is one message that makes its all worth it: ‘your gifts have arrived’.  

 

The Apostle Paul informed the Ephesians of the arrival of spiritual gifts through Christ’s sacrifice in Ephesians 4:7-8. He wrote that each believer has been given the priceless gift of grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. This glorious gift of grace is God’s unconditional love for us that none of us deserve. It is God’s unmerited favor that He pours out upon a person who confesses Jesus Christ as Savior. So this gift of grace is given to us freely and generously by God Himself in accordance with the measure of Christ’s gift. Paul also stated that when Christ ascended, He gave (spiritual) gifts to men. These gifts were given to enable ‘the saints’ (you and I) to do the work of ministry in the body of Christ.    

 

This message serves as notice that ‘your gifts have arrived’. Have you received them? God has given you Jesus Christ, His indescribable gift! Through Christ you have received grace (unmerited favor) and one or more spiritual gifts. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and reveal your spiritual gifts so that you increase your service to the body of Christ.  

 

Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew 18:19-20 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (NIV)

 

 

Agreement occurs when two or more people or groups come into harmony concerning a matter. The central idea of agreement is people coming together and identifying common concerns or requests. Agreement binds those involved to unite emotionally and spiritually to move something forward. Most people believe that it takes a large group of people to accomplish God’s purposes. But Jesus made it clear that ‘it only takes two’. He declared: “if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven”. He spoke concerning the clout that believers have with God when they come in to agreement. He says “if” just two believers agree (in unity) in the request they ask of God in prayer, He will do it for them! He further declares that when just two or three of us come together, in His name, He would meet them there and be in their presence. When we do this, we literally bring the power of heaven to bear upon our requests before God and He will do what we ask according to His will. How powerful is that!

 

Understanding and operating in the power of agreement will change your walk with God.

 

It’s Time to Pray: Lord Jesus, help me to learn to come into agreement with likeminded believers concerning my concerns and request in prayer. Help me to understand and live in the power of agreement so that Your will and purposes are fulfilled in my life. In Jesus Name, Amen!

 

 

 

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

 

Hebrews 4:15 “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.”

 

 

 

 It’s Time to Pray: Lord Jesus, sometimes my load is heavy and my heart is burdened with the struggles in my life. Teach me to anchor my faith in you and to learn to bring them to you and trust you to bear them for me and ‘lighten my load’.  Amen!

 

 

 

Are you willing to go ‘all the way’ with Jesus and to complete the assignments that He gives to you? Have you decided that you will follow Him, live for Him and obey Him ‘all the way’ to eternal life? This is a very important decision because it impacts the choices you will make in days ahead. Making the decision to go ‘all the way’ is a ‘whatever it takes’ commitment to Jesus Christ. The song that captures this thought is:

 

 

There will be times in this life where you will be tested, tempted, tried and tormented. Yes, you and I will suffer tribulations that will test your very soul and resolve to go ‘all the way’ with Jesus. But when these times come, anchor your faith in Him alone and remember that He went ‘all the way’ to the cross just for you. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He anguished as His disciples slept as: He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39)  

 

 and died which washed away your sins and mine. His love went ‘all the way’ to save you from your sins, to give you everlasting life and even life more abundantly in this life. Make your decision to go ‘all the way’ with Jesus and with His strength, you will make it.

 

 

Scripture: Deuteronomy 9:3 –  Therefore understand today that the Lord your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the Lord has said to you.

 

As we “cross-over” into 2020, we transition into a new year, a new decade and a new season of intense challenges and immense opportunities. This crossing-over has different dimensions and meanings for each person and each family. However, our God is keenly aware of every aspect and detail of our lives and the direction that we are headed. ‘He knows the path that your feet will tread’. He is a fierce protector and defender of His people. When His people are moving toward a place of destiny that He has prepared for them He goes before them, makes provision, provides divine protection and defeats all enemies; no matter how great, strong or determined the enemy may be.

 

Deuteronomy 9 describes God’s instruction to Moses as He prepares Israel to cross-over the Jordan that day to the place of promise. He prepares them by warning them of the great and powerful enemy nations they will face as they move forward to complete this great transition. In verse 3, God gives His assurance through Moses “that the Lord your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the Lord has said to you.”

 

In this powerful vow, the Lord God describes Himself as their fierce defender who will lead, guide and protect them from their enemies as they cross-over to the place of promise. As a consuming fire, God describes His wrath against the enemies of His people. God’s wrath utterly destroys and consumes anything in His path. God’s being a consuming fire is an important part of His nature and is His defense of His holiness. His holy fire consumes anything that is unholy. It also separates His nature from that of sinful man.

 

As you cross-over into this year to fulfill the plans God has for your life, seek His face diligently in prayer. Get to know His heart for you and obey His instruction. Know that you have an adversary the devil ‘who walks about seeking whom he may devour” who wants to destroy you. You will face other enemies as well: fear, doubt and your flesh among others. But be reminded that your God is

a consuming fire who goes before you who leads, guides and protects you from all enemies. When He defeats them, you will fulfill God’s purposes and move toward the destiny He has for you.  

 

It’s Time to Pray: Almighty God, you are a consuming fire who goes before me to defeat my enemies. As I cross-over into this new year, I surrender to your will and plan for my life and pledge obedience to your commands. I desire to do your will, fulfill your purposes and move toward the destiny you have planned for my life.  In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

 

 

Ephesians 1:18  “…the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…”

 

Psalm 119:18  “Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.”

 

 

As the hosts of the popular CBS tv documentary say during its introduction: “This is 20/20”

 

Welcome to a new year and the next phase in your journey called Life!

 

In terms of visual science, according to the American Optometric Association “20/20” vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet.

(the transparent outer covering of the eye), you can then see that object.” People who are blessed to have 20/20 natural vision can see and identify detailed information clearly at close range while reading a book or viewing a screen at extended distances with both eyes. To have 20/20 vision is a blessing, but as our visual system becomes strained, we lose 20/20 natural vision and require glasses, contact lenses, lasik eye surgery and other methods to restore 20/20 vision.

 

As we accelerate forward into the year 2020, God desires to give you and I “spiritual 2020” vision! He desires you to see beyond your natural fleshly vision and its limitations and biases. He desires you to ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit! When you are filled, you receive His power and the desire to allow Him to take authority over your spiritual vision. When this occurs, you begin to “see” life through the eyes of Jesus. He begins to remove spiritual blindness and give spiritual sight enabling you to see His will and purpose in your day-to-day walk and know what He desires you to do in each circumstance.

 

The Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian church in Ephesians 1:18 “…that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” The Apostle’s desire for them was to ‘see with spiritual eyes’ so that their minds and hearts would be enlightened to know the Hope of Christ’s calling in their lives.

 

Christ has that same desire for you this year. He wants to give your 2020 spiritual vision. Will you receive it?

 

It’s Time to Pray: Heavenly Father, I ask that you enable me with spiritual 2020 vision that I may

see clearly Your  will and purpose for me for this new year for my life.

 In Jesus Name, AMEN!