The Ways Of God

God always gives us "choices" and often how we choose is directly related to where we are spiritually and how we understand God.  Think for a minute about trials and difficulties in your life.  When you are confronted with some difficulty you have to make a choice that usually boils down to answering this question: Will I respond "my way" or "God's way" to this situation?  Obviously, God wants us to respond His way.

It is God's heart that we really know Him and know His ways.  Even though Isaiah 55:9 tells us that God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours,  it doesn't mean that God's ways and thoughts can't be known, because they can.  We just have to be aware of the mistakes and pitfalls.

Mistakes We Make

 When trying to discover the ways of God, there are several mistakes Christians make.

• We seldom focus on God's way. (We gravitate to the carnal and physical rather than the spiritual.)
• We follow our reasoning instead of listening to God.  (The problem with this is that our reasoning is often "flawed.")
• We act on impulse rather than asking what God would have us to do.
• We act in our own strength rather than God's strength. (The Lord told Paul that "my strength is made perfect in weakness."  In other words when we are weak, God is strong.)
• We fail to consider future consequences for our decisions. (This is the most dangerous of mistakes.  We must consider the outcomes of the decisions we make.  If they are based on God's ways then we know we will be successful.)

What Happens When You Do Things God's Way?

Wonderful things happen when we follow God's ways.  First you will experience God's power and blessings in your life.  This is a power that works in "unusual" ways and blessings that are beyond anything you could imagine.  Secondly, when you do things God's way you will quickly realize that God can accomplish more in a brief period of time than you could in a lifetime doing it your way.  Doing things God's way also helps you to develop intimacy with God to the point that you begin to live by His principles.  And finally, your life impacts everyone around you when you do things God's way. 

God Makes His Ways Known

Psalm 103:7 tells us the "He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel."  God wants us to know His ways and also enjoy His acts!  Lets start today!

God bless you and I pray you will seek God's ways and find fulfillment in your life. Are you diligently seeking God's ways or are you content with going it on your own?

Listen to the Podcast of this message at www.bcchoctaw.org

The Virtue of Patience (Part 4)

Where Are You When It Comes To Patience?

It is spiritually incumbent upon the believer to express patience in their lives as a testimony to what God can do.  Remember, patience, is the "will to wait upon God without irritation, frustration, worry, anxiety, fear or anger."  Many people don't recognize the lack of patience in their life.  To help  you identify where you are on the patience scale, consider the following questions:

• How do you react to the lack of patience in yourself?

• What feelings do you experience when you're impatient?

• What negative consequences have you experienced when you were impatient?

• What thoughts block your ability to be patient?

• What thoughts would help you gain patience?

• What behavior do you need to change in order to be more patient?

• When presented with a problem, difficulty, or conflict, where do you rate on the patience scale of 1-10, with 10 being most impatience?

Considering these questions "honestly" will help you to see where you are in regards to patience, and what you can do to develop this fruit of patience in your life.

 How To Develop Patience

There are several steps you can take to develop this virtue of patience in your life.  

• Recognize "difficulties" as opportunities.  This requires are "mindset" change and it often comes over time.  It's a situation where you recognize the problems that generally upset you and you make a "conscious" decision to view them as opportunities for growth.

• Accept that you have personal responsibility but also that you are human and can make mistakes.  Don't expect perfection, but do expect growth and change in the area of patience.  When you do make a mistake, then be willing to forgive yourself.

• Remember patience is a "Fruit of the Spirit."  God will develop it in your life as you experience and go through trials and tribulations.

• Remember, faith and patience are intermingled.  James 1:2-4

Patience In Conflict

The times that it is the most difficult to express patience is usually during the times of conflict.  There are eight steps you can follow that will help you be patient when conflict arises:

1. Pray
2. Control your thoughts
3. Control your emotions
4. Refrain from forcing your opinion
5. Listen without reacting
6. Forgive
7. Express encouraging words
8. Have a positive attitude

Patience is necessary in many areas of our life.  It is a virtue that, when demonstrated, can have a great impact on the lives of those who see it.  What are you doing to be more patient with those in your circle of influence?  What are you doing to be more patient with those "outside" your circle who you barely know?  Your patience can make all the difference in the world.

The Virtue of Patience (Part 3)

Everyone struggles with expressing patience on some level and with certain situations.  For many it's just easier to express their impatience with the person or circumstance than it is to have patience and wait.

The patience God desires for His followers to have is one with a "willingness to wait upon Him in difficult circumstance."  Unfortunately, too many exercise "impatience" which is the "inability to tolerate delay."

In this update, I just want to recap a few of the "characteristics" of impatience, and what motivates it.

Impatience Says:

• I don't trust God and my timing is better than His.
• I'll use my resources instead of waiting for God's.
• I know what is important better than God.
• I want my way more than I want God's will.
• I'm more concerned about my feelings than my future.
• Life revolves around my desires, wants, and needs.

What Motivates Impatience
Impatience can be motivated by many different feelings and emotions.  Feelings such as doubt, anger, fear, selfishness, and even rebellion all cause us to be impatient.  If you aren't careful, these emotions will drive your desire to want things to happen on your schedule and timing rather than God's.

Spiritual Obligation
We have a spiritual obligation to express patience.  The scriptures admonish us to "be like Christ."  And Christ was always willing to wait for the Father's timing.  How about you?

The Virtue of Patience (Part 2)

In this post I wanted to share a few of the attributes of patience and why patience is so important in the life of the believer.

Attributes of Patience

An attribute is something that is an "inherent characteristic."  Patience has many characteristics that are inherent to it.  Characteristics such as:

• Faith
• Wisdom
• Love
• Strength
• Determination
• Calmness
• Understanding
• Forgiveness
• Persuasiveness

All of these character qualities are a part of patience in the believer.  But more than just knowing these qualities it is vital we understand why patience is so important.

Patience is essential to a life of obedience and it is a vital element in every good relationship.  Whether that relationship is with a family member, friend, or with God, we must show patience.

Patience is also necessary for persevering in prayer.  Too often with our prayers we expect the answer immediately when God has something different in mind.  We have to learn patience and allow for God's timing and that in turn allows us to see God at work.

Patience is a major key to your success in life and it is essential to peace, joy and contentment.  Allow God to work the fruit of patience in your life today.

The Virtue Of Patience (Part 1)

Patience is one of those qualities that does not come naturally for most people.  When it comes to exercising patience, many are like the individuals in a popular TV commercial for a company that negotiates structured settlements where the people shout "It's my money and I want it now!"  Most of us want things "NOW!"

However God's plan for patience in our lives is much different.  Patience is "the will to wait on God without irritation, frustration, worry, anxiety, fear or anger."  God's plan is always the better plan.

When God is working in your life, it's vital that you allow Him to work at his timing.  Remember, "the greater the blessing God has in store, the greater patience He requires."

What Patience Is Not

• It is not a natural trait.   Waiting goes against most peoples natural inclinations.
• It is not a "gift"; it is a fruit of the Spirit.
• It is not a weakness.  Actually patience demonstrates great strength on the part of an individual.
• It is not avoiding adversity.  A person with patience will face adversity head on.
• It is not false hope.  In other words patience isn't a quality where we just hope things will turn out in our favor.
• It is not instability.  People who exercise patience should not be viewed as "passive."  Actually they are being proactive in dealing with problems. 

 

In my next post I will cover some of the attributes of patience and why it is so important in the believers life.

Pastor Temple

The Power Of The Anointing

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2:27)

The anointing that John is speaking of is an anointing that will bring life to your ministry!  It is the empowerment to do the work of the ministry, it's not just something so you can feel good.  There is always a purpose behind this anointing.

The Purpose Of The Anointing

1. The Anointing Has An Assignment -- It is present in your life to enable you to minister hope and healing. (Luke 4:18)
2. The Anointing Has An Authority -- People who walk in the anointing have an authority that is supernatural.  The anointing has the ability to transform.
3. The Anointing Is For A Demonstration Of Greater Works -- Praying in the Spirit and meditating on the Word of God are the two strongest ways to nurture the anointing in your life.
4. The Anointing Is Given To Demonstrate Good In Your Life --  Unfortunately, there are too many selfish Christians that want to do their own thing rather than doing good for others.  God puts His anointing in you so you can help others and bring healing to hurting people.
5. The Anointing Works With The Word -- The Word of God nurtures the anointing.  Whenever you declare the Word of God, the anointing is there to perform it.
6. The Anointing Is Available To Every Believer -- The exciting thing about the anointing is that you received it the moment you accepted Jesus as your Savior.  The anointing is in you to live boldly for the Lord, to endure trials in joy, to heal the sick, and set the captives free!

It's For You

Never think the anointing of God is reserved for only a select few.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  God has given you the anointing to use to help others.  What actions are you taking to allow God's anointing to flow from you to benefit other people?

Be sure to share this blog with your friends and family.  God bless you and your family this Thanksgiving and remember to always be grateful for all that God has done.

Blessings,

Pastor Temple

Living In The Time Of Jubilee

In the Old Testament, in Exodus 25, God instituted the "Year of Jubilee."  This "Jubilee" was a celebration that happened every fiftieth year and it was a year where "liberty" was "proclaimed throughout the land to all its inhabitants."  This year of Jubilee signified a time when every man who had worked as a servant to payoff a debt, was to be set free and their debt forgiven and they were to be allowed to return to their home. 

In Luke 4:18-19, when Jesus was speaking in the synagogue, He stood up and read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and He spoke these words:  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."

"The acceptable year of the Lord" that Jesus spoke of typified the year of Jubilee when liberty was proclaimed to all the people on the day of atonement.  When the atonement of Christ is fully embraced, the sick, sinful, helpless, and needy are restored.  When Jesus was crucified it was the year when everyone was made free and we are now living in a time of Jubilee.  The exciting aspect of this reality is that the day of Jubilee became a person not just a time of year.  Our Jubilee has come.  His name is Jesus.

Sound Your Trumpet of Freedom and Victory

In the Old Testament, the beginning of the year of Jubilee was signified by the sounding of a trumpet.  It is time for us to sound our trumpet of liberty and freedom.  There are four freedoms that Jesus has brought to His people.

1. Freedom from Slavery to Satan and Sin:  Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you:  for ye are not under the law; but under grace.
2. Freedom from Sickness and Disease:  Galatians 3:13 - Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:  for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
3. Freedom from Debt to Satan and to the World's System:  Colossians 2:13-14 - And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
4. Freedom from Fear:  2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Jesus came into our sorrow to lead us into Jubilee.  We have become God's property, bought and paid for, no longer belonging to the kingdom of satan.  Today is your day of Jubilee.  Are you ready to receive the freedom God has for you?