Struggle

Many people today want everything without effort. We want muscular bodies, but wont step inside of the gym. We want to control our weight and be healthy, but refuse to change our eating habits and exercise. We want a good paying job, but don't want to stay in school for the years required.

The fact is; it costs what it costs and never goes on sale! It takes commitment, dedication, discipline and hard work to reach our goals.

I believe God wants to bless us and prosper us, but to get it we must go through something. Sometimes we have to struggle, we have to fight. You see there is "something" in the struggle. And that "something" is necessary to become all that God has called us to be.

In Numbers 13: 25-33, we see that God left giants in the promised land for a reason and a purpose. The children of Israel needed to learn how to fight, they needed to learn about themselves and who God is. They needed to learn how the struggles of life would make them stronger, and how they would appreciate the land more if they fought for it. When we fight for what we have we not only appreciate it more, we wont let anyone take it from us.

Someone said; "Faith is forged in the furnace of adversity"

God is looking at the development that's taking place in our lives as we go through the struggle.

The first generation of Israelites forfeited their inheritance because they would not fight. How many of God's people have forfeited their destiny, just because they refuse to fight.

What has "made you" what you are today in Christ is do to the struggle. What you had to fight for, what you had to fight against and what you had to overcome; that's what "made you".

The caterpillar goes through a process of metamorphosis, changing from a caterpillar to a butterfly. The process involves struggle to break out of the cocoon. To cut the struggle short would rob the butterfly of its destiny. That's why God allows struggle in our lives so we can fulfill our destiny in Him.

That's why the devil wants to make the struggle all about you, he wants to give you tunnel vision so your focus is only on the struggle. God wants you to understand this; the devil wants your struggle to take you out, but God uses it to take you up.

Many people try to avoid their struggle, to go around it or even run from it. God didn't deliver Daniel from the lions den, He delivered him through it. God didn't deliver the three Hebrew children from the fiery furnace, He delivered them through it. There is no testimony without a test and no victory without a battle. Daniel needed the lions den, the three Hebrew children needed the fiery furnace and you and I need the struggles.

The struggle wont last forever, weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning.

The struggle is just an instrument of transition, that means your going somewhere. The struggle prepares you for the future.

The Apostle Paul faced more struggles than all of the other apostles combined. He also did more for God than all the other apostles combined.

Struggle is the doorway to destiny, let God bring you through...

Wake Up

In Numbers chapter 13 we see the children of Israel making excuses for their failure to take the Promised Land. It was their inheritance all they had to do was be obedient to God and possess it.

But the problem was, they were unwilling to "confront" their adversaries.

God was very angry at these rebellious people, except for Joshua and Caleb.

Read: Numbers 13:25-30, Numbers 14: 21-24

We must understand that we are living in perilous times, times of uncertainty, times of testing and struggles.

Read: 2 Timothy 3:1-5

We are in a Spiritual War!

Now is the time for Men and Women of God to step up and be the Men and Women of Valor that God has called us to be. It's time for the Spirit of Caleb to Rise-Up, God calls it a "Different Spirit".

Joel 3:9-10 says;

Proclaim this among the Nations: Prepare for War! Wake up the Mighty Men let all the Men of War draw near. Let them come up, beat your plow shears into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say I am strong...

There were Mighty Men at the time, but they fell asleep. Instead of fighting they were farming.Instead of being alert, they were lulled into a false sense of security.

It happened to King David, in the spring time when kings went off to war David slept in until noon. In stead of taking care of business, he was relaxing. That's when he fell into sin with Bathsheba and had her husband killed to cover his sin.

When you are asleep, your vulnerable, your not a threat to the enemy. I don't care how strong you are, how tough you are, how much scripture you have memorized, or how long you can pray. If you are asleep you are vulnerable to any and all attacks. The enemy is after our children, marriages, friends and our churches. Every thing that's good is being perverted.

Samson was the toughest man on the planet, but while he was asleep the enemy shaved his head. The enemy took his power then plucked out his eyes and stole his vision.

Our adversary wants to take our power and steal our vision!

We can't lay still and pretend the enemy will just go away, he won't.

"Wake Up"

Sometimes life has a way of putting us to sleep and we lose our passion. Sometimes we get the breath knocked out of us; things happen and we get discouraged, or things don't happen and we get discouraged. Our faith can become weak and we slip into spiritual slumber.

"Wake Up"

We are at a critical time in human history, we need to be alert to the times in which we live.

It's time to wake from our slumber.

We need the Spirit of Caleb to rise up today:

The Spirit of Boldness

The Spirit of Faith

The Spirit of Perseverance

The Spirit of Commitment

The Spirit of Obedience

Romans 13:11 says;

And do this knowing the time, that now is high time to awake out of sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

Time is Short;

"Wake Up"

The Test of Love

As we draw near to Palm Sunday remembering this was the first day of Jesus' last week on this earth as a human being.
This was the week of fulfilling His mission, His purpose for coming to earth as the Son of Man.

Can you imagine what it was like for Jesus to enter the temple as boy, and reading from the prophet Isaiah.

He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. Isaiah 53:5,7

That was a great burden for a 12 year old boy to handle, for at that point He knew He was born to die. The remainder of His short life would be in total obedience to His Heavenly Father. He walked among men but never fell into the trap of sin, making Him the only acceptable sacrifice for our transgressions to a Holy God.

And now the time had arrived, it was a bitter sweet time for Jesus. He had just prayed for the cup to pass, for He knew the suffering that was up ahead. But not my will, your will be done He cried out to His Father. His prayer was so passionate that drops of blood dripped down his face from his forehead.

The first day of His last week has begun, He has His disciples get a donkey that was tied up waiting for Him, this donkey had never been ridden symbolizing the sanctity of His mission.

As He rode into Jerusalem the people were rolling out the red carpet of the day; freshly cut palm branches and they were even laying their coats before the King of the Jews. They were shouting Hosanna and dancing in the streets, this same group that was saying hail Jesus would be shouting nail Jesus by the end of the week.

Jesus knew the end from the beginning, He knew exactly what He would be facing. His Love kept Him moving toward Jerusalem, and would keep Him on the Cross. His Love was tested every step of the way.

Love was His motivation, and the fuel of His commitment !

His commitment was for the lost, and thats the final command He left with us.
To go into all the world and preach the gospel and make disciples.

Thats the test of our Love...

Got Vision

Poor eyes limit your sight, poor vision limits your deeds. (Franklin Field)

When you study great leaders of history the main thing that sets them apart from others was the scope of their vision. The ability to see what others do not, and the courage to act. John Maxwell states; vision is the ability to see, the faith to believe and the courage to do.

In the book of Habakkuk chapter 1, we see the desperation of the prophet. He witnessed the collapse of the kingdom and the rise of the Babylonian Empire. Habakkuk was bogged down in a state of depression, all he could see was injustice all around. He could not see God working in the Big Picture, he lacked vision.

Like Habakkuk most of us live with a narrow focus on life, or tunnel vision. We allow outside influences to hinder our vision to the point of defining our lives. We have surrendered control to our obligations or to people, and such things as finances, time, career or job, friends and even family.

Who or what is calling the shots in your life?

Is your vision being hindered?

Before you were created, God had a plan and purpose for your life.

God has a tailor made vision just for you.

How do we discover Gods vision for our lives and ministry?

Remember Habakkuk only saw circumstances, he didn't see the Big Picture. He lacked vision, his vision didn't go past his problem, he was unable to see God working in it. But he was crying out to God!

Habakkuk 2:1 I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and I will answer when I'm corrected. NKJV

We see 4 things Habakkuk did to receive Gods vision:

1. Stand

Stand in the Hebrew means; to take ones stand, to hold ones ground.

When everything is going wrong and seems to be falling apart, hold your ground and don't give up. Always do the right thing, even when others are not.

2. Watch

We need to watch not only our personal obligations, but stay focused on Gods business as well. We must watch the future closely by not focusing on the past or allowing the present to consume us. Watch where God is leading.

3. Listen

Habakkuk kept a listening ear, he was attentive to Gods voice. The Hebrew word used means; give attention to, to discern.

Not only do we need to stand our ground and keep watch. We need to hear from God.

4. Answer

Habakkuk said I will answer when I'm corrected.

Answer in the Hebrew means; to turn back to God, to repent.

I believe when we do not stand our ground, do not keep watch, do not listen to God, we are missing the mark.

When Habakkuk repented God answered him.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. NKJV

Listen:

When we stand our ground, when we watch God, when we listen, when we turn back to God and repent, we have Gods attention. And if it seems like its not going to happen, if it tarries, wait for it.

Hebrew word for wait means; to wait in ambush...

That means in waiting you are prepared, your ready to go, when it comes, you attack it. Your not just waiting around idly not doing anything, your taking care of business you have been in the process of preparation. When the vision is revealed, you don't even have to think about it, you just move.

Vision arises from our purpose in life. Our purpose is revealed as we focus on the Big Picture. Its time to start looking ahead!

Let me give you 4 steps to catch vision:

1. Dare to seek Prayer and Scripture

2. Dare to Dream Big

3. Dare to Believe God will do Great Things

4. Dare to Act

Attempt something so impossible, that if God is not in it, you will fail...

Got Vision!