Bethel Church LJ Podcast

 Often, as we are traversing through life, we find ourselves in difficult situations. I, like you, simply want to be free of the pressure these circumstances exact. What we can learn from studying Joseph’s life is that we have to trust God and His leadership through these events. We don’t know what or why, but we do know Who – The Lord.

Perhaps, like Joseph, like Peter, we might be in more than just a tough spot that we need to wriggle out of. Maybe, just maybe, we might be in the midst of a miraculous pathway towards our ultimate God-given destiny. However, without submitting to God’s plan, we might find ourselves sinking in the storm and without realizing it, if left to ourselves, take ourselves out off the road to the fulfillment of our life’s call and purpose.

Paul is in Ephesus teaching and proclaiming the Word of God. This Word of God that Paul is sowing into the hearts of people comes to them in seed form. That seed began to grow and release its power to the extent that it was pushing out the unrighteous practices and behaviors that the believers had considered acceptable in their lives. It moved them to confess and repent of their deeds and as a result, the Word of God continued to increase mightily and prevail in the area.

When I look at what God is doing here through his eyes, what he has revealed to me, I am no longer discouraged at what I see, but motivated to continue to build with renewed vigor as God touches us with His grace and gives people the ability to feast upon the luscious fare that He is choosing to bring to the table which He is setting within our midst.

How much does God love us? He loves us so much that He left His heavenly realm, came to earth as a man without sin, took on ALL of the sins of the world (including yours and mine), and sacrificed Himself so that we could be reconciled to Him and have a one-on-one relationship with our Father

So to answer the question: Why does the Creator of the universe pay attention to us and care for us? Because He LOVES us, AND

The Greatness and Abundance of His love is IMPOSSIBLE to comprehend.

To recap, the prodigal son sinned and left his father’s house. He was swallowed up in the culture of his time and lost sight of the fact he was a loved son. So he went home, bound and determined to live as a slave, his newly adopted identity. What he encountered was far better. He came into contact with four healing graces his father used to restore his true identity. The Best Robe, Sandals On His Feet, A Ring, and the fatted calf. These four graces are available to all of us.

God wants us to change the world. He is at work in our lives undoing the seasons of defeat and trauma, blessing us with new identities, and removing negative things others have spoken over us so we can live out a fulfillment of His plans for us.

3)  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

² Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

³ Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

⁴ Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

⁵ He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

⁶ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

What are we not willing to let go of? What are we holding on to tightly that isn’t serving us? What are we attached to? Like this monkey, the enemy keeps us from finding true freedom in Christ because. While we may want all that Christ promises us, we are not willing to let go of that which is keeping us bound, chained, and imprisoned. The only way to truly experience God’s freedom is to surrender everything to Him.

John 8:34–36 (ESV) Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

His father did accept him back into the household, but not as a servant the way the son thought it would be. No he received full restoration as the son that he was. He would not be a servant in the father’s house, but a fully restored son. This is God’s desire and plan for all who would call upon Him as well.

The Lord is wanting us to see that the Temple was at a place of peace, wholeness, completely sound. Solomon had made it into what God had intended it to be and as a result of that, the Glory of the Lord filled the Temple. Likewise, today, may your Glory manifest in us and through us! May the glory of the Lord shine, rest, and arise upon you.

Matthew 5:14 (ESV) You are the light of the world....

 

I sought to reorient us by answering 3 questions. What is happening? What is not happening? What can I do about it? I hope we have come to see that we have been under an enemy assault. The purpose is to discourage and dissuade us from moving forward. What I am hoping the full picture gives us is the resolve to continue to stand our ground and in doing so, and a determination to embrace the promised breakthrough into victory. I’m hoping to day that we are able to come together, rally the troops if you will and that we too will decide to push forward into victory. Like Joshua, I’m hoping you will accept the challenge. Whether you do or not, as for me and my house, I/we choose to follow and serve the Lord.