Saturday, June 21, 2014

"...For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven"



You know... we are STILL doing that PA, Power and Love Series.... every time we do a long car ride with the kids. In the last one it was kind of profound because Todd White talked about what he believed Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' was. Didn't believe sickness was it (I don't think many of us overcomers 'buy' that view anyhow, Lol).... Todd stated he believes the thorn is persecution.
Let's consider the basis of one of the very first things prophesied of paul in the scripture... the Lord said he was called to suffer..

"..for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Acts 9:16
Watch the clip from 1:12:07 to 1:15:20...



Attitude Adjustment...
Ponder with me on this is a bit of 'wow'... hit the nail on the head..., and let's change our attitude a bit.

There are a great many of us standing & fighting & yet feeling gut-punched because we know the Word is true-- we walk it/live it, but we just continue to feel 'slugged'... and a bit of sadness shrugs over us.
But changing perspective like Paul did, can be a game-changer for us. When we change perspective...not only does the hope begin to flood, but you can see the honor in your suffering and persecution.

2 Corinthians 12:8 "Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

Victorious Mindset...
Does anyone really wake up in the morning and think... "What I do today is impacting and changing the world tomorrow for Jesus Christ"? How many slumbering warriors are out there missing this vision? How many are taking the punches and going into pity-party mode....creeping into-a-hole mode, instead of shouting "GLORY!"? There are MANY.

It's a hamster wheel of non-efficacy.

Sure it's not fun... even Jesus asked that the cup be removed... and it's okay to desire a lighter load, but are we retreating as sand or a rock that stands unbroken?

John 18:11 "...the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?'”

You Must Prophesy...
If you've found yourself relating to sand...pity parties and retreating to a hole... I have a small smooth stone to take down that goliath mindset in your life.  It's simply agreeing with the Word of truth.  If it's not there and you speak what is true... you are prophesying it.  And does it return void???  The catch is, is that you MUST speak it.  How does faith come? 
I can sit here and know all kinds of scripture and sit in a hole of sadness or I can fight and speak it out boldly for heaven, for earth and under the earth to hear.  As I speak it out, my listening ears hear and faith grows. 

Acceptance...

Did you know that the reason for persecution is so that we would be separated from the world?

John 15:18-21  “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you... If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you... because they do not know Him who sent Me."

What is the goal and purpose of this short life?  Is it about ourselves, our own accomplishments... whoever has the most toys.... LOL.  No, of course not... it's about refining for our completeness in relationship and ultimate purpose in God's plan.  Our hearts are truly restless until they rest in our creator.  In heaven, there will no longer be a 'God-shaped' hole in our hearts.  So although we don't feel, or taste, touch or experience the more lofty and comfortable promises of the Word, we can know we are doing just fine.  We're just 'fitting in' the world to come more-so then this place... and that's where we WANT to be!  With that in mind, we can thank Him for the great things we are doing that we cannot comprehend in our current bout of persecution.  We can press onward boldly, knowing it's just not about us, but who can we take with us?
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 5:10
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