MercyMe "I Can Only Imagine"

It's Not Over Until God Says It's Over.

The truth of the matter is that God has the last say so in our lives even when it looks like all hope is lost.
Let’s take Elisha for an example. He was surrounded by the Syrians and looking in the natural, (with eyes of unbelief) it appeared to his servant that they were outnumbered. Elisha did not pray for God to deliver him out of his situation but prayed that his servant's eyes be open to the truth. When he pray that God open his eyes for him to see that there are more with them than there are that are with his enemies, his servant saw the hold host of heaven surrounding them. 2 Kings 6:8-17. It is not over until God say it is over.
Even when the Samaritans were in famine and they resorted to eating their own babies, God provided for them through the faith and obedience of four leprous men who instead of sitting and waiting to die from starvation, i believe heard a voice instructing them to go into the Syrians camp. As they went in faith, The Lord made the Syrians hears noise of chariots, and of horses coming towards them and they fled leaving all their goods behind. The four leprous men went in and ate and took some goods and then went back to tell the king of Israel and the Samaritans who were in famine ate and had many substances. 2 Kings 7.
We all know the story or the truth of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. They refused to bow down to another God and was thrown into the furnace but God came in with them and did not allow the fire to even sent their cloths. It is not over until God said it is over.
Another example like our brother Daniel in the lion’s den; Our God is so remarkable and unmatched.
Our most precious example; Jesus Christ himself; Satan thought that he orchestrated his best play by crucifying Jesus. He thought that it was all over when he died on the cross. Even some of his followers lost hope and went back to their daily lives. But God! On that third day he not only rose from the tomb, he went down to hell, Satan’s play ground and took the keys of life so that death would have no more sting. He so awesome? It isn't over until God said it is over.
Whatever we are facing in this life, even if we are not deliver from going through it, know that God has the last say so and no one else. Keep the faith and stand on his word. Not many will stand and walk that narrow path. Very few find it. Stay encouraged. God loves you and he demonstrated it by giving his Son Jesus Christ as a ransom for us all. Have faith and walk with your head up.

Forbidden Relationships

When something is forbidden, it is off limits; not allowed; a restricted zone.

Relationships are formed to establish bonds, unity; becoming one with someone. When a relationship is formed, both parties should be traveling the same paths to accomplish a common goal.

In life, we often form relationships that are not conducible to our lives. This can be because these types of relationships are formed out of our emotions. When our emotions are allowed to dictate our relationship, that relationship is destine to be nonproductive.

When forming a relationship, we should allow our knowledge of what we know to be true to help guide us. Our emotions can be controlled or affected by our surrounding circumstances if we allow it to be.

Before establishing a relationship, we should explore all there is to explore about our potential partner before solidifying a bond. Study who or what they are about, where they are going and how do they view you as a potential partner for life.

When God seeks to establish a relationship with man, he already knew who and what we were/are. He established that relationship based on his love he had for us even before we came to know him. This was and is evidence of his love toward mankind. He knew what the end result will be once we come into agreement with him, through his son’s blood that was shed for us all.

As ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are mandated to edify one another through the scriptures, there by helping to establish a relationship between the believers and God through Jesus Christ. When that relationship is formed – through their knowledge and faith in Him, they are then connected through a blood line that can not be broken. They are better able to stand and fight the goof fight of faith. They are capable of coming before the throne of grace and seek Him for themselves and sup and commune with Him.

Some of us are establishing forbidden relationships with those who we are suppose to be leading to God; with those who we are suppose to help establish a relationship with God. Instead, we are having men seek us for answers; for deliverance; for things we are not capable of provding ourselves. This leads to followers who are week, unsure, uncertain, and uninformed. They begin to live their lives in a cycle, never finding the way of escape out of their troubles. We might be able to console them for a while but when the carnal consolation fades away, they are back where they started, lost and confuse and feeling hopeless. They will continue to seek the advice and guidance of men and not God because it is all they know to do. When their faith is established on Jesus’ blood and grace – when they become aware of their help at the throne of grace, they will be able not only to escape their cycle of pain but will have the strength through Jesus to stand through them and know that God has, is and will deliver them out of them all.

We are not mandated to be “lords” over God’s sheep. We are tutors and instructors leading them to the Rock which is Jesus. We are to help them establish a personal relationship with Jesus and not birthing babes that desire to remain on milk and not wanting to grow or wanting to stand on the word of God themselves. We must cut these forbidden relationships that has formed out of our need to be accepted, recognized or revered among men who need God as much as we do.

If any man can not see God because of us, then it is a forbidden relationship. If no man can pray to God without us being there, then it is a forbidden relationship. If no man can obey God’s voice freely without consulting us, then it is a forbidden relationship. If any of us can not see God without seeing a man first, then it is a forbidden relationship. If we can not praise him until we get to a particular place, then it is a forbidden relationship. If we feel the need to consult with others before we obey the voice of God, then it is a forbidden relationship. “Have no other God before me – for my name is Jealous.” “Be not Lords over my sheep.” “I am the way, the truth and the life.” “No man commeth unto the father except by me.” “Be not deceived, God is not mocked.” “Come boldly before the throne of grace.”

It is up to each of us to know when a relationship is forbidden. He states in his word, “I will put my law in their hearts. They will know me from the least unto the greatest”. God has removed all excuses from men and has left it up to each of us to establish a relationship with him. We all must “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling”.

Establish a relationship with God by seeking him in prayer and asking his Holy Spirit to guide you and to live in you. Only with his guidance and grace are we able to come to the truth of his undying love towards mankind. Be not discouraged and be not dismay. Hope is just a breath away.

Living By Faith

If we are to live by faith, we cannot be swayed by the assessment of natural circumstances.

Severing Ties

The idea of leaving the familiar for the unknown can be unnerving. Leaving things and people that we have become accustom to for God to establish in us a more stable place, can be frightening at times.

Let’s take the children of Israel (the lineage of Jacob) for an example. They were held under Egypt rule for many years because of there disobedience and subsequently for their prosperity. When it was told to them by Moses that God was going to deliver them out of the bondage or from up under the rule of an unjust ruler, they did not want any part of it. All they knew, was that they would have to leave all they knew for over many years for something that they now nothing of except by words of Moses and there fathers. They have not seen their God in over 400 years and witness the gods of the Egyptians with their own eyes as the unbelievers serve them.

God instructed Moses to tell them that they were going to be delivered out of the hands of the Pharo and into the wilderness to serve a God that they themselves did not have any proof of that he even exist or will even perform that which he said. This required a faith move on their part first in order for God to move on their behalf. They fought against Moses initially and wanted nothing to do with the idea of moving from their comfort zone to the unfamiliar. But as we continue to read on, we see that they did finally took the step after many plagues were sent upon Egypt and not them. Once they got to the wilderness, the unknown barren place, they had to now depend on a God that they knew nothing about. They had to learn about him and establish a relationship with him through their trials and tribulation in the wilderness. Now like us, they went through their moments of unbelief’s and began to question God and began to make unto them a God that they can see so they could worship. See, when we are faced with trials and tribulations, we quickly go back to the familiar; what we believe would work. We began to rely again on our natural senses to get us out of situations and not rely on God. Many perished in the wilderness because of there unbelief.

As with us; God wants to move us to new territories, a new place in him. In order to do this, he must take our reliance of man and things and direct it back to him. He wants to establish a lasting relationship with us. Because of our dependency on others, this must be done through trials and tribulation. When we are faced with situations that no man or we can not fix, we then turn to God. This causes us to seek him fervently for an answer. Now this seeking establishes many things; first it gets us back to communication with God. From the beginning of time, God desires to communicate with man as he did with Adam in the garden. Second it establishes in us a reliance on God for an answer and not man knowing that God through Jesus Christ is the only way truth and the light. Third it is the foundation of a relationship that God wants with each of us. You can not have a relationship if you do not talk to him and commune and sup with him daily. He wants us to get to know the fellowship of his suffering and the joy of his resurrection. We can not experience the joy of his resurrection or our resurrection out of our troubles without suffering, without going through our own trials; for we are not greater than our master.

We at times are called upon to sever ties with our carnal crutches, rather it be people or things, only to establish a dependency on him through Jesus Christ. We must understand that until we see him as our source for everything and not other things or people, we will never be able to know or understand why he came down from heaven and sacrifice himself for us all so that we can fellowship directly with him. He wants no one between you and him when it comes to your salvation and when it comes to sustaining you. It will hurt to leave that which we have become comfortable with for the unknown, but know this, without faith, it is impossible to please him. We must step out from our comfort zone in order to step into Him; becoming apart of him soul and spirit.
Trust God and let go and see if He will not guide you and protect you. He said “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. Know that God is sovereign and he needs to consult with no other before he decides to move you or bless you. Be encouraged. This is only to get you to a better place in him.