Mark 11:14 "And Jesus answered and said unto it, no man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. And His disciples heard it."
"Is that your final answer?" is a phrase made famous from an American television game quiz show that first aired in 1999 called Who Wants to be a Millionaire. The show made television history as being the first network game show to offer a million dollar top prize, and has since become one of the highest-rated game shows of all time.
Jesus gave His final answer to a fig tree in Mark 11:14, "and Jesus answered and said unto it". Notice that the tree had not spoken to Him verbally, but by having leaves, it "communicated" that it had figs too…but it didn't. You see, a fig tree actually produces green figs before the leaves appear, and if no figs are produced by that time, then the tree will not have any figs that year. This fig tree was professing something that it didn't have.
Not only trees or plants, but other things are "communicating" with us all the time. Circumstances can tell you that you have failed. Your body can tell you that you are sick. The doctors report can tell you you're not going to get any better. Your wallet can tell you that you are broke. You need to follow Jesus' example and answer these things with a positive statement of your faith.
What good would it do to talk to a tree or an inanimate object? God created the heavens, the earth, and everything in it, BY HIS WORDS (Heb11:3)! Proverbs 18:21 says our words, when spoken in faith, release either life or death. Our words affect people, things, and circumstances all around us.
When we speak, positive or negative, we release power in our words. Jesus spoke to a fig tree, cursed it, and within 24 hours that tree was dried up at the root. That’s powerful. What is speaking to you today? A pain in your body? Bad news in your family? An overdue bill staring at you, telling you that you'll never be able to pay it? Do what Jesus did, "answer" it folks. Tell it what the Word says, and watch it come to pass. Give it your final answer!
A Place Called "There"
1 Kings 17:4“You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there."
A few weeks ago on a Saturday night, I was carrying some items to our van for our church service the following day. Each trip I would cut across the front lawn, and in the process I had somehow dropped my car keys. The next morning, I went to get my keys where I normally kept them and they were gone. I began to search all over the house, in the car, in the driveway. I couldn't find them anywhere. It was very frustrating. I knew they were “there” on our property, but I didn’t know where “there” was. Two days later the Lord said, "Go out to the front lawn, you'll find them there". Sure enough, I found them in the grass, they were "there" all the time.
In 1 Kings 17, in the midst of a devastating famine, God had prepared a place for the prophet Elijah and supernaturally supplied him with food and water. It was a place called "there". The word “there” means “in that place or at that location”. God has already provided a place called “there” for every one of us, with everything we would ever need and more. It's just a matter of getting to where “there” is.
How? Obedience. 1 Kings 17:2-3 says, “And the word of the LORD came to him: ‘Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.” Walking in obedience always starts with not just the Word of God, but a Word from God. God always gives wisdom, that gives you a strategy, that leads to your victory.
Elijah still had a choice to follow the word of the Lord, or not. What if Elijah didn't go “there”? He would have died in the famine with everyone else even though provision was available over “there”. Folks we need to get "there" in our thinking and in our obedience.
Faith accesses what grace has already made available, but we play a big part in our own victories. What you need today is already available, it's close by, it already exists. Listen for a Word from God and He will show you where “there” is.
To Obey is Better Than ________
1 Samuel 15:22 - "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
Have you ever had something in your heart that you know you were supposed to do, but you tried to substitute anything and everything else instead of doing what the Lord has told you to do?
My wife and I were in a challenging situation a number of years ago with someone very close to us. We needed to make a very difficult decision for the good of everyone involved. To be totally candid, I would have rather done anything else than what God said to do, but thankfully we followed through with complete obedience.
There is something rarely taught in connection with the grace of God…it's called obeying the voice of God…period. A huge key to accessing what grace has already supplied for us is our obedience to what God has told us to do. And as you have probably already found out, many times it's inconvenient or uncomfortable.
In 1 Samuel 15:3 God gave Saul specific instructions, through the prophet Samuel, to completely destroy all of God's enemies. But Saul just wouldn't do it, he wouldn't obey God. Yet, in 1Samuel 15: 20 Saul said , "I have obeyed the voice of the Lord…"
Here's my question to you, have you ever talked yourself into incomplete obedience? How aboutpartial obedience? A more convenient obedience?
In 1 Samuel 15:22, Samuel gets right to the point. He asked Saul, does all of your doing or good works substitute for what God told you to do?
The answer: there is no substitute for complete obedience, "to obey is better than _____ ". Fill in the blank . Always remember, your obedience to what God is saying for you to do is going to access God's best for you!
Faith in Your Faithfulness
Habakkuk 2:4 (Amplified Bible) "The just man shall live by his faith and in his faithfulness"
I once heard a story of a well known preacher who was on his way to a very large conference where he was the keynote speaker. On the way his SUV was hit broadside and thankfully no one was seriously injured, although he and the other passengers were taken to a local hospital. While in the Intensive Care Unit, the doctors left the room, and when they came back in they found that he struggled to get out of bed and was sitting on a metal stool in the corner of the room with his bible in his hand. They asked "What are you trying to do"? His reply was, "I was on my way to preach a message that God gave me tonight, and I'm going to do the last thing that God told me to do".
That my friend is the definition of "faithfulness". Doing the last thing that God told you to do and continuing to do what God told you until He tells you something else. Many times we struggle, not because of something we’re doing wrong, but because we just don't do what's right long enough. Don't just be a strong starter, but be an even stronger finisher.
Proverbs 20:6 says "Many a man proclaims his own loving kindness and goodness, but a faithful man, who can find?" God puts a premium on the character of a person who is a strong finisher. He esteems a person who carries things through to the finish line. That’s called faithfulness!
Many times God speaks to us in His silence. Huh? Yes, in His silence, He is saying, “Don't allow yourself to always look for something new but have a renewed passion for what is in your hand right now”. Have faith in your faithfulness and make a decision today to be that person that God can find.
Scandalous Grace
John 8:10-11 " When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."
Every year, it seems the Holy Spirit gives our church somewhat of a theme song. Last year it was Good, Good Father, sung by Chris Tomlin. This year, Call it Grace by Unspoken.
Let's look at the lyrics...
It's the light that pierces through you
To the darkest hidden place
It knows your deepest secrets
But it never looks away
It's the gentle hand that pulls you
From the judgment of the crowd
When you stand before them guilty
And you got no way out
Some may call it foolish and impossible
But for every heart it rescues, it's a miracle
It's nothing less than scandalous
This love that took our place
Just call it what it is, call it grace
Call it grace
It's the breath that's breathing new life
Into what we thought was dead
It's the favor that takes orphans
Placing crowns upon their heads
It's the hope for our tomorrows
The rock on which we stand
It's a strong and mighty fortress
Even Hell can't stand against
Amazing, unshaken, this is grace, this is grace
Unchanging, unfailing, this is grace, this is grace
The word scandal means - loss or damage to reputation caused by violation of morality. It also means disgrace, or in other words anti-grace. In John 8:10-11 Jesus gives the cure for scandal, missteps and mistakes.
For the woman caught in adultery, first He gives her the gift of "no condemnation", which then empowers her to "go and sin no more". That same grace is available to you today, no matter what you've done. Here's what you need to do...receive the gift of "no condemnation", and go and sin no more. It's that simple. It's scandalous grace.
A Bug's Life - "Living Abund-ANT"
Proverbs 6:6 "Go to the ant...consider her ways and be wise”
In the classic 1998 Disney film, A Bug’s Life, a story is told of an incredible journey with one little ANT as he searches for a brave band of warriors to help him battle against the grasshoppers who threaten his home. I enjoyed this story because it reminded me of how really special these little creatures are. We don't really notice them very much but you would be surprised at how much God notices them.
In Proverbs 6:6, the writer says "go to the ant", one of God’s smallest creatures on earth, yet one of the wisest and most industrious. Verses 7 and 8 go on to say “Which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer,and gathers her food in the harvest.” An ANT is small but smart and prepares every day for its future.
In Exodus 23:30, God's word tells us He does things “little by little". No matter what things look like in your life right now, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Do this everyday and eventually you will be a giANT!
Through the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness you will reign over problems and be dominANT. Keep learning every day and you'll be brilliANT. Remain faithful in the little and you'll be significANT. Possess what is already yours in your covenANT and become an inhabitANT of the good life. Be plANTed in the house of the Lord and grow in knowledge of the word of grace.
Are you getting this?! In 2016, live and “ANT’s life”. Take your land little by little, one step at a time. Remain steadfast in the small things, then one day you will wake up abundANT!
Grace Recliner
John 6:10-11 (Amplified Bible) “Jesus said, Make all the people recline (sit down). Now the ground (a pasture) was covered with thick grass at the spot, so the men threw themselves down, about 5,000 in number. Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples and the disciples to the reclining people; so also [He did] with the fish, as much as they wanted.”
“In our home the recliner in our family room is a special place. When we watch a movie it seems like everyone wants the recliner. My wife and daughter always try to beat each other to sit in the recliner. It’s comfy. It has a great view of the television. But most of all, we like to RECLINE! It has an adjustable back and a foot rest. Even our dog Benny spends time on the recliner, both with and without mom.
In John chapter 6, Jesus shows us, what I like to call, the "grace recliner". In verse 10, He made all the people recline or sit down. To me that signifies restful increase. I like that it says that the spot where they were was covered with thick grass. Jesus provided a place of rest that brought great increase.
I also like that it says that the disciples gave to the "reclining people" as much as they wanted. That’s so cool. More happens when you rest than when you toil. Rest doesn’t mean doing nothing, rest means the Holy Spirit is leading you in the decisions and the things that you do.
Here's a word for you today…REST. Rest and you'll have as much as you want, and more left over for others. Go ahead, sit in your “grace recliner”. More is happening than what you think!
"Clean Up in Aisle Nine"
Proverbs 13:10 " Only by pride comes contention"
Have you ever been to the grocery store and witnessed a child having a temper tantrum because they didn’t get their way? How about the child pulling things off the shelf, one by one, to get their mom’s attention, until she finally gives in and gives them what they want to keep them quiet?
We had a similar experience in the waiting room at the dentist the other day. Two grandparents walked in with their grandson "Thomas". The receptionist comes out and asks, "Hi Thomas, would you like a balloon?" Little Thomas was beside himself with excitement. The only problem was that it took the receptionist about five minutes to blow up the balloon. In the meantime, little Thomas started screaming. Really loud. My wife was inside the office and she thought somebody was getting a tooth pulled! It was so awkward. “Mom-mom” was on the floor where little tommy threw himself, trying to negotiate with him to get up. At the same time "Pop-pop" took the opposite approach telling Tommy, “You’re bad. If you don’t get up, I’m putting you in the car all by yourself”.
As mentioned in Proverbs 13:10, contention comes because of ONLY one thing, pride. Sometimes we think that pride comes from being arrogant, but it also comes from having a poor self-image. Pride asks, "How does this affect me? How does this make me look?”
In the heat of the moment, not correcting your child, or not properly confronting a situation often seems easier on the flesh, but it’s the only way to deal with a "clean up in aisle nine". Unfortunately, many people are more concerned with how it makes them look, or what will happen to them if they use the word “no”. We need to crucify that old way of thinking. We don't like when people disagree with us, or when things get a little tense. That’s pride. Let's allow God to work with all of us in our “aisle nine” moments.
No Fault Relationships
James 5: 16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another that ye might be healed"
Have you ever heard of no fault car insurance? It means that your car insurance company will pay your bills if you get into a car accident, regardless of who was at fault for the accident.
Have you ever heard of "no fault relationships"? Just like car insurance, no fault relationships focus on the positive, no matter who was at fault. I believe they are the healthiest relationships on earth.
In the past, I've had people tell me that James 5:16 says that we should confess all our faults to one another, our known and "unknown" sins, before we can be blessed or healed. It's impossible to remember and confess every sin, every fault, every mistake!
James 5: 16 isn't speaking about remembering your sins. It's explaining that if someone tells you their faults, if we are in a healthy "no fault relationship" with them, our response will be to remind them of what God says. To tell them that they are righteous and holy and without blame in the sight of God.
When we respond this way, it will be easy for that person to be healed, to start the process of change in their behavior in the future. When we remind people of their true identity in Christ, they will behave and live based on who they already are and not defined by the mistakes they've made.
So try this next time some wants to tell you how awful they've been. Tell them, "Hey, I've got good news, that’s not who you really are, you're righteous". I guarantee you you'll shock them! Let 2016 be a year of "no fault relationships" in your family, on the job, at school, wherever you go.
God's When is Our Then
Psalm 126:1-2 "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing: Then said they among the heathen, the Lord has done great things for them."
There is incredible power in laughter. God laughs! I love to laugh, and I laugh loud, ask my family and friends (LOL!). My dog Benny is an endless source of my laughter, he brings me such great joy. The other day he was sitting on the chair next to where my wife Natalie was sitting. She was busy with something and didn't really notice that he was licking her iPhone. Then she heard a woman's voice saying, "Marino's, pick up or delivery?". He dialed the phone with his tongue. He was ordering a pizza! He's a genius!
Today's verse describes the recipe for laughter - when and then. "WHEN the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream". The "when" took place on the cross, when Jesus turned our spiritual captivity into indescribable freedom. It was like a dream. This is the gospel of grace.
“THEN was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing". This is our response to the gospel of grace, nothing else but laughter and joy. This is the sense and meaning of grace. Why? We have redemption and deliverance from sin, unmerited favor, triumph and victory over Satan and the power of darkness, eternal life, and a loving Father who has provided for our every need!
"THEN said they among the heathen, the Lord has done great things for them". In other words, "Wow!" This is the world's response when they see your laughter and joy in the midst of life's greatest challenges and victories (Job 5:22) (Gal 5:22). Grace gets the attention of those around you.
Don't Judge a Book by its Cover
2 Kings 6: 15 "And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! How shall we do?”
I heard a story about a young lady who was at the vet with her pet, and in walks a man with a yellow Labrador Retriever. It looked exactly like the dog that someone had given her brother. She heard the man mention the dog’s name, it was the exact same name. Then he mentioned the age, it was the exact same age. This lady was positive that this man stole her brother’s dog, or perhaps her brother gave his dog away. So she called her brother just to make sure, and the yellow Lab was sitting right there with him. Ha!
Similarly, in 2 Kings 6:15, Elisha's servant judged what he was seeing with his natural eyes. He saw an army of horses and chariots surrounding the city, and asked his master, "What are we going to do?" Recognizing this, Elisha prayed that the Lord would open his eyes that he might see, truly see with his spiritual eyes. Immediately, the servant saw the chariots of fire and angels all around the city!
Same thing happened when the Lord lead Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint the new king. Jesse presented him with his son Eliab, and Samuel said to himself, surely this is God’s anointed! God’s response, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." In other words, don’t be impressed, looks aren’t everything, keep your eyes fixed on what God has for you…you can’t judge a book by its cover!
Mary, Did You Know?
Luke 1:31 "And thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus."
If you’re anything like me, you want to know as much as you can about a new experience before moving forward. What's it going to be like at the new job. What the accommodations are like when you go away. Will I get along with the new neighbors? All the unknowns. Questions, questions, questions!
Imagine what must have gone through the mind of Mary, the mother of Jesus, when the angel approached her with his announcement. I find it interesting that vs 29 says that, “Mary was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind”. She also wondered, “How am I going to get pregnant without being with a man?” Logical question.
Yet, even without knowing all the details, Mary said “yes”, or “be it unto me according to your word”. That’s the response that will bring the supernatural. Her “yes” made way for Jesus to walk on water, open blind eyes, raise the dead, take our place on the cross, and deliver us from sin.
You may be facing a decision today. You may not know everything. You may want all the answers before you proceed. But what is God saying to you? When we have a word from God, we go out “not knowing” all the details, we simply trust what God has said. Notice I said a word from God, not the word of God. God has a specific word just for you, just like He did for Mary. Say yes.
I Slept In and Save Thousands
Proverbs 10: 22 (Amplified Bible) “The blessing of the Lord it makes {truly} rich, and He adds no sorrow with it {neither does toiling increase it}”
We’re in the height of the Christmas shopping season! People are running all over town, or sitting for hours in front of their computer screen shopping for that got-to-have-it gift. Personally, I don’t have a problem with people shopping for gifts, I just believe it sometimes gets way out of balance.
That’s why I love the car commercial about two neighbors who have a brief conversation in their drive way. The guy who went “Black Friday” shopping has a black eye and is exhausted and says, “I got up early and saved hundreds”. The other neighbor, still in his pajamas and with a cup of hot coffee in his hands looks at his new car and says in a calm and relaxed voice, “Oh, I slept in and saved thousands”.
That says it all for me…the huge difference between law and grace! Under the law and a performance-based relationship with God, you work real hard and get little results. Under grace you "REST" and you experience big results! Resting doesn't mean you just do nothing, it means that you’re led by the Holy Spirit, you wait on Him, you trust Him. It means you access what is already yours.
That’s what Adam did. He was created on the last part of the sixth day after everything was finished. He was “set” into a finished work. That’s what God has done for you through the finished work on the cross. Whatever your purpose is, He's already provided everything you will ever need to fulfill it. And here’s the best part, with “no toiling on your behalf to increase it”.
Drive a Stake into the Ground
Luke 19:13 "And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said occupy till I come"
When I was real young, some of the greatest times I remember are when my dad and me would go camping. They were awesome times together. We would always put up a tent and sleep in it for the three of four days we were out in the woods. I remember how we would stretch out the rope on four sides and then drive the stakes at the end of each rope into the ground. We had to make sure the stakes went deep into the dirt so that as we moved around inside the tent, the stakes wouldn’t come loose and it would fall down around us. Very important.
To "drive a stake into the ground" is a Native American term. When they were under attack and it looked like they were going to be defeated, they would "drive a stake into the ground" and actually tie a person by the leg to it so that they would have to stay there and defend that piece of the ground to the death!
Folks, we need to take our stand in what we believe in, no matter what it looks like, no matter how we feel, no matter what people say, NO MATTER WHAT, we need to drive a stake into the ground regarding God’s Word in these last days. In Luke 19, there's a story of a certain nobleman who went into a far country to “receive for himself a kingdom, and to return”. This is a picture of Jesus. The nobleman then gave instructions to his servants to “occupy till I come”. We’re not supposed to just sit back and let the devil have his way in our lives, or in our society, or in the sanctity of marriage, or in the worth and value of the unborn and the elderly. No, we are to occupy until Jesus returns again.
We need to “drive a stake into the ground” concerning what God's Word says. It’s not time to quit, to give up, or to give in. Family, it's time for God's people to take a stand! It's not “que sera sera”, it’s time to drive that stake in the ground and to occupy till Jesus comes back. Keep taking ground, keep serving, keep advancing, this earth belongs to the Lord, and we are to be managers and of it. Drive a stake into the “ground” that Jesus has assigned you to, in His name. Keep telling of His goodness! Keep sharing the good news of the Gospel with others, don’t be afraid of the PC (politically correct) crowd. Go ahead, drive a stake into the ground, tie yourself to the Word, and OCCUPY till He comes!
Don't Get Mess-Merized
Ephesians 4:17 "this I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their minds"
Have you ever spoken to someone who was there physically, but you knew that they weren’t there mentally? Have you ever been someplace physically, but your thoughts were someplace else far away? Have you ever spoken to someone who was so distracted, you knew you had about ten seconds to share your story and they were done? All these scenarios describe someone who is “mesmerized”…in a stupor, a trance, their thinking is dominated and controlled by something else.
The word mesmerize comes from a man named Franz Anton Mesmer. He was one of the forerunners who developed hypnosis by bring people under a “spell”. This is where the phrase, “they were mesmerized” comes from. People who were mesmerized were totally being dominated by the suggestions and commands of somebody else.
In Ephesians 4:17, Paul talks about "other Gentiles", or non-believers that had no focus, couldn't concentrate on someone, or something, always distracted in their mind. He used the word "vanity" of the their mind, which means transient or constantly moving around, can't stay or live in one place, or lasting or staying only a short time. This describes most of our society today. They get mesmerized by all their devices, machines, electronics, systems and a constant flow of messages, advertisements, enticements, and information. They pride themselves as being “multi-taskers”, spinning several “plates in the air” all at once.
On the contrary, the strength of a laser is that it concentrates all of its energy into one little pin size area. Paul is calling all of us to focus, like a laser, on the person in front of us, on the things that God has called us to do, on our specific assignment, to “stay in our lane”. Whether we are talking with the neighbor next door, or carrying out a vision to win a city through Christ, we need to avoid the trap of being mesmerized by things that are designed to distract us and take us off course. We need to stay focused to the very end of the conversation, or the assignment or the job, or task, or project.
This Thanksgiving, take time to talk with someone and really listen with your heart, be present to them. For the remainder of this year, get back on track if you have found yourself off course and get a head start on next year. Sorry Mr. Mesmer, our minds are fixed on God!
Grace Period
John 1 : 17 " For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ"
Have you ever experienced a "Grace Period" in your life? A grace period is "a period of time after a deadline for an obligation, during which a late fee or other action that would have been taken as a result of failing to meet the deadline is waived. Grace periods can range from a number of minutes to a number of days and even longer".
In the world's system, payment is eventually due. In God's system, a grace period is when penalty's are completely waived! How many of you, now be honest, have ever needed to rely on a grace period to pay your bill, a loan, etc.? Or a grace period to finish that college term paper or some other assignment? Grace periods are there to take the pressure off so that you can get that thing done without the stress and pressure of paying a penalty, or being punished for not meeting your obligation on time.
In John chapter 1:17, it tells us that we are now living in a time period where God is not forcing us to pay penalties, to pay extra, to do penance, to meet deadlines. In Luke 2:14,the heavenly choir of angels began praising God, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men"! This announcement was a declaration of a new period, a new day, a new season of the grace of God! It's awesome, a great time to be alive. In Luke 2:10, this good news brings great joy. Under grace you'll have more joy than you can imagine, Hallelujah!
WHY? Because you don't have to pay for your sins, you don't have to live with regret, you don't have to live a life that's under pressure of being punished or paying extra for your faults, a life that's waiting for the "next shoe to drop". We are in the greatest time in history, the "age of grace"...a grace period, where favor is given without working for it, without earning it. With "open doors" of great opportunity that we didn't even ask for.
Jesus said it's a time when the free favors of the Lord profusely abound, a flash flood of God's goodness immersing us in a life of fulfillment. So thank God today for the "nearly too good to be true news", the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for living in His grace period every day!
Grace Walking
Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message Bible) "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Let me ask you a question! When you are at the airport and you have a choice between the moving sidewalk or walking the pavement, which do you choose? Would you rather walk the pavement with all your luggage, or walk/stand on the belt and reach your destination faster with less effort? When I was at the Newark airport on my way back from Ghana, Africa a couple of weeks ago, the friend that I was travelling with looked over at the moving sidewalk and said, "That's grace", then looked at the people walking and said, "That's law". I agreed and thought, that's "grace walking"!
Grace walking. It's the life that Jesus died for, the life that God has provided for us. I like what The Message calls it in Matthew 11:30, "the unforced rhythms of grace". Jesus is beckoning us to walk with Him, work with Him, watch how He does it, we'll learn to live freely and live lightly. That's the choice we have, to walk with Him or on our own.
Less effort does not mean no effort. The key is who you are putting your efforts in, yourself or God? Grace walking is "unforced ", it's a mindset that doesn't have to force its way, doesn't push, doesn't get ahead of God, it's a mindset of rest regardless of what we see or feel.
Rhythm means "movement with a patterned reoccurrence of a beat". God's rhythm is a daily lifestyle, walking throughout each day to His "beat". It's not three good days, two bad days, then one good day. It's a rhythm of grace, rest, a flow. It's like riding in a raft and letting it take you down the river, not swimming upstream against the flow and force of things.
G.R.A.C.E. - God's Riches At Christ's Expense. By grace walking, you allow God to take you places. He opens doors and you walk through. He shows you the strategy to overcome an obstacle and you obey. He leads you down a new path and you open yourself to make the necessary changes. He shuts a door and you don't try to beat it down. He speaks, you listen. He blesses and you receive. He gives you the secret desire of your heart, and you simply smile and say thank you. He loves you, you love Him back. That's the rhythm of grace. That's grace walking! Come on, let's go!
Marinate Day and Night
Joshua 1: 8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but thou shalt meditate therin day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein, for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success".
When I married my wife Natalie, I "obtained favor with the Lord" (Prov 18:22). I really got blessed with her love for God, her character, integrity, her sense of humor, and…Chicken Mirabella. I mean when you have Natalie's Chicken Mirabella it's like your taste buds run around and scream "MORE, MORE!!!" It's sort of her signature dish amongst our family members. It's sooo good. It's made with boneless chicken, fresh garlic, oregano, pepper, vinegar, olive oil, prunes, olives, capers, bay leaves, brown sugar, and white wine. What makes it so good, she lets it marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
Okay, got to take a break, I'm getting hungry…"marinate" means to soak in a sauce for a period of time to give flavor and to make tender". Now we know why Joshua 1:8 says that certain people are, "prosperous and have good success"! They meditate on God's word day and night, and don't allow anything but the Word of God to come out of their mouth.
I see the words "marinate" and "meditate" as the same. I think reading the bible is awesome. I like to meditate on one sentence throughout the day, and let it "marinate" in my mind.
"This book", this specific book, not another one, the Word of God…shall not depart out of your mouth. That means it will be the only thing in your mouth, and coming out of your mouth. You will meditate on it day and night, think about it, ponder it all day long. You will soak in it. Not just once a week, all day every day. You will speak it out loud, repeating what the Word says, and not you’re your emotions, circumstances and feelings would like you to say.
Folks, I described a recipe for Chicken Mirabella, but God has given us a "recipe" for prosperity, joy, peace, health and wholeness. Whatever you meditate on the most, whatever you soak in over time, that's what will come out of your mouth. Do you want your way to be prosperous, do you want good success? Then taste and see that God is good! Think about what you've been thinking about. Marinate and soak in the Word of God day and night!
Where There's Smoke, There's Fire
Genesis 39: 2-3 "But the Lord was with Joseph, and He {though a slave} was a successful and prosperous man: and he was in the house of His master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all that he did to flourish and succeed in his hand"
When my kids were younger, we had a fire pit in our back yard. It was such a great place to gather with friends and family, and roast marshmallows and relax around the fire. The best part, you got to take it with you! All of my clothes, even my skin and my hair smelled like smoke. You guessed it, "Where there's smoke, there's fire"!!!!
True prosperity is not found in the things you have. True prosperity is found in "who you’re with". In Genesis 39:2, it says "but the Lord was with Joseph, and {though a slave} was a successful and prosperous man". Again, true prosperity comes from who you’re with. Because, eventually “who you’re with” is gonna show up in what you’ve got!
I heard a quote recently, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with, including yourself". What's the meaning? Who you spend time with the most, influences the person that you become. That’s huge! Who you are with can elevate you as much as it can bring you down. My pastor used to say "Joe, you can't hang around chickens and expect to soar like an Eagle". The qualities of others rub off on you. Attitudes are transferable. If you’re spending time with the “wrong” people, you won't meet the “right” people. If you hang around a gossip, you'll become a gossip. If you hang around excellent people, excellence will rub off on you.
Joseph, it says, "though a slave…" It didn't matter that he didn’t have anything, he knew God. Hanging around Jesus, focusing on Jesus, and meditating on the Word of God changes what you have. Joseph didn’t use excuses. Excuses are the nails that help build a house of defeat, NOPE! He became a “successful and prosperous man" simply because, “where there's smoke there's fire”.
Verse 3 says, that his master "saw" that the Lord was with Him, and that the Lord made all that He did to flourish and succeed in His hand! When you hang around the Lord it's just a matter of time before you will “smell like smoke”, and people will ask, "Where’s the fire? There's a fire somewhere!" Only God does this. This is what I thank God for every day, that people will “see” and experience that the Lord is with me. After all, "WHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE'S FIRE".
Not Guilty - All Charges Dropped
Romans 8: 33 "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?]"
A few weeks ago I was driving in an area where the speed limit was 25 miles per hour. I had just pulled out of a 7-11 and headed down the road, going maybe 35 mph, I really wasn't paying attention. All of a sudden I passed two police cars were facing in opposite ways on the side of the road. Before I knew it, one of the cars pulled out and followed me a short distance and, you guessed it, flashing lights were behind me. It's a bad feeling. Ever been there? Of course you have. Rightfully so, thoughts like these went through my mind, "I did something wrong, I must have, I'm guilty, oh no, this is embarrassing, this is not good, how much is this going to cost me?" That's the same thing that sin consciousness does, it condemns.
Thankfully, he took my license, registration, and insurance, and came back and said, "Slow down, you can go"! What an awesome feeling. I went from one extreme to the other. I began to thank God for His mercy, not receiving what I deserved. I guarantee that I pulled out onto the road real slow. It was mercy that instructed me, not guilt.
In Romans 8:33, Paul says, "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect when it is God Who justifies?" God has justified us, which means just-as-if-I'd never sinned. We have been acquitted: set free from the charge of an offence by a verdict. We have been declared not guilty.
Somebody paid the penalty for us, the precious Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He was declared guilty, so that you and I can go free. Praise God! All charges are dropped. Like the woman caught in adultery, Jesus told her "go your way and sin no more". It's His love and mercy that makes us decide that we don't want to sin. Romans 8:32 tells us why, "He who did not withhold {or} spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all…"
You are not guilty, all charges against you have been dropped. So, just drive away, go forward stop thinking about it, you're free. Enjoy being free from all guilt today. It's a great way to live every day!