#Christianity – Page 2 – Boldly For Him

Someplace in the middle of the Mojave Desert, in the restaurant of a modest motel, you will find some of the best blueberry pancakes on Planet Earth! At least that’s what a ten-year-old girl on a cross country family move thought. The memory of those crispy golden pancakes vividly lives on in my thoughts to this day.

Now as an adult Believer in Jesus Christ, there is a taste that I have developed a craving for that far outweighs the memory of those blueberry pancakes, as good as they were. “You Hungry” yet?

Psalm 34:8 (AMP) provides us with Heaven’s, “Eternal Recipe.”

“O taste and see that The Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.”

It is vitally important my friend that you and I as Believers in Jesus Christ watch what we develop a “taste” for. If we allow our appetites in life to be satiated by the carnal things of this world, rather than by our relationship with, The One True God, we will “see” God as a means to “our end” rather than The One True God Who Knows The Beginning from The End. Since the appetites in our life determines the course in which our life will go, let’s ask ourselves this very important question;

What ingredients or influences have I allowed in the kitchen of my heart?

In order to, “Taste and See that The Lord [our God] is good”; the pantry shelves of our heart must be stocked with “The Fruit of The Spirit”, which has no expiration date. The Love of God actively at work in our lives keeps “The Fruit of The Spirit” fresh, hot and abundant while preventing staleness of soul, which leads to lukewarmness of life.

We read about this staple diet in Galatians 5:22-23 (TPT);

“But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions. The joy that overflows, Peace that subdues, kindness in action, A life full of virtue, Faith that prevails, Gentleness of heart, and Strength of Spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.”

Isn’t it interesting that we learn in this scripture that, “Divine love” has many varied expressions Joy, Peace, Kindness, etc? A spiritual diet full of these, “Fruit” will ultimately produce in us, “Strength of Spirit” which will give us the ability and tenacity to follow God no matter how hard or difficult the season that we are facing may be. This is God’s recipe for a well-prepared life that is, “Rooted and Grounded in Love.” Ref. Ephesians 3:17 (NKJV). A life that will always, “Rise” to the occasion of a Victorious overcoming walk in Him!

I really sense that The Lord wants to ask us this question,“What are you hungry for”?

Acceptance, Love, Fame, Power, Control, Attention, Money or is it that tenth piece of mom’s Chocolate Cake in two hours?

Whatever the craving may be, it is ONLY The Fruit of The Spirit that will keep you and me satisfied and healthy both Spiritually and Naturally. This is because Jesus is our Righteousness!

1st Corinthians 1:30-31 (AMP) clearly explains this vital truth for us;

“But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the Divine Plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin].” “So then, as it is written, Let him who boasts and proudly rejoices and glories, boast and proudly rejoice and glory in The Lord.”

Matthew 5:6 (TPT) goes on to explain this Divine Spiritual Meal Plan for us;

“How enriched you are when you Crave Righteousness! For you will be surrounded by Fruitfulness.”

Now is our time my friend to “Crave Him” to continually dine at The Table of His Word and become intimate with His Heart as we gaze into The Eyes of Love Himself! Don’t break His Gaze! His Look of Love IS our Righteousness, our Seal of Approval to be The “Spiritual Heavyweights” that God has called each of us to be for the Kingdom of Heaven! He is asking us to share His not so secret, “Eternal Recipe” with this lost, dying, searching and hurting world…..Let’s make a solid commitment my friend to not “binge and purge” the Word of God. Let’s make a firm commitment to,

“Be Strong and Live Free”….Boldly For Him!

Photo Credit: Peter Lewicki….Unsplash.

He’s an old man desperate for an heir. Weary from the wait of a long-promised legacy, Abram finds himself questioning God. “Could it really be that this Eliezer of Damascus, a servant born in his own household would now be his heir…..?” The reply of The Lord takes him by surprise!

Genesis 15:4-5 (AMP);

“And behold, the Word of The Lord came to him, saying, This man shall not be your heir, but he who shall come from your own body shall be your heir.” “And He brought him outside [his tent into the starlight] and said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars—if you are able to number them. Then He said to him, So shall your descendants be.”

As these words echoed through his thoughts, the memory of The Lord’s recent visit still fresh in his mind, he stares at the beautiful face of the frustrated woman in front of him. Abram wished he had the courage to overcome the fear that kept him from telling his wife about the Blood Covenant that The Lord had just made with him. Yet he knew that Sarai had been pushed beyond her ability to trust him, after all, it was his idea to have her lie to Pharaoh and the rest of the Egyptians in order to spare his life. A decision that almost cost their marriage! With that integrity now violated, Sarai’s heart could no longer hold the pressure of unresolved hurts, anger and a lifeless womb. The bitterness that drove the following irrational suggestion from her heart through her lips, would forever change the course of history and the lives of those closest to her!

Genesis 16:1-2 (AMP);

“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar.” “And Sarai said to Abram, See here, The Lord has restrained me from bearing (children). I am asking you to have intercourse with my maid; it may be that I can obtain children by her. And Abram listened to and heeded what Sarai said.”

Completely distracted from the Covenant that The Lord just made with him, Abram embraces the alternative of Sarai’s suggestion and agrees to have intercourse with Hagar for an heir. The result….?… Surrogate Nation!” The Substitution of God’s Covenant plan through Abram in exchange for the works of his hands. In modern New Testament terms, “A Substitute for Jesus Christ” has just been conceived!

In order to clearly understand the meaning of what God is wanting us to learn through this passage of scripture, I am going to share with you the definition of each word in the term, “Surrogate Christianity.”

Surrogate =
: to appoint a successor, deputy, or substitute for oneself
: SUBSTITUTE

Christianity =
a): the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred
scripture, and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic, and Protestant
bodies
b): conformity to the Christian Religion
c): the practice of Christianity

* Above references are from Merriam-Webster.com

The enemy of our soul has a goal and that is to get us to, “mourn for what we haven’t lost.” He does this by having us view long-awaited, yet to be fulfilled, promises of God for our life through, “The Eyes of Grief.” If he is successful, he knows that we will do exactly what Abram and Sarai did. Take matters into our own hands through “Substitution” and birth an “Ishmael.”

It is the “Ishmael” the “Substitutions” for God’s Promises that we birth that often causes us the most grief and sorrow in our lives. Now is a good moment my friend to see where we are in the birthing process of our Covenant Promises from God. Let’s ask ourselves the following questions:

What specific Covenant Promise of God have I been waiting for the longest?
Have I begun to view that Covenant Promise through, “The Eyes of Grief?”
Am I taking matters into my own hands?

No matter how we answer the above questions, we can be encouraged with this truth, that though we may have birthed an “Ishmael”, there is undoubtedly an “Isaac”, the fulfillment of God’s Covenant Promise in our future! How do I know that this is true? The Bible tells me so! Let’s read Genesis 17:19 (AMP) together;

“But God said, Sarah, your wife shall bear you a son indeed, and you shall call his name Isaac [laughter]; and I will establish My covenant or solemn pledge with him for an Everlasting Covenant and with his posterity after him.”

This same Covenant is now Our Covenant through Jesus Christ! No matter how many “Ishmaels” we have birthed in our life, God has our, “Isaacs” waiting for us! His Covenant with us can never be revoked because the Blood of His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, has ratified that Covenant at Calvary Forever!

This is our time my friend to Go Forth and Birth our “Isaacs” Boldly For Him!

Photo by Cristian Newman

Tag: #Christianity

You Hungry?

Surrogate Christianity