Month: April 2015

Day 7 – Set Free by The Truth

Romans 12:1-2 says, Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. It is in God’s word that we see that conformity to the world happens when our minds our not made new again. But how can the mind be made new again?

I once read a book by Larry Hutch, Pastor of New Beginnings Church in Dallas, called Free At Last. If you don’t have the book, I highly recommend it. However, he explained John 8:32, in a way that gave me a new understanding. In John 8:32, Jesus says, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Oftentimes, we think that if we just hear the truth, then we will be okay. Right? Well, he goes on to explain that in the Greek, the scriptures are actually saying the [the truth YOU KNOW shall make you free]. This is very important for a number of reasons.

First, yokes of addiction will cause people to make excuses that only serve to keep them under a stronghold. And while truth is available and accessible to those suffering under the yoke of addiction, the truth often remains hidden because they are not pursuing the truth to actually take possession of it so they can be set free.

Yes, the truth of God’s word is available to all of us. And it has the power to transform our lives, set us free, release us from bondage, and remove the restrictions and yokes that addictions that hold us hostage. But just because the word of God has transforming power and yoke destroying power does not mean that everyone who attends church will leave the church WITH the truth. Why? Being transformed is a state of mind whereby we LET God change us by exercising our faith to pursue the truth – the revelation truth in the word. And once we submit to that truth of God’s word and His program for transforming our lives, then that’s when we are truly set free, and see yokes destroyed.

Jesus says in John 8:36, “If the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed.” Jesus gave us full assurance so we would know when we experienced real freedom. This freedom will not happen by chance, but it will happen on purpose when we exercise our faith to pursue this liberating power in Jesus Christ. Yes, there is yoke-destroying freedom in Jesus Christ. And when you are truly free, you know it. You experience a freedom that is unmistakable, undeniable, and unregrettable.

So Beloved saints of God, know that you are loved by God and determine in your heart to accept the truth of God’s Living Word, Jesus Christ, who is able to set you free indeed. Be Set Free.

Pastor Mike Reed/United Vision Christian Fellowship Church

 

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Day 6-The Spirit is Willing

“And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  I want to do what is right, but I can’t.  I want to do what is good, but I don’t.  I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.  But if you do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.”–Romans 7:18-20

There’s an internal war that rages within each of us.  Paul describes this so well in Romans 7.  Though we desire to do the right thing, we don’t have the power to do so in our own efforts and we mess up.  The good news is that we don’t have to rely on our own strength to make right decisions.  We don’t have to be dominated by our sinful nature and end up doing the things we don’t want to do.  But the way we can live this kind of life is by yielding to the Holy Spirit and relying on the strength of Jesus Christ, not our own.

When we’re facing struggles, we must rely on God’s power alive within us through the Holy Spirit.  It is our job to lay down our stubborn fleshly will and yield to the will of God.  In that moment, the Holy Spirit will be there to help us.  Let’s learn to yield to and become totally reliant upon the Holy Spirit.

“Prayer turns ordinary mortals into men of power.  It brings power.  It brings fire.  It brings rain.  It brings life.  It brings GOD!”–Samuel Chadwick

Bible Reading: Genesis 10

Prayer Focus: Are there areas in your life causing an internal struggle?  Make a decision today to yield to the Holy Spirit and lean on His strength, not your own, and to overcome obstacles of sin and selfishness in your life.  Surrender and release those areas to God, knowing He will help you.

Song Title: Free by Kierra Sheard

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Day 5-When Grace Comes Down

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.–John 1:17

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a personal visit with God?  What would He say about the state of humanity? About religion? About our propensity toward sin? There is no need to wonder about what God is like or would say, because to know Him, we have only to look at Jesus.  In Jesus we have received grace, but there is even something more we have received: truth.

The kind of truth John spoke of in today’s scripture is not a list of laws and rules such as were given to Moses.  Make no mistake–the revelation of God through the word of the Law was glorious.  When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after receiving the ten commandments, his face shone so brightly with the glory of God that he had to wear a veil (Exodus 34:33-35).  But the word of the Law cannot compare with the word of life that has been revealed through Jesus!

In John 1:18 we learn that no one, not even Moses, has ever seen God.  But Jesus has not only seen God–He is God.  The truth that John was speaking about is a clear and unveiled vision of the true nature of God.  It is from a state of grace, not legalism, that we find real and lasting transformation.  Looking at God through the lens of legalism and religion is like looking at Him through a veil.  Only when we see Him through Jesus Christ can we truly get a glimpse into His heart.  It is from a state of grace, not legalism, that we will find real and lasting transformation (2 Corinthians 2:7-18).

“I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.”–John Newton

Bible Reading: Genesis 9

Prayer Focus: Have you been looking at God through the veil of legalism and religion? In Jesus, we see the full revelation of the nature of God: His love and holiness, mercy and justice, compassion and power all perfectly and beautifully expressed.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you see God through the eyes of grace and truth given to us in Jesus Christ.

Song: Break Every Chain by Tasha Cobbs

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Day 4-Agreement with the Will of God

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?–Amos 3:3

In the heart of every believer is the desire to walk closely with God.  We know that He, too, desires a close relationship with each one of us.  A key to having a strong level of spiritual intimacy with God is living in agreement with His will for your life.

In Genesis 5:22, we read of Enoch and see that his life is modeled a long journey, walking consistently with God, for it says, “Enoch walked with God three hundred years.”  Enoch lived a powerful life.  He was a man who walked in agreement with God’s will and lived a life pleasing to God. (Hebrews 11:5)

The level of our agreement with God will determine the degree of closeness in our walk with Him.  It is one thing to know God’s will for our lives; it’s another to live in agreement with His will.  In order to enjoy the best life that God has for us, we must first understand that God does not change, but we sometimes must [change].  Let’s earnestly seek to know and agree with God’s will.  The level of our agreement with God will determine the degree of closeness in our walk with Him.  I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts.  But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition, there is no room for the Spirit of God.

“We must be emptied before we can be filled.”–D.L. Moody

Bible Reading: Proverbs 1

Prayer Focus: Pray today that you can walk in agreement with God and enjoy the life He desires you to have in Christ.

Morning Song Title: Let it Go by J. Moss

Evening Song: Forgiveness by Toby Mac (ft. Lacrae)

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Day 3-Fasting Removes Unbelief

Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.  then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”  So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.  However, this kind does not go out except through prayer and fasting.”–Matthew 17:18-21

When we pray and fast, we don’t do so to change God or His will; by praying and fasting we are the ones changed.  Coming into alignment with God helps us curb our doubts and fears.  When we pray and fast, the thing that leaves–the thing that goes out–is our unbelief.  It is when we have faith to believe that we can pray with confidence and know that “nothing will be impossible.”

When we pray and fast, we don’t do so to change God or His will; by praying and fasting we are the ones changed.  Ask God to strengthen your heart to fully believe Him and His word. It is okay to recognize and acknowledge if you struggle with unbelief.  That’s the first step in allowing God to strengthen your faith and bring you into alignment with His plan for your life.  Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do.

“EXPECT..above all that we ask or think.”–Andrew Murray

Bible Reading: Psalm 1-2

Prayer Focus: What do you need faith to believe in?  Align yourself with God’s Word and will during this fast.  Release your unbelief.  Pray with confidence, knowing “nothing will be impossible” for you.

Song Title: No Sweeter Name by Kari Job

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Day 2-Tune In

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. –John 10:27

Have you ever tried to tune in a radio station only to be frustrated by finding static rather than music?  And when you fiddled with the dial again, suddenly you hear a clear signal.  the fact is that clear signal always existed on the airwaves.  The difference is that now you have adjusted your tuner to the right frequency.

In our hectic lives, there are so many signals bombarding our senses that it can become difficult to distinguish God’s voice from the deafening static noise of life.  Fasting enables us to tune out the world’s distractions and tune in to God.  As we fast, we deny our flesh.  When we deny our flesh, we become more in tune to the Holy Spirit and can hear God’s voice more clearly.  If you truly listen for God’s voice, you will hear it.  And when you hear it, your faith will increase.

Fasting enables us to tune our the world’s distractions and tune in to God.

“If you desire to tune out the static of life and really tune into the voice of God, come to Him first and foremost with ears willing to listen and a heart ready to obey what he says (Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 66:2).  The more we practice being in His presence, the clearer and more recognizable His voice becomes.  Fasting is more important, more important perhaps than many of us have supposed.  When exercised with a pure heart and a right motive, fasting may provide us with a key to unlock doors where others may have failed; a window opening up new horizons in the unseen world, a spiritual weapon of God’s provision, mighty to the pulling down of strongholds.”–Arthur Wallis

Bible Reading: GENESIS 8

Prayer Focus: In this time of fasting, what is your mind tuned to?  What distractions do you need to remove so that you can focus on God?  Prepare your heart to hear the voice of God, and ask Him to help you remove distractions that keep you from focusing on Him and hearing His voice clearly.  Pray for our Church that God will give our leaders wisdom in leading the Church and reaching those far from God.

Song title: Called To Be – Jonathan Nelson

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Day 1 – Return Unto Me

Return to Me “Even now,” declare the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Joel 2:12, NIV

If we look at the kind of fasting that took place in the Old Testament, it would be easy to assume that the reason for fasting is to gain forgiveness.  In the book of Joel, the Israelites had wandered far from God, and their sinfulness had resulted in famine and pestilence in the land.

Through the prophet Joel, God called them to repentance, ordering them to declare a sacrificial fast, which along with mourning and weeping, would show God the sincerity of their repentance.

In return the prophet said that perhaps God would “turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing” (verse 14, NIV).  Such a fast of repentance is seen in the Old Testament time and again, because under the Old Covenant, man had to rely on his works and sacrifices to avert the wrath of God.  But under the New Covenant, we don’t have to fast for forgiveness.  Every wrong we have don and will do was forgiven at the cross, and when we accept Christ, we live under the New Covenant of grace and forgiveness!

First Thessalonians 5:9 tells us that “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (NIV).  So then, why do we, as people under the New Covenant, devote ourselves to fasting and prayer?

We don’t fast for forgiveness.  Every wrong we have done and will do was forgiven at the cross.  As we walk with God, there are times that we feel far from Him or disconnected.  Joel’s words resonate with us, even if we live in a context of grace: “Return to me with all your heart.”  There are times we realize that though we have chosen to follow Jesus, the flame of our love for Him has grown cold.

Your time spent in prayer each day of the fast can result in a new richness, a rewarding connection with our heavenly Father.  Now matter where you are on your journey with Jesus, you can always take a step closer toward Him.

“I believe in the power of fasting as it relates to prayer is the spiritual atomic bomb that our Lord has given us to destroy the strongholds of evil and usher in a great revival and spiritual harvest around the world.”  Bill Bright

Bible Reading Plan: GENESIS 7

Prayer Focus: As we begin this time of prayer and fasting, let’s turn our hearts toward God.  Make a commitment to seek Him daily.  Pray that your love for Jesus will be increased and your passion for God will be reignited over the next 7 days.

Song title: Unto Thee by J Moss

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