Abundant Riches & Life – Part 2

Colossians 3:16 NLT says, “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives…”

Richness in this verse refers to “much in quantity” (HELPS Word-studies). 

Abundance.

This verse goes on to advise teaching and counseling with the wisdom of God and praise unto The Lord with thankful hearts.

So, friends, as we remain close to The Lord, we must step into His assignments and walk with Him in submission to His ways, knowing He will guide us into His best fulfillment; because we cannot be full of ourselves and the fullness of God. 

The fullness of The Lord requires our surrender to Him.

Remember this key: The way to abundant life is to fear The Lord. 

Proverbs 14:27 NIV says, “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.”

Fear, in this scripture, means deep reverence (Strong’s #3374). Reverence that would cause us to bow to Him (Ps 45:11).

Proverbs 19:23 TPT says, “When you live a life of abandoned love, surrendered before the awe of God, here’s what you’ll experience: Abundant life. Continual protection. And complete satisfaction!”

Remember this key: The way to maintain this abundance is by His true kindness of character and demeanor—our yield to His life-giving Fruit of The Spirit (Ga 5:22, Is 26:3).

Romans 11:22 NIV says, “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.”

This kindness (Strong’s #5544 and #5543) is a type of strength that makes us properly useful for His good service, well-fit for what is needed, upright, morally excellent, gentle, cruelty-free and profitable.

An example of this would be Esther, who was made ready and kindly approached the king. Her wise and fruitful demeanor of kindness influenced the king to make decisions that would take out her enemy and save a nation (Es 5:2).

Esther understood that her enthronement was linked with the kindness and peace of God. This submission to God was the stance from which she served and ruled victoriously (Is 26:3).

As we yield to this Fruit of the Spirit, we will remain in a place of blessing and trust God to do that which only He is fit to do. 

This is of particular importance as we continue into this fitting time, where darkness shakes off and Spirit-produced goodness prevails. Where God reorders parts of our lives into a convergence that hits the target of destiny and reaches far. 

Our Lord has some big inheritances for us to step into.

Are you ready?

Very recently, He highlighted Psalm 47:4 TPT to me, which says, “He’s marked out our inheritance ahead of time, putting us in the front of the line, honoring Jacob, the one he loves…”

Holy Spirit gave me the understanding that those who have been delivered from the false pride of Jacob will continue into their greater God-ordained inheritance.

Interestingly, the Promised Land is also called “’The Excellency of Jacob,’ which literally means ‘the loftiness of Jacob’” (Ellicott’s Commentary) “on account of its beauty and the excellence and variety of its productions” (Pulpit Commentary).

So, what beautiful high place is God bringing authentic you into right now?

What excellent fruit will He produce and establish through you (Amos 9:14-15)?

Holy Spirit desires to reveal His destiny-plan, because we cannot live out divine destiny based on our own knowledge.

Proverbs 15:33 TPT reminds us that “The source of revelation-knowledge is found as you fall down in surrender before the Lord. Don’t expect to see Shekinah glory until the Lord sees your sincere humility.”

Psalm 50:23 NLT assures us that “…If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”

We know this is done by God’s Spirit of Grace, “along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Ti 1:14 NIV). 

I love the Words of Jesus in John 17:13, 15, 17-18 NKJV, which say, “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”

Friends, as His sent ones, let’s put our hand to the plow and not look back. Let’s stay the course of Holy Spirit’s kind actions for His glory (Philippians 3:13, Is 48:3 AMP).

Remember these Words in Psalm 72:6-7 TPT, which say, “Your favor will fall like rain upon our surrendered lives, like showers reviving the earth. In the days of his reign the righteous will spring forth with the abundance of peace and prosperity forevermore.”

So, we declare The Lord’s Words in Isaiah 45:8 AMPC, which say, “Let fall in showers, you heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness [the pure, spiritual, heaven-born possibilities that have their foundation in the holy being of God]; let the earth open, and let them [skies and earth] sprout forth salvation, and let righteousness germinate and spring up [as plants do] together; I the Lord have created it.”

And as we contend to do what The Lord instructs, let’s remember Psalm 20:4 NKJV, which says, ” May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your purpose.”

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

Salvation: Riches & Treasures – Part 1

Recently, during quiet time with The Lord, He reminded me that one person’s release to step out of what feels like a box is another person’s promotion. He revealed to me that remaining connected with former roles that we have outgrown is actually a form of compromise and no longer fitting.

So, what new fit does God have for us right now?

I discovered His clues lie in our immediate heart’s desires, our divine assignments and in our frustrations (or perceived limitations) of not stepping into them. 

I discovered that Holy Spirit will reveal His clues to more of this mystery as we earnestly seek Him and pray through our pressing issues and questions.

He is God of our salvation, the God of our breakthrough.

He will honor our authentic reach for Him.

His Word assures us that He will make His way of peace known to us in our time of trouble (Is 33:2).

Luke 1:77-79 NLT offer us a strategy and an assurance by saying, “You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Yes, God will shine His light on our issues to set us free.

2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT reminds us, “For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation…”

So, oftentimes, the freedom of new life awaits us on the other side of our confession of unwitting compromise, which was true for me.

Psalm 149:4 AMP tells us, “For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.”

Another clue to greater freedom is to consider what we have faithfully sown that God is now taking to the next level.

What can feel like a limitation is often a precursor to an invitation from The Lord to expand us in many ways.

To enrich us. 

2 Corinthians 9:11 TPT says, “You will be abundantly enriched in every way as you give generously on every occasion, for when we take your gifts to those in need, it causes many to give thanks to God.”

By His Spirit, The Lord makes us rich in every way so we can continue to co-labor with Him to expand His Kingdom, which includes blessing others.

God has riches stored up for us as treasure that He desires to release to us as we are able to receive (Da 12:3).

So, what may feel like an old confinement is really a heightened prompting toward a new beginning of expansion for the glory of God.

Knowing this, are there any hindrances that need to go so we can shift into this new place? Any doors to compromise that we need to close? Any idols we need to lay at His altar? 

Even mindsets that may seem wise may not be God’s way, especially if they’re rooted in fear, not love and faith. 

Have you been able to see beyond where you’ve been?

Have you asked The Lord to reveal His vision to you for 2021?

What role(s) has God paved the way through you for others to step into?

To be sure, God will work out His salvation in our lives by His grace as we step through new thresholds (Philippians 2:12). 

New life awaits us and will lead us into God’s best riches (blessings) and treasures (stored up blessings) for us.

In other words, He will provide an escape from the place of confinement and deliver us safely into the place of new growth that’s right in front of us. He will also provide new relationships to help us forward, as well as replacements for the role(s) from which we depart.

We need only to receive God’s rescue and courageously follow His lead.

So, may we release every limitation to Him and accept His invitations.

May we be an awakened bride over one that doesn’t bring it (Matt 25:1-13).

May we be up for the task(s).

Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:13 TPT by saying, “I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however, I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.”

God further assures us through Paul that we can do all things through Christ, who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). 

So, pray with me if you will…

Heavenly Father, 

Thank You for Your mercy that forgives our compromises and Your grace that propels us forward. I invite You to shine Your light on any and every compromise in my life and bring the conviction that leads me to repentance. Enable me to receive every invitation You have for me in this season and beyond.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.  

And now, may “Our hero, come and rescue us! O God of the breakthrough, for the glory of your name, come and help us! Forgive and restore us; heal us and cover us in your love” (Ps 79:9 TPT).

To God be the glory!

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

Doors of Opportunity – Part 2

We know that Jesus is the Door, who stands in the gap (doorway) on our behalf. He alone holds the key and is the One who rules sovereignly over our entrance. 

Isaiah 22:22 AMPC tells us, “And the key of the house of David I will lay upon his shoulder; he shall open and no one shall shut, he shall shut and no one shall open.”

One meaning of the Word “doorway” is “opportunity,” which is a means of access or participation (Webster’s), “a means of achieving or escaping something” (Encarta).

As the bride of Christ, we have just entered into our Promised Land, escaping that which was behind us. We are now able to achieve God’s purpose forward in submission to Him.

Jesus has opened the door. 

But not all opportunities are of God. 

We must be led by Holy Spirit and carefully obey as Joshua did in his Promised Land.

In Philippians 3:13 TPT Paul shares wise strategy, by saying, “I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however, I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.”

Friends, it’s time to lay down what God is finished with in former seasons. Let it go and fiercely focus on Him and what’s before us.  

It’s time to step into more of our God-given manifest inheritance.

2 Samuel 22:2 AMPC reveals a three-phase strategy that King David walked through on his way to his coronation. It says, “…The Lord is my Rock [of escape from Saul] and my Fortress [in the wilderness] and my Deliverer; [I Sam. 23:14, 25, 28.]”

This is also the process that the Israelites walked through from Egypt (Saul), through the Desert (Wilderness) and into their Promised Land (Delivered).)

It’s the same three-phase process of enthronement that we walk through along our journey to greater power and authority to rule and reign with God on earth as it is in Heaven.

The Lord has brought us through the first two phases, which was about coming to know Him as:

  1. Our escape from Saul (salvation).
  2. Our fortress in the wilderness (sanctification).

And now that we have entered into the third and final phase with The Lord, He is revealing Himself to us as:

3. Our deliverer (into and through our Promised Land), which is the fulfillment stage of promise for our inheritance-reward and much fruit (harvest).

With every step forward in this Promised Land, God will honor us as we honor Him to establish His reign on the earth by His Spirit. He will enable us to rule with Him in greater authority to impact nations. While evil self-destructs by its own sword, like Saul.

Just like King David stepped into his Kingdom inheritance of rulership, we, too, will receive promises fulfilled for Kingdom impact when we stay the course and obey God (Jos 1:7).

We will need a constant flow of living water from the Word and Spirit of God to sustain our position of enthronement here on earth (Re 22:1).

As God’s sons and daughters, we are to remain in the Vine, guard our hearts and be led by Holy Spirit for fruit production in this new season (Re 22:2).

We need to sync with God’s vision as He continues to open up the doorways to new life. 

We can acknowledge God as David did and thank Him as Daniel did when he saw and heard from The Lord.

Daniel 2:20-23 says:

Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.

As we worship God and follow His lead, we can declare Psalm 24:7 TPT, which says, “So wake up, you living gateways! Lift up your heads, you ageless doors of destiny! Welcome the King of Glory, for he is about to come through you.”

As we progress in this new cycle of the transfer of power, wealth and authority to God’s sons and daughters, we will witness God unseat evil and deliver territory from darkness to light for Kingdom impact (Is 22:19-22). 

God will grow His Kingdom, and we get to participate. 

Just as He did for King David and Daniel and Joshua, God will show us the way and protect us.

He will reveal His vision to us and give us strategy as we go with His Presence. 

As we remain in Him and continue to trust Him along this exciting journey, we will taste and see that He is good in all things. We will have eyes to see and ears to hear. 

So, my questions to you are:

  1. Have you had a Saul in your past that chased you closer to God (deeper, higher)?
  2. Have you found yourself in a wilderness (intimacy) season that prepped you for greater promises forward?
  3. Are you ready to experience your deliverance into those greater promises as your destiny continues to be revealed to you?

If your answers are “yes,” then you are well on your way to greater dominion His way. 

To God be the glory. 

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.