IN THE VALLEY….trust GOD!

In the valley - TRUST GOD!

Did Noah feel that way in the ark?

...like God, when is this rain going to stop, we’re seasick and the ark smells horrible with all this animal dung. Or Joseph in prison for crimes he didn’t commit. He went joyfully to serve his brothers and look at where he ended up, in prison? How long was it from the pit to the throne room? How did Jesus feel in Gethesemane, his friends deserting him; his long road to the cross? Did it make HIM want to die more though HE knew the outcome. How unbearable it must have been, the agony, the nakedness in the streets, the accusations, the shame of being hung on a cross. For sure God had deserted HIM because HE acknowledged it on the cross.
HE said, “my God why have YOU forsaken me?”
But what did it do to HIM? Does knowing the outcome make it any painless?

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

“For I know the plans I have for you saith the Lord.
Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.
Plans to give you a hope and a future….”

"MY HOPE in JESUS is like an hard boiled egg. I may crack on the outside, but I'm still solid on the inside"... Stephen Furtick

In HIS presence....

Valleys are often long and meandering with no favorable end in sight. Often times when I come to a crossroads, when I hit a speed bump I try to pull the brake handle all the way up and begin to sniff. Like a rescue dog I sniff for solace. Most times it’s the place that I feel most comfortable - at HIS feet, most times. I sniff for worship. I close my eyes and let worship music pour over my soul like alcohol in a flesh wound it soothes. It doesn’t always bring an answer, just a peace and a transition from the focus on the thing that’s trying to drive me crazy at that time, to focus on The Almighty God. 

I don’t always feel for it. But because I’ve proven that it works on multiple occasions. Even when I’m not in the mood for it I find The Word on my phone and fall asleep listening to it. Or I find worship music on youtube and do the same. That’s my drug. It’s true. For me, all roads lead to worship. It always makes all things better, even if it’s just in that moment. When it doesn’t make sense I leave it in God’s hand, I mean at HIS feet. It doesn’t matter what I’ve done or failed to do. It doesn’t matter what I’m guilty of. I’ve trained myself to sniff. Something about God’s presence is very calm, safe, uncondemning and empowering.

Isaiah 26:3

God will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on THEE!

 

HE gives us power....

 

The thing about the valley is that there's no place too low that the presence of God doesn't reside.  It doesn't matter how we feel, HE gives us keys to unlock any and every door that keeps us 'boxed in'.  HIS word says, whatsoever we bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatsoever we loose on earth is loose in heaven.  Matthew 16 Absolutely nothing can/ should keep us in entrapment.  Like David we need to seek God.  Even when he sinned he acknowledged that: "against thee only have I sinned".   The rules of engagement in the Kingdom of God are different from the rules of engagement in the earthly kingdom of darkness i.e. the devil.  We are not familiar with God's ways.  We are not familiar with God's government. 

 

The Almighty God lives in heaven. HIS ways are higher than our ways and HIS thoughts the same. We cannot comprehend how to escape and or manipulate our environs without God's intervention.   Since Jesus overcame every tactic of the devil, we too can do the same, but not in our own strength.  We need help. When we seek God's help HE sends HIS Holy Spirit to guide us so that we can be successful in achieving and sustaining productive results.  1 Corinthians 10 We were created to win.  Because when we win we reflect God's glory. When we win it looks good on HIM.  God never looses. HE'S always in control.  We have to trust God's methods.  HE only has our best interest at heart.  It is HIS great pleasure to give us the Kingdom. Luke 12.

 

 James 4:8

Draw nigh unto God and HE will draw nigh unto thee!

 

TESTIMONY:  Nahum’s Story - Pain Turned to Purpose (Full Testimony) | 2018 Youth Summit

WORSHIP: Hills and Valleys

                                    

HE knows what HE'S doing....TRUST GOD!

Matthew 4: 3- 9 Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted….

STORY

Matthew 4: 3- 9

"Matthew 4: 3- 9"

Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted….

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

At the end of power there is praise.  Power summons applause, acknowledgement and authority.  The Almighty God is a jealous God. HE demands the glory. Everything thing we do should point back to HIM.  It’s a boomerang of a world that we live in. God made all things to praise HIM, even the demons.  They were kicked out of heaven because they tried to usurp HIS supremacy. The devil tried to deflect, to revert some of God’s glory to himself.  That’s it right there, EGO. The moment we begin to make it about us we begin to loose. Jesus often always reverted back to the Father, HIS father.  We need to discipline ourselves to do the same. We need to review our motives continuously. Who are we trying to impress? Who are we trying to please? Whose agenda are we on?  We should be careful not to loose sight of the mission. What does God require of me? Am I pleasing HIM? Am I in sync with the leading of HIS Holy Spirit?

It was not an accident...

 Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  It was an important part of the agenda.  The wilderness established HIS allegiance.  It prepared HIM for the road ahead. It was HIS starting line to identify the temptations that the devil would throw at HIM; and the mission HE was on.  Jesus declared from the get- go that HE was not about to give the devil any glory for any ‘fame/ fortune/ or misfortune’ that could lie in front and/ ahead of HIM. 

• Bread – referred to strength – physical sustenance i.e. emotional appeal.The devil appealed to Jesus’ nature – the biggest physical threat at the time; the thing which would have been on HIS mind – food. Jesus had just completed 40 days of no food.  HE was famished. The 1st obstacle/ thing in HIS human experience to overcome would have been his physical desire – hunger. Hunger makes us weak. It’s a natural response of the body. When we are weak it interferes with our focus. For Jesus, it was food.  But what is my biggest physical desire? What do I crave? What am I hungry for? It will interfere with my focus. It will make me weak if I don’t address it dead on.

• Performance – referred to psychology – i.e. mental appeal.  We act according to our beliefs. The quality of our performance is based on the standard of our perception.  What does the best look like and whose standards are those? An excellent performance warrants praise. Who are we trying to please or impress.  If I’m trying to please you then am I doing what is on your agenda? If I’m trying to be popular then I’m swayed by the crowd. Our performance is always in comparison to something/  Performance – referred to psychology – i.e. mental appeal.  We act according to our beliefs. The quality of our performance is based on the standard of our perception.  What does our best look like and whose standards are those? An excellent performance warrants praise. Who are we trying to please or impress.  If I’m trying to please you then am I doing what is on your agenda? If I’m trying to be popular then I’m swayed by the crowd. Our performance is always in comparison to something/ someone else – a challenge.  The devil was calling Jesus to a challenge.  He did the same thing with Eve in the garden of Eden.  God calls us to obedience not comparison. Our roles are specific based on HIS ordinance.  God created man. Performance should be derived from purpose.  I am a car hence I drive.  I am a boat hence I sail. I am a man hence I’m obedient. I worship.  I need to be careful not to be influenced by my own opinion nor any other person's opinion but God's.
  

• Praise – referred to power i.e. spiritual appeal.  Life and death is in the power of the tongue. The devil wanted Jesus to praise him.  He was willing to trade power for praise. The power is in the praise.  What we say has an adverse effect on our environs.  There is a spiritual world/ realm that exists simultaneous to the physical world.  The spiritual world is of more significance than the physical world i.e. more powerful. Both worlds have a ruling powers who dominate each territory. Both territories are at war with each other. The fight happens in the spiritual realm and then manifests itself in the physical realm.  Genesis 1 Originally God gave man power to dominate the physical territories.  But then man was deceived by the devil and gave/transferred that power to the devil.  So the devil continues to controls the physical realm if and when man allows him to.  This is because After Jesus Christ came to earth HE gave man the power to take back his authority from the devil.  At the end of the day, it's man's decision.
  

Galatians 5: 16 - 18

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

There is a conflict of interest....

The thing about the fight is that humans are the conduits/ vessels – used. Romans 6 We allow/ choose which god we will allow to use us. We choose which god to serve. That choice dictates our agendas. Each god has his own agenda. Both gods are enemies.  The god of the physical world is satan, and the God of the spiritual world is the Almighty God. The spiritual world/ realm also requires strength to focus and fulfill an agenda; primarily God’s agenda. 

 

Bread is the physical food that gives physical strength; and the Word Of God is the spiritual (bread) food that gives spiritual strength.

Matthew 4:4

But HE answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Authority is reflected in speech. The more we speak the word of God in our circumstances, the more spiritually fit we become. And like Jesus, when the devil comes to tempt us we impress and please God with our response. We fight spirit with spirit.  Pay attention: Like Jesus, it is important that you be led by the Holy Spirit.  Do not attempt the wilderness in your own strength.  Do not attempt life in your own strength.  Also, it is imperative that you know The Word.

Psalms 119:11 

Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against THEE. 

All of God’s word from Adam and Eve to Revelation has one aim which is to give glory to The Almighty God. Everything that has breadth was made to praise the Lord! Everything that God made, HE made it to worship HIM.  You cannot worship God and mammon, either you will love one and hate the other.  I pray that like Joshua you will be able to say: Choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house we will serve The Lord. Joshua 24

TESTIMONY:  Miracles After Fasting | Storytime | The Power of God Through Fasting | Healing Testimony

WORSHIP: Come Holy Spirit // House of Heroes Worship // GMF Netherlands & Myanmar Choir

When you are tempted use God's word as your weapon, not your emotions!

St. John 4:24

VERSE

St. John 4:24

"St. John 4:24"

God is a Spirit: and they that worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and in truth.

 All our efforts are futile to impress God if we’re not worshiping HIM in the way that HE requires – which is – in spirit and in truth. 

• To worship God in spirit means to allow the Holy Spirit to lead and dictate our actions and our hearts.  It is total surrender to HIS will. It is not based on our emotions or opinions. It is based on GOD’S precepts.
• To worship God in truth means to do what Jesus says, to follow in Jesus’ footsteps i.e. to do what Jesus would do.  God knows our thoughts even before we share them. We can’t hide from God. But HE wants us to acknowledge our situation i.e. our limitations, let go of them and embrace his provision which HE has provided for us through HIS grace. For instance: Firstly, I can acknowledge that I am weak in a specific area of my life. But secondly, I’ll affirm that I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength. Therefore I will be able to change my circumstance based on what God says about it and not based on my emotions.

It is the Holy Spirit that empowers us to do the things God wants us to do in the way that God wants it done. We are not smart enough, wise enough, nor holy enough to please God on our own. It’s not our way of doing things. We operate from a human standpoint, and God operates from a spiritual standpoint. We have to be taught how to operate like God does from a spiritual perspective. We have to be taught how to please God. That’s the purpose of the Holy Spirit. HE understands God's nature, character and perspective. HE is our teacher. Jesus brought HIM to us when HE commanded the disciples to wait for HIM in Jerusalem at Pentecost. Acts 1

There is only one truth and it is not subjective. Mankind wasn’t getting it right, so Jesus had to come to earth to show us how to please God. Jesus brought God's grace and truth back to a lost mankind who had no idea what that looked or felt like. St. John 1 Jesus reconciled us back to the Father correctly since the disruption in the garden of Eden. God wanted to commune with us again, like HE did with Adam and Eve – a real relationship. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  St. John 14: 6