Be holy, be meek, be humble before the Lord. Submit fully and willingly for: “God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble. Do you think Scripture says without reason that He jealously longs for the spirit He caused to dwell in us? But He gives us more grace. Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James chapter 4 begs us to examine our hears. “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your jealous desires that battle within you? You desire what other have, so you envy and slander those who are doing good? As you secretly covet, God is aware of the condition of your heart and the wrong motives of your prayers. We do not have peace, joy and good will towards those whom we hold malice or enmity towards. That is in direct opposition to God’s command to love and pray for your enemy. God’s ultimate desire is to have a faithful bride— a humble and obedient bride who willingly submits to the whole counsel of God. Of the many promises of God, how great is our Father who sent Jesus to inform us that we would be doing greater things! Oh Lord, You have searched me, and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You Lord, know it completely.You hem me in behind and before, and You lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” Psalm 139 Jesus told His disciples “Whoever believes in Me, will do the works I have been doing, and they will do ever greater things than these, because I am going to My Father.” John 14:12

Our God spoke and created all that is — and He said “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as…..” Jeremiah 1:5 God’s plan to prosper our souls was from before we were born. The gifts of the Spirit are dispersed according to the Holy Spirit, but whatever our gift is, it is to serve others and bring glory to God. Scripture urges us to make our election sure because many are called, but few choose to follow His way. Our Father gives us instruction. “Make every effort to add to your faith in Jesus; goodness, knowledge of God, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection and love. For IF you possess these qualities — in INCREASING measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8

Our Father told Moses “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” Exodus 19:6 How wonderful to be considered a “special possession” of God Almighty! The evidence of being a person that God will use to do greater things, is a person filled with God’s Spirit and who is on fire for the things of God. They broadcast His light with a broad smile as they have been anointed with “the oil of gladness”. How do we recognize them? They bear the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, goodness, faith, perseverance and self-control. They are quick to listen and slow to speak, as they are eager to pray for a need, and serve wherever needed. What do they do? They walk worthy of our Lord as they do all things to glorify God. What do you hear them saying? Their lips honor God with praise for all that He has done. They are God’s anointed messengers as they know that only the power of God brings salvation. Hebrews 1:9; Galatians 5:22; Colossians 1:10; Philippians 4:17; Hebrews 13:15; Romans 1:16

Jesus encourages us “Keep My commands and I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate, who will be with you forever — the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him or knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and is in you.” John 14:16-17 Therefore to be effective in ministry we must listen and obey what the Spirit of God is saying, teaching and guiding us to do. He sends us to do things we may feel unprepared to say or do, but He encourages us to just go and He will give us the words to say and the ability to do whatever He asks us to do. Obedience requires TRUST. “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, proclaim freedom to the captives, release the prisoners from darkness, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.” Isaiah 61:1-2

 “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5-8 Remember you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.

It is a Covenant Relationship between God and His bride. When His bride is unfaithful, unwilling, or ungrateful 😭 that breaks the ❤️ heart our faithful Father. “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty, I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the Water of Life. ” Revelation 21:6 ❤️ When people choose to worship their idols, hobbies, and preferred voices over God—our Father’s heart breaks. Consider how hurt He was when He said “I bring charges against you.” People drink in all sorts of polluted water and choose to walk away from God —the only fresh spring of water — to dig a cistern to collect runoff, recycled rain? God’s bride is wise to NOT forget her wedding vow. When His promises become dull to the bride, they dismiss God’s feelings and judgment. Jeremiah 2:9-13 Our Father says “Come back to Me, your first love.” ❤️

“You are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Luke 12:6 Our Father cares about every detail of our lives, to the extent of counting every hair on our heads. We are precious in His sight, a MOST valuable creation. The anointing He gave us is not to be squandered or ignored. When Jesus appeared to Saul on the road He asked “Why are you persecuting Me?” Saul of Taurus was humbled and struck blind and spent days in the dark pit of his soul. The anointing of Saul to Paul was for God’s purpose. The anointing of king Saul supernaturally energized his soul. The back story is that God wanted to be the King of His people, but they cried out to have a ruler like other nations. They demanded a king and God gave them the desires of their heart. When we reject God as our Leader, our spirit becomes dull to His presence. God tested Saul and his soul, mind, and spirit failed to choose God’s leading. Saul became full of envy, jealousy, anger and fear. David was brought in to calm Saul with music. The citizens began to favor David and Saul was envious. Saul lost his kingdom as the anointing was lifted. Our intellect is part of the soul, or mind. Saul excused the anointing and denied the leadership of the Spirit of God. “to know this love that surpasses knowledge (intellect) that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work in us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! AMEN” Ephesians 3:19-21 — We are asked by God to “stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by laying on of hands.” 2 Timothy 1:6 – Ananias laid hands on Paul so that he would gain new spiritual eyes by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Love Mysteries?

We have our plans, and God has His plans. When we surrender all to follow Jesus, that includes our ways and our plans. Our Father will give us the desires of our hearts, for He knows our hearts, and we are precious in His sight. However, He saved us for His purpose, not ours. We must always put God first and pray before we make choices, decisions….and wait on the Lord. If we become weary of waiting for answers, remember that our Father has waited for us to choose His ways, above our preferences. He has issued mercy and grace and His plans for us is to prosper our souls, above our pocketbooks. God knows when we are ready to receive abundantly more than what we could ever ask for. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 All sickness can be traced to 5 causes.

1. What we think. “For as a man thinketh, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7.

2. What we say. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Romans 12:14

3. What we do. “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction.” Galatians 6:8

4. What we eat. “Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.” Proverbs 15:17

5. What we inherit. “the gift of God cannot be compared with the result of one mans sin: the judgement followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift (of the Holy Spirit) followed many trespasses and brought justification.

In the sermon on the mount Jesus related seven types of wrong thoughts that impact our body. .

1. ANGER – impacts the heart – Repent, make amends, love your enemies, honor parents
2. GUILT – impacts the nerves – Love God, seek God, judge not, keep your word,
3. LUST – impacts metabolism – Practice discipline, beware of gluttony, choose narrow path
4. BITTERNESS – impacts digestion – Forgive, deny self, serve others, love neighbors
5. GREED – impacts immunity – Jealous, envy, trust God, not your understanding
6. FEAR – impacts the lungs – Receive the power, use shield of faith, stand against evil
7. ENVY – impacts muscles and skeletal – Make disciples, do unto others, keep commands, pray for those you envy