Just when everything is going well the challenges come in life. These burdens are not for us to decide.
The spirit of the Lord is our guide. Burdens are too heavy, and we need to stop carrying them. It’s simply unproductive. Matthew 11:28-29 KJV says: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Jesus is aware of your burden. He is helping and you will catch a break. Numbers 11:4-6, 10-29 MSG “The riffraff among the people had a craving and soon they had the People of Israel whining, “Why can’t we have meat? We ate fish in Egypt—and got it free!—to say nothing of the cucumbers and melons, the leeks and onions and garlic. But nothing tastes good out here; all we get is manna, manna, manna.” Moses heard the whining, all those families whining in front of their tents. GOD ’s anger blazed up. Moses saw that things were in a bad way. Moses said to GOD, “Why are you treating me this way? What did I ever do to you to deserve this? Did I conceive them? Was I their mother? So why dump the responsibility of this people on me? Why tell me to carry them around like a nursing mother, carry them all the way to the land you promised to their ancestors? Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people who are whining to me, ‘Give us meat; we want meat.’ I can’t do this by myself—it’s too much, all these people. If this is how you intend to treat me, do me a favor and kill me. I’ve seen enough; I’ve had enough. Let me out of here.” GOD said to Moses, “Gather together seventy men from among the leaders of Israel, men whom you know to be respected and responsible. Take them to the Tent of Meeting. I’ll meet you there. I’ll come down and speak with you. I’ll take some of the Spirit that is on you and place it on them; they’ll then be able to take some of the load of this people—you won’t have to carry the whole thing alone. “Tell the people, Consecrate yourselves. Get ready for tomorrow when you’re going to eat meat. You’ve been whining to GOD, ‘We want meat; give us meat. We had a better life in Egypt.’ GOD has heard your whining and he’s going to give you meat. You’re going to eat meat. And it’s not just for a day that you’ll eat meat, and not two days, or five or ten or twenty, but for a whole month. You’re going to eat meat until it’s coming out your nostrils. You’re going to be so sick of meat that you’ll throw up at the mere mention of it. And here’s why: Because you have rejected GOD who is right here among you, whining to his face, ‘Oh, why did we ever have to leave Egypt?’” Moses said, “I’m standing here surrounded by 600,000 men on foot and you say, ‘I’ll give them meat, meat every day for a month.’ So where’s it coming from? Even if all the flocks and herds were butchered, would that be enough? Even if all the fish in the sea were caught, would that be enough?” GOD answered Moses, “So, do you think I can’t take care of you? You’ll see soon enough whether what I say happens for you or not.” So Moses went out and told the people what GOD had said. He called together seventy of the leaders and had them stand around the Tent. GOD came down in a cloud and spoke to Moses and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy leaders. When the Spirit rested on them they prophesied. But they didn’t continue; it was a onetime event. Meanwhile two men, Eldad and Medad, had stayed in the camp. They were listed as leaders but they didn’t leave camp to go to the Tent. Still, the Spirit also rested on them and they prophesied in the camp. A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!” Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ right-hand man since his youth, said, “Moses, master! Stop them!” But Moses said, “Are you jealous for me? Would that all GOD ’s people were prophets. Would that GOD would put his Spirit on all of them.”” Numbers 11:4-6, 10-29 MSG Extra baggage is a curse and I don’t want extra baggage. Who wants the pressure of a problem you can’t even solve, or you aren’t supposed to solve? “Dreamers fantasize their self-importance; they think they are smarter than a whole college faculty. You grab a mad dog by the ears when you butt into a quarrel that’s none of your business. People who shrug off deliberate deceptions, saying, “I didn’t mean it, I was only joking,” Are worse than careless campers who walk away from smoldering campfires. When you run out of wood, the fire goes out; when the gossip ends, the quarrel dies down. A quarrelsome person in a dispute is like kerosene thrown on a fire. Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you want junk like that in your belly? Smooth talk from an evil heart is like glaze on cracked pottery. Your enemy shakes hands and greets you like an old friend, all the while conniving against you. When he speaks warmly to you, don’t believe him for a minute; he’s just waiting for the chance to rip you off. No matter how cunningly he conceals his malice, eventually his evil will be exposed in public. Malice backfires; spite boomerangs. Liars hate their victims; flatterers sabotage trust.” Proverbs 26:16-28 MSG God gives us our own battles to fight not somebody else’s. So, watch me go. “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”” Matthew 9:9-13 NIV Burdens are too heavy and you are going to be set free from them. Jesus guarantees by his own words “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 NIV You are giving Jesus the extra baggage. He wants to be tied to you. “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”” Matthew 11:30 NIV You can tie to him and use his strength. It’s time for you to go and see the fruit God has planned specifically in your life. Don’t let anything stand in your way. Your purpose matters and there are supernatural blessings. Sometimes the thing you are afraid of is the key to your breakthrough.
1 Comment
Just like our vehicles need a tune up, our bodies and specifically our heart needs ongoing maintenance. Don’t forget your heart is repairable. We need to look at people from a different perspective and realize that hurting people end up hurting us. If we dwell on this, we forfeit happiness and victory. We have to see our hearts being repaired and remember who heals the broken hearted.
Psalm 147:3 says , “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” God cares about the condition of your heart. It’s not Gods will for you to be sad nor is it God’s will for you to be broken. His will is joy, happiness, and a healed heart. You don’t have to wait on God’s will, the Bible is clear. Remember when people are hurt, they hurt others. Think of this perspective, an injured dog will bite. You need to avoid the injury in the first place, and you have the power to do so. You can protect your heart so healing can happen. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 Once your heart is protected it can be healed. People don’t have the power of to hurt a guarded heart that blesses others. Sometimes we are so busy trying to fix things, but we get so lost in the repair, we lose sight of what needs to be fixed. Or we just break it a little more out of frustration. Think about Samson in Judges 14 through 16. He had a woman he loved. He asked parents for a philistine. He killed a lion through the spirit of God. The next day there was honey in carcass. He was prideful and went around telling a riddle. A lady bugged him until he explained the riddle. She the told everyone the riddle. Samson’s pride got the best of him and he allowed the anger to build. This exposed his hearts vulnerability instead of the protection. Ultimately this led to his capture. “And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith. And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.” Judges 15:14-16 KJV Samson was once a big deal. Through his heart vulnerabilities a series of events led to his slavery. He was laughed at, mocked and humbled. Ultimately while being put on for show his strength came back and he destroyed the building killing several and himself. He committed suicide without a heart repair. That’s not Gods best. “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” JOHN 10:10 AMP This is a prime example of a hurting person who ended up hurting others. Noah also hurt when he was hurting. “And Noah began to farm and cultivate the ground and he planted a vineyard. He drank some of the wine and became drunk, and he was uncovered and lay exposed inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw [by accident] the nakedness of his father, and [to his father’s shame] told his two brothers outside. So Shem and Japheth took a robe and put it on both their shoulders, and walked backwards and covered the nakedness of their father; their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine [induced stupor], he knew what his younger son [Ham] had done to him. So he said, “Cursed be Canaan [the son of Ham]; A servant of servants He shall be to his brothers.” He also said, “Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant. “May God enlarge [the land of] Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.”” GENESIS 9:20-27 AMP This is why it is so important to protect our hearts and see them repaired. Guard your heart so you don’t become vulnerable. ““But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says the LORD, “I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. And each man will no longer teach his neighbor and his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me [through personal experience], from the least of them to the greatest,” says the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness, and I will no longer remember their sin.”” JEREMIAH 31:33-34 AMP Remember, it’s not Gods will to suffer. We make mistakes and others make mistakes. God promised to remember no more our mistakes if we ask Him. You have to promise to remember no more, and forgive. There is freedom in forgiveness. Enjoy the promise of personal interaction. Get ready to get up and remember these three points: 1. My heart is repairable, so let it be. 2. Hurting people hurt people, that’s their shame. 3. I see my heart repaired, so forgive. As you choose to forgive you are released of their burden. You are going to walk forward in victory. It feels great to be free. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.” EPHESIANS 4:31-32 You are redeemed, free from others burdens, blessed and repaired! Just get up!
We all have the mud to tread. We all feel like we are treading water. Remember you will get through this. We all have problems and regardless of others and our circumstances we must get up and keep moving. When you feel so knocked down you just can’t get up that’s when God can do some of His greatest works in you. When your circumstances have tied your hands to such an extent you feel unable to do anything that’s when God moves. You need hope, you need A promise, you need something to change. When the indescribable hole is swallowing you, there is hope. There is purpose and you can be free from such a burden. This isn’t Gods best for you. You are to live a life full of victory. The relationship that failed, the job that didn’t work out, the let down pulled you down. Today is your day to get back up. “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” Proverbs 24:16 KJV I totally get it, just when you finally get up, you end up falling right after you start walking. Sometimes we trip over our own feet, fall up the stairs. Just because of the little failures doesn’t mean we won’t stop. Don’t jump into a pity party. MICAH 7:1-8 AMP “Woe is me (judgment is coming)! For I am Like one who gathers the summer fruits, like one who gleans the vintage grapes. There is not a cluster of grapes to eat, No first-ripe fig which my appetite craves. The godly person [who is faithful and loyal to God] has perished from the earth, And there is no upright person [one with good character and moral integrity] among men. They all lie in wait to shed blood; Each hunts the other with a net. Concerning evil, both of their hands pursue it and do it diligently and thoroughly; The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe, And a great man speaks the [evil] desire of his soul. So they twist the course of justice between them. The best of them is [injurious] like a briar; The most upright is [prickly] like a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen [that is, the time predicted by the prophets] And your punishment comes; Now shall be their confusion. Do not trust in a neighbor [because of the moral corruption in the land]; Do not have confidence in a friend. Guard the doors of your mouth From her who lies in your bosom. For the son dishonors the father and treats him contemptuously, The daughter rises up [in hostility] against her mother, The daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-- A man’s enemies are the men (members) of his own household. Instead, be expectant. Stand boldly. Face your lions and march forward! But as for me, I will look expectantly for the LORD and with confidence in Him I will keep watch; I will wait [with confident expectation] for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me [amid my tragedies], O my enemy! Though I fall, I will rise; Though I sit in the darkness [of distress], the LORD is a light for me.” MICAH 7:1-8 AMP Sometimes it’s easier to get up than others. You will be delivered from the fear of failure so you can get up. You are:
Remember: 1. You will get through this 2. We all have problems 3. Regardless of others and our circumstances we get up. “David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”” 1 Samuel 30:6-8 NIV With Gods guidance and direction David prevailed with not one captive harmed. This is for you. Go to God for direction. Then get up, you have work to do. I speak blessings and favor over you, go forward, you will triumph! Sometimes we forget that Jesus said the greatest commandment was to Love one another.
“Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised.” Song of Solomon 8:6-7 NKJV If you are willing to give it, you get it. This is simply a natural law of reaping what you sow. I John 4:1, 8, 11, 16, 18, 20-21 NKJV “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” How we live is worth so much more than a grudge. Grudges deteriorate at our souls. It’s like having a small leak in a pipe. For the most part you don’t notice it and it really doesn’t seem to be significant. However, over time it wreaks havoc. Don’t let this be you. ““And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”” Mark 11:25-26 NKJV The saying of choosing your battles or letting sleeping dogs lie is a big deal. Sometimes it just isn’t worth our brain damage, hurting our testimony, or causing someone else to stumble when we get involved. “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15 NKJV Consider pondering these three main points: 1. You give it you get it “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7 NKJV 2. It’s worth more than a grudge “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 NKJV 3. Let it be “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.” Proverbs 10:22 NIV I want blessings not curses I know beyond the shadow of a doubt if you forgive, show love and prefer your brother this is your blessing Deuteronomy 28:11-13: “The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you. The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.” The love you show to others is valuable. This love is valuable for our walk with Christ, our testimony and our blessings.
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:3-4 NIV Listening is loving. Take time to listen to others. This is one of the hardest battles many of us face. It is difficult to listen when you don’t want to hear. “Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.” Psalm 143:7-12 NIV He listens to our heart cry and it’s important that we listen to others. God blesses our faithfulness. Part of this faithfulness is preferring others. Preferring is loving. Give that parking space up. Let someone sit in your seat. Maybe even let them cut in line. “Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock. Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue and watered their flock. When the girls returned to Reuel their father, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?” They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock.” “And where is he?” Reuel asked his daughters. “Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat.” Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage.” Exodus 2:16-21 NIV Moses gave preference in spite of himself or his pain. God rewarded him. Your love can change the world. Imagine a world where people showed one another love like no other. This effect would change the world. “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,” Romans 9:1-3 NKJV Look at Paul’s love. His self-sacrifice for others truly changed Christianity and the world. You can be that same world changer and God has many blessings for your faithfulness. Remember the following valuable points: 1. Listening is loving. “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;” James 1:19 NKJV 2. Preferring is loving “Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” Luke 12:3 NKJV Cut them a break it could end up everywhere. 3. Your love can change the world “For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”” I Peter 3:12 NKJV As you live it and show it you will be blessed by it. |
AuthorPhilip Lukens is the senior pastor of the Carr Community Church. To receive updates please enter your e-mail address below and click subscribe. Archives
December 2020
CategoriesAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. |