DISCIPLES OF JESUS MINISTRY

Ephesians5:3 Our flesh. Your flesh and my flesh is always the enemy. What is it? That which comes from our human intellect the things we desire and want. There is always a battle between what my spirit would want of me and my old nature. I know what I like. But it is not always the things that please God. Paul the apostle is quite aware of this problem and it continues to be a problem of Christ’s church. Fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness are not to be named amongst the saints. Against that the flesh is always the enemy of God. What you and I think? Not what Christ our Lord thinks. I cannot stress this enough. While you and I sleep the flesh will try to take over what we think of and dream. The same applies to what we watch, hear, and listen.

I think it would be a good idea to see what Jesus Christ our Lord had to say on the subject. (Mtt.15:19.) “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies.”

We will stay with the one called fornications. I believe we have all heard of pornography or pornographic meaning to have sexual intercourse outside of marriage or have numerous partners. The word comes from the Greek porneia.

Remember the apostle is writing to believers and what we must not do. Not the world. The word porneia includes prostitution, whoredom, incest, licentiousness, adultery, and habitual immorality.

The word also signifies physical and spiritual immorality meaning it has become an idol. (Rev.2:21.) “And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.” When we allow the thoughts of our flesh to captivate our hearts, before we know it. You and I are putting them into practice. The challenge is to walk in the love of Christ our Lord allowing the Holy Spirit to enable us to live lives pleasing to Him

Daily challenges from the Word of God

Ephesians 5:2 I was speaking of walking in the love of Christ our Lord. Remaining in verse 2 of chapter5 the apostle Paul describes for us the divine quality of an everlasting mercy, compassion, and pity God makes visible to you and me in the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ on our behalf. Enshrined in the word love. Astoundingly while we were yet sinners God was reconciling you and I to himself in and through the death of his Son upon the cross. Christ took our sins upon himself and his shed blood cleanses us from all sin. Again divine love

We can see that in the next part of the verse, “…as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us...” I had already pointed out to show love is always active. The author uses the term walk present tense. You and I who have the love of Christ abiding in us are to show that very same love to others. The challenge to do what our risen glorified Lord has done for us is to show that love to others. They are the harvest. I end with the rest of the verse to ponder over as a challenge to all who belong to the Lord. “…as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.”

Ephesians 5:2 to day we look at the love of God. A contrast between earthly love and divine love. Paul the apostle is speaking of the love of Christ. The love of our Lord and Saviour abides in you and me. We are to walk in that love. The evangelist uses the present tense, “...Walk in love,” In his first letter to the church at Thessalonica Paul elaborates on what he speaks of here. As a man of God I believe he was capable of a number of roles... Apostle, church planter, teacher, and evangelist. Reading through his letters you can see the zeal and the fire that consumed him in his love towards Jesus Christ our Lord. The love of Christ that poured out of him for the lost and the church of Christ.

He talks about the men of Christ’s church as being brothers of his and that the same zeal, fire, and passion the hallmark of his life should be seen in them. The love he poured out towards them they likewise should do towards him and towards each other.

The challenge is for you and I who are men of the church of Christ to continue loving one another with the love of Christ our Lord who abides in us.

I spoke of the author’s first letter to the church of Thessalonica. I will leave you with the verse to ponder over. God go with you this day. (I.Thess.4:9) “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another”

Ephesians.5.1 writing to the Christians at Ephesus the apostle Paul gives them a challenge to imitate God. To be like God. A challenge to you and me. We are not God, but God lives inside of each true believer. To qualify what I am saying here you have to be born of the Spirit of God to be able to understand what the apostle is writing of.(Jn.3.3) Jesus answered and said to him, “ Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” Including women and children.

Only then can you be an imitator of God. Looking closely at what Paul is hinting at here is the choice of doing what is right from the heart. You can do things without your heart being in it. Not only that you can refuse. Do it gladly pleasing God.

I believe that is the cut and thrust of what Paul is speaking of to you and me. Luke records what Jesus said to his disciples including us. (Lk.6:36)Making the point of what we are to be like. “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” Because we are His children and being His children we are to show his nature. (I.Pet.1: 14-16.) “…as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear ;( Fear meaning not to be terrified but in awe of who he the Father is, he is God, and to give Him due reverence befitting His person.) 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers.) I believe that spells out exactly what God our Father looks for from each of us. Let us go out and serve Him today with gladness and joy.

There is a word that has gripped me with fear,

A word which I always dreaded to hear,

The doctor said “Your husband has cancer in his kidney,”

That dreaded moment that could have filled me with dismay.

But my trust is in the Lord my God,

He is not the author of sickness or disease,

And I know the day of miracles has not ceased,

Highlighting the cancer found on routine MRI was all of God.

God does not fail to deliver his promises,

He is not a man that withholds His goodness,

Our God cannot act contrary to His nature,

And He has amazing plans for my husband’s future.

This is not an easy time a date for surgery has been given,

We are still placing our trust in the God of heaven,

Believing still my husband from cancer will be free,

For God says “I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

So at this time leading up to surgery next week,

We place our trust in Him and his face we will seek,

We are blessed with wonderful doctors today of that there is no doubt,

But the greatest physician of all is still healing today, His name is Jesus.

God guides the hands of surgeons and this he will do,

And God will send his angels to protect my husband too,

Wouldn’t it be amazing if they commence with surgery and find no tumour there?

Because God has miraculously intervened making the surgeons God aware.

In this time and in this hour we take all our thoughts captive,

Knowing God has promised Raymond a long life to live,

We believe great things of the Lord our God, we place our trust in Him,

Where else can we run in hour of need if not to Him?

We will fix our eyes on our precious Lord and Saviour,

His arms surround us supporting us with His love and care,

He is the one who holds all our tomorrows and there are many more,

We are so thankful to Him for his mercy and favour.

God has told us to speak to mountains,

And to this cancer we have spoken,

We have told it to go with Kingdom authority,

For there is power in the name of Jesus.

For by His stripes we are healed,

We place our trust in the Lord our God,

No eye has seen, No ear has heard,

What the Lord has proposed for those who love Him.

We trust in Him, we place our trust in Him.

Our God is good all the time, give praise to His Name,

Praising him now and always, for he deserves all our praise,

His word is yae and amen, He keeps His promises.

In God we place our trust................

IreneMcGough ©10/8/2010

I read this in a recent Word For Today and it really encouraged me. I hope it will do the same for you.

THE GOD WE SERVE IS ABLE TO SAVE US FROM IT...BUT EVEN IF HE DOES NOT Daniel 3:17-18 NIV Facing the fiery furnace the three Hebrew children refused to compromise their beliefs or change their behaviour.

They told the king, 'If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand...but even if he does not.. we will NOT serve your gods'. With those words 'even if he does not' they took their faith to a higher level.

They knew God could prevent it, but not that His plan called for it in this instance. But they'd rather die than deny or disappoint Him. Understand this: God can take you out of your situation or bring you through it.

When He leaves you in it longer than you'd like to stay, He's developing furnace faith. Furnace faith is dead to doubt and blind to impossibility. It reaches up through the threatening clouds and lays hold of the One who has all power in heaven and on earth. It makes the circumstances bearable and the future hopeful.

Furnace faith believes that even if you do have to go through the fire, God will go through it with you. Listen to the words of a heathen king who watched it all happen: "...I see four men loose, walking in the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25). Furnance faith makes you as free in the fire of affliction as you are out of it.

Furthermore, when your friends see the Lord in there with you, it'll convince them like nothing else.

Consuming Fire

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:28-29

"He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi... that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness." Malachi 3:3

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Wildfire Revival wrote, ''Behold the glory of the Burning Flame. I am coming into your midst and Changing things that need to be changed, I am moving things that need to be moved, and I am uncovering things that need to uncovered so you can rediscover my burning flame. I will free you in places you need freedom, deliver you in places you need deliverance, and romance you with the BURNING FLAME of DESIRE!''

The Whole ArmoUr of God

Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Eph 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Eph 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Eph 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

Eph 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Eph 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Eph 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Eph 6:19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

Eph 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

The Lord woke me up with this, he showed me our helmets and our armour.

Yes my child you wrestle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this present age and against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places, but I have equipped you to withstand this. Keep your armour intact, keep it impenetrable, you will overcome the evil that the enemy and his minions wants to bring your way, for no weapon formed against you will prosper, it just can’t prosper because I have gone before you and I have overcome the world .

I am the way the truth and the life, keep your belt of truth on for the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth. He will reveal the truth to you, keep your eyes on me. I want to reveal more and more to you, to reveal the innermost secrets of my heart to you, come closer, come away with me, enter the secret place with me. Now make sure your breast plate of righteousness is in place, by my blood your sins are washed away and you have been made righteous in the eyes of my Father, for it is in my righteousness that you stand, but I want you to be holy for I am holy, guard your tongue, guard your mind, guard your actions, people ought to see me living in you, let your light shine in the world of men. Remember to that your heart is under this breastplate of protection, keep your heart surrendered to me. I love you so much. You are the apple of my eye, my precious possession, yes my child, you are mine, you belong to me. Do you know that my Father has gifted you to me?

Now take a look at your feet I have shod them with gospel sandals, sandals that will never wear out as you take the message to the people you meet, I want you to love them like I love them, I gave my life for them, I will show you my heart for them, go and find my sheep who have gone astray and have yet to come home. I want them to be part of my bride. Remember dear one I have sent you. Can you imagine the joy that there is for us in heaven when even one of those little ones comes home to me. They may be young, they may be old but there is so much rejoicing when a sinner repents and comes home to me. So love them like I love them for I so surely do care, and you long after my heart. I want them to know How I love them, how Father loves them, how the Holy Spirit will bring joy and peace into their lives, hope and a knowledge of eternal security.

Look at your shield, it is massive and thick, when held in front of you it will deflect every arrow, nothing can touch you, it is so strong that nothing not even bullets or explosives will penetrate it, infact even the strongest arrows and explosives will b extinguished. I have given you this shield of faith, I have gifted you with faith, keep your shield of faith up before you, exercise faith. By faith you will deserve a place amongst the heroes of faith. By faith you will see signs, wonders and miracles happening today, greater than you have ever seen before, the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk, creative miracles will take place, even the dead will be raised for I am, I am- yesterday, today and forever the same. You will see a marvellous harvest of souls, keep humble, because this is not of you and your deeds, this is what I will do through you. I have chosen you for such a time as this.

Now listen carefully to what I have to say to you. I have placed your helmet of salvation on your head for many reasons. It is by grace that you have been saved, because it pleased me to give my life, shed my blood on the cross for you, it is because of grace you know sins forgiven. My blood has washed away all of your sins – my grace has saved you. Saved means to be saved, healed and delivered in both the Hebrew and the Greek. English does not translate this so well, so by grace you are set free from sin, by grace you can now walk in freedom and health for that is what I have designed for you. And this helmet of salvation is my protection for you, I am transforming your mind until your mind is so perfectly aligned with mine, I refresh and renew that mind constantly, I guard that mind. I am imparting to you my wisdom, my knowledge. You will know my heart, my mind, my thoughts and you will love as I love, care as I care, see what I see and hear my voice, oh so clearly. Stay close to me my dear one. All fear is under the blood, under grace, you need not live in fear, I have given you a sound mind, cast down the nonsense thoughts that can fill your imagination, fix your mind on things that are of me. You are caught up in the heavenly places with me. So I am transforming your mind and your heart until they become as mine. I live in you, the fullness of the Godhead indwells you – that is Father, Son and Holy Spirit and we are sanctifying you, transforming you, you are a new creation- the old has gone. Your helmet offers you such protection and guards your thoughts, your thoughts will be my thoughts. Remember I am the head of the church, I will direct your thoughts my friend, my brother, my sister, my bride, I will lead you on the way that you have to go.

Now take up the Sword of the Spirit – stay strong in the Word, read my Word, study my Word, apply it to yourself, take hold of the promises I have made within the Word. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you and enlighten you as you delve deeper into my Word. I want to speak to you through my Word. Are you ready to listen? My Word is a lamp unto your feet- I will direct your thoughts. You need to be strong in the Word and in the Spirit- marry the two and you my beloved one are going to be fruitful for my Kingdom. Keep your armour intact.

Now remember to be effective in my Kingdom and to keep your amour intact you need to be a prayer warrior. When my people learn to pray effectively, the rest starts to fall into place , I have asked you to humble yourself and pray. Pray in your spiritual language, bring your petitions before me in English and in tongues, come to me with a heart of praise , intercede for the saints, intercede for your nation, bring before me that which I lay on your heart. I need watchmen on the wall of your nation , be alert and constant in prayer. Pray that your mouth will be filled with words that I give you to say, spoken in boldness. Pray for all who speak my Word, proclaim the Gospel, pray for those who are persecuted for my Name’s sake. Pray that the full truth of the glorious gospel will go forth boldly proclaimed. Pray for help to proclaim the gospel message yourself wherever I have placed you, be prepared to go where I send you. Prophecy life into the people, prophecy life into your nation, these dry bones will live.

   Praise the Lord who died for us, He is risen indeed. What love was this, do we really perceive it?

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

Those who crucified Jesus were not fully aware of what they were doing because they did not recognize Him as the Messiah. While their ignorance of divine truth did not mean they deserved forgiveness, Christ’s prayer in the midst of their mocking Him is an expression of the limitless love and  compassion of divine grace.

Luk 23:42 -43 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord,remember me when You come into Your kingdom."

And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

    Do you see the love and compassion Jesus had, He was a enduring the worst of pain and agony, yet He loved so much that this dying thief on repentance was being welcomed into His Kingdom.  At the same time His heart was with you and me, for He saw us in that moment as He took our sins on His body on the cross, and He saw the cross as a cross worth bearing for our sake,  love was poured out in every drop of blood he sweated, every drop of blood He shed as He poured out His love for you and me. Hallelujah!

Praise God though for today we serve a risen Saviour! The grave could not hold Him, some day He is coming again.

Hab 1:5 "Look around at the godless nations. Look long and hard. Brace yourself for a shock. Something's about to take place and you're going to find it hard to believe. MSG

  God is the God of the breakthrough. I believe He wants to break through in all the nations of the world prior to the Lord's return. Revival like never before is on it's way.

Rev 7:9 I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there--all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb MSG

   God is visiting people in Muslim, Hindu and buddist nations in dreams and visions and they are having encounters with Jesus without anyone telling them. Isn't this marvellous. But then Jesus died for the WORLD. So He died for people of every tribe and every nation. Today many people in those countries have access to Christian TV and/or radio. Fifty years ago none of that was possible. God can do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond anything we can ask or percieve. He gives the increase. He loves the people of this nation and He loves the people of your nation and indeed all the nations of this world. Praise the name of the Lord!

Isa 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says-

he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

Isa 43:2 When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

The Lord led me to those two verses at the beginning of this year and I did not know then the many trials that were facing us as a family at that time. It has been a tough month and I believe now we have turned the corner, but one thing I am sure of throughout all the trials ofthe past few weeks Raymond and I were very sure of the Lord's presence with us, helping us. I am so glad I have the Lord with me at all times for He indeeed is my refuge and my strength.

Psa 46:1 God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Psa 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

Psa 46:3 though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.

Selah

Psa 46:4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

Psa 46:5 God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

Psa 46:6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

Psa 46:7 The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

Psa 46:8 Come and see the works of the LORD ,

the desolations he has brought on the earth.

Psa 46:9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,

he burns the shields [2] with fire.

Psa 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

Psa 46:11 The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah