Please forgive publishing delays based on a computer error report causing a crash and loss of all things written previously.  Herewith, please accept a modified version of the original lost to cyberspace.  Thank you.  And thanks for your prayers.

What Are You Thinking?!

It’s Contrary To The Word Of God

2 Corinthians 12:9

2 Corinthians

The Lord said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.”

Thoughts...

I am sorry this will not be as compelling as what I had just written and lost due to a computer error. But I will attempt to resurrect the basic thoughts.

I know a guy and a gal who refuse to wear glasses because God is healing them. But he hasn’t....yet. In the meantime, they are not driving safely, and squint to read.

And I have a friend who is in the hospital who always wanted to be a missionary. I suggested that since she keeps going back to the hospital, maybe God wants the hospitals to be her mission field. She said she could not preach because she wasn’t healthy.

Where in the world do they get those thoughts? Oh ya ... the world of Satan.

Note today’s scripture reference: The Lord said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.”

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10, “I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, [this does not mean you are to flaunt them....and not wear glasses, not preach....etc.] so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I’d say poor vision and illness enough to put someone in the hospital is a thorn. I do see pride at work here....false pride. I think God is trying to make a point in MANY peoples lives.

I knew a Pastor who had heart problems. He had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gifts therein. But he would not preach what he learned to his flock. He was afraid to, since it was contrary to his religion’s doctrines, and concerned that he would lose his job. I don’t get this. He was more afraid of losing his job, and upsetting his superiors, than upsetting The Supreme God. My thought was that his heart would heal when he healed God’s heart that was breaking, because he was not answering God’s call to preach the truth in it’s fullness....to share Holy Spirit.

What’s wrong with the pictures here? What are people thinking? It is totally contrary to the word of God.

I get the ‘speak it forth’ and ‘it hasn’t been manifested yet’ ideal set forth. I’ve lived it myself. But it is not truth. And the longer we attempt to present that to the world, the longer it will take for unbelievers to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We are seen as Jesus freaks, radicals, extremists, and totally off our rocker.

Are we not to believe then? Of course not! But what you believe must be grounded and founded in truth. Believing and receiving is about faith, not testing God. He does not want us to have an ’I’ll show you attitude.’ He wants us to have an ’I live this truth’ attitude. We must not ever manipulate or falsely present God or his truths. Our thorns can also be gifts from God. To deny God’s gift is to deny God. Sometimes he give us these to be able to best show his glory when we are healed....as well as to show his strength in our weakness. Hmmmmm....think on that for awhile. Use wisdom to discern which is which, and pray accordingly.

Tell me, which is more convincing: wearing glasses and suddenly find they don’t work because your vision has been made perfect, and being able to toss them to the wind like Mary Tyler Moore does with her hat, or, driving unsafely that could kill someone, and squinting to read, saying God is healing you or has healed you...at which point ‘liar’ would be added to the name calling, since you are still squinting? And which is more so living in the truth of God’s love and intention?

And why can’t you preach if you are ill? God did not say, “Preach when you are totally healthy only.” It’s not possible to enact medically speaking. The moment we are generating cells, we are degenerating as well.

Wherein lies the wisdom? In God.

In 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Paul tells us, “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the worlds’ eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God deliberately chose thing the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important, so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom. As the Scriptures say: “The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done.”

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Have you asked Holy Spirit to come into your life? IF you have, you have a responsibility to preach the Gospel. WE are ALL called to be ministers for Jesus Christ.

“And so, since God in his mercy has given us this wonderful ministry, we never give up. We reject all shameful and underhanded methods. We do not try to trick anyone, and we do not distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know that.” 2 Corinthians 4:1-2

Paul’s advice: “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you , it means you have failed the test.....We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong....we want you to do right....Our responsibility is never to oppose the truth, but to stand for the truth at all times....What we pray for is your restoration to maturity....I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to build you up, not to tear you down.” 2 Corinthians 13:5-10

Not sure if you have been called? How can you not be? Read the following, it is your ordination, IF you believe in God, have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and asked Holy Spirit to come into your life:

“It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the final installment of everything he will give us. 2 Cor 1:21

If you don’t believe, haven’t accepted and haven’t asked, you won’t receive. If you haven’t received, you haven’t opened your heart fully. If someone were to give you a suit, or pajamas, would you tell them you could not receive both pieces? So, since God is willing to give you Jesus and the Holy Spirit, don’t you want all the gifts he has to give you and the fruits, too?

The Lord told Paul, and which we are to also hear and act on, “...I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and my witness. You are to tell the world about this experience and about other times I will appear to you. And I will protect you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am going to send you to the Gentiles, to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.” Acts 26:15-18

I ask you again....do you believe in God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Have you asked Holy Spirit to come into your life?

Have you faith? You are set apart. You have been called.

“The Messiah you are looking for is Jesus.” Acts 18:5

“There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.” Acts 4:12

“He is the God who made the world and everything in it.....He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need there is.” Acts 17:24-25

Receive them into your heart and life today.

So, the Lord said, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will harm you because many people here is this city belong to me.” Acts 18:9

Think, pray, accept, ask, receive, and preach....the uncompromising non-contrary word of God....as you live in truth and love.

Paul’s final thoughts: “Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4: 8b.

And his final greeting reads: “Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Rejoice. Change your ways. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

“Greet each other in Christian love.

 “May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Let Us Pray

Dear Heavenly Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, forgive me of my sins and make my heart right with you. Help me to live a life of truth as found in your uncompromising Word. Help me always to preach as Holy Spirit gives utterance. Let me always share who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are, and all you have to give to all those around me....forgiveness of sins, and eternal life for those who choose you and obey you. Help me help others along life’s way to understand your truths, so they, too, might choose to live in them. May you always embrace me in your fullness and never let me go. Thank you for this and every day I have breath....yours. Amen.