So we must recognize three things
our oppressors like the status quo and want to keep us in captivity to a mentality of oppression where truth doesn’t matter
we have to change our situation through prayer and action
we may have to adapt the way we are doing things because old mindsets may be partially responsible to our captivity
leaving comfort and naivety behind. Unlike the COVID shot if we grasp this today you will be healed, the virus can not come back. You will not be sick again!
It takes no special insight, no great courage, no understanding to tell people what they want to do or want to hear….however, it takes real strength, courage, and understanding to tell people what they ought to hear, what they need to hear and do!
I see the wall as representing our faith and values and we need to assess how they have been destroyed in this nation. Like Nehemiah we need to take an honest assessment of where we are, see and acknowledge how broken things are. Nehemiah went with a small group of people. A group of like-minded people.
This is American history, that was at one time taught in schools. These are simply recorded facts; you are free to do with them as you will. But you cannot deny the truth these historical accounts reveal.
Every day there is something that demands our attention. Something that as Christians we are bound to be upset about but if we keep simply reacting we will never heal our land, bringing Jesus back to America again. God has a bigger vision for our lives and our nation and so must we.
Yes, there are battles with our old nature….we are renewed in Christ, our spirit is made new, we are cleansed by the blood of Christ and making it to heaven. God always provides a way of escape in every situation, but sometimes we choose not to escape, not to overcome. It is a process we call sanctification, choosing, every day, to become like Christ.
I could have said, “who is God?” but for today I wanted us to have an understanding of the “what” of God….what makes up who God is? Today we will define part of what makes up God so we can get him, and his role in our lives and the world, better. Because of what God is there is an accountability to how we reveal God to our brothers and sisters in Christ and how the world sees Jesus in us.
We are told you can live…
50 days without food, 8 days without water, 5 minutes without air, but only a few seconds without hope
We read the hope deferred makes us sick but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life!
How do we get from a sick heart to a tree of life, to a place where despite the battles and the circumstances we can find hope?
So loving each other doesn’t just mean being kind and loving but doing what God commands…there is a whole bunch of stuff in the Bible about what God commands. Let’s go on a journey together to understand what it means…why is this so important…Jesus made it important, our world is falling apart and they need to see some hope, something tangible that says to them they can have joy, someone does care, it is worth it (whatever “it” is)
In college, I learned the phrase…”Prior planning prevents poor performance”
Spontaneity can be fun, on occasion, for pleasure, vacations, quick trips however for business and much of life …
Most of us function better when we have a plan or know the plan we are to follow
Think about it…to win in any sport you must have plan, to succeed in business you must have a plan…everything is designed with a plan, our homes, vehicles, what about our lives?
Everything successful comes with a plan.
Did you ever ask yourself…”Why am I here?” It is important to answer that question because it does reveal a plan
