Will you remove what's dead?

We give God glory on today because He is worthy of all the praise! Thank you Jesus for always being there of us. Thank you Lord, for always having our back. We can trust you, you are trustworthy and a mighty ax in the time of trouble. Nothing and no one compares to you. We know that you are working everything out for our good and your glory. Nothing shall come close to us that the enemy is planning because No weapon formed against us shall prosper, in the name of Jesus! Have your way in and through us, none of us but all of you, in Jesus name Amen!

The word of God tells us that we are known by our fruit, the things in which we produce in our lives is those things that we are known for. However those who are in Christ Jesus should be producing the fruit of the Spirit love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These are the characteristics that the Holy Spirit produces in and through us. These are the fruits or characteristics that we should be known by. Now as the Holy Spirit works in us, we must yield to what he is trying to teach us in order to produce the characteristics he is working in and through us. This does not mean that we will produce all the fruits at one time, or if we are lacking in one area we are not the children of God. It does mean that we must always have teachable spirits, and be obedient and submissive to God. We must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling as we fight the good fight of faith!

Let us draw our attention to this scripture...

John 8:47 "Whoever belongs to God hears what he says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God".

God speaks to us in manys, He speaks through the word of God in the Bible the Holy Spcriptures, He speaks through His still small voice, He speaks througth the five-fold ministry, He speaks through dreams and visions, and He also speaks face to face. In this scripture hearing God means recieving what He has said and obeying. If we are not willing to obey God, then we are not his children. I'm not talking about struggling with submitting or trusting Jesus, that is different. That is a person who realizes he or she needs to yield but is having trouble with the follow-through: but that person is willing to change. A person who refuses to hear what God has to say, or listen, or consider, or obey is not a child of God. Even so, it is not our place to judge them, but love them, be gracious to them, witness to them, and show them mercy the same mercy and grace that was shown to us.

The Bible teaches us a great lesson in the scripture that asks this question, How can two walk together accept they agree? Many youth and babes in Christ struggle with being separate from the world. Light can shine in darkness. The Light of Jesus inside you can draw someone who is in a dark place to see there is freedom in Christ Jesus. But the darkness has no place influencing the light, darkness has no light, that is what makes it what it is, the absence of light. When the Lord has brought you out of a situation and you have recieved freedom and deliverence and you have giving your life to him, you overcome the world. You have overcome sin. You are not the same. You are a new creature and the old is pasted away. As you follow Christ you must make the decision to leave the past behind, and mover forward in Him. Even if that means separting yourself from old habits and friends. As we accept Jesus we are covered and cleansed in His Blood. We are saved from the payment of sin which is death. Sin is disobedience against God. As long as we are in the flesh we will sin, being saved means that sin has no longer a hold on you. You are no longer master to it. You are no longer practicing sin. But your life is about practicing the ways of the Lord and growing in His grace.

There maybe someone reading this, and you may be realizing that you have to make some tough decisions, so that you are not taken again in those things which you have been freed from. The Lord is able to give you everything you need, to succeed, to grow, to mature in him. You are no longer alone, He is always just a prayer away. Draw your attention to our final scripture...

Psalm 31:24 " Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord". No matter what you must face, what decisons must be made, or what things or people you need to let go of: you do not have to fear. Be encouraged by your faith, and know and be confident that God is giving your heart strength through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to do all things. Sometimes we forget the importantance of letting go and we only focus on the blessings of the Lord. God is not Santa Clause, He is real. Many of us only go to him in times of pain or trouble, and some serve him for what they can get. They are caught up in "the blessing" rather than "The Blesser"! Today look to God for the wisdom to know what needs to be released and what needs to be held onto. Look to Jesus to find out who is for you and who is against you. The truth of His word will always free you. Do not be tangled up in what you have been freed from. Face your fears and confront your issues, work out those things that try to trap you. Make the decision today to put your hope and trust in the Lord, to not lose sight of what's important. Change is not a bad thing, take off those grave clothes and put on Christ Jesus!