Meditations

HansC wrote:

99.) Overcoming

I John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

We are in the world at present, however we are not of the world. We are of God. Our real home is in heaven. This world is merely a very temporary assignment. Similar to a soldier being sent to Iraq, we need to keep our heads up.

While we are in this world, we have the greater One living inside us. Let us constantly remind ourselves that greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world. The greater One lives in us.

When trouble comes knocking on our door, let us remind ourselves that the greater One lives in us.

The greater One in us, is greater than sin, greater than sickness, greater than trouble, greater than seemingly impossibilities, greater than adverse circumstances, He is greater than the world, and He lives in us.

When trouble comes knocking on your door, look trouble in the eye, laugh and say, “trouble, you must have the wrong guy, because I have the greater One living in me.”

Say: The greater One in me, He gives me the victory.

Question: Do you tell yourself that the greater One lives in you?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

Quote:

ORIGINAL: HansC

100.) Hold Tightly

Hebrews 4:14
Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession.(WEB)

Notice the connection between faith and what we say. Our faith will cause us to say something. Jesus said, “he shall have whatsoever he saith….” Faith has to do with believing and declaring what we believe.

We are told to old tightly to our confession of faith. Often when praying and seeking to receive by faith, people undermine themselves by not holding tightly to what they confess. In effect, it is like they have a double confession, one working against the other.

One time they will confess one thing, then another time they will confess something different.

For example, someone at a prayer meeting asks for prayer in regards to his business. After we pray, the person says, “Thank God, I know God heard me and everything is going to work out.” That’s a good confession of faith.

But then later, he runs into a friend on the street who asks about his business and he says, “Well, Joe, things are not looking so good, it looks like we are going under and will have to file for bankruptcy.”

Well, that is not exactly holding tightly to a confession of faith. That is being a “flipper”. Do not be a ’flipper” when it comes to your confession of faith. Hold tightly to that which you believe. Hold tightly to the Word.

Say: I have a High priest in heaven pleading my case, therefore I can with confidence hold tightly to that which I believe.

Question: Have you ever been a “flipper”?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

Quote:

ORIGINAL: HansC

101.) Good Medicine

Proverbs 4:20-22
…attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

The Hebrew term here for health in verse 4:22 is “marpe” and is used for health, healing and effecting a cure. So we could say that God’s Word is good medicine.

God has given us His Word for our health. However, medicine even in the natural will not do any good unless it is applied according to the instructions. Simply having the medicine and even believing that the medicine will make a difference alone will not help.

A person needs to apply the medicine as the doctor tells them to. The medicine will not work unless it gets inside of you.

The same with the Word of God. It also will not work unless it gets inside a person. Having a dusty Bible on the shelf is of no benefit.

Having the Bible on your nightstand will not help. However, reading, studying and meditating on God’s Word and thereby getting that Word deep down inside of you will make a difference . Acting upon the Word will make a difference.

Meditate upon God’s Word until it becomes a living part of your interior spiritual architecture, that will make a difference.

Say:
God’s Word is medicine to me. I read it, think about it, meditate upon it, and act upon it.

Question:
How deep is God’s Word in you?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

Quote:

ORIGINAL: HansC

102.) Road Blocks

Mark 5:24-25,26
And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

In order to receive from God, the woman had numerous obstacles in her path. Her religious tradition barred her from mingling with people in public. She was considered “unclean” and was supposed to cry out “unclean, unclean” if anyone came near her.

A whole crowd of people stood between her and Christ. Public sentiment and religious doctrine stood against her. All of these were obstacles and roadblocks to her getting to Christ.

However, she did not let these roadblocks to Jesus slow her down. She did not let public opinion, religious teachings or any other thing hinder her from getting to Christ and receiving from Him.

She did not even ask God to remove the obstacles, she did something about them herself. She got into action, and God blessed her. We also need to get into action, and God will bless us. Certainly we need to understand what the will of God is and move in line with it, but often people will just sit there and expect God to do everything without us taking action.

Receiving from God requires action on our part. Faith is essentially an action in line with the will and Word of God.

Say:
I act in line with God’s Word. I do not let roadblocks hinder me. I elbow my way through obstacles and hindrances.

Question:
When was the last time you elbowed your way through a crowd of obstacles?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

Quote:

ORIGINAL: HansC

103.) Receiving Revelation

Ephesians 1:16
Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

The prayers in Ephesians 1:17-23 and 3:14-21 are Holy Spirit given prayers for the church that apply to all Christians everywhere. I have often prayed these prayers for myself when I need the Holy Spirit to help me understand things.

I know that when I am praying this prayer that I am praying in line with God’s will, because the Holy Spirit gave these prayers to the Church.

I would pray these prayers by reading and speaking the verses out loud, except when Paul said, “you” I would substitute “me”, like this:

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto “ME” the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:
The eyes of “MY” understanding being enlightened; that “I” may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
And that “I may know” what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places….

Pray these prayers for yourself, often. Pray them morning and night. Memorize them. Pray them day after day. Watch what happens.

Say:
God hears and answers prayers. Pray these Spirit given prayers for revelation daily.

Question:
Had any good insights lately?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

Quote:

ORIGINAL: HansC

104.) For the Cause

Ephesians 3:14-19
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

That he would grant “me“, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in “my” inner man;

That Christ may dwell in “my” hearts by faith; that “I“, being rooted and grounded in love,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that “I” might be filled with all the fulness of God.

This prayer is right in line with the previous thought. Notice, that I placed, “me’, “my” and “I” in there. Memorize both these prayers. Pray them at night, and pray them when you get up. Pray them often. Give it some time. Do not just pray hit and miss.

It will take some time and effort, but it will pay off. Stay at both these prayers, and in time revelation, understanding and insight from God will take you to a deeper understanding of spiritual matters.

Say:
God hears and answers prayers. God is giving me insights, revelations and understandings of His Word.

Question:
Had any good insights lately?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

Quote:

ORIGINAL: HansC

105.) Walk in Truth

I John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

I want to stick with the theme of the last two posts because I think we can often miss it in this area when we talk with others about spiritual matters. Sometimes, people can have a tough time understanding spiritual principles even though we try to explain it to them. Sometimes they just do not get it.

I have outlined how we can pray these two Spirit given prayers from Ephesians for our own understanding. However, we can also pray them for others.

Instead of placing, “me”, “I” and so on in the Ephesians prayer place the name of who you are praying for. Then pray for them daily.

People often want to know how to pray for friends and family. Sometimes they will simply pray “God bless them”. That is often not that effective. Many people are already blessed by God, they just do not have the understanding to take advantage of it.

Pray these Ephesian prayers for friends and family. That is an effective approach to take. Memorize these prayers make them a part of your interior makeup.

Say:
My praying for my friends and family is paying off.

Question:
Have you memorized these passages yet?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

Quote:

ORIGINAL: HansC

106.) Travel jitters

Mark 4:35
And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

Jesus got into the ship and said, “Let us pass over unto the other side.” That should have settled it. The disciples should have just relaxed. Jesus knew that receiving by faith is based upon receiving by our words. So when HE SAID, “let’s go”, it was a done deal.

Notice, He did NOT say, “let’s get into the boat, go halfway and sink.”

So when a storm arose, He rebuked them and asked why they did not have faith. They did not respond in faith to His initial declaration of going to the other side.

The Bible tells us that, goodness and mercy are on either side of us. Often I say, “Come on Goodness, Come on Mercy, let’s hit the road.”

We can do the same when we travel today. When you get into a plane, boat or even your own car, simply say, “In Jesus name, come on Goodness, come on Mercy, let us go to Hawaii, or New York or wherever you are going, and then just relax in God, knowing that you will receive whatsoever you say.

Say:
In Jesus name, I can travel in complete trust in God. I can say, “let me go over to ______________. (fill in the blank)

Question:
Have you ever had travel jitters?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

Quote:

ORIGINAL: HansC

107.) Camping

Psalm 34:7
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

I am glad that when I have to go somewhere I do not have to ask God to be with me. He has told me that He would NEVER leave or forsake me. I can just remind Him of His Word and take off praising Him for His faithfulness.

I can just remind God that He has His angels camping around me. He looked around heaven, called a couple of angels and told them to get their camping gear, because He wanted them to camp around me. When I go somewhere, the angels around me, just pack up their gear and move out with me.

Sometimes I say to the angels around me, “Come on boys, pack up your stuff and let’s go.” I have names for them too, I call one of them Goodness and the other I call Mercy.

Say:
Come on Goodness, Come on Mercy, let’s hit the road.

Question:
Do you thank God for the angelic hedge around you?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

Quote:

ORIGINAL: HansC

108.) Pure Silver

Malachi 3:3
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver:

At tourist locations, it is not uncommon to view jewelers and silversmiths at work. Many of them set up shop so that people can observe them at work.

The silversmiths keep a small cauldron on low boil where they drop in silver for melting. Whenever they come across some silver, whether coins or some other remnant they place it in the melting cauldron.

Every so often, the smith will take a look at the melting silver and scrape off a bit of the bubbled up dross and toss it away. Then after a while when all the impure dross has been scraped off, the smith pours out the silver and begins to work.

How does the smith know when the silver is ready and all the dross has been removed?

The silversmith knows that the silver is ready to be worked into fine jewelry when he can clearly see his own reflection in the simmering cauldron of silver, as if he were looking into a mirror

God sits over us and refines us as a “refiner and purifier of silver”. He will bring us into situations, where the dross will bubble to the top.

God wants to purify us to the point, where all the dross is gone and when he looks into the cauldron of our life, He clearly sees the reflection of His own son, Jesus.

Say:
God will complete the great work He has begun in me, to conform me to the image of His Son.

Question:
Had any painful dross bubbling experiences lately?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

HansC wrote:

109.) “Exousia”

Luke 10:19
Behold, I give unto you power [Authority] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power [power] of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

There are two different words that are translated as power here, the first is “exousia” and conveys a meaning that is actually closer to the word “authority”. What Jesus is saying here is that He has given, us, the church, authority to tread on the power of the enemy.

The “serpents” and “scorpions” here are references to the underlying powers of darkness. In the name of Jesus, the demonic spirits of the enemy are subject to the authority that Christ has placed in His body, the church.

What is the difference between “authority” and “power”?

Authority is delegated commanding power. Power is more along the line of energy.

For example, a policeman can step out into traffic and by simply holding up his hand bring cars to a stop. The cars stop because of his authority. The police officer does not have the physical power to stop a speeding truck, but the truck has to stop based on the officer’s authority.

The same is true in the spiritual realm, Christ has given us authority over the spirits of darkness.

Say:
I have authority to tread on the spirits of darkness and nothing shall in any way hurt me.

Question:
Is Halloween an invitation for enemy spirits to become more active?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

HansC wrote:

110.) Worketh

Ephesians 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that “worketh” in us,

The Greek term for “worketh” is “energeo”. It is the term from which we get our English word “energy”, and means to be active and operational.

When we receive Christ as our Lord, His Spirit comes to live inside us and starts to work inside of us, transforming us into the image of Him who gave us life.

God is busy at work inside of us. The greater one lives inside of us, and He is at work transforming us into what He wants us to be. Let’s learn how to cooperate with Him and learn how to move in the direction that He wants us to go.

Say:
The Greater One is at “energeo” inside of me.

Question:
Our you helping or hindering His work inside of you?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

HansC wrote:

111.) Delegated Power

Matthew 28:18-19
Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, Go ye therefore…..

Jesus rose triumphant over hell, death and the grave. The authority that was invested in the name of Jesus because of His triumph was delegated to the church when He said, “Go ye therefore”.

As Christ’s representatives on Earth, the church has been delegated the authority of Christ. The authority in the name of Jesus has been given to the church and that name is above every other name. As members of the church, we partake of that delegated authority.

In the name of Jesus we have authority over ALL the power of the enemy. In His name, we can cast out the enemy, lay hands on people for healing, and exercise power over the works of the enemy.

Say:
God has given me authority over ALL the power of the enemy.

Question:
Are you exercising your God given authority?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

HansC wrote:

112.) Strong

Ephesians 6:10-11
As to the rest, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might; put on the whole armour of God, for your being able to stand against the wiles of the devil,(YLT)

What if you saw a person step in front of a truck and put out his hand to stop the truck. You would think that the person is no match for the truck and that the truck would not have to stop. But then you notice the policeman’s badge on the person and realize that he is a police officer and that the truck has to stop.

It is not the might and power of the policeman in and of himself that forces the truck to stop, but rather the authority that is invested in him. The same goes for us. Ephesians does not tell us to be strong in ourselves, which would never be enough, even as the policeman could never on his own stop the truck. Rather we are told to be strong “IN THE LORD”.

People ask to “pray for me that I’ll be able to hold out”. Well it is not in your strength that you are to struggle against the onrushing truck of trouble. The policeman actually does nor exert any effort of himself to stop the truck. He simple steps out there and commands the truck to stop.

The Word is telling us to stand strong in the authority that God has placed in us IN CHRIST. He is calling us to in faith simply step out in front of that onrushing truck of trouble and command it in the name of Jesus to stop. That right, step out in front of that oncoming devil and tell him to stop in the name of Jesus.

Say:
God has given me authority over ALL the power of the enemy. I am strong in the Lord. I hold up my hand and tell the enemy, “Thus far and no further”.

Question:
Are you exercising your God given authority?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

HansC wrote:

113.) Power Source

Luke10:19
"I have given you power to tread serpents and scorpions underfoot, and to trample on all the power of the Enemy; and in no case shall anything do you harm.(WEY)

Authority is power that has been delegated. It’s effectiveness depends on the source. What matters is who gave it.

So, who gave us this spiritual authority? Jesus did, He said so. Who is Jesus? Jesus is God, the uncreated Creator.

God Himself is the power source, force and authority behind our granted authority. He is the second person of the triune Godhead.

The believer who is aware and conscious of his divine authority in Christ and speaks and acts in faith can make the enemy back up every time.

The fallen spirits are forced to recognize the authority that Christ has given to His body, the church.

Say:
God has given me authority over ALL the power of the enemy. I am strong in the Lord. I hold up my hand and tell the enemy, “Thus far and no further”.

Question:
Are you exercising your God given authority?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

HansC wrote:

114.) Resist

I Peter 5:8-9
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith,

The devil is seeking out those whom he can destroy. He may not be able to send a Christian to hell, but he will try and make this life real tough. He will seek to destroy a marriage, ruin a carrier, keep a person impoverished and broke, or even destroy your health.

He will try to tie up Christians in bad habits, bad relationships and even bad doctrine. Many Christians will pray for God to do something when the enemy tries to bring these things on them, yet to be honest, no where in the Bible are we told to pray against the devil.

God has delegated His authority to His body and we are told to stand fast and resist the enemy. God has given us commanding authority and He expects us to do something with the authority He has given us.

He expects us to stand fast, actively resist and use the authority He has given us.

Say:
God has given me authority over ALL the power of the enemy. I am strong in the Lord. I hold up my hand and tell the enemy, “Thus far and no further”.

Question:
Are you exercising your God given authority?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

HansC wrote:

115.) Body

I Corinthians 12:27
Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular.

Often when we pray, we pray, Lord, can you please do this or that. And certainly there are times when that approach is called for.

However, notice that Jesus told the church to go into all the world and conferred authority upon His body to do the work that he called it to do. Jesus commissioned the church and then gave it the authority to carry out its commission.

On the earth, Christ exercises His authority through His body, the church. Christ is at the right hand of the Father and His plans and purposes here are carried out by His body, the church, which is here on the earth.

Christ has invested His body with the authority to do spiritual work here in His name. God has called us to be co-workers with Him and to be used by Him to complete His work on the earth.

Say:
God has invested authority in His body. He has endued me with power from on high. I will be faithful to do my part in God’s plan.

Question:
Are you exercising your God given authority?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

HansC wrote:

116.) Know Him

Philippians 3:10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, ……..

Know Him….

Knowing Him is what it’s all about. Knowing Him is not the same as knowing doctrines about Him. It says know Him , not speculate about Him.

Paul at the end of His life and work stated that his purpose was to know Him. Paul spent much time praying that that the church would receive revelation knowledge of Christ and of the power behind His resurrection. We should do the same.

Yet, often today it seems that many Christians act as if they have completed their knowledge of Christ and are merely waiting for the trumpet call to whoosh them home.

Paul after a life of prayer says “that I may know Him”

Our salvation is based upon our relationship with Christ, not on our relationship with any other organization, of course, I believe you should go to church and belong to a church, yet that’s not what gets a person saved.

Knowing Him is not the same as knowing about Him. A lot of people seem to confuse the two.

Say:
Day by day God is revealing His Son in me. Day by day, I am seeking to know Him better.

Question:
Are you giving proper time and gravity in your seeking after Christ?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

HansC wrote:

117.) Us-ward

Psalm 40:5
Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward

God’s mercy and goodness are to “us-ward”. Ephesians 1:19 declares the “exceeding greatness of His power to “us-ward”.

The Cross of Christ, revealed to us obedience to God, atonement for sin, and defeat to the enemies of God. God did all this for us.

Christ was our representative on the Cross. He overcame hell death and the grave, rose again on the third day and is preparing a throne, and heavenly glories for those that receive Him.

Our authority is found therefore in the resurrection and seating of Christ at God’s right hand. God wants all of us to came to an ever increasing understanding of what this means.

Say:

God works good to me daily.

Question:

Are you giving proper time and gravity in your seeking after Christ?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

HansC wrote:

118.) Together

Ephesians 1:19-20, 2:1
what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,(KJV)…….Also you -- being dead in the trespasses and the sins,(YLT)

Note that the “also you” of Ephesians 2:1 refers back to the verb of “raised” in Ephesians 1:20. In the mind of God, those who are “in Christ” by virtue of having received Him by faith are already “raised” with Him.

It can be tough for us to see things along this line as God sees them. To God, Jesus and His body which is the church were raised together.

If you keep this thought in mind and read further through Ephesians 2, it will continue this same line of thinking by saying that not only have we been raised together with Christ, but we have also been “made sit together in heavenly places.”

Say:
The same power that raised Jesus also raised me.

Question:
Is it difficult to see your position in Christ.

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

HansC wrote:

119.) Excel

I Corinthians 14:12
…seek that you may excel to the edifying of the Church.

What is your focus? Why do you say what you do? Why do you do what you do? In what way is your zeal and passion played out?

If you are zealous for God, then learn to focus on edifying the Body. Often, as I go through the various on-line forums I see lots of posts that have very little to do with edifying the Church.

I know that that can be difficult to do in every post, but as a general rule it is a good point of focus. I don’t always mange to do it either on all threads and posts. But as a general target, I frequently stop and ask myself if and how I can edify the Body with my actions and words.

When I am considering a new theme for a thread, I ask myself, “How will this be of a benefit to the body of Christ?” Often, though probably not often enough when addressing some point in a thread, I’ll stop and ask how my response will be a benefit to the Body of Christ.

My whole point and purpose in posting is to be a blessing and to edify the body of Christ. My central focus is to excel at edifying the body of Christ. That is what I want to excel at.

Say:
I am a blessing to the Body of Christ.

Question:
Do you stop and ask how you can learn to excel at edifying the Body?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!

HansC wrote:

120.) Sit Together

Ephesians2:5-6
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

When God raised Jesus from the dead, His body was raised . Now the church is the body and we are “in Him”. Because we are “in Him”, God views us as also raised and seated with Him in heavenly places.

As members of His body, we are seated now with Him in heavenly places. In Him, we are now seated on the right hand of God.

In Him, we have access to God and can come boldly before the throne. As far as authority goes, we are now seated in heavenly places at God’s right hand by virtue of being “in Him”.

Say:
I am in “Him” and seated with Him at God’s right hand.

Question:
Does it ever seem like you are not seated in heavenly places?

Hans

_________________
God understands me. why don't you?!