1 John 4: 4, Dear young friends, you belong to God and have already won your fight with those who are against Christ because there is someone in your hearts who is stronger than any evil teacher in this wicked world. TLB
I remember as a child listening to a comedian who made the statement, "The Devil made me do it." It's interesting how we can still sometimes fault Satan or others for our own actions. However, if we are a Christian, the Bible tells us that the Greater One lives in us. In other words, we have already overcome the spirit of Antichrist when we received the Holy Spirit into our hearts. We have also overcome the world as well.
What is it in us then that causes Christians to stumble and sometimes fall back into sin or our old ways? We are required by Jesus to take responsibility or ownership for our own actions and behavior as God's children. Before you became born again, you were driven by the same spirit that is at work in the world. It was all about self and what self desired, but now that you have given yourself to the Lord, and His will, your life is to be all about Him. Paul tells us in Romans 7 that he had no good thing in his flesh. He had no power on his own to quit sinning, but God had mercy on him and revealed Jesus to him as the victory over his sin.
Now that we're born again, God has given to us His HOLY Spirit. The Holy Spirit is alive and dwelling within our spirit to give us victory over our flesh nature. Flesh nature simply means that part of you that still desires the things of the world. Now that you're born again, you don't have to live your life any longer serving the desires of your flesh nature. We have the Spirit of God, who gives us the power over the world and our flesh (Adamic) nature. Consequently, we can serve our HOLY God with this same earthen vessel that used to be in bondage to the power of sin.
As a Christian, you must practice walking in holiness and righteousness by faith. Paul tells us in Philippians that he had not apprehended all that God had apprehended him to accomplish. However, he didn't allow that to stop him from pressing onward. Every day that you wake up to live another day is an opportunity to die to the old flesh nature and live more for God than you did yesterday. This will require that you strive in your walk to draw closer to the Lover of your soul and withdraw from the lusts and filth of this world.
If you feel as though you have very little passion for the Lord, and you struggle to overcome carnal lusts and temptations, then this is your word from the Lord. The more we practice walking in holiness and righteousness by faith, the greater our passion for God will grow. I must decrease in order that He might increase in my life. However, if I don't strive to draw nearer to Him, my flesh nature certainly won't cheer me on to do so. If you are born again, you have the power of God dwelling in your spirit. I challenge you to activate the power of God in your heart through hunger for more of God and watch as He sets your heart and life on fire for Him.
Be That Burning Light That Leads Others to God,
Pastor Asa Dockery
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Intense Passion
James 4: 6 - 9, But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. NKJV
When Jesus took His disciples to pray for an hour in the Garden of Gethsemane, His disciples kept falling asleep. Likewise, it is sometimes difficult for us to find the time and energy required to seek the Lord? However, there is a promise in Hebrews 11 of a reward that is given to those who diligently seek Him.
People who drink alcoholic beverages and smoke cigarettes have said that they had to acquire a taste for their vice. The body doesn't easily take to foreign substances that can do damage to it; therefore, humans have to cause their body to develop a taste for the substance. I bring this phenomenon up only to share a much deeper and spiritual principle. You were born with a carnal nature that has a "taste for the world and sin's pleasures." Consequently, you must acquire a taste for the Lord.
You can be born again and very grateful that God has saved you from the destructive path you were headed down. Nevertheless, beyond your gratitude, do you find it laborious and a drudgery to get into the Word of God or prayer time? This was the problem that Jesus' disciples were faced with in the final hours of Jesus' earthly existence. Can you imagine how miserable they must have felt seeing Jesus die on the cross knowing that they had slept while Jesus fought His greatest battle alone in the garden?
Jesus gives us the reason why they slept during that hour instead of passionately praying. He said that their spirits were willing to pray, but their flesh was too weak. Why was their flesh in control of their spirit? Shouldn't our spirit man rule over the flesh nature? Satan doesn't want you to be passionate about God because he can toy with the weaknesses of your flesh and your weakened spiritual state to seduce you into temptation. He will offer you all types of reasons and excuses to prevent you from sacrificing the time and energy needed to seek God and overcome lusts.
Misery and failure don't have to be synonymous with Christianity. We must develop a taste for the things of God just like we have for the lusts of this world. As we press into the presence of God, we will discover a strength that wasn't there previously in our hearts or lives. In the presence of the Lord, there is strength, but there are also times of refreshing. How many times do we turn to the things of the world when we're in need of encouragement and renewal when we should be turning to the Lord and allowing Him to fill us with His joy, peace and life?
We're instructed to taste and see that the Lord is good. However, if we never partake of His divine nature through seeking Him then our taste pallets can never develop a hunger and thirst for His righteousness and holiness. A hungry heart for God has to be developed by investing the time that is required to experience Him at a deeper level than just on Sunday morning. Begin today, to draw closer to God and watch as He begins drawing closer to you. Go after all that is laid up for you in the riches of His glory and experience the fullness of your God.
There's No God like Jehovah,
Pastor Asa Dockery
When Jesus took His disciples to pray for an hour in the Garden of Gethsemane, His disciples kept falling asleep. Likewise, it is sometimes difficult for us to find the time and energy required to seek the Lord? However, there is a promise in Hebrews 11 of a reward that is given to those who diligently seek Him.
People who drink alcoholic beverages and smoke cigarettes have said that they had to acquire a taste for their vice. The body doesn't easily take to foreign substances that can do damage to it; therefore, humans have to cause their body to develop a taste for the substance. I bring this phenomenon up only to share a much deeper and spiritual principle. You were born with a carnal nature that has a "taste for the world and sin's pleasures." Consequently, you must acquire a taste for the Lord.
You can be born again and very grateful that God has saved you from the destructive path you were headed down. Nevertheless, beyond your gratitude, do you find it laborious and a drudgery to get into the Word of God or prayer time? This was the problem that Jesus' disciples were faced with in the final hours of Jesus' earthly existence. Can you imagine how miserable they must have felt seeing Jesus die on the cross knowing that they had slept while Jesus fought His greatest battle alone in the garden?
Jesus gives us the reason why they slept during that hour instead of passionately praying. He said that their spirits were willing to pray, but their flesh was too weak. Why was their flesh in control of their spirit? Shouldn't our spirit man rule over the flesh nature? Satan doesn't want you to be passionate about God because he can toy with the weaknesses of your flesh and your weakened spiritual state to seduce you into temptation. He will offer you all types of reasons and excuses to prevent you from sacrificing the time and energy needed to seek God and overcome lusts.
Misery and failure don't have to be synonymous with Christianity. We must develop a taste for the things of God just like we have for the lusts of this world. As we press into the presence of God, we will discover a strength that wasn't there previously in our hearts or lives. In the presence of the Lord, there is strength, but there are also times of refreshing. How many times do we turn to the things of the world when we're in need of encouragement and renewal when we should be turning to the Lord and allowing Him to fill us with His joy, peace and life?
We're instructed to taste and see that the Lord is good. However, if we never partake of His divine nature through seeking Him then our taste pallets can never develop a hunger and thirst for His righteousness and holiness. A hungry heart for God has to be developed by investing the time that is required to experience Him at a deeper level than just on Sunday morning. Begin today, to draw closer to God and watch as He begins drawing closer to you. Go after all that is laid up for you in the riches of His glory and experience the fullness of your God.
There's No God like Jehovah,
Pastor Asa Dockery
Monday, August 29, 2011
I Think I Can- I Think I Can
1 John 4: 18, There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. NKJV
When you were a sinner did you take risks because you sought the thrill of doing something exhilarating? When you think of the foolish things you did and how you could fly by the "seat of your pants" without a second thought, doesn't it make you shake your head and wonder how you made it? Even though many born-again believers used to "live it up" while in the world as sinners, now that God has saved them from their careless ways, when He asks them to obey Him, they sometimes refuse because they are filled with fear.
What has changed in us, since we were saved that has caused us to become so afraid that we sometimes disobey God because we fear what people might say or think? Satan had us blind to the pitfalls and the dangers of living in sin, but now we have been enlightened to the dangers of both. There's another explanation that gives us an even deeper understanding about the fear we face as Christians when stepping out. As carnal (fleshly) humans, we have lived our entire lives trusting in our senses and not in God. However, when we became born- again, God required us to forsake our senses and trust in Him to lead our steps. Now we are out of control and must listen diligently to God's voice and trust that He won't lead us astray. It is very challenging to trust in someone whom we can't see and in whom we can't listen to direction when we've been conditioned by the hurts of the world not to trust anyone.
This is what the Apostle John is addressing in today's scripture. As sinners, we were once owned by the spirit of fear (when we were lost) yet, we had no fear of the Lord. Consequently, now that we are Christians, we begin to fear the Lord. However, must realize that wrong actions produce harsh consequences. We must overcome the fear of man (people) and learn how to develop a healthy fear of the Lord. Moses tells us in Exodus 20 that the fear of the Lord will keep us from sin. The fear of man, which is really self-preservation or self-protection, can cause us to disobey God and must be defeated through our faith in Christ.
God has given every person the measure of faith that empowers us to overcome the spirit of fear. We must face our fears through obedience to the Lord's commands, and as we practice this principle, we are, at the same time, both perfecting love in our hearts and casting the fear out of our hearts. Have you ever heard the old saying, "Can't never could and won't never will." It's bad grammar, but it gets the point across. If we allow fear to hold us in bondage so that we never obey the Lord, then love won't be developed in our hearts. Job tells us in his writings that the thing he GREATLY feared had come upon him. God will allow us to face the very thing that we fear the most and which holds us back to show us that He is still God and Lord over our lives, in spite of what we fear.
The flesh nature or "self" will cause us to react in fear when God commands us to step out in faith, and we will have to decide to either trust Him or draw back in fear and unbelief. If we choose to draw back in unbelief, God has said that His soul will have no pleasure in us. Another way to look at this dilemma is to see fear as a way of self-protection or preservation. Jesus tells us in the gospel of Matthew that if anyone loves his life, he will lose it, but if we lose our lives for Christ's sake, then we will find it. God hasn't given us the spirit of fear, but has, instead, given us His Holy Spirit who gives us power, love, and a sound mind. Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commands." Show fear who's boss of your life by obeying God in the area that you're most afraid.
Trusting in God's Love,
Pastor Asa Dockery
When you were a sinner did you take risks because you sought the thrill of doing something exhilarating? When you think of the foolish things you did and how you could fly by the "seat of your pants" without a second thought, doesn't it make you shake your head and wonder how you made it? Even though many born-again believers used to "live it up" while in the world as sinners, now that God has saved them from their careless ways, when He asks them to obey Him, they sometimes refuse because they are filled with fear.
What has changed in us, since we were saved that has caused us to become so afraid that we sometimes disobey God because we fear what people might say or think? Satan had us blind to the pitfalls and the dangers of living in sin, but now we have been enlightened to the dangers of both. There's another explanation that gives us an even deeper understanding about the fear we face as Christians when stepping out. As carnal (fleshly) humans, we have lived our entire lives trusting in our senses and not in God. However, when we became born- again, God required us to forsake our senses and trust in Him to lead our steps. Now we are out of control and must listen diligently to God's voice and trust that He won't lead us astray. It is very challenging to trust in someone whom we can't see and in whom we can't listen to direction when we've been conditioned by the hurts of the world not to trust anyone.
This is what the Apostle John is addressing in today's scripture. As sinners, we were once owned by the spirit of fear (when we were lost) yet, we had no fear of the Lord. Consequently, now that we are Christians, we begin to fear the Lord. However, must realize that wrong actions produce harsh consequences. We must overcome the fear of man (people) and learn how to develop a healthy fear of the Lord. Moses tells us in Exodus 20 that the fear of the Lord will keep us from sin. The fear of man, which is really self-preservation or self-protection, can cause us to disobey God and must be defeated through our faith in Christ.
God has given every person the measure of faith that empowers us to overcome the spirit of fear. We must face our fears through obedience to the Lord's commands, and as we practice this principle, we are, at the same time, both perfecting love in our hearts and casting the fear out of our hearts. Have you ever heard the old saying, "Can't never could and won't never will." It's bad grammar, but it gets the point across. If we allow fear to hold us in bondage so that we never obey the Lord, then love won't be developed in our hearts. Job tells us in his writings that the thing he GREATLY feared had come upon him. God will allow us to face the very thing that we fear the most and which holds us back to show us that He is still God and Lord over our lives, in spite of what we fear.
The flesh nature or "self" will cause us to react in fear when God commands us to step out in faith, and we will have to decide to either trust Him or draw back in fear and unbelief. If we choose to draw back in unbelief, God has said that His soul will have no pleasure in us. Another way to look at this dilemma is to see fear as a way of self-protection or preservation. Jesus tells us in the gospel of Matthew that if anyone loves his life, he will lose it, but if we lose our lives for Christ's sake, then we will find it. God hasn't given us the spirit of fear, but has, instead, given us His Holy Spirit who gives us power, love, and a sound mind. Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commands." Show fear who's boss of your life by obeying God in the area that you're most afraid.
Trusting in God's Love,
Pastor Asa Dockery
Thursday, August 25, 2011
A Great Return on Your Investment
John 6: 8 - 10, one of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?" Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." NKJV
How would you like to be the person used by the Lord to feed a multitude of people? This young boy gave his lunch to the disciples out of a giving heart. Can you begin to imagine the look on his face as the disciples told him that his lunch was about to feed this vast multitude. You can almost imagine a puzzled look on his face as he tries to comprehend how this is going to be possible. I don't know of any account where Jesus miraculously provided a natural/physical need in people's lives where He used something that belonged to Him.
When He arrived at the wedding in Cana, His mother told Him that the couple had run out of wine and asked Him to fix the situation. To this, Jesus replied, "My time has not come." As He was telling her about the timing of God, she turned to the servers at the wedding and told them to do whatever He commanded them. He told them to fill six water pots with fresh water, and then He blessed it and turned it into wine. According to the governor of the feast, this was the best wine he had tasted.
When Jesus and Simon Peter arrived at Capernaum the tax collectors required them to pay a tax or tribute. Instead of pulling the money out of His pocket, Jesus told Simon to go to the water and go fishing. He told Peter that the first fish that he would catch would have a coin in its mouth, and that he should take the money and pay the tax... lest they offend the men. It didn't matter what the natural need was, Jesus borrowed from someone or something else and blessed it to supply the need of the people. Why is this so important to know and understand? Jesus doesn't have to be here in the world in His physical body in order for Him to personally supply the need of a person or a people group. All He needs are people like the young boy who are willing to give their little... that He might make it become great.
Everywhere He went, there was an opportunity for Him to preach the gospel with signs and wonders following. Likewise, you and I have an opportunity every week to be used by the Lord to create a miracle in other people's lives. He had to have something in which to bless, break, and distribute. Every time we give into the work of the Lord, we're being blessed by our giving... and it will be used by the Lord to teach someone else about the "good news." Now, if you will remember, the Bible tells us that God is a debtor to no man. What we have given to the Lord will be given back to us pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall He cause men to give to us. The young boy gave his lunch, but there were twelve baskets of fragments left over. Can you imagine the reaction when the little boy returns home with an arm full of fish and bread and tries to explain what happened to his parents?
Proverbs 19: 17, If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD--and he will repay you! NLT
Give and It Shall Be Given,
Pastor Asa
How would you like to be the person used by the Lord to feed a multitude of people? This young boy gave his lunch to the disciples out of a giving heart. Can you begin to imagine the look on his face as the disciples told him that his lunch was about to feed this vast multitude. You can almost imagine a puzzled look on his face as he tries to comprehend how this is going to be possible. I don't know of any account where Jesus miraculously provided a natural/physical need in people's lives where He used something that belonged to Him.
When He arrived at the wedding in Cana, His mother told Him that the couple had run out of wine and asked Him to fix the situation. To this, Jesus replied, "My time has not come." As He was telling her about the timing of God, she turned to the servers at the wedding and told them to do whatever He commanded them. He told them to fill six water pots with fresh water, and then He blessed it and turned it into wine. According to the governor of the feast, this was the best wine he had tasted.
When Jesus and Simon Peter arrived at Capernaum the tax collectors required them to pay a tax or tribute. Instead of pulling the money out of His pocket, Jesus told Simon to go to the water and go fishing. He told Peter that the first fish that he would catch would have a coin in its mouth, and that he should take the money and pay the tax... lest they offend the men. It didn't matter what the natural need was, Jesus borrowed from someone or something else and blessed it to supply the need of the people. Why is this so important to know and understand? Jesus doesn't have to be here in the world in His physical body in order for Him to personally supply the need of a person or a people group. All He needs are people like the young boy who are willing to give their little... that He might make it become great.
Everywhere He went, there was an opportunity for Him to preach the gospel with signs and wonders following. Likewise, you and I have an opportunity every week to be used by the Lord to create a miracle in other people's lives. He had to have something in which to bless, break, and distribute. Every time we give into the work of the Lord, we're being blessed by our giving... and it will be used by the Lord to teach someone else about the "good news." Now, if you will remember, the Bible tells us that God is a debtor to no man. What we have given to the Lord will be given back to us pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall He cause men to give to us. The young boy gave his lunch, but there were twelve baskets of fragments left over. Can you imagine the reaction when the little boy returns home with an arm full of fish and bread and tries to explain what happened to his parents?
Proverbs 19: 17, If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD--and he will repay you! NLT
Give and It Shall Be Given,
Pastor Asa
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Seeking Pity Instead Of Grace
Genesis 3: 11 - 12, And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." NKJV
If you ask the Lord to reveal more to you about His nature and power, you will discover, as I have, that it usually means He shows you something new about you. If that seems to puzzle or is contradictory to you, then consider that we were created in His image, but sin has blinded us to who we really were supposed to be before the fall.
Recently, the Lord gave me a deeper understanding about the scriptures in today's devotion. When the Bible refers to sin, it is generally in the context of darkness or spiritual blindness. In fact, when Adam and Eve sinned, the eyes of the flesh nature became opened and for the first time man became sin conscious. When we hear the term "sin-conscious," we tend to think of the realization that there is sin in our lives. However, as we can see in today's verses concerning Adam's sin, it isn't always the case. I find it very interesting that Adam had all the symptoms of sin, but wouldn't confess that he had sinned when God confronted him on the issue. We see that Adam was fearful, ashamed, and knew he was naked...the indicator that told God Adam and Eve had sinned. Even so, in spite of all these signs, Adam was blind to the truth that he had, indeed, sinned.
How could Adam have all the symptoms of sin, but not take responsibility for his sin? When God asked him if he had partaken of the tree of knowledge, instead of confessing his sin, Adam chose to blame Eve. This condition or state- of- being what the Bible calls spiritual blindness or being lost. All humans have fallen prey to this because we have all sinned. Adam blamed Eve, and she blamed the serpent. Sin isn't gender bias; it blinds us all to what is really hidden in our hearts before Christ reveals the truth to us.
When sin isn't recognized and confessed, it will lead us deeper into a state of bondage where we will begin to view ourselves as victims of sin instead of participants of sin. You see. Adam saw himself as a victim of sin instead of being guilty of a transgression that needed to be confessed and taken ownership of. When God confronted Adam about what he had done, Adam responded as a victim of his wife's actions. By doing this, he was seeking to find pity in God's sight that He might be willing to assist Adam as a victim. Let's break down that last statement. Instead of repenting for his sin, Adam wanted God to have pity on him in his fallen state. If this sounds familiar, it is called a spirit or mindset of entitlement.
When people live in unrepentant sin, they will generally view themselves as victims and play up their negative situations trying to get someone to help them "out" of the bad situation by feeling sorrow for them... without addressing the real problem of sin in their heart. Instead of seeing sin as bondage, Adam and Eve both saw themselves as victims of sin.
Perhaps you know someone who plays the "guilt strings of your heart" occasionally, trying to manipulate you into helping them while they live in bondage to sin. Furthermore, if they continue living in bondage, it brings a curse upon their lives. If you know someone who fits this description, then you have an obligation to assist that person. However, you must not assist in a way that enables their sinful ways, but in a way that empowers them to overcome the sin and live in freedom. If we bear one another's burdens, then we have fulfilled the law of Christ, which is to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Jesus requires us to speak the truth in love. He always brings balance to the way the gospel is to be implemented. The knee-jerk reaction to this word today is to tell people that you can't help them because they have sin in their life. We don't have to remind someone they have sin whenever they ask for help. However, if they use the same story over and over trying to get you to help them over and over, then you know that you have to speak out in order to bring true freedom into their life.
What is the answer for this bondage mindset and is there any hope? Yes, there is hope because we've all been in bondage to sin at one time or another in our lives. Hebrews 11: 6 says that, without faith, no one can please the Father. When we look to Jesus as the answer for our sin problem, and we confess our faults before the Lord, then He will forgive us and cleanse us from our unrighteous ways. Once we humble ourselves before God by faith, He will empower us to come out of bondage to sin through His grace. Grace is spiritual strength from God's Spirit which empowers us to face the truth about the sin in our hearts and to walk out of the pit or bondage of sin.
Once you are liberated by the power of God's grace, you will no longer view yourself as a victim, but rather as a victor. "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Beware of people who continually seek your pity as a means to get their needs met. By the same token, guard your heart that you don't become a judge of people and condemn them before they've had time to prove their real intent. Words of wisdom from God's Word to equip you as a disciple of Christ!
Serving God and Loving People,
Pastor Asa Dockery
If you ask the Lord to reveal more to you about His nature and power, you will discover, as I have, that it usually means He shows you something new about you. If that seems to puzzle or is contradictory to you, then consider that we were created in His image, but sin has blinded us to who we really were supposed to be before the fall.
Recently, the Lord gave me a deeper understanding about the scriptures in today's devotion. When the Bible refers to sin, it is generally in the context of darkness or spiritual blindness. In fact, when Adam and Eve sinned, the eyes of the flesh nature became opened and for the first time man became sin conscious. When we hear the term "sin-conscious," we tend to think of the realization that there is sin in our lives. However, as we can see in today's verses concerning Adam's sin, it isn't always the case. I find it very interesting that Adam had all the symptoms of sin, but wouldn't confess that he had sinned when God confronted him on the issue. We see that Adam was fearful, ashamed, and knew he was naked...the indicator that told God Adam and Eve had sinned. Even so, in spite of all these signs, Adam was blind to the truth that he had, indeed, sinned.
How could Adam have all the symptoms of sin, but not take responsibility for his sin? When God asked him if he had partaken of the tree of knowledge, instead of confessing his sin, Adam chose to blame Eve. This condition or state- of- being what the Bible calls spiritual blindness or being lost. All humans have fallen prey to this because we have all sinned. Adam blamed Eve, and she blamed the serpent. Sin isn't gender bias; it blinds us all to what is really hidden in our hearts before Christ reveals the truth to us.
When sin isn't recognized and confessed, it will lead us deeper into a state of bondage where we will begin to view ourselves as victims of sin instead of participants of sin. You see. Adam saw himself as a victim of sin instead of being guilty of a transgression that needed to be confessed and taken ownership of. When God confronted Adam about what he had done, Adam responded as a victim of his wife's actions. By doing this, he was seeking to find pity in God's sight that He might be willing to assist Adam as a victim. Let's break down that last statement. Instead of repenting for his sin, Adam wanted God to have pity on him in his fallen state. If this sounds familiar, it is called a spirit or mindset of entitlement.
When people live in unrepentant sin, they will generally view themselves as victims and play up their negative situations trying to get someone to help them "out" of the bad situation by feeling sorrow for them... without addressing the real problem of sin in their heart. Instead of seeing sin as bondage, Adam and Eve both saw themselves as victims of sin.
Perhaps you know someone who plays the "guilt strings of your heart" occasionally, trying to manipulate you into helping them while they live in bondage to sin. Furthermore, if they continue living in bondage, it brings a curse upon their lives. If you know someone who fits this description, then you have an obligation to assist that person. However, you must not assist in a way that enables their sinful ways, but in a way that empowers them to overcome the sin and live in freedom. If we bear one another's burdens, then we have fulfilled the law of Christ, which is to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Jesus requires us to speak the truth in love. He always brings balance to the way the gospel is to be implemented. The knee-jerk reaction to this word today is to tell people that you can't help them because they have sin in their life. We don't have to remind someone they have sin whenever they ask for help. However, if they use the same story over and over trying to get you to help them over and over, then you know that you have to speak out in order to bring true freedom into their life.
What is the answer for this bondage mindset and is there any hope? Yes, there is hope because we've all been in bondage to sin at one time or another in our lives. Hebrews 11: 6 says that, without faith, no one can please the Father. When we look to Jesus as the answer for our sin problem, and we confess our faults before the Lord, then He will forgive us and cleanse us from our unrighteous ways. Once we humble ourselves before God by faith, He will empower us to come out of bondage to sin through His grace. Grace is spiritual strength from God's Spirit which empowers us to face the truth about the sin in our hearts and to walk out of the pit or bondage of sin.
Once you are liberated by the power of God's grace, you will no longer view yourself as a victim, but rather as a victor. "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Beware of people who continually seek your pity as a means to get their needs met. By the same token, guard your heart that you don't become a judge of people and condemn them before they've had time to prove their real intent. Words of wisdom from God's Word to equip you as a disciple of Christ!
Serving God and Loving People,
Pastor Asa Dockery
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Where Was God?
Genesis 3: 1 - 6, Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good... NKJV
Where was God while Satan was in the garden tempting Eve? Where was God while Satan was afflicting Job? He was and still is present in His Word. Didn't God give them specific instructions concerning what they should eat and the tree that they were not to partake of in the garden? Therefore, God was present with them, but in Word form. He wasn't physically with them because He wanted them to trust in His Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD!" If they had the Word in their hearts, then He was in their hearts with them. However, they could only know this by faith. The same applies to us. If we have the Word in our hearts, then God is with us... though not in a physical, tangible way. Therefore, we must believe that He is with us through faith. Why must we believe? Jesus, the Word incarnate said, "If you have seen Me, then you have seen the Father."
If we hide the Word of God in our hearts, then it is with us when we need it. Now, if Satan can get us to doubt the Word, or be hearers of the Word and not doers, then he can use this to his advantage. David wrote a psalm to the Lord; in it he declares a truth that we all must know and practice as children of God. He proclaimed, "Your Word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against it." If the Word isn't hidden in our hearts through obedience, then we can fall prey to temptation and sin against His Word. It is very obvious that Adam didn't keep the Word that God spoke into his hearing because he didn't keep the serpent out of the garden, nor did he stop Eve from eating the fruit. He was standing beside her while she looked on the fruit, took the fruit from the tree, partook of it, and gave to him and he ate. Since they didn't bother to obey God's commands, the Word of God wasn't in their hearts. This opened the door for Satan to bring doubt into their hearts. If we separate ourselves from God by ignoring the Word of God through the act of omission, we will begin to feel as though God has somehow forsaken us...although He has promised us that He will never leave us, nor forsake us in both the New and Old Testaments. Let's look at an example of where it seemed as though God just didn't care about someone and allowed them to die without any help.
When Lazarus died, Jesus waited four days to return. Martha chided Him for His negligence. She was angry at Jesus because He had ignored her request for Him to come in person and heal her brother. Why didn't Jesus come to heal Lazarus while he was sick? Why did He ignore Mary and Martha's request and allowed their brother to die and lay in a tomb for four days? The answer has been there all this time. However, apparently we've been so distracted that we missed it like they did that day.
John 11: 11 - 15, These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him." NKJV
Jesus didn't go to Lazarus' tomb so that He might cause the disciples to believe in Him once Lazarus was raised from the dead. Jesus used a "death" situation to teach His disciples (and us) to have faith in His Word, to use His Word in the same manner that He does, and to expect the same results. When we live by the Word and activate the power of God's Word in our death situations, the Word will reassure our hearts through faith that God is with us. We might not be able to see or touch Him, but He is just as present, powerful and real.
Romans 10: 6 - 11, But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." NKJV
Are you living by faith through obedience to God's Word? If you're not abiding in His Word through active faith, then you will give a place to the enemy to cause doubt and unbelief in your heart. We don't need Jesus in the flesh in order to have a victorious life. We already have Him in our hearts when we believe and obey His Word on a daily basis. With God all things are possible.
God Has Been Here All Along,
Pastor Asa Dockery
Where was God while Satan was in the garden tempting Eve? Where was God while Satan was afflicting Job? He was and still is present in His Word. Didn't God give them specific instructions concerning what they should eat and the tree that they were not to partake of in the garden? Therefore, God was present with them, but in Word form. He wasn't physically with them because He wanted them to trust in His Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD!" If they had the Word in their hearts, then He was in their hearts with them. However, they could only know this by faith. The same applies to us. If we have the Word in our hearts, then God is with us... though not in a physical, tangible way. Therefore, we must believe that He is with us through faith. Why must we believe? Jesus, the Word incarnate said, "If you have seen Me, then you have seen the Father."
If we hide the Word of God in our hearts, then it is with us when we need it. Now, if Satan can get us to doubt the Word, or be hearers of the Word and not doers, then he can use this to his advantage. David wrote a psalm to the Lord; in it he declares a truth that we all must know and practice as children of God. He proclaimed, "Your Word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against it." If the Word isn't hidden in our hearts through obedience, then we can fall prey to temptation and sin against His Word. It is very obvious that Adam didn't keep the Word that God spoke into his hearing because he didn't keep the serpent out of the garden, nor did he stop Eve from eating the fruit. He was standing beside her while she looked on the fruit, took the fruit from the tree, partook of it, and gave to him and he ate. Since they didn't bother to obey God's commands, the Word of God wasn't in their hearts. This opened the door for Satan to bring doubt into their hearts. If we separate ourselves from God by ignoring the Word of God through the act of omission, we will begin to feel as though God has somehow forsaken us...although He has promised us that He will never leave us, nor forsake us in both the New and Old Testaments. Let's look at an example of where it seemed as though God just didn't care about someone and allowed them to die without any help.
When Lazarus died, Jesus waited four days to return. Martha chided Him for His negligence. She was angry at Jesus because He had ignored her request for Him to come in person and heal her brother. Why didn't Jesus come to heal Lazarus while he was sick? Why did He ignore Mary and Martha's request and allowed their brother to die and lay in a tomb for four days? The answer has been there all this time. However, apparently we've been so distracted that we missed it like they did that day.
John 11: 11 - 15, These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him." NKJV
Jesus didn't go to Lazarus' tomb so that He might cause the disciples to believe in Him once Lazarus was raised from the dead. Jesus used a "death" situation to teach His disciples (and us) to have faith in His Word, to use His Word in the same manner that He does, and to expect the same results. When we live by the Word and activate the power of God's Word in our death situations, the Word will reassure our hearts through faith that God is with us. We might not be able to see or touch Him, but He is just as present, powerful and real.
Romans 10: 6 - 11, But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." NKJV
Are you living by faith through obedience to God's Word? If you're not abiding in His Word through active faith, then you will give a place to the enemy to cause doubt and unbelief in your heart. We don't need Jesus in the flesh in order to have a victorious life. We already have Him in our hearts when we believe and obey His Word on a daily basis. With God all things are possible.
God Has Been Here All Along,
Pastor Asa Dockery
Monday, August 22, 2011
In Times Of Trouble
Hebrews 13: 5, Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." NKJV
When Jesus was being tempted in the wilderness by the Devil, He quoted the Word. He said, "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Our heavenly Father asks us to walk in faith knowing He is faithful and will never leave us nor forsake us. However, occasionally, there will be times when our faith will be tried. When this happens, we must remember that God will test our obedience, but it's Satan who will test our faith.
When we find ourselves in tests, as Jesus did in the wilderness, will we do as He did and stand on the Word and faithfulness of God or will we allow covetousness to cause us to begin to doubt God's faithfulness? Personally, and you won't hear that term from me often. I believe we all struggle with doubt from time to time. This is not the issue. The real issue is what will we do when doubt comes knocking on our heart's door wanting to come in and deceive us.
Why do you suppose Jesus, who was the Word of God in flesh, had to quote scripture in order to combat Satan? He was walking "by faith" in God. Therefore, He wasn't going to allow His desires to dictate how He responded to the temptations of Satan. It's not about being hungry or broke; it's about answering Satan when he comes to us and casts doubt in our hearts about the "seemingly" absence of God during this time.
This is why we must both stand on and speak the Word of God because it shows Satan we trust that our Father hasn't abandoned us. It reveals to God that we are submitted and committed to walking by faith because we know He won't forsake us. Here's the key for today's devotion: It goes against the carnal nature to trust God when walking in a time of lack. Furthermore, it crucifies our flesh when we choose to stand on God's Word despite our undesirable circumstances. Therefore, we can take a bold stand against the strategies of the Devil and keep him under our feet by speaking the Word over the situation, knowing that God is indeed with us.
Since God has sworn to us that He won't forsake us, especially in a time of lack, then we can have confidence and boldness to stand on His Word and declare the truth to Satan and silence his lies. Lack does not mean that God has forsaken you; it is simply an opportunity for us to use our faith in God's Word to see Him provide for us. The widow at Zarephath was in a time of lack, but she obeyed the Word of the Lord from Elijah. Man didn't provide for her during the remainder of that famine. However, God's Word caused her food supply to last until the season was over.
What good does it do us if we say we walk by faith, but won't allow our faith to be tried? This will only cause us to grow spiritually weak. When our faith gets tried, and we remain faithful to God and stand on His Word, then God can supply all of our need, and our faith will make us strong.
Living by the Word of God,
Pastor Asa Dockery
When Jesus was being tempted in the wilderness by the Devil, He quoted the Word. He said, "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Our heavenly Father asks us to walk in faith knowing He is faithful and will never leave us nor forsake us. However, occasionally, there will be times when our faith will be tried. When this happens, we must remember that God will test our obedience, but it's Satan who will test our faith.
When we find ourselves in tests, as Jesus did in the wilderness, will we do as He did and stand on the Word and faithfulness of God or will we allow covetousness to cause us to begin to doubt God's faithfulness? Personally, and you won't hear that term from me often. I believe we all struggle with doubt from time to time. This is not the issue. The real issue is what will we do when doubt comes knocking on our heart's door wanting to come in and deceive us.
Why do you suppose Jesus, who was the Word of God in flesh, had to quote scripture in order to combat Satan? He was walking "by faith" in God. Therefore, He wasn't going to allow His desires to dictate how He responded to the temptations of Satan. It's not about being hungry or broke; it's about answering Satan when he comes to us and casts doubt in our hearts about the "seemingly" absence of God during this time.
This is why we must both stand on and speak the Word of God because it shows Satan we trust that our Father hasn't abandoned us. It reveals to God that we are submitted and committed to walking by faith because we know He won't forsake us. Here's the key for today's devotion: It goes against the carnal nature to trust God when walking in a time of lack. Furthermore, it crucifies our flesh when we choose to stand on God's Word despite our undesirable circumstances. Therefore, we can take a bold stand against the strategies of the Devil and keep him under our feet by speaking the Word over the situation, knowing that God is indeed with us.
Since God has sworn to us that He won't forsake us, especially in a time of lack, then we can have confidence and boldness to stand on His Word and declare the truth to Satan and silence his lies. Lack does not mean that God has forsaken you; it is simply an opportunity for us to use our faith in God's Word to see Him provide for us. The widow at Zarephath was in a time of lack, but she obeyed the Word of the Lord from Elijah. Man didn't provide for her during the remainder of that famine. However, God's Word caused her food supply to last until the season was over.
What good does it do us if we say we walk by faith, but won't allow our faith to be tried? This will only cause us to grow spiritually weak. When our faith gets tried, and we remain faithful to God and stand on His Word, then God can supply all of our need, and our faith will make us strong.
Living by the Word of God,
Pastor Asa Dockery
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)