Weekend Message: Move Forward! | Beth Moore | God is on the Move Pt. 2

Welcome to the Weekend Message! 

As always, it's my pleasure to bring you quality presentations from some of the best Christian teachers in the world! Each video presentation can vary, but whatever the topic, you can be certain that it will be informative and Bible-based.

This week, we continue a new study series featuring Bible teacher, author, and speaker Beth Moore.

In the second of four video presentations, Beth presses forward with this message: "Whatever path the Lord has given you, move forward in faith!"

During the course of this series, seven points about God moving among us, and us learning how to move with Him, will be set forth. 

© Living Proof Ministries with Beth Moore

Beth discusses three of the seven points in this lesson:

1. How are we to respond when God is on the move in our lives?

2. God is moving in our lives, but we have become immobilized because we are so over-burdened by life. What then..?

 

3. Once we have this figured out, God wants us to move. But in what direction..?

Key Scriptures: Ephesians 5:15-18, Psalm 32:8, Colossians 1:9-11, Acts 17:28, Genesis 33:12, Deuteronomy 2:2-3, Exodus 14:10-15, Proverbs 3:5-6 

Give your weekend an extra boost by taking a little "me" time to unwind with this encouraging word from Beth Moore!

Enjoy!

~Eve

The Lord Is King!

"The sovereignty of God may be defined as the exercise of His supremacy. Being infinitely elevated above the highest creature, He is the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth. Subject to none, influenced by none, absolutely independent; God does as He pleases, only as He pleases always as He pleases. None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him."  - A.W. Pink, The Attributes of God, chapter 6

Presently, it may seem that the world is spinning out of control; that nothing makes sense; and all is slowly slipping from our grasp. Perceptions like these can make it difficult for one to get out of bed in the morning! 

"Where is God?" "Why doesn't He do something?" "Why is He allowing this to happen? Do any of these sound familiar? During perplexing and chaotic times, such as we are experiencing today, people begin to question the power and authority of God, Himself. 

This is a sad, but all too common sentiment of people who feel lost, distressed, and disheartened. The Israelites rebelled against God and Moses in the Bible on several occasions, including: Numbers 11-21; Exodus 16; and Psalm 78.

Dear friends, I implore you to reject, eject, or toss out that line of thinking! No matter what you may think, or have heard, God is in total control! He has complete authority over every micro-particle of this universe.

His actions and ways can be difficult for us to comprehend, but that is because we are not meant to know God's motives. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord, in Isaiah 55:8.

One problem is that many don't give God a second thought until catastrophe and calamity are pounding on the door. In essence, God has been reduced to a fire extinguisher; waiting to be used in emergencies only.

Contrary to what many believe, He listens to our petitions/supplications. In fact, God knows what we ask for before we ask (Matthew 6:8; Romans 8:26). What is hard for us to digest is why He may choose to act or not. (Psalm 115:3; Lamentations 3:37-38)

His steadfast nature and sovereignty over the world allows him to do so. But rest assured that God's aim is not to deny us or harm us, but to do what is best for our lives. Good or bad, He, and only He knows why. (Proverbs 16:33)

We can only trust and believe in the One who created the world. And that, in spite of messy situations and confusion, that He is the stabilizing force who assures that the world that it will remain resolute and unshaken. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:6; Job 23:13; Proverbs 20:24; Jeremiah 10:23; Isaiah 14:24

Prayer: "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" - Psalm 27:1

May God be with you,

Sophie

Walking By Faith | What It Takes to be a Follower of Jesus | Luke 9

"Living by faith isn't living with certainty. It's trusting God in spite of unanswered questions and unresolved doubts."  - Rick Warren

Perhaps a good opening question could be, “What is walking by faith?” This is reasonable enough, as it can evoke many answers. But since our purpose here is primarily a brief inquiry into the subject, simplicity is best.

Crosswalk.com defines it this way: "Walking by faith" means living one's life and making decisions based on a deep trust and confidence in God, even when circumstances are unclear or challenging. 

What's more, "it encourages believers to rely on their spiritual convictions and trust in God's guidance." I feel quite comfortable using this solid and clear definition as the cornerstone of our discussion. (2 Timothy 3:16)

Luke, Chapter 9, provides an effective illustration of some characteristics associated with a follower of Jesus' "walking by faith."  These are: courage, devotion, humbleness, selflessness, and love. 

To illustrate what I mean, in the first six verses (1-6), Jesus empowers the Twelve to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and heal the sick. He also instructs them to take nothing along for their journey. (Colossians 1:10)

Referring to the attributes listed above, which of these are exhibited by the twelve disciples? As you can see, after some careful consideration, all may be applied with confidence. Afterward, you might do well to examine this within yourself.

In fact, Luke 9 might serve as a standard by which to compare your own walk of faith. It is a marvelous workshop in discipleship, miracles, revelation, and instruction in humbleness. (1 Peter 2:21)

One quickly learns that there is a cost to fellowship with Jesus. But compared to the price He paid for all of us, the cost is more than worth it to be called one of His own. (Galatians 2:20)

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:17; 2 Corinthians 4:18

Prayer: "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  - Ephesians 2:10

Sincerely with the Grace of God,

Sloane

We Must Move As God Commands

"We cannot wait until we feel the Spirit moving us… We must obey God even when our heart is not in it – often to discover that our hearts come alive to our duty even while we do it."  - Samuel Bolton (1606-1654)

God gave commands (or directives) to many in the Bible, most notably: Adam and Eve, Moses, the Israelites, Saul, and David. One thing we learn for certain about His commands is that they are meant to be followed without question or delay.

Still, it's astonishing how much we challenge Him and postpone doing that which we are told. We can never wait for a better, or more suitable time to rise to the pinnacle. Procrastination is our own worst enemy when it comes to God's commands.

There may be other factors preventing us from complying with His directives, such as a lack of resolve. Still, we must be willing to first surrender ourselves before any of God's commands can be obeyed (John 14:15).

We never know what plans God has in store for us. Nor does he need to be specific with us. He will tell us all we need to know, as we need to know. Our principle responsibility is to obey Him (Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Corinthians 2:9).

Scottish-American preacher Peter Marshall said, "Sometimes this going out in obedience to God's command is more dramatic than at other times... sometimes more spectacular... sometimes more brave... but always it is a venture into the unknown."

To comply with God's commands can be intimidating, especially if you're not used to carrying out directives in blind faith. However, there a plenty of assurances found in Scripture to encourage the anxious and unsure heart, for example: Proverbs 3:5; Luke 1:37; Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1; James 1:3.

Resist the urge to pick and choose your service for God. There is no such option! For instance, if he dictates that trials are something you must move through, accept this, and trust in His judgment. Never choose your form of suffering. Recognize it and go forward.

We are all limited by our earthly ties. These serve to keep us grounded, but only to what is safe and familiar. None can truly appreciate what God does unless we endeavor to be still, listen, and allow him to enter upon our lives (Isaiah 14:24).

Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:8; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Psalm 73:26; Philippians 4:6-7; John 14:27 

Prayer: "Lord, those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." - Psalm 9:10

In grace and peace, 

Betsy

Weekend Message: The Spirit Moves | Beth Moore | God is on the Move Pt. 1

Welcome to the Weekend Message! 

As always, it's my pleasure to bring you quality presentations from some of the best Christian teachers in the world! Each video presentation can vary, but whatever the topic, you can be certain that it will be informative and Bible-based.

This week, we begin a new study series featuring Bible teacher, author, and speaker Beth Moore.

In this first of four video presentations, Beth walks us through how to yield to the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. 

During the course of this series, seven points about God moving among us, and us learning how to move with Him will be introduced. 

© Living Proof Ministries with Beth Moore

Key Scriptures: Leviticus 26:11-12, 1 Chronicles 17:5a, Exodus 35:26, Ezekiel 36:27, Galatians 5:16-26, Psalm 37:23-24

Without first having a good foundation, we can't get to what we ought to do to get there, and what the process would be to set ourselves in a posture to begin to recognize it, unless we are convinced there is something to go to that trouble for.

Here, in this first lesson, Beth Moore patiently and thoroughly lays out the foundation for this to occur.

I invite you to take a few minutes and watch this inspiring and thought-provoking message from one of the best Christians teachers around!

Enjoy!

~Eve

God's Purpose Is Ours, Too!

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."  - Micah 6:8

When we are "born again" in Jesus Christ, we are made recipients of a spiritual rebirth, or regeneration of the human spirit. The Bible compares this to a "rebirth," because as sinners we are spiritually dead until we receive spiritual life through faith in Him.

Does this mean that we've been brought into total fruition as Christian believers? That all that remains for us to do afterward is read our Bibles and attend church services? Of course not! There is so much more that God expects from us.

Who hasn't wondered, "What purpose does God have for my life?" This, especially, after being "born again." But, not to worry. Our Loving Father will never leave us speculating for long (Ephesians 1:9-10).

For it is exactly at this point of our sanctification, or being made holy, set apart for God's unique purpose and use, that God can successfully and purposefully put us into His service (Psalm 32:8; Isaiah 14:24;1 Corinthians 2:9).

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God is using you at this very moment for His special purposes as he used His Son, Jesus Christ, for the purpose of our salvation. We are representatives for Christ in the world. 

As such, we must thoughtfully watch our "walk" and our "words" in front of others at all times (Colossians 4:5-6). We must learn to accept that our purpose in life is God's and not our own. 

From God's great vantage point he uses you and I. In return, all he asks for is our faith (trust) in Him. Even the smallest doubt will create an obstruction hindering His purpose for us. 

In order to allow God to perform through us, we can do things such as: stop telling him what we want in a selfish, self-serving manner, and wallowing in self-pity, as a few examples. Far from helping the situation, they instead interfere with his good work.

As long as we retain a personal interest in our own nature and personality, and set our own ambitions and desires above all else, we will never be able to bring ourselves together with God's interests (Proverbs 3:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalm 138:8; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 5:15-17

Prayer: "I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me."  - Psalm 57:2 (NLT)

In Christ's Love,

Danni

"Take Time for God" with Lori: The Middleman

“Christ is the Mediator, not only between God and man, but between man and man, between man and reality.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Because of our sinful nature and condition, we would never be able to enter into God's presence in heaven on our own account. That's why we need Jesus Christ to be our Mediator in Heaven, that is, to represent us in front of God (1 Timothy 2:5).

Being both, fully human and divine, Jesus, God's Son made flesh here on earth, is the only one "perfectly" suited to perform in this capacity for us (John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 2:17). He alone is equipped to speak on our behalf (John 7:29).

The point is that there is but one mediator standing in the middle of God and man. Christ is the only path to God (John 14:6). This came into fruition in the New Testament by way of His death on the cross, and resurrection (John 1:17; Hebrews 3:1-6; 9:15, 22; 10:10; 12:24).

To put it briefly, only the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the sinless and spotless Lamb of God, would completely pay for our freedom from sin and eternal death. He placed our sins on Himself so that this would become possible (Colossians 1:22).

As wonderful as this is, there's something else that needs to be noted. We've just touched on the intermediary role of Jesus Christ for us in God's presence. But we, too, have an important part to play in this sacred relationship. 

As a true Christian servant, we must be a proper, sacramental conduit, or channel, by which the Spirit of God can pass through to others. Think of it as being mediators for the LORD here on earth.

This doesn't mean that God takes control of our bodies and places His personality on top of of ours. Rather, his real presence is released through every characteristic and essence of our lives, and the work we perform in His Name.

In short, when we act as "go-betweens" for God here on earth lifting him up in everything we do, every day, we provide a clear course by which the Spirit of God can create in others the things which only He, and He alone can do.

Scripture: John 7:29; John 8:42; Romans 5:1; Acts 4:12 ; Colossians 2:14; 

Prayer: Holy Father, do not let me be conformed to this world, but instead be transformed by the renewal of my mind, that by trial I may discern the will of God, and what is good, acceptable and perfect. Amen.

May God bless you always,

Lori