'new' encouragement thread

[Amylisa]

Hi,
I can't find the old encouragement thread so I thought I'd start a new one.

Wanted to share this today, it really blessed me and I pray it will do the same for anyone who reads it.


FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010



THE OTHER SIDE OF COMMUNION



Walking in God’s glory means not only that we receive the Father’s love,

but that we love him back as well. It’s about mutual affection, both giving

and receiving love. The Bible tells us, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God

with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might”

(Deuteronomy 6:5).



God says to us, “My son, give me thine heart” (Proverbs 23:26). His love
demands that we reciprocate, that we return to him a love that’s total,
undivided, requiring all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

However, the Lord tells us in no uncertain terms, “You can’t earn my love.
The love I give to you is unmerited!” John writes, “Herein is love, not
that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the
propitiation for our sins” and “We love him, because he first loved us”
(1 John 4:10, 19).



Just as God’s love for us is marked by rest and rejoicing, so our love for
him must have these same two elements:


1. David expresses a rest in his love for God when he writes, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee”

(Psalm 73:25). The heart that loves the Lord ceases completely from looking elsewhere for comfort. Rather, it finds full contentment in him. To such a lover, God’s lovingkindness is better than life itself!


2. Such a heart also rejoices in its love for God. It sings and dances in
joyous ecstasy over the Lord. When a child of God knows how much his Father loves him, it puts a delight in his soul!


Let me give you one of the most powerful verses in all of Scripture. Proverbs give us these prophetic words of Christ: “Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men” (Proverbs 8:30–31).


Beloved, we are the sons being mentioned here! From the very foundations of the earth, God foresaw a body of believers joined to his Son. And even then the Father delighted and rejoiced in these sons. Jesus testifies, “I was my Father’s delight, the joy of his being. And now all who turn to me in faith are his delight as well!”

So, how do we love Jesus in return? John answers, “This is the love of God,
that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John5:3).

What are his commandments? Jesus says, in essence, there are two and “on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40).

The first and most important is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and
mind. We’re to hold nothing back from him. And the second is that we love our neighbor as ourselves. These two simple, non-grievous commands sum up all of God’s law.


Jesus is saying here that we cannot be in communion with God or walk in his glory if we bear a grudge against anyone. Therefore, loving God means loving every brother and sister in the same way we’ve been loved by the Father.

by David Wilkerson

 

[Graceful]

Therefore, loving God means loving every brother and sister in the same way we’ve been loved by the Father.

by David Wilkerson

So true and so challenging

 

[Amylisa]

Hi Graceful!
Here is something I received today that I wanted to share.



Experiencing His Presence
Devotions For God Catchers Week 7, Day 1

Human Fullness is The Greatest Obstacle
to Supernatural Filling​

Some of us are determined to "present our fullness for God to fill." Then we complain to anyone who will listen that this "intimacy with God stuff" is a hoax. God isn't interested in meeting you at your best-that is really when you are at your worst. He isn't interested in blessing your independence; He responds to your dependence. His strength is attracted to your weakness. He casts down the proud, but He runs to the pitiful1 (The God Catchers, p. 100).
Many confirmed God Chasers in this generation and in generations past share the common conviction that the powerlessness of the church stems from its prayerlessness and its habit of leaning on the weak arm of the flesh rather than on God. It is easier to conduct church business and church worship gatherings according to "cut and dried" patterns, using the more easily controlled natural gifts and abilities of people rather than admitting our reliance upon the irritatingly supernatural gifts and abilities of God. The problem is that if we think and act like we can do a thing without God, then it isn't His.

Take the time to examine your life and the life of your church. How much of what you do each day, and how much of the typical church service, is duplicated effortlessly in business offices, civic organizations and country clubs every day? How much can be attributed solely to the intervention, provision, or personal visitation of God?
​

We can make people feel better through comforting words, and we can sound wise by delivering the wisdom of men packaged as the wisdom of God. We can even educate people in the Word of God without ever introducing them to the reality of His presence. Yes, their lives will be improved through their proximity to the Truth, but they deserve more. If we presume to "do church" in God's name, the least we should do is lean upon His strength, wisdom, love, grace, and mercy with all of our ability (or should we say "inability"?). I don't remember John saying, "As many as are led by the habits, patterns and programs of men, behold, they are the sons of God." Isn't the Spirit supposed to be involved somewhere in that process? If we think we can "do church" using our "human fullness" without relying on His personal participation and supernatural visitation, then it seems logical that anyone can "do church" without God and have the same "unsupernatural" results. Unfortunately it is more than logical; it seems to be a way of life in much of the modern church world. (Is it any wonder that we are often powerless to transform lives, heal the sick, deliver the oppressed and provide godly leadership in our cities?)

Is it wrong to meet needs using your natural gifts, wisdom or accumulated knowledge? Is a God Chaser a "hyper-spiritual" person who over-spiritualizes even the mundane things of life? (You know the answer to these questions is no.) How should you, as a God Chaser, remain dependent upon God and offer Him emptiness throughout the normal day so His supernatural fullness can invade the mundane?
​

The desperate widow and mother who encountered Elisha turned to God's fullness for relief when her life and the lives of her sons were endangered by the loss of her husband and the emptiness of her food pantry. She didn't offer God full bowls, pans or containers. She didn't even limit her offering to her personal capacity for "emptiness." Elisha the prophet told her to "collect emptiness" from her neighbors, so she scoured the area for every pot and pan she could.2 The widow didn't understand the importance of her collected emptiness, and neither do we most of the time. "She didn't realize that her cumulative emptiness would literally determine the measure of her miraculous filling" (The God Catchers, p. 99).
God loves to pour out His fullness on man's emptiness, but this won't happen until we run out (or willingly lay down) our strength, resources, ideas, programs, agendas, personal charisma, and "holy hyperbole." James said we "have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."3 God is "full of pity" or compassionate (The God Catchers, p. 100).

It may hurt, but I have to ask you: Are you full of yourself or full of His presence? What has the fullness in your life produced? What are you "full of"? What do you offer to Him?
​

Erroneous Assumptions, Presumptions and Misaligned Paradigms​

I don't mean to hurt anyone's feelings, but it appears that the real harbinger of revival is not a good preacher or a good singer-it is the amount of our "collected hunger." The "God of More Than Enough" is inexorably drawn to the empty capacity of our growling spiritual stomachs, especially when we gather in one mind and one accord with an unappeasable appetite for Him (page 98).
Human beings like clear "cause and effect" relationships. If revival ignites somewhere, we assume that "something" triggered it-something we can duplicate that will benefit us. We really hope that "something" allows us to enjoy the benefits without taking any of the responsibility. Perhaps you've noticed that God doesn't work that way. Our responsibility for hunger is unavoidable on the individual and on the corporate levels. You and I are called to hunger for God.
1. What are you hungry for?
2. What do you hunger for in your local church?

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 4:1-7, in which God uses a destitute widow to reveal how the volume of our spiritual hunger determines how much of His fullness we can receive.
1 A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”
2 So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.
4 And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”
5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out.
6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased.
7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”
The New King James Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1998, c1982.
​

Prayer

Lord, my hunger can't be satisfied by anything in human pantries or on this planet. I have an unearthly appetite for heavenly things, and especially for You. I want You. I've had my fill of earthly treasures and they left me feeling emptier and more desperate than ever. Forgive me for offering You my fullness, and please accept my empty longing for Your presence.​

 

[Amylisa]

wishing all here a good and blessed day in Him!!




KNOWING GOD AS HE DESIRES TO BE KNOWN



Jesus said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). We

must see Jesus not as man teaches, but as the Spirit reveals him to us—as God

wants us to know and see him! We are to get God’s vision and testimony of

Christ—then we will know God as he desires to be known!



Here is how I believe God wants us to see his Son: “Every good gift and every

perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom

is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).



Jesus was a gift! God wrapped all his resources up in Jesus—“he gave his

only begotten Son…” (John 3:16). Christ is God’s good and perfect gift to

us, come down from the Father! Do you see Jesus as God’s perfect gift to you?

Do you see him as all you need to live joyfully, victoriously, righteously,

full of peace and rest?



Ages ago, before you were created, God saw what your hurts and needs would be.

He knew ahead of time what you would need to solve all your problems. He did

not wrap up his answers and send them to you as a rule book or as an army of

“answer men.” No—he gave us all one solution to all our crises and

needs—one Man, one Way, one Answer to everything we need: Jesus Christ!



God says to you, “I don’t want you to live for tomorrow! You’ll only look

back and see that today could have been your very best time. Jesus can’t be

any better or stronger to you than he is right now. Why won’t you let me be

God to you today?”







Read this devotion online: KNOWING GOD AS HE DESIRES TO BE KNOWN by David Wilkerson | World Challenge

 

[Amylisa]

 

[NYkravitz]

1

 

[Amylisa]

Amen amen amen! Thank you nest for posting that!!

 

[Amylisa]

Wishing all here a good day.

 

[Bridgit]

Thank you so much Amylisa for sharing. I have noted this:

God isn't interested in meeting you at your best-that is really when you are at your worst. He isn't interested in blessing your independence; He responds to your dependence. His strength is attracted to your weakness. He casts down the proud, but He runs to the pitiful.

It is so true.

God is speaking to me through all these similar messages as I am going through a tough spot. I know that it is His doing in order for me to come to complete dependence on Him. I can't wait to see what will be the result!

Blessings to all!

Note: who is the author of your quotes?

 

[Amylisa]

Hi Bridgit,

I meant to put that in each post....the author is David Wilkerson. The Experiencing His Presence part is by Tommy Tenney.

Just to let you know, i have been remembering you and your son in my prayers. {hug} Got to go now as my little guy is crying.

 

[irenemcg]

wishing all here a good and blessed day in Him!!




KNOWING GOD AS HE DESIRES TO BE KNOWN



Jesus said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). We

must see Jesus not as man teaches, but as the Spirit reveals him to us—as God

wants us to know and see him! We are to get God’s vision and testimony of

Christ—then we will know God as he desires to be known!



Here is how I believe God wants us to see his Son: “Every good gift and every

perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom

is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).



Jesus was a gift! God wrapped all his resources up in Jesus—“he gave his

only begotten Son…” (John 3:16). Christ is God’s good and perfect gift to

us, come down from the Father! Do you see Jesus as God’s perfect gift to you?

Do you see him as all you need to live joyfully, victoriously, righteously,

full of peace and rest?



Ages ago, before you were created, God saw what your hurts and needs would be.

He knew ahead of time what you would need to solve all your problems. He did

not wrap up his answers and send them to you as a rule book or as an army of

“answer men.” No—he gave us all one solution to all our crises and

needs—one Man, one Way, one Answer to everything we need: Jesus Christ!



God says to you, “I don’t want you to live for tomorrow! You’ll only look

back and see that today could have been your very best time. Jesus can’t be

any better or stronger to you than he is right now. Why won’t you let me be

God to you today?”







Read this devotion online: KNOWING GOD AS HE DESIRES TO BE KNOWN by David Wilkerson | World Challenge

Amen!


A SONG OF PRAISE



Praise the Lord all you people, shouting praises to His Name,
For He alone is King over every created being,
Declare His wonderful goodness to all men,
He blesses the righteous and gives justice to the poor man.


The Lord is good and kind and His mercies never cease,
And through the Son of Man, Immanuel men can be saved,
His blood was shed for us that our sins might be forgiven,
For through Him we are made righteous and given real peace.

The scourging he took, those stripes were for our healing.
Give praise to Him forever “Jehovah Rapha” the Lord that Heals,
He hears the prayers of His saints and answers according to His Word,
For His promises are yes and amen as revealed in His Word.

He blesses His righteous ones with abundance and provision,
For His word says those that seek after Him shall not be in lack,
So Lord won’t you bless us indeed and increase our vision,
Keep your hand upon us, free us from succumbing to the enemies tactics.

And may it be that all men everywhere would praise Your Wonderful Name,
For you alone are Lord, forever and ever and throughout eternity the same,
All glory honour, praise and majesty be unto the King of Kings,
Worthy, worthy, worthy, holy, holy, holy let your people sing.

 

[Bridgit]

Hi Bridgit,

I meant to put that in each post....the author is David Wilkerson. The Experiencing His Presence part is by Tommy Tenney.

Just to let you know, i have been remembering you and your son in my prayers. {hug} Got to go now as my little guy is crying.

Thanks Amylisa!

 

[Amylisa]

 

[Amylisa]

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010

by David Wilkerson



TURTLEDOVES



God has kept me through my struggles by showing me King David's secret hope.

David, lamenting and complaining, wondered why God was angry with him. He

called on God to “put out your hand and destroy the enemy" (see Psalm 74:11).

It seemed to David that the enemies of God were taking control and in his

despair, he prayed, "O deliver not the soul of the turtledove unto the

multitude of the wicked" (Psalm 74:19).



Like David, we began to see ourselves as little turtledoves, surrounded by the

snares and traps of the wicked. It encouraged me, in my most trying times, to

see myself as his lovebird, resting on his promise to keep me out of the snares

of the wicked. Like a turtledove, we long for the presence of our beloved

Savior.



I picture Christ coming to me in the form of a dove—his Holy

Spirit—revealing to me his constant love and continual care. How unspeakable

that such a great and majestic God would condescend to relate to my needs as a

turtledove. Did he not descend on Christ at the baptismal waters as a dove?



Child of God, are you going through difficult times? Is there suffering in your

home? Do you hurt? Are you confused at times because of the severity of it all?

Remember, you are the Lord's little turtledove and he will never turn you over

to the wicked one. He will deliver you from every snare of the enemy and show

you how devoted he is to you in your hour of need. He is there beside you, at

all times, as a dove, whispering, sharing his love with you.



Solomon, speaking of Christ, said, "His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the

rivers of waters, washed with milk, beautifully set" (Song of Solomon 5:12).

And of the church, the Lord's beloved, it is written, "My dove, my undefiled

one is but one..." (Song of Solomon 6:9). We are one in Christ—his dove—a

turtledove.



The sparrow falls to the ground, but not the turtledove. He is kept in the

hollow of his hand, safe and secure in his love. Best of all, the Lord will

deliver us out of our troubles and prove his everlasting faithfulness to us. We

shall come through it all rejoicing and in full rest and trust in his power and

love.

 

[Amylisa]

 

[Amylisa]

Good morning!
Wishing all here a good day. God bless you.

 

[Amylisa]

This really encouraged me today and I hope it will do the same for anyone else who happens to stop by here.


David Wilkerson Today



THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2010



YOU ARE PRECIOUS TO GOD



“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is

the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).



Even if you lived to be 500 years old, you wouldn’t live long enough to

please God by your own doings. It doesn’t matter how hard you may try to

clean yourself up. Your flesh isn’t accepted before God; it can’t even be

reformed. All flesh was done away with at the cross. Now a new man has come

forth: the Christ man. True faith is having confidence in what he has done for

you.



You may say, “O, I can believe that God delights in faithful pastors. They

pray and spend so much time in his Word. I can believe that elders are precious

to him. They’ve endured sufferings, testings and trials, and they’ve come

out victorious. But I find it hard to believe that a troubled, failing

Christian like me could be precious to God. He has to be disgusted with me

because my life is so up-and-down. I’ve got problems I can’t seem to get

through. I believe he still loves me, but surely he is disappointed in me.”



Please understand Isaiah’s wonderful prophecy of grace when God said, “I

have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine” (Isaiah

43:1) This was spoken to a people who had been robbed, spoiled, snared and cast

into prison—all because of their own foolishness and unbelief.



It is at that point that God said to them, “Now—after all your failures—I

come to you with this message of hope. And it’s all because you are mine!”

 

[NYkravitz]

1

 

[Amylisa]

Thank you nest!

Like your name by the way....makes me think of birds, one of my favorite of Jesus' creations. Also makes me think of safety, being safe in His hand like a bird in its nest.

 

[Amylisa]

Good morning! I hope everyone here is blessed with a good day today.