How Big Is Your God? part 5

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

Romans 8:37

How big is your God? Is he big enough for you to believe that in all things, you are more than conquerors?  Personalize the amazing words: I am more than a conqueror.  Now think about whatever it is you are going through at this very moment.  What obstacle is before you?  What burden are you encountering?  What sickness or disease seems to be getting the most of you?  What relationship is so out of order?  Are your finances upside down, inside out, topsy turvy? Are you on an emotional roller coaster? Is it that you just don’t know what else to say?  You don’t know where to turn?  You just don’t know what to do?

The Word of God says that in all these things, you don't merely conquer; you are more than a conqueror.  What does being more than a conqueror mean?  Stop! Look! Listen! It means that you have complete triumph ... you win a most thorough victory ... you have an overwhelming victory ... you are triumphantly victorious ... you conquer overwhelmingly.   

My brothers and sisters, please don't settle for something less than God's best.  Choose to be what God says you are.  It doesn't matter what you see.  It doesn't matter what you hear.  It doesn't matter what you think.  And it absolutely doesn't matter what you feel.  All that matters is what God says.  He says that in all these things, you are more than conquerors.

 

How Big Is Your God, part 4

Is your God bigger than any and all of your fears? God has said, in 2 Timothy 1:7, that He has not given us the spirit of fear. So if God has not given us the spirit of fear, where then has the spirit come from? To whom, through whom has this fear come? If not from God, then obviously from the enemy, the thief that comes to steal, kill and destroy (see John 10:10).

 

Consider your fears. What are those fears that keep you from achieving your divine potential? From accomplishing your God given purpose? From being all that you can do or be? Fear of people ... rejection, being told no ... lack, not enough ... money ... speaking in public, before a group ... embarrassment ... failure ... taking the first step ... . What are you afraid of? What makes you scared. What are you running away from? What makes you hesitant? What gives you pause?

 

After Job's great loss of all his children and their families, his wealth, and his health. he said that what he feared the most had come upon him (see Job 3:25-26). What were Job's fears?

 

Is your God bigger than your greatest fear? Is your God big enough to get you past all your fears? Is anything impossible for your God? Is anything too hard for your God? How big is your God? Since God has not given you the spirit of fear, what has he given? See 2 Timothy 1:7, for God has given you the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Is your God big enough for you to accept this truth and be made free from all your fears?

How Big Is Your God, part 3

When you are confronted with and challenged by the circumstances of life and living, how big is your God?  Consider the Apostle Paul who was called to be a witness ... a servant ... an evangelist ... a pastor ... an apostle to the nations.  The disciple, Ananias, was instructed to tell Paul (then Saul) that he would suffer many things for Jesus' sake.  Is your God big enough for you to accept and follow through with your purpose, your gifting, your calling when it involves suffering?  Is your God big enough for you to accept such a challenge, for you to go forward without hesitation, boldly, and confidently?

Is your God big enough that you never give up even when you have suffered greatly?  Can you imagine how big Paul's God was?  About midway his time of ministry, Paul reflected on the sufferings he has already endured for the Name of Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-29) -- 39 lashes from his own people on five different occasions ... beaten with rods three times ... stoned and left for dead once ... three times aboard a ship wrecked at sea ... and more?  Can you imagine this level of hardship and suffering?  When would you have stopped?   Would you have given up long before going through all of this suffering?  When is enough, enough?

Is your God big enough for you to keep on keeping on amid many trials and obstacles and sufferings?  Is your God as big to you as Paul's God was to him?  What has God called you to do?  What is your purpose in life?  How hard is your walk?  How difficult is your journey?

Paul believed and so he wrote words that encouraged him so that we may be encouraged -- "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

How Big Is Your God, part 2

On a recent Sunday afternoon, my sister, a couple of friends and I ate at a local restaurant. They left to go shopping in the mall area.  I left returning to church.  Driving on the interstate, pondering over things I had been asked to share during an upcoming meeting, I glanced over at the passenger seat.  Instantly I realized that only one item, my purse, was on the seat.  The second item, my Ipad, should have been there and wasn't.  My first thought was "Oh my God, I have left my Ipad at the restaurant, what do I do?"  I pulled off the interstate while both saying a prayer to God and reminding myself of two things.  The first, “there is nothing lost in Christ Jesus.”  And the second, “God has not given me a spirit of fear.”

I called my sister, explained what had happened, and asked her to go back to the restaurant to get my Ipad.  My next thought was, that's settled, I can go on to my church meeting.  Pulling back onto the interstate, I realized that I should also call the restaurant, and explain what happened. So I got off the interstate at the next exit, found the number and called the restaurant.  Explaining what had happened to the person answering the phone, she then placed me on hold while she checked.  The manager then came on the phone and placed me on hold a couple of times while he checked.  He finally reported to me that an Ipad had not been turned in and that the people at the table had not seen it. With a sense of finality, he took my name and number, promising to call should it be found.  I got back onto the interstate all the while telling God and reminding myself that “nothing is lost in Christ Jesus.”

My sister arrived and insisted on a recheck of the booth. Meanwhile, my friend called to tell me it wasn't found and that I should check to see if it were really in the car with me.  While talking to her, my sister called to let me know they had, per my direction, checked the wrong booth.  When they checked the one where we had actually been sitting, the Ipad was on the seat where I left it.  Seemingly, the people sitting there had not noticed it.   In just a few minutes, she called to let me know that she had it.  Praise the Lord!  Thank you Jesus!

When you are challenged by circumstances, how big is your God?

How Big Is Your God

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.   Ephesians 3:20-21

 

How big is your God?  Has God ever performed a miracle for you?  What's the biggest prayer request God has ever answered for you?  How often does God answer prayers for you?  How many prayers has God answered for you in the past three days?  Which of your lists is longer, your answered prayers list or your unanswered prayers list? How far away is God from you? How do you describe God to a young child?  How do you describe God to an unbeliever?  What do you want and have been afraid to ask God for it? What is your biggest dream?  What is your divine potential? What does God want from you while on this earth?  We were created to excel and not fail -- is that your truth? Is it the truth?  What have you last excelled in?  Are you being what God wants you to be?  Are you doing what God wants you to do?  Are you going the places God wants you to go? Yes. No. Why not? What or who do you need to be delivered from?

 What do you expect of your children?  For your children? Your grandchildren? Have you already prepared the best meal you can prepare?  Have you already run or walked the longest distance in the shortest time that you can run?  Have you done the most excellent work you can do?  Have you dreamed the biggest dream you can dream?  Have you learned all there is to learn about the work that you do?  Have you written all the poems, the books, the stories that God purposed for you to write?  Have you already been the most creative you can be?  Have you made the most sales you can make? Have you climbed your highest mountain? Have you accomplished your most impossible dream?  Have you already stretched as far as you can stretch? Have you already prayed your boldest prayer?

Remember that God has assured you that He is able to do for you immeasurably more … exceedingly abundantly above … superabundantly more than you could ever ask or imagine.  What are your limits with God?  Are you approaching them?  How big is your God? 

Have You Betrayed Jesus, part 2

Have you betrayed Jesus?  Your first thoughts might be in the form of questions. Who? Me? When? How? Your second round of thoughts might be like these.  I would never betray Jesus.  Well, I'm not perfect but I would not do something like betray Jesus.  And as you continue pondering the question, you might consider the meaning of betray or betrayal.  Betrayal is to be disloyal, act treacherously or deceitfully toward another, sell out, double cross, delude or mislead.

 Jesus has said that whatever you have done for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.  Conversely, He said that whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.  (See Matthew 25:40, 45.)  Though you have not betrayed Jesus Himself, what about His people?

 There are so many ways and occasions that we betray Jesus by our betrayal of others.  Did you file last year's tax return?  Did you lie on this year's return?  Do you pay your creditors ... on time ... as you agreed?  Have you borrowed money or things from family and friends, and never paid or given them back?  Are you paying back your student loan?  Have you left child care centers with unpaid balances?  In buffet lines, how much food do you get and not eat?  Have you left restaurants or cafeterias or other food places with extra napkins, serving utensils, ketchup, jelly, salt, pepper, sugar, etc.? Do you have unkept promises with your spouse ... children ... other family ... friends ... co-workers, employers ... employees? Have you spoken or acted unkindly toward another person?

 It really is the little foxes that spoil the vine.  Have you betrayed Jesus through your betrayal of others in what you consider little, seemingly inconsequential things and ways? Stop! Repent, turn away from those things and ways now.  Seek forgiveness.  Do unto others as you would have them do to you.  Please don't betray Jesus!

Have You Betrayed Jesus?

With great triumph, in full majesty, the victory of all victories, Jesus suffered, was crucified, buried, and then He got up.  We've celebrated another season of Easter, and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We've been reminded of the events leading up to the crucifixion beginning with the betrayal by one of His inner circle of 12 disciples, Judas Iscariot. And I had to think and consider if Judas' demons of greed and envy were any different from my own, or even yours.  Have I betrayed Jesus? Have you? When was my last betrayal? Why did I do it?  What about you?  You may even be thinking, what is betrayal?  Glad you asked.  Betrayal is to be disloyal, act treacherously or deceitfully toward another, sell out, double cross, delude or mislead.  What will it take for me to betray Jesus?  Is it 30 pieces of silver, as was the case with Judas?  Will I betray Jesus for more? Or even for less? Remember, if we betray one of the least of these, His people, we have betrayed Him.

Have I asked for forgiveness?  I wonder how things would have been different had Judas asked for forgiveness. Would Jesus have forgiven Judas' sins?  Could Judas have done things differently, so much so that he would not have taken his own life?

We've all been reminded of Jesus' prayer as He hung on that old rugged cross.  He said "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (See Luke 23:34.)  Who was Jesus praying for?  Was I included in that prayer? Were you? Yes, thank you Jesus.  All too often, we mindlessly do and say things that are so ungodly, so unbecoming a Christian, so unkind, so disobedient. We can and must ask for forgiveness.  Jesus has promised that He will forgive us in the same measure that we forgive others.  When you pray the Lord's prayer, be mindful of that condition -- "and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (see Matthew 6:12).