joseph4inspiration

(Ezekiel 20:32)

When you are separated by God you need to learn how to separate your will from the things of this world.

So often we hope in God to fulfill our OWN plans - plans we had since before we got saved - plans that do not include glorifying God.

The children of Israel wanted to be like the surrounding nations who worshipped idols and did not recognize the God of Israel as the One true God. Those nations lived according to the plans of their own hearts, and not according to the commandments of God. Their sinful ways were so appealing to the children of Israel that they wanted to live the same way. But God made it clear to them that the thoughts they were thinking were not gonna happen!

This is something we, too, need to accept and remember as we walk with God. Although our plans may not be to worship idols and/or sacrifice children to false gods, any plans we have that blesses us but does not acknowledge God will not be plans that God brings to pass. Any plans we have to be like the world (plans that definitely do not glorify God) will not be plans God brings to pass.

(Judges 8:33)

After hearing the cries of His people, God raised up Gideon to deliver the children of Israel from their oppressors, the Midianites. But it wasn't long after the death of Gideon that the children of Israel turned away from serving God and back to worshipping idols.

The children of Israel were never able to maintain faithfulness to God because they kept taking their eyes off of Him, and onto what pleased their flesh. The pleasures of the flesh lasted for a while, until they found themselves right back under the control of their enemies, crying out to God for help.

(Romans 2: 28-29)

When the gift of the Holy Spirit fell upon the apostles they were led to preach the gospel not only to the Jews, but to the Gentiles as well. But there were Jews who didn't agree with this and questioned the apostles. For the Jews there was a clear distinction between Jew and Gentiles - all traits of the outward man. But God looks at the heart, and in Paul's letter to the Romans he wanted to make that fact clear to the people - that it was no longer about customs, but about a personal relationship with God. It was no longer about separation, but about coming together as one to make-up the body of Christ.

(Matthew 24: 14)

We living in a time where the Spirit of God is being quenched by His servants who are more concerned with advancing their own agenda rather than the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I personally see nothing wrong with prosperity and increase. God said Himself that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). He is our ONLY supplier and can do more for us than we can even think.

But the Gospel was never meant to come as a cost nor was it meant to be reserved for a certain group.

Today, revivals have been replaced by conferences, humility has been replaced by self-importance, and a person's love for Christ is no longer determined by how much you obey Him, but by how much stuff they have.

Are we looking at people who are walking in the power of God or just appear to be?

Fame and fortune will not be the witness to the end time church, but the mighty acts of the Holy Spirit as God calls into place those people whom He chose since before He created the world.

(Hebrews 11:8)

We all know the story surrounding this verse. It was Abraham's faith and obedience in God's plan that eventually made him a great nation.

But what about those times when God tells us to wait by faith?

Whether we're waiting or traveling, in God's eye's we are still on a journey and in our wait He expects us to live by faith and live in obedience, just like Abraham.

(2 Corinthians 1: 20)

This scripture is a reminder that we need to actively pursue the promises of God because they are real and true.

God's promises are part of His divine plan for our lives. Not only does He have a divine plan for our lives, He also is the author of our hope in that plan. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Since God is the author of our hope, we can be totally confident that our hope for His promises are not in vain - God said they are "Yes"! When God says yes, it doesn't matter who else says no; that yes is a part of creation which means it already in our destiny.

You may be waiting for a promise from God to manifest in your life. Things may look stacked against you or you may be facing a lot of opposition. But none of that matters because God already said yes and no one can change that!

(Romans 13: 11)

I'm sure there are many of us who are believing God to do something great in our lives and He has confirmed that truth to us one way or another. But yet, many of us are facing great storms (inwardly and/or outwardly) that tries there best to topple us over.

For some, the desire to walk away has never been so great, others are just barely hanging on by faith and for others it's a struggle just to even pray.

It's during these hard times that our will clashes with God's will as we struggle to do His will and remain humble so we can receive the blessings He has promised us. But God isn't just preparing you for a blessing, He's also preparing you for heaven.

As you are reading this post God is actively preparing you to be heaven ready; the storms you are in are meant to pull out all the fleshly ways that are standing between your and eternity.

God is working in the midst of your storm to bless you and prepare you - He's always doing more in our lives at once than we could ever imagine.

Christ is preparing His bride (something He can only do) and the things He sees in us are being pulled out of us. The process hurts at times! It pushes us to our limits, but still, He is making us ready for Him, and that's awesome to know.

The Lord knows that the hour is approaching when He will meet us in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).