#justbeobedientalready

A word for the Day.

May God release blessings towards the hearers, readers, and doers of God's Word. There will be times in our lives when things and people will not go or treat us a certain way. In those moments of temptation, we tend to react with our feelings in a fleshly matter instead of with a heart of forgiveness and mercy. For mercy and truth attract proper justice.

Only God can deliver the proper and perfect outcome to justify any situation. Until then talk to God and the saints that God has ordained to be in your life and wait on His hand to move your mountain or remove your obstacles. Either way, Jesus will give you grace and strength to endure by the presence and power of the Holy Ghost.

May God's Word reign in your hearts and minds forever! As always, #LetsGoTeamJesus

Courtesy of E.E.C. Ministries

by Pastor G Craige Lewis of ExMinistries

[James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.]

We must increase our resistance. The larger  the church, the larger the devil’s assignment! We must not allow petty things to distract us and take us out. The enemy is walking about seeking the weakest link to snatch away from the fellowship, as well as others. You always know when a person is getting ready to be used by the enemy because they will start sowing discord and variance to attach others to themselves before they leave. Spiritual fortitude is essential to withstand the enemy, as the church increases in size. 

 [Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;]

We must increase our maturity level.  As a church grows, the management of it may lose touch with the individual things that it once could manage. We must be able to make it without personal contact from the pastor and leadership. The messages are clear and accessible for us all to glean direction from. Personal problems may never get a meeting with the pastor because of the church size and demand. But if we increase our maturity level, we will be able to function by paying attention to what is being preached and praying for God to address our concerns in the messages provided.

by Pastor G Craige Lewis of ExMinistries

[John 15:12 - This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.]

We must increase our love for one another. As the fellowship grows, our love and tolerance for others should increase as well.  Though we do not tolerate sin or sinful behaviors, we must tolerate and embrace our personal differences and identities.  The larger a church grows, the more differences will manifest. 

[Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.]

We must increase our faith.  The larger we grow, the more faith we must have that God is still in control of everything. Our faith keeps us believing that His hand is on our fellowship and He will continue to lead us no matter what size we become. God is in control, by faith.

Trees 7a by Pastor G Craige Lewis of ExMinistries

• A tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast away. Being a fruitless branch is an insult to God because He gave His Son so that we could bear good fruit. [Luke 3:9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.]

• The fruit that we bear should reflect the Word of God in every way. We should all strive to have what God’s Word says we should have. [James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.]

• When we are a good tree, we will have good fruit. Whatever is inside of us will be in our fruit. This is why we must be sure to make the tree good so the fruit can be good. [Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.]

Leave Him Alone by G. Craige Lewis

1 Peter 5:8 - ‘Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great
 enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to
 devour.’ NLT Are you tired of the devil attacking you? Are you tired of him messing with your money, your joy, your home, your family, etc? Are you tired of being oppressed, depressed, and repressed by him? Well then, LEAVE HIM ALONE! So many of us complain about how terrible things are going in our lives and how things seem to never get better, but then we make decisions that are demonic in nature and afterwards, complain about how the devil is attacking us. We must face the reality of it all sooner or later. When you mess with the devil, he will mess with you! I have people tell me all the time that it seems like their life is torn apart and they can never see the light of day. They seem to pray constantly about things, seek God about things, and read the bible everyday, but it doesn’t ever seem to work for them. “Why is this?” they ask. Well, when you look carefully and closely, you will almost always find a doorway that the devil has in their lives and he keeps walking in and out anytime he pleases. There is usually an addiction (drugs, alcohol, porn, sex, etc.) or there is a sinful person/relationship, or there is an emotional problem/issue that they are battling.

These things, if they are not dealt with, will always be the open door for the devil to have access to your life and everything that you have. You see, if he can get into your stuff, he will always mess it up. So, no matter how far you go, he will always have a way to stop you and bring you back to the starting point. You will never progress with the devil entering in and out of these doorways.

Deal with the problem and the issues in your life, close the door, and then you will grow in Christ and move forward. Get out of the sinful relationship. Stop going out and hanging with people that are tearing you down. Get away from that negative speaking person. Let go of that godless person/place/thing! End that addiction! Stop abusing that substance! If you are tired of the devil messing with you, then leave him alone! Suggested Reading: 1Pet. 5:7, James 4:7, 1Cor. 10:13

7: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10: But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11: To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:7-11 KJV http://bible.com/1/1pe.5.7-11.KJV

5: Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6: But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8: Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:5-8 KJV http://bible.com/1/jas.4.5-8.KJV

12: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 14: Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:12-14 KJV http://bible.com/1/1co.10.12-14.KJV

The Inward Power by G. Craige Lewis Ephesians 3:20 - ‘Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,’

The Word of God tells us that the anointing is not an outward manifestation of power, but it’s an inward working of power that teaches us, leads us and guides us in all truth.1John 2:27

So, this power that works in us is to make us into what we are to be in Christ. But now, let’s see how this power works to get us to the place where we should be. Many times, we as believers give the devil too much credit. We talk about how he is doing this or that and how powerful he is. But we miss the real power sometimes focusing on the false power. The real power is the power of the resurrection of Christ Jesus! And the Word says that power is operating in us! You see, the power of the anointing in the Old Testament was the power to bless someone through an outward act of pouring oil upon a priest or king.

This anointing was to symbolize the consecration and sanctification for God to use this person for his glory. And his spirit would use them to do great and powerful things. Like Moses, David, Samson, and others, the power of God would take their efforts and use them for greatness. That was good and all, but then Jesus came and was resurrected from the dead. This changed a lot!

Now the Spirit of God can dwell within us. But that’s not just so we can get to heaven when we die. But it’s so God’s Kingdom can be here now! The truth of the matter is, since you are now anointed from within and the power of Jesus resurrection is now operating within you, you have the power of God! You have the power to speak things into existence, you have the power to heal, deliver, and set free, you have the power to cast out devils and raise the dead. You have his power! So, the Spirit of God doesn’t have to come upon you and work from the outside in, but now his Spirit can dwell within you and operate from the inside out!

That changes everything. That brings a relationship into the picture. Now you can commune with God through his Spirit that is within you. Now you can become what he wants of you because of the Spirit that is within you. Now you can “abide” in him and He in you, because the anointing of God dwells within you, leading and guiding you into all truth! And what does the truth do? The Word says it makes you free! For example, if you are anointed of God to preach the Gospel, then you are lead by God, to preach the Gospel!

And the word says that as many that are “lead” by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. And if you are a son of God, then you have and are entitled to the inheritance of God. I could go on and on, but I hope you are getting this picture. The anointing of God is not an emotion, feeling, or outward work. It’s all on the inside! But as it’s working in us, leading us, teaching us, and guiding us, we are becoming what he wants of us.

Suggested Reading: Phil. 3:10, Rom. 8:14, 1John 3:2, 1John 2:27

13: For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15: For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Romans 8:13-16 KJV http://bible.com/1/rom.8.13-16.KJV

10: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11: If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12: Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:10-12 KJV http://bible.com/1/php.3.10-12.KJV

2: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3: And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4: Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5: And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 1 John 3:2-5 KJV http://bible.com/1/1jn.3.2-5.KJV

27: But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 28: And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29: If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. 1 John 2:27-29 KJV http://bible.com/1/1jn.2.27-29.KJV