AN APPETITE FOR CHANGE

I haven't written in awhile, but today has been one of those days when the Lord has been speaking to me this whole day, and it helps me to put it in writing.

My heart has been burdened with the need for revival, so let me share with all of you what I have been learning. The word Revive means to bring back to life or consciousness, to restore, or to give new health, strength or spirit to.

Psalm 85:6 Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?

Revival begins with a hunger after God, a hunger for His righteousness, a hunger for His word, a hunger for prayer and His presence. Before we were saved we had an appetite or hunger for the things that would satisfy our bodies and souls. A hunger like Esau had for food to fill his empty belly a hunger he was willing to sell his birthright for. Then in the day of Jesus the rich young ruler, had a hunger for possessions he desired to fill his belly up with the riches of the world, then in the early church we see that Ananias and his wife Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit because they had a hunger for recognition, then we go on to see the sorcerer desired to buy the power of the Holy Spirit because he had a hunger for power. Our flesh is always saying "feed me" with things that satisfy our flesh. But our spirit is saying "feed me" with the things that satisfy my spirit.

As we dig deeper into God's word, as we go deeper in prayer and worship, our spirit man will begin to be filled with the things of God and not the things of self and we will find ourselves growing in the Lord. But the flesh is warring against our spirit because our flesh desires for its appetites to be fed, so we find ourselves surrendering more to the Father's will and resisting the appetites of the flesh. Unfortunately, too often Christians don't resist the appetites of the flesh and will fall into the trap of the enemy, his temptation to rely on the wrong source of food. Then we find ourselves in need of revival.

The Holy Spirit will begin to bring a strong hunger for the things of God, this hunger will cause us to press in and press through in prayer. Yet, along with this hunger will come an all out involvement in spiritual warfare and a burden for prayer.

Psalm 27:8 When You said, Seek My face. My heart said to You, Your face, LORD, I will seek.

The other day someone spoke this word "You have no need to speak to the mountain, because you are going to climb to the top". Many will immediately think of the scripture that says if we have the faith of a mustard seed we can say speak to the mountain and it will be moved into the sea. But that is not what this word is saying, because the Holy Spirit began to bring back scriptures and previous messages from my pastors. One of which was titled "The Climb" in this message it was about Caleb when they entered the promise land, he said "give me the mountain". In this message we were told that God was calling us to higher ground. In another message we were told how hard the climb would be and all the obstacles that would be in our way as we climbed but it would be worth the climb when we reached the top. Too many of us, get weary and give up, we think we will never be able to reach the top and we become to weary to battle the warfare that is attacking us.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

In order to answer the calling of God to move to higher ground, we must change our appetites, here lies the secret of revival. In order to be like Caleb we have to take the mountain by force, and when the lies of the enemy attacks our strength, our tenacity we just keep moving forward and upward one step at a time, because we are growing and maturing in the Lord and His kingdom, His righteousness will be what we hunger for and our fleshly appetites will become less and less.

Praise God!! If all who reads this begins to change their appetites, we will see revival break out everywhere within the body of Christ. Jesus said the world will know we are His disciples by our love for one another. Is the church showing the world love for each other, if we cannot love the brethren how can we love the lost? Change our appetite and hunger and thirst after His righteousness and allow the love of Jesus Christ within us to come through us as we love ALL.

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LESSONS FROM A CHILD

On January 4, 2015 I read of a plane crash in Kentucky with one survivor, a young girl of only 7 years of age. It is reading of this child's survival, that the Lord began to teach and review lessons I had learned over the past year. This is why I am writing this because this little girl was an example for every church and every Christian, she both encouraged me and she inspired me. So here is her story and my lessons.

Her father's private plane left Florida to head back home to Indiana, on board was her father, her mother, her 10 year old sister, and her 14 year old cousin. Then tragedy struck the plane went down in a wooded secluded area in Kentucky. The young girl was clothed only in shorts and t-shirt, was barefoot when she climbed out of an upside down plane to find her whole family had died from the crash. Many 7 year olds would have caved in and later died of exposure to the cold Kentucky air. Yet, not this one, suffering with broken bones and cuts and bruises, she made a make shift torch from the fire to the planes wing, as set out in the cold and dark to find a house with a light on, and find the help she needed. When I read her story, I saw such a determination in this child, that she did not let grief stop her, she did not let pain stop her, she did not let cold stop her, she did not let the darkness stop her, nor did she let the unknown stop her. She walked barefoot through a rough wooded terrine did not know where she was nor did she know where she was going, one thing she knew she had the hope of finding a light on, she walked 3/4 of a mile emerged from the woods to find a light on at a house. So what did this teach us?

This little girl had more determination to continue steadfast, moving forward than most Christians do today. Her goal was to find help, and she would not allow herself to be moved by what was happening around her, she pressed forward to find the light which would be her help. It is said that if she had walked in any other direction she would have walked farther to find a house. I do not know why tragedy struck this family, but I do know this God said "This child will not die today" and Jesus led her in the right direction to find help. That leads me to the next lesson she taught me:

I truly believe that God's grace alone spared her life and I believe He has great plans for this little girl, I believe He led her all the way through the woods in the direction she needed to go to find help. I also believe that God is a miracle working God and could have picked her up and placed her at the door of the house, yet He didn't. He was with her yet she still had to walk the path, and though she walked it suffering, He never left her. As Christians sometimes we think that just because we are walking the path God has placed us on, the path should be free of suffering, and yet, it isn't. Lesson for me is this: Just because I am in the will of God does not mean I am free of storms and life events that will bring suffering my way. That brings me to the next lesson this child taught me:

When her father taught her survival training, he never said to himself, "On January 3,2015 we are going to be in a plane crash and die, and she will have to know how to survive." Yet, the reality is that is actually what he prepared her for. Every test we take as a Christian God has already prepared us to take, His tests are not to bring us harm, they are to help us to walk and grow closer to Jesus, His desire is for us to pass the test. So embrace the test it is for our good. Next lesson for the body of Christ to learn:

The scriptures tell us we are the light set on a hill, that when the light of Christ is in us, His light will draw men to Him. The little girl was looking for a light because it was dark, can you imagine her sigh of relief when she came through the woods and saw a light at the house in front of her. She followed the light to the door where she knocked and help waited on the other side. Church we are to be the light that when the hurt, the lost, the desperate, the forgotten see us they know they have found a safe haven. The church is about healing, fellowship, loving, restoring one another and lifting up our Savior Jesus Christ, through worship of Him and Him alone.

What I learned and wrote above was not anything new, I have been learning these things for more than a year, but what she did for me was set an example that says "Remain steadfast, keep moving forward, hold on to the hope of the gospel." She encouraged me with her determination and caused me to examine my heart and my life. I hope this too will encourage all who read it.

Colossians 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.     

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION

Ever had a storm come up very suddenly and you find yourself unprepared for the storm? Yes, me too!! You know those times when it is pouring down rain and you just remembered you left your umbrella in the car! There are storms that arise because of our own misguided actions, then there are the storms that the enemy will bring into our lives; when we did not expect it. Yet, through all of these storms a testing of our faith will occur.

Battling storms will require us to remain steadfast, planted on a firm foundation, or as an old fisherman's quote "Better make sure you batten down the hatches." Storms are never pleasant, and often bring us feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and despair. There have been times when I really felt like I would drown if Jesus did not reach down and pull me to safety. At times when I felt this way the enemy would be shouting into my ear "Give up, Nothing will change, You don't matter to anyone, Lay down and die!" Even typing these words fills me with pain, remembering the times when Satan spoke these words into my mind, then I for a brief moment believed his lies and wept desiring death rather than the storm.

Looking at the word: Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus had just finished feeding 5,000 and as He sent the people away He told His disciples to get in the boat and go to the other side. Then He went up on the mountain to be by Himself and pray, here He looks out and sees the boat in the middle of the sea.

Matthew 14:24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

Matthew 14:31-33 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him (Peter), and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly, You are the Son of God."

Our Christian life is a walk of faith, yet, when we find ourselves in the storms of life, we often find ourselves doubting where God is. Faith will grow, as we are stretched beyond where we were to the next level, and in that stretch will come a test that will at times appear like storms.

Remember Abraham, God had promised him a son, a son that would be born in his old age to him and his wife Sarah. We know that after Issac was born time past and God instructed Abraham to take his son, his promised son and offer him as a sacrifice. We can read that Genesis 22:1-18, we know that this is a picture of the time when God, Himself, will give His Son Jesus Christ as our sacrifice, in fact the ram caught in the bush is a picture of Jesus as our sacrifice, our substitute. But lets look at the following scriptures:

Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Issac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of who it was said; "In Issac your seed shall be called." concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

You see from the time Abraham was 75 years of age until his extremely old age, God was preparing him for this test. Our walk with Jesus through each valley, to the top of the mountain has been to prepare us for the testing of our faith, no matter how it may come. Each time God reveals a deeper revelation to us and we begin to walk in that deeper revelation a test will come. Yet God never wants us to fail, He always prepares us for what is coming, and He sustains us in the middle of it. The incarnation of Jesus Christ was the fourth man in the furnace with the three Hebrew men in Daniel chapter 3. When they came out they did not even have the stench of smoke on their clothing.

I am writing this because too often I have felt like a failure, even when I saw the test coming I viewed it as a storm and reacted to the drama verses responding in peace and faith. I am sure we can all agree we have been there more times than we would like to remember. But God will not allow us to be failures, we have been built to outlast the storm, and to pass the test. And as I have learned, we get the privilege of taking the test over and over until we pass it.

Just a reminder seeking an on-line bible study that you can work on from home? Check out www.lindgroberts.com. This takes you to the front page and on the left are different studies, the one we are working on now is "Are You Willing?" and we are looking at Abraham.

JESUS IS OUR HEALER, THAT HAS NOT CHANGED

When I think about miracles and why the church of today is not experiencing a great movement of miracles of healing and deliverance; I remember what the word of God tells us.

1. God is still God He does not change

2. Jesus is still Jesus He does not change

3. Holy Spirit is still His Holy Spirit He does not change.

So I have to ask what has changed? The answer is simple, the Church, the Bride of Christ we have changed.

No longer do most of the modern day churches preach and teach on the miracles of Christ Jesus given to the church by His Holy Spirit. People have begun to see this as a thing of the past and not part of the present. The enemy has deceived the church and lulled us into sleep. Even now people are being healed of cancer, heart disease, and many more as the church prays for them. Yet, within the walls of the church people are being prayed over and leave the same as they walked in. So let us see why:

In Matthew 13:53-58 we are told that Jesus went into His own town among His own people and He was unable to do many mighty works. What in the world could stop the Son of God from healing, delivering and casting out demons. Look at verse 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Unbelief not only in individuals but with the church can stop the mighty works of God. In this case a whole town except for a few were unable to be touched by Jesus because of the unbelief within the people.

Mark 5:35-43 Here we have an account of Jairus and his daughter. While Jairus was getting Jesus to bring Him to his home word came that his daughter had died. In verse 36 Jesus spoke these words to Jairus "Do not be afraid only believe." When they reached the home in verse 40 listen to what was said "And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and whose who were with Him, (Peter, James and John) and He entered where the child was lying." In the next verse we see He took her by the hand spoke to her and she awoke from the dead. What we see here is that before Jesus spoke life back into this child He removed unbelief from the house.

Go with me to Acts 9:36-41 A lady of faith by the name of Dorcas had died, she had ministered as a seamstress to the widows and was loved by all. Peter comes and look what he does in verse 40 "But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up" Notice once again those who may have been of unbelief were put out of the room. then Peter prayed and she rose from the dead.

Continue with me to Acts 19: 11-12 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the disease left them and the evil spirits went out of them  Can we go a little farther?

Acts 5:15-16 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits and they were all healed.

 

Remember it is the anointing in the lives of Paul and Peter that brought the healing, not by their name or by their power, but by the name and the power of Jesus Christ.

 

2 Kings 13:21 So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders, and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha (a prophet of God) and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 we are given a list of the Gifts of the Spirit, these are gifts that are only given to the believer at the moving of the Holy Spirit. Among these gifts is one by the name of "Healing".

No one person has the power to heal, that is given only unto Jesus our Lord and Savior. So how can someone have the gift of healing? It is the anointing of the Holy Spirit in and on that person. The anointing was so strong on Elisha that even after his death as soon as a dead man touched him life was restored. Sure there are many who fake healing, many who lift up their own name and declare themselves to be a healer, but they will receive their reward. Let us always understand that no healing can come unless the power of Jesus Christ touches the one in need of healing. Yet, unbelief will hinder what God desires to do in someone's life. Let our unbelief never be a stumbling block for someone else.

 I believe that hurting hearts need healing more than anything. If the physical ailment is healed and the heart remains damaged, then the healing is not complete. Jesus desires to touch our hearts and heal our hurt, whether it is someone that has hurt us or the church has hurt us, until we deal with the hurt and forgive the offender then we will be always carrying that hurt into the next relationship and into the next church. It is baggage that needs to laid at the foot of the cross.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Just some thoughts I have been pondering lately. Looking for a bible study check out www.lindagroberts.com

Be blessed.

WHAT WILL THEY REMEMBER ABOUT US

We all desire to leave a legacy behind, something that our family and our friends will remember about us when we are gone. Yet, what will they remember? I look at my own children and wonder will they remember how much I love them, how much I love Jesus, or will they remember all of my mistakes, the times when I lost my temper, or taught them the wrong things? I look at my sister and see how for years now, her memory has been slipping away to Alzheimer disease, and so desperately I try to look beyond this a see who she used to be. I remember laughing, trips, sharing the word of God with one another, in fact she is the very one who lead me to Jesus Christ, for that one thing is enough to always be grateful. She has always supported me and loved me and yes corrected me.

These things have been on my mind as I have been reflecting on the lesson for the children in the morning. It is found in Acts 9:36-43 it is the account of a lady, much loved and appreciated, by the name of Dorcas who found herself sick and died. Look at her legacy:

Acts 9:36b,39-41 This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 39. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, Tabitha, arise, And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

God had placed in Dorcas' life the ability to sew, then He gifted her to be a server one who would use her God given skills and ability to bless others. These people whom she had cared for the widows, loved and respected her, they were grieving that she was no longer with them. Then God heard their cries, He heard Peter's prayer, and He responded and He raised Dorcas from death. What a legacy she had left for others to see, and now see how God received the glory and reading on in verse 42 many believed and were saved when they heard how God raised Dorcas up from the dead,

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them

 

 

I remember Queen Esther and how her legacy was to save the nation of Israel. So many more mentioned over and over again in the scriptures whose legacy continues even today. 

 

 

Esther 4:14b and 16b Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? 16b and if I perish, I perish!

 

 

The words spoken to her about her purpose in the kingdom and her response back to it, is the step of faith that saved a nation.

We are all created to be what Jesus has called us to be, we all have been given abilities, gifts and callings on our lives that we may do the good works that He has prepared for us. So what Legacy are we leaving for the next generation to see in us?

Perhaps, as humans we focus too much on we think people should be doing, what we think people should be like, look like and act like, instead we need to be focusing on who Jesus has said they are, what He says they need to be doing!!

For my sister, her legacy to me is very personal, she shared her faith and I received salvation, I choose to remember her love for Jesus, for her family, for our mother and for me.

But what my own family sees in me, I pray they see Jesus Christ living in me and through me. My legacy for the next generation is still in the process. So I pray that I will be who Jesus has called me to be and that I will share my faith with others. Desiring to please God the Father more than myself, using the abilities, gifts and callings He has placed on my life to glorify Him and to help others.

Just some thoughts this morning.

SATAN YOU CAN'T HAVE MY VICTORY

Approximately two years ago during a study on the fear of God by Francis Chan, God revealed to me that I had an unhealthy fear of Him when I was a child. God only revealed this much to me at that time and I immediately stored it somewhere in my subconscious. Then last Wednesday July16,2014 after listening to a message on "balance", God took me back to that unhealthy fear, so let me take you back with me.

I was not raised in church and my earliest memories of church came at the age of 8, these memories were shadowed by the fact that my father was dying and when I was 9 my father died. It was here at this moment fear of God came on me, it was such a fear of Him and the power He had over life and death (let me say right here, no one ever talked to me about death, about what happens when someone dies) this power that God has was what I perceived in me. So after the funeral, I announced to my mother "I will not go back to church again". Unfortunately she also chose not to go back to church. When I was 12 my cousin invited me to a revival at her church, so I said I would go. At the close of the service they asked that if anyone would like to share some testimony to come on up. So being the shy 12 year old that I was, I got in line to speak. When I reached the pulpit here is what I said "I hate God, He killed my daddy and I am afraid He is going to kill me" Wonder how that went over? It would be 15 more years before I would meet God's grace and embrace His love that was extended to me through the cross. It was here that balance would come, the unhealthy fear that had tormented me for 18 years and had pushed me away from God, now became a healthy fear that pulled me to Him. Again God was only revealing a little at a time. Because He was preparing me for Sunday's message.

Sunday morning July 20,2014 our message continued on Victory and how God will take us back to our greatest defeat to move us forward from it. As I sat there listening, my life past before my eyes, I saw what I had written above, and I went on to see that when I was 38 and my marriage was falling apart just like the child of 9 I declared from my mouth "I hate God, I will not go back to church, God has forsaken me". As I sat there I realized that God was taking me back to show me the moment of my first defeat at 9, and how even after I was saved, active in church and bible study, that defeat was repeated when my world fell apart again. It would be 12 more years before I would find myself in the arms of a forgiving Father. As I sat there and listened to the message, I heard the voice of God speak into my spirit "I have taken you back to your defeat to show you, that will not happen to you again, because now your faith is as strong as a mountain." Well, praise God lesson learned. But God was not finished yet.

Monday July 21,2014

Reading in 1John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world---our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

and then to Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him (the accuser mentioned in verse 10) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

It seems that through out my life Satan has attempted to destroy me by destroying my faith. I remember when I came back to Jesus I prayed "Lord, let my life be a testimony that will bring You glory" and then I wondered why so much has happened that would shake my faith. God has shown me, that I have sought Him throughout these last 16 years more than any other time in my life. Because I have sought after Him, though my faith has been tested, though my faith has been shaken, though I have wept, shouted and wanted to give up. My faith in my Lord, my God has remained and has grown. Victory is mine because I have overcome the wicked one, by the blood of the Lamb and by my testimony. I know that I will continue to be tested and tempted and have moments of a shaking of my faith, but when God spoke to me Sunday morning His promise; then I knew that my faith has been settled and though everything around me fall and crumble my faith will remain because the one who gave me His promise is faithful to keep His promise.

I have pursued and I have waited to hear the voice of my God speak to me that I now have the victory I had so longed for.  Never again will I turn away from pursuing my Lord. Just so you know 3 days after I wrote this and spoke this, I received a phone call that took away more of my income ( a storm to test my faith). Ha! Satan you can't have my VICTORY!!!

If you are in search of an on-line bible study check out www.lindagroberts.com a lot of different studies on the website, look to the left and choose one you may like, the current one is The Thread of Hope.

JUST STOP AND WAIT

For the past few days, I have felt like I was standing still, not going anywhere. It sometimes would be called a "dry place" a place where I don't know what God desires for me to do next, a place where Jesus has said "wait", just "rest" here awhile. I have been on quiet a journey; a journey of mountain tops, and low valleys, a journey that has made me laugh with the joy of the Lord and a place that has made me weep in despair. Lets just say that waiting and resting are not easy for me. Yet, as I have been writing this and reading His word, there is no doubt that is exactly what He wants me to do. We all need to have the times of waiting and resting to prepare us for the next phase of our journey. Hear the word I read this morning:

To set the stage this is the passage of the experience of the "Transfiguration on the Mount" found in Luke 9:28-36 I am only going to write a portion of this.

Luke 9:33-36 Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah---not knowing what he was saying. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying This is My beloved Son, Hear Him! When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

Peter knew he needed to do something with what he saw and heard, and on his own he decided building three tabernacles to honor them would be a good thing to do. How often do we decide what is the best thing that needs to be done to give God the glory, and yet it is not what God wants us to be doing. Oh it may not be a bad thing, yet the purpose that God has for us is not being fulfilled when we on our own decide how we are to bring Him glory. immediately after Peter said this the Glory of God appeared in the Cloud and God the Father said "Hear Him!" You see everything that Jesus did was only as God the Father revealed it to Him.

John 6:19-20 Then Jesus answered and said to them, Most assuredly, I say to you the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

Many times Jesus had to withdraw and be by Himself, just He and God, a place to rest, a place to be in the presence of His Father. Yet, we or maybe just me, seem to think we do not need this place of rest, and we do. When God spoke "Hear Him" it also spoke to me, it is saying do not move, do not attempt to fulfill a purpose I haven't given you. Wait on the instructions that Jesus is to give me, before I move one more step.

Sometimes, God says it is time to stop doing something He had previously instructed us to do, times when He begins to prune some things from our life so that we can grow more. Then at times He will say keep doing what you are doing, be diligent to continue with the last thing I have given you to do. Consider Noah he was diligent to complete the task he had been given for 120 years.

For me personally, I believe I am in the place where my Lord is saying: "Sit here awhile, don't run ahead of Me, what I have for you to do is far better than what you can accomplish without Me." So I will sit, and wait, and listen and I will be prepared for when He speaks "I Move".

Hope my daily walk with God helps someone in their daily walk.

Be blessed and may God be glorified in all you do.