Live to Honor God

010 – Honoring God by Trusting God – TJ and Tim

Here is a discussion I had with TJ about how trusting God honors him. 

 

 Download file here.

Blessings

Tim

Blessed Be Your Name

Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman has been one of my favorite Christian songs ever since I first heard it.  Here is a video by Susan Yu (click here for her YouTube channel and here for her website-www.susanyu.us).  Susan does a great job with this song. 

I hope you enjoy it. 

Tim

livetohonorGod’s Zazzle Panel

Daily Confession

I would like to share something that has helped me quite a bit over the last 15 years. As I have matured and gained knowledge about how and why I do the things I do I came to realize that I do better with some structure—some boundaries or guidelines to help me stay on track. I don't mean rules and rituals that have to be followed but an outline to provide a little structure for my prayer time. If I don't have this I will easily get distracted and neglect my prayer, meditation, or even Bible reading and study. I also include some positive and encouraging statements that are based on Biblical truths.

Once you have decided on any routine it is easy to fall into a feeling of obligation and legalism. This was something I struggled with off and on over the years. As I said before, I need some routine and structure but it can come around and be a source of struggle if you begin to see it as a requirement for favor or salvation. I do believe, for me, that God wants me to have a routine since it helps me stay focused but I also know that my salvation is not based on whether I follow a routine or any other ritual. Jesus paid the price so I don't have to follow a legalistic path to righteousness. Being obedient to God does directly affect my intimacy with God. So, for me there is a balance…I try to follow the routine that God has shown me according to what he knows is best for me but I also realize the routine itself doesn't save me, it is merely a tool to help me grow in my walk with Jesus.

So, gradually, over the years, I learned the importance of confessing Bible passages, my personal mission statement, and positive statements according to God's purpose for my life.  I would like to share what I have done as an example and share how it has impacted my life. I have seen the evidence of the work of confession in bringing about change in my life, including a closer walk with God.  

I am not saying you should do any of the specific things I do. I share this as an example that works for me. I do believe a daily confession can change your spiritual walk for the better.  I am sharing what I do as a sample of what is possible, but, the possibilities are endless.  You need to do and say what seems right to you.  A couple of guidelines are:  Does it line up with the Word of God?  Does it fit with the desires God has put in my heart?

Here is the summary of my preferred routine throughout the day. I usually try to do things in order as listed here but I try to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and let Him lead me throughout the day's routine. Also, some days are filled with other activities that limit what I do. Rather than beat myself up over it if I am not able to do everything in my routine I do what I can.

I try to start the day with my daily confession and then spend some time in Bible reading and study. Part of my routine is to follow my plan to read the Bible in a year, so I try to read several chapters every day.

My daily confession has 3 basic parts:

1. My personal mission statement.

2. Putting on the Armor of God.

3. Reading Bible verses and statements that encourage and strengthen me.

My practice has usually been to read these out loud from a sheet that I keep in my Bible.

Personal Mission Statement – about 15 years God began giving me this personal mission statement through my prayer and Bible study and meditation. The phrase in quotation marks is the exact words that I believe God revealed to me for my mission statement.

1. "Remain devoted to God above all else" – a little obvious, but an important reminder since idolatry comes in many forms

2. "Attack Satan" – Spiritual warfare in whatever form God leads

3. "Preach and teach the Gospel" – share the message to individuals, groups, crowds whenever possible

4. "Heal the sick" – healing comes in many forms through counseling and therapy and miracles – they are all the work of the Holy Spirit

5. "Allow God's anointing" – let God do through me whatever he wants to do without me getting in the way

Putting on the Armor of God as found in Ephesians 6:10-20 (I read over the different parts of armor and since I am a visual person I imagine putting each on as I read.)

1.  I put on the Belt of Truth – the truths of God holds everything together and in place.

2. I put on the Breastplate of Righteousness—righteousness of God protects me from the fatal blow.

3. I prepare my feet with the readiness of the Gospel of Peace—always ready to do God's work and share the gospel.

4. I take up the Shield of Faith to protect me from the fiery darts of the enemy—my faith in God and who God is protects me from all the enemy can throw at me.

5. I wear the Helmet of Salvation—my knowledge of my salvation protects my mind from the enemy's attacks.

6. I carry the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God—the Word of God is our weapon for offense and defense.

7. I pray in the Spirit on all occasions—I need to stay in contact with my commanding office.

Bible verses and personal statements (some are quotes from Bible, some are paraphrases from Bible, some are my statements about me). I have used all of these, but not necessarily at the same time.

• I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead, I am saved.
• "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).  
• I am in Christ.  I am a NEW CREATURE!  Old things have passed away and all things have become new.
• I have new life--everlasting life!
• I have been delivered out of the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of My Lord, Jesus.  
• My name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
• I have power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over ALL THE POWER of the enemy: AND NOTHING SHALL BY ANY MEANS HURT ME (Luke 10:19)
• I have power over all demons to cast them out.  I can lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.  
• I am more than a conqueror through Jesus.  
• I can do all things through Jesus (Philippians 4:13.     
• "Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his BENEFITS--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's" (Psalm 103, first few verses).    
• My sins are forgiven.  
• I receive healing in Jesus' name.  
• My life is preserved and strong in God.  
• I am crowned with His mercy.
• I confess that I am not afraid.
• Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL.  
• I fear not, for YOU ARE WITH ME.  
• I am not dismayed, for you are my God.  
• You are helping me.  
• You are giving me strength.  
• You are upholding me with the right hand of your righteousness.
• For God hath not given me the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).  
• I have the power of the Holy Spirit working in me.  
• I have the spirit of love in me.  
• The blood of the Lamb is over me.  
• The Lord goes before me.  
• The angel of the Lord camps around me.  
• Underneath me are the everlasting arms of God.  
• Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life (Psalm 23).  
• FEAR HAS NO PLACE IN MY LIFE.
• I confess that this is a good day.
• I am filled with the love of God today.  
• I am filled with the joy of the Lord today.  
• I am filled with the peace of God today.  
• I am filled with the wisdom of God today.  
• I am filled with the Holy Spirit today.  
• I confess that today I will help someone find the grace and mercy of God.  
• I will rejoice today that heaven is my home.  
• I will rejoice today that all of my family are coming into the fold of the Lord.
• This is my confession.  I boldly say it aloud in the name of the Lord Jesus, and God my Father.  
• I thank you, Father, in Jesus' name that I have what I say.  
• The Lord's promises are true.
• My confession rises before you based on your word.  
• Jesus is the high priest of my confession.  He makes it good today.  
• God is working out HIS purpose in my life.  
• Every day He teaches me more and draws me closer to Him.  
• My love for the Lord grows daily and my desire to sin decreases each day.  
• Satan is defeated in my life.  
• Satan is defeated in my ministry.  
• Satan is defeated in my family.  
• Satan is defeated in my finances.  
• Satan is defeated in my thoughts.  
• Satan has no authority in any area of my life and he is bound by the power of the blood of Jesus, my Savior, and in the name of Jesus.
• My ministry is successful in all ways.  
• God has anointed me and is using me to preach, teach, heal, and lead in worship.  Praise the Lord.       
• I confess that the Bible is the Word of God.  I have what it says I have.  I am what it says I am.  I can do what it says I can do.  I am one of God's anointed servants.  I have been set apart for service.  God is using me for His purpose.
• God is in control of my family.  
• God is in control of my life.  
• God is in control of my ministry.  
• God is in control of my finances.  
• God is in control of my health.  
• God is in control of my strength.  
• God is in control of my future.  
• God is in control of my thoughts.  
• I trust God to take good care of me.

As you can see there is a lot here.  Even though it is a daily confession I have learned not to get bogged down in the legalism of "having to do this every day" but I do try to do it every day. On some days I especially need the power of this daily routine.  I encourage you to pick and choose what seems right to you.  

By the way, I challenge you to match each statement in the above confession with a Bible passage.  I have given you a few and many will be quite familiar to you but there are some that might be a challenge to you.  

Please don't get bogged down in legalistic observation of this daily confession.  

Don't forget confession is good for the soul.

Blessings

Tim

Your Love is Extravagant

 

Here is a great worship song.  This performance was found on YouTube by LizzieandMark.  They do a great job. I think you will enjoy it.  

Your Love Is Extravagant lyrics

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate
I feel like moving to the rhythm of Your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in our secret place
Your love is extravagant

Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again
Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate

 

It is so true.  God loves us so much it is truly amazing.  His love is extravagant.

Blessings

Tim

We are God's Workmanship – Ephesians 2:1-10

Let's continue working through the book of Ephesians. Today we are going to look at the first half of the second chapter.

 

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, {2} in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. {3} All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. {4} But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, {5} made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. {6} And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, {7} in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. {8} For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- {9} not by works, so that no one can boast. {10} For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV

 

In the first chapter we saw how important it is to see and recognize who we are in Jesus.  We also began to see the importance of spiritual warfare in our daily lives.  In the second chapter we continue to add to the total picture of who we are in Jesus but first Paul wants us to remember who we were before Jesus.  Don't forget to watch for more about spiritual warfare.

 

Before Jesus we were dead in our sins and transgressions.  That is why we need Jesus.  It's true that we were breathing and we existed in some form but spiritually, we were dead because of sin in our life.  This is not the condition of "bad" or "evil" people; this is the condition of all people.  Being dead in sin does not mean you have committed more sins than other people it means you are a sinner; the fact that you are alive is proof that you have sinned. It doesn't matter whether you have committed 1 sin or 1,000,000 sins. You are a sinner and being true to your nature as a sinner—you sin. Since we are speaking about the time in our lives before Jesus we had not been forgiven by God through Jesus so, we were dead in our sin.  Let's look a little closer at this.  The Greek word Paul uses in this passage is NEKROS, which means dead.  To get a little perspective about this word let's look at a couple of other verses that use this same word.

 

Deuteronomy 24:16 NIV "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin."

 

 Under the law each person is responsible for their own sins and the penalty is death.  In the world's court systems only the most severe crimes would warrant the death penalty.  But, we must remember that our "life" is much more than what the world considers life.  We have been created in the image of Almighty God who cannot die.  I believe this means that our spirits are eternal.  The death mentioned in this verse is really talking about separation from God.  The resurrection of Jesus takes away the power of death. If you have life in Jesus then death has no power in you or over you.  

 

Romans 8:1-2 NIV "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, {2} because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."  

 

This verse states the essence of the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

 

Jesus brings life where there once was death.  I know he did in my life and I am forever grateful.

 

In these verses in Ephesians Paul says something that many may disagree with, he says we used to follow the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air.  Many will say just because I do not believe in Jesus doesn't mean that I serve Satan.  According to the Bible they do serve Satan whether they realize it or not.  Without Jesus we live in sin and therefore glorify Satan.  There is no gray area there is black or white—living for Jesus or living for Satan.  Paul goes on to refer to Satan as the spirit at work in those who are disobedient.  Disobedience is the essence of the devil's life.  He rebelled from God and began disobedience.  Disobedience is very prevalent in our society.  Jesus wants obedience.  Actually, I think it is more accurate to say that Jesus expects obedience. By being disobedient we glorify Satan, the one who started disobedience.  

 

Have you spotted the spiritual warfare so far in this passage?  If I am for Jesus, if I am saved, then I am waging war against Satan and his forces at work around me. The problem is that some don't know or don't want to know about this warfare and as a result they are losing the battles in their spiritual life.

 

In verse 3, Paul says we should not judge anyone in this situation because we also lived like this before Jesus.  Thank God for His grace—for he looked beyond my faults and loved me.  Paul refers to "gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts."  This is a problem for us for at least two reasons: first, it is wrong since we should not follow anything or anyone but God, Second, it is wrong since we have a sinful nature and following those "natural" desires leads us to sin.  It takes effort to avoid sin. My natural instinct in most situations leads to sin. This is the reason Paul says in Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then, you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." The transformation and renewing of my thinking is necessary for me to follow God's will and do what God wants.

 

Paul's last statement in this 3rd verse is quite interesting: "Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath."  This wrath is the result of not following and believing in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  Some people like to think of God as only love.  God is love but there is a day of judgment that will come.  The message of Jesus included both parts: he preached about the incredible love of God, which is more wonderful than I could ever tell you, but he also preached of the coming judgment.  The wrath of God will be known on this world and by the people who, in disobedience, choose to reject God's grace and His Son.  

 

The good news is "...because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved" (verses 4-5).  Even though I deserve the death penalty because of my sinful nature and my many sins and failures God has chosen to give me life.  Isn't the grace of God amazing?

 

OK, are you ready for some more talk about spiritual warfare?  Verses 6 and 7 speak about warfare, watch closely though, it is subtle: "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."  We are seated in the heavenly realms with the ultimate spiritual warrior.  Nothing can defeat Jesus-he has already proven that.  So, you may be asking how this speaks about spiritual warfare.  I am sitting next to the one who can't be beat.  But, that is not all, he is encouraging me and helping me fight.  Just knowing he is right there with me is a big part of winning.  These verses continue to say that we are seated with Jesus so he might show the incomparable riches of His grace. That means so I can know and let everyone else know that I am on the winning side.  Also, it is like a general calling up a private and inviting him to come and learn from him and watch the victory from his side.  The private will learn much more about the strategy of warfare here than he would on the front lines.  In the "heavenly realms" with Jesus is where we learn the strategy that will lead us on to victory.  It is also where we get confidence for the fight as we dwell in the presence of Jesus, the Savior.  

 

The bottom line is spelled out nicely in verses 8 and 9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast."  Salvation and eternal life really has nothing to do with us.  It has everything to do with the incredible love of God and who we are in Jesus.   God has done all of the hard part and we receive His incredible love and grace.  Spiritual warfare is more than just work-it is learning how to receive the blessings of God in our lives.  

 

Finally, here is the culmination of what we have been talking about: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Verse 10)" We are God's workmanship-God has created us and is perfecting us according to His purpose for us.  We have been created to do the good things of God.  Not just anything but the things God has planned for us.  What could be better than that?  The idea of being God's workmanship brings up the image of God creating, crafting, molding, and chipping away whatever doesn't belong until I am exactly who I need to be to accomplish the task he has set aside for me.

 

Praise the Lord for his grace and love to save me and mold me into the servant and warrior he wants me to be.

 

May God's blessings be yours as you seek him today.

Tim

009 – Respecting Spiritual Authority – TJ and Tim

Here is a discussion I had with TJ about honoring God and respecting spiritual authority.

Download File 

Blessings

Tim