"You will keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on You,
because he trusts in You."
Isaiah 26:3
__________________________________________________________
Dear Saints,
Perfect peace! That is something we all desire to live in every day.
The mind is affected with what is in our heart.
Let's look at the things that affect our inward man so that we can keep our mind focused on the LORD and His ways.
“…of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.” Hebrews 5:11
Becoming Dull of Hearing
What does this mean?
It means the Believer is going deaf!
It is the inability to receive revealed knowledge from the Kingdom of God.
It means the heart of a Believer is becoming hard or callous to the Word of God.
This reduces the ability to hear/understand revelation knowledge and sets a course of becoming like-minded to the world and partaking of its ways, which is evil. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” See 1 John 2:15-17.
It means the ability of the inward man to see, to hear, and to understand spiritual things is narrowing and drying up. It is like seeing a once vibrant flowing river become nothing more than a trickle of water flowing over a few small rocks.
Why?
Let’s study why this happens so we can avoid "loss of hearing."
THE SOWER SOWS THE WORD: Mark Chapter Four
“To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables…”
Those on the outside do not have a heart that is fully seeking the LORD with the desire to obey. They are “observers.”
Thorny Ground…A Thorny Heart
“Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who
hear the word,
and the cares of this world,
the deceitfulness of riches,
and the desires for other things
entering in choke the word,
and it becomes unfruitful.”
Fruitful Ground…A Fruitful Heart
“But these are the ones sown on good ground,
those who hear the word,
accept it,
and bear fruit:
some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
WHEN FRUITFUL GROUND BEGINS TO HARDEN
A farmer knows the importance of preparing the soil, planting the seed, watering, fertilizing and protecting it. One of the deadliest things that can happen to a farm is a drought.
Definition of Drought: period of dry weather; lack of rain: scarcity, lack, shortage, deficiency, want, need, insufficiency
The heart of every Believer is where the Holy Spirit dwells. It is the good place of the Kingdom of God. See Luke 17:21.
The subject of the Parable of the Sower is the Word of God (seed) which remains ineffective (dormant) until it is planted (received) in the heart, the spirit of man.
This is what the challenge is all about.
The Kingdom of God cannot come forth without the Word of God!
Those Believers who will not allow the Seed to be removed from them, under any circumstances, are called good ground. Those are the only ones who produce fruit.
But just because a Believer produced much fruit twenty years ago, doesn’t mean he doesn’t have to guard his heart anymore. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.” Hebrews 5:12
Water
The heart needs to be continually fed and washed with God’s Word, “… that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27
Fruitful and fertile ground can begin to harden if not watered. Over time it will become so solid and firm that nothing will grow in it. Absolutely nothing!
For a Christian, that scenario will bring disastrous results. How does this happen?
Well, it doesn’t happen overnight. There is a strategic process that is taking place to separate the Believer from the Word of God which they did not correct.
There can be different reasons for this. If you have noticed your heart hardening, go to the Medicine Cabinet for help. You may also want to set a day aside to fast and seek the Word.
2015: OVERCOMING IN THE END DAYS
Let’s look at four strategies the enemy uses to try and separate us from The Word of God.
The World
“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”
1 John 5:19
Those of you who have learned about the Blood Moons in 2014 and 2015 know very well that God is showing His signs in the heavens to get man’s attention. Over the last two years, our world has changed significantly and will continue to change because we are getting close to the beginning of the tribulation period. We can certainly see the “sway of the wicked one” advancing around us.
The LORD’S prayer, recorded in John 17, tells us we are not of this world, just as He is not of this world. We can be assured that wherever we go, He is with us to protect us and keep us, even to the end of the age.
And He has a glorious plan for the End Days Church!
Choices
But, just as it was for Adam and Eve in the garden, we do have our part to play, for there are always choices before us…now more than ever. From the time we get up in the morning, the sway of the world will be pulling for our attention.
Sometimes even trying to study the word can be a challenge because of interruptions. If we are aware of them, we can decide ahead of time not to allow them to divert us from our time with the LORD.
Distractions, Restlessness, Multitasking
Distract/Distraction: to draw away, divert, perplex, disturb, worry, confuse, disorder; diversion, amusement, entertainment
Restlessness: always in motion, never at rest, unsettled, nervous, agitated, jittery, fretful, anxious, excitable, impatient, worried
Multitask: to perform two or more tasks simultaneously. This is not a problem for necessary daily tasks. But it is if you’re trying to study God’s Word and find yourself trying to do other things intermittently.
Focus
Definition of Focus: the concentration of attention or energy on something
Antonyms: unfocused, adrift, scatterbrained, aimless, disorganized; to disperse, separate, divide, neglect
Synonyms: direction, guidance, counsel, instruction, focal point, centered
The Holy Spirit—Our Helper
Jesus said He would give us help. His Spirit is always guiding us…but if we do not choose to listen to Him, our hearts will harden to the point where we can’t hear Him.
Then how can we do the greater works?
Read John 14:12-21 often.
TIME
I believe time is being shortened or compressed the closer we get to the coming of the LORD. Someone said, “That’s just because you’re getting older.”
Recently I was talking with my nine-year old friend as we were shopping. He said he was surprised at how fast this past year had gone. “It seems like the year just started. Then there was summer, and now we’re coming into the Christmas season.”
“Do you think that time is moving faster?”
“Yes.”
This in itself may produce pressure, trying to get things done. That’s all the more reason to seek first the Kingdom of God every day. Matthew 6:33. Many around us are in fear and turmoil, but we have been given His Spirit and knowledge that they do not have.
“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Read Matthew 24:12-14.
The world will know us by our love.
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
TURNING FROM GOD: One heart at a time…
Turning from God begins in the heart and can spread through a nation. Since I was a child many things in our country have changed. It’s sad to watch a nation turn from the good ways of God.
We see a deterioration of God’s laws and ways in our communities and in our nation. Have you noticed how the word “Christmas” is being removed and how rare it is to see a nativity scene decoration in your neighborhood? But all of this is nothing new for Him.
THE OLD COVENANT
"This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers and the decision is a command of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men." Daniel 4:17
Many, many times the children of Israel turned away from their Beloved and His Covenant to worship other gods. He then would bring discipline to the nation. How? He brought correction by allowing wicked men/nations to rule over them.
Only an awakening to God can save our nation.
Prayer paves the way for revival.
This is why the heart of the intercessor must be full of God’s Word and be protected from the world. Our ministry comes forth from our spirit.
Where’s your heart?
“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
Revelation 2:4-5
Where’s your faith?
“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:8
Closing Comments
Let’s take a heart exam:
What have you been seeking after this past week?
What place has the study of God’s Word/prayer taken in your life…first or last place?
When you hear The Word preached, do you think, “Oh, I’ve heard that a million times?”
Are you fervent to do what The Word says? Are you able to hear?
Do you think God’s laws are not relevant for today’s society?
Who are you in close fellowship with?
Have you let your church attendance slip?
Are you endeavoring to walk in faith, hope, and love?
Are you so busy with church ministry/activities that you don’t have time to spend with the LORD?
Are you watching things you shouldn’t?
Are you drinking alcohol to get free of pressure?
Are you worried about your safety?
Suggested Assignment:
The Hebrew scribes taught that the study of God’s Word quieted the mind.
I have found that writing the scriptures down in my journal can force the mind to slow down and focus. And we also know that God’s Word is alive with nourishment!
Psalm 119—Twenty-two Days of Renewing the Mind
I would like to challenge you and ask you to join me in reading and writing one section of this Psalm each day, i.e., .... Day One: write verses 1 through 8, the following day: verses 9-16, and so on. Look for a particular verse that Holy Spirit will illuminate each day that you can meditate on.
PRAYER WITH PURPOSE:
LIVING IN PERFECT PEACE!
Praying for the people in our states:
The Glorious Church The Lost Elected Leaders
If you do not know about the Blood Moons you may want to hear a short 32 minute teaching from Mark Blitz when he taught at Eagle Mountain Church:
http://www.emic.org/service/signs-of-the-last-days/
Copyright © 2013 – 2015 Prayer with Purpose; prayerwithpurpose.org
Perfect peace! That is something we all desire to live in every day.
The mind is affected with what is in our heart.
Let's look at the things that affect our inward man so that we can keep our mind focused on the LORD and His ways.
“…of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.” Hebrews 5:11
Becoming Dull of Hearing
What does this mean?
It means the Believer is going deaf!
It is the inability to receive revealed knowledge from the Kingdom of God.
It means the heart of a Believer is becoming hard or callous to the Word of God.
This reduces the ability to hear/understand revelation knowledge and sets a course of becoming like-minded to the world and partaking of its ways, which is evil. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” See 1 John 2:15-17.
It means the ability of the inward man to see, to hear, and to understand spiritual things is narrowing and drying up. It is like seeing a once vibrant flowing river become nothing more than a trickle of water flowing over a few small rocks.
Why?
Let’s study why this happens so we can avoid "loss of hearing."
THE SOWER SOWS THE WORD: Mark Chapter Four
“To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables…”
Those on the outside do not have a heart that is fully seeking the LORD with the desire to obey. They are “observers.”
Thorny Ground…A Thorny Heart
“Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who
hear the word,
and the cares of this world,
the deceitfulness of riches,
and the desires for other things
entering in choke the word,
and it becomes unfruitful.”
Fruitful Ground…A Fruitful Heart
“But these are the ones sown on good ground,
those who hear the word,
accept it,
and bear fruit:
some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
WHEN FRUITFUL GROUND BEGINS TO HARDEN
A farmer knows the importance of preparing the soil, planting the seed, watering, fertilizing and protecting it. One of the deadliest things that can happen to a farm is a drought.
Definition of Drought: period of dry weather; lack of rain: scarcity, lack, shortage, deficiency, want, need, insufficiency
The heart of every Believer is where the Holy Spirit dwells. It is the good place of the Kingdom of God. See Luke 17:21.
The subject of the Parable of the Sower is the Word of God (seed) which remains ineffective (dormant) until it is planted (received) in the heart, the spirit of man.
This is what the challenge is all about.
The Kingdom of God cannot come forth without the Word of God!
Those Believers who will not allow the Seed to be removed from them, under any circumstances, are called good ground. Those are the only ones who produce fruit.
But just because a Believer produced much fruit twenty years ago, doesn’t mean he doesn’t have to guard his heart anymore. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.” Hebrews 5:12
Water
The heart needs to be continually fed and washed with God’s Word, “… that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27
Fruitful and fertile ground can begin to harden if not watered. Over time it will become so solid and firm that nothing will grow in it. Absolutely nothing!
For a Christian, that scenario will bring disastrous results. How does this happen?
Well, it doesn’t happen overnight. There is a strategic process that is taking place to separate the Believer from the Word of God which they did not correct.
There can be different reasons for this. If you have noticed your heart hardening, go to the Medicine Cabinet for help. You may also want to set a day aside to fast and seek the Word.
2015: OVERCOMING IN THE END DAYS
Let’s look at four strategies the enemy uses to try and separate us from The Word of God.
The World
“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”
1 John 5:19
Those of you who have learned about the Blood Moons in 2014 and 2015 know very well that God is showing His signs in the heavens to get man’s attention. Over the last two years, our world has changed significantly and will continue to change because we are getting close to the beginning of the tribulation period. We can certainly see the “sway of the wicked one” advancing around us.
The LORD’S prayer, recorded in John 17, tells us we are not of this world, just as He is not of this world. We can be assured that wherever we go, He is with us to protect us and keep us, even to the end of the age.
And He has a glorious plan for the End Days Church!
Choices
But, just as it was for Adam and Eve in the garden, we do have our part to play, for there are always choices before us…now more than ever. From the time we get up in the morning, the sway of the world will be pulling for our attention.
Sometimes even trying to study the word can be a challenge because of interruptions. If we are aware of them, we can decide ahead of time not to allow them to divert us from our time with the LORD.
Distractions, Restlessness, Multitasking
Distract/Distraction: to draw away, divert, perplex, disturb, worry, confuse, disorder; diversion, amusement, entertainment
Restlessness: always in motion, never at rest, unsettled, nervous, agitated, jittery, fretful, anxious, excitable, impatient, worried
Multitask: to perform two or more tasks simultaneously. This is not a problem for necessary daily tasks. But it is if you’re trying to study God’s Word and find yourself trying to do other things intermittently.
Focus
Definition of Focus: the concentration of attention or energy on something
Antonyms: unfocused, adrift, scatterbrained, aimless, disorganized; to disperse, separate, divide, neglect
Synonyms: direction, guidance, counsel, instruction, focal point, centered
The Holy Spirit—Our Helper
Jesus said He would give us help. His Spirit is always guiding us…but if we do not choose to listen to Him, our hearts will harden to the point where we can’t hear Him.
Then how can we do the greater works?
Read John 14:12-21 often.
TIME
I believe time is being shortened or compressed the closer we get to the coming of the LORD. Someone said, “That’s just because you’re getting older.”
Recently I was talking with my nine-year old friend as we were shopping. He said he was surprised at how fast this past year had gone. “It seems like the year just started. Then there was summer, and now we’re coming into the Christmas season.”
“Do you think that time is moving faster?”
“Yes.”
This in itself may produce pressure, trying to get things done. That’s all the more reason to seek first the Kingdom of God every day. Matthew 6:33. Many around us are in fear and turmoil, but we have been given His Spirit and knowledge that they do not have.
“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Read Matthew 24:12-14.
The world will know us by our love.
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
TURNING FROM GOD: One heart at a time…
Turning from God begins in the heart and can spread through a nation. Since I was a child many things in our country have changed. It’s sad to watch a nation turn from the good ways of God.
We see a deterioration of God’s laws and ways in our communities and in our nation. Have you noticed how the word “Christmas” is being removed and how rare it is to see a nativity scene decoration in your neighborhood? But all of this is nothing new for Him.
THE OLD COVENANT
"This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers and the decision is a command of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men." Daniel 4:17
Many, many times the children of Israel turned away from their Beloved and His Covenant to worship other gods. He then would bring discipline to the nation. How? He brought correction by allowing wicked men/nations to rule over them.
Only an awakening to God can save our nation.
Prayer paves the way for revival.
This is why the heart of the intercessor must be full of God’s Word and be protected from the world. Our ministry comes forth from our spirit.
Where’s your heart?
“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
Revelation 2:4-5
Where’s your faith?
“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:8
Closing Comments
Let’s take a heart exam:
What have you been seeking after this past week?
What place has the study of God’s Word/prayer taken in your life…first or last place?
When you hear The Word preached, do you think, “Oh, I’ve heard that a million times?”
Are you fervent to do what The Word says? Are you able to hear?
Do you think God’s laws are not relevant for today’s society?
Who are you in close fellowship with?
Have you let your church attendance slip?
Are you endeavoring to walk in faith, hope, and love?
Are you so busy with church ministry/activities that you don’t have time to spend with the LORD?
Are you watching things you shouldn’t?
Are you drinking alcohol to get free of pressure?
Are you worried about your safety?
Suggested Assignment:
The Hebrew scribes taught that the study of God’s Word quieted the mind.
I have found that writing the scriptures down in my journal can force the mind to slow down and focus. And we also know that God’s Word is alive with nourishment!
Psalm 119—Twenty-two Days of Renewing the Mind
I would like to challenge you and ask you to join me in reading and writing one section of this Psalm each day, i.e., .... Day One: write verses 1 through 8, the following day: verses 9-16, and so on. Look for a particular verse that Holy Spirit will illuminate each day that you can meditate on.
PRAYER WITH PURPOSE:
LIVING IN PERFECT PEACE!
Praying for the people in our states:
The Glorious Church The Lost Elected Leaders
If you do not know about the Blood Moons you may want to hear a short 32 minute teaching from Mark Blitz when he taught at Eagle Mountain Church:
http://www.emic.org/service/signs-of-the-last-days/
Copyright © 2013 – 2015 Prayer with Purpose; prayerwithpurpose.org