If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is... God speaking to you!

When the disciples spotted Jesus in the distance walking toward them atop a stormy sea they screamed out in terror. It was like the worst horror movie and they were in it! Before they were able to jump overboard Jesus called out, "Don't be afraid, it's Me!" (Matthew 14:27) Their hearts went from panic to praise. They must have pointed at one another saying, "He got you, didn't He!"

So many Christians have great difficulty hearing from God. "I just don't seem to be able to hear God at all.", "How do you know it is God speaking?" Entire church groups are convinced God no longer has anything else to say than what is already written in the Bible. Yet, the hunger and desire to hear God has given birth to astrology, horoscopes and the occult. The devil will gladly accommodate the vacuum that occurs when God's voice is not being heard.

It is often the person that is under a lot of  pressure who has the greatest difficulty hearing God speak. Too many Christians are trying to hear God with their natural mind. This is not possible. "The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God...because they are spiritually discerned."(1Corinthians 2:14) It's a bit like trying to find an AM radio station on the FM band; You can scan all you like, but it simply isn't there. 

Often, when least effort is made, the Spirit of God will drop something into our mind. This is why it is not uncommon to hear God in our 'waking moments', just before you are fully awake. What's the key? You cannot 'try' to hear God, just as you cannot 'try' to walk on water. 

Everything God has for you is received by faith. Often God wants to say things to me that I have difficulty believing. It is simply much better than I had expected. Consequently, I dismiss it. "...neither has it entered into the heart of a man the things God has prepared for those that love Him" (1Corinthians 2:9)

Here are 3 simple keys to hearing God speak:

First of all, you must believe it is His Will for you to hear His voice. As long as you are in doubt about that, you will continue to scan the FM radio-band! You need to find out what God has to say about your privilege in hearing His voice, not from someone's opinion, but from the Scriptures. There are so many promises He has made about that.

Second, you must rest from trying to hear anything and turn off the noise that is inside your head. Your mind is a wonderful thing, but when it comes to hearing from God it can get in the way. Often I will know the course of action God wants me to take, but my mind is still catching up on the details!

Finally, thank the Lord, in between moments of silence. These last 2 points really work together, even though I am mentioning them in point form. Speaking words of thanksgiving in a whisper, sets the tone for your spirit to hear God speak. 

At some point you will experience receiving thoughts, insights and impressions of the Holy Spirit. The experience will move your expectation to a point where hearing from God will become as real as speaking to Him!

Stay Encouraged!

Discouragement fills the environment you live in. People at times promise much, but do not deliver. Heartache, tragedy, trauma and anxiety easily turn into depression. The world you live in is a far cry from the place where God dwells; in never ending peace and everlasting joy.
So what do you do? Do you cope with life and keep your expectation at a minimum to stop from being let down?

Undoubtedly, the greatest weapon against discouragement is overlooked by most believers. When I say MOST, we're talking about 99 percent of Christians!
Out of all the Gifts that you receive from God, the most important gift that will keep you encouraged is the Gift of Tongues - also called 'Praying in the Spirit'.
Traditional ideas about the gift of Tongues somehow being 'outdated' cannot change the reality that this biblical gift operates in the lives of multiplied millions of believers today.

The gift of tongues is often labeled as being 'the least' of the nine gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1Corinthians 12. This is only true when we are in a meeting with others. Obviously, tongues without being interpreted will not benefit anyone who hears it. When a gift is used incorrectly, it won't fulfil the purpose for which it is given in the first place.
If you use your car to take it for a swim in the ocean, you won't enjoy the benefits for which it is designed. In the same way, tongues are given for personal benefit; and how great that benefit is!

The late Oral Roberts recounts the time when God spoke to him about what would later become the ORU Campus in Tulsa, OK. He remembers standing on this large vacant property with zero dollars in the bank. It all looked so impossible. The Holy Spirit whispered in his heart. "Pray in tongues." With some reservation, he began to speak in that heavenly language. Then... something happened. Oral began to see building after building as he looked around the vacant property he stood on. Every single building he saw  while praying in the Spirit, is reality today. It came out of his spirit-man, as he prayed in the Spirit.

For personal encouragement, maintaining passion and having a joyful spirit, there is no gift so great as praying in the Spirit. The apostle Paul said he spoke in tongues more than any Corinthian. He knew the value in his personal life of the gift of tongues. Less people would burn out, quit the ministry and settle for a mediocre vision for their lives if they regularly and for extended periods pray in the Spirit.

What about Hell?


You may have heard the saying, "The methods may change, but the message stays the same." Unfortunately, in modern day Christianity, the message - not just the methods - is being altered.

Not all that long ago, the use of the word 'hell' was replaced by expressions such as; 'A Christless Eternity', 'Eternal Separation' or simply 'Missing Heaven'. After all, no one wants to be a 'hellfire and brimstone' fanatic.
More recently, there is a growing trend promoting the possibility that God is simply too loving to allow anyone to go to hell, or at least not forever. Many plead ignorance when asked if someone will end up in hell if they don't believe in Jesus.

The Bible has one great theme: It is the story of Jesus. Take Jesus out of the Bible and humanity is hopelessly lost forever. Eternity is all about absolutes. There is nothing 'temporary' or 'momentary' about eternity.

In 1912, the Titanic set sail to cross the Atlantic. Not only was this ship labeled 'The Unsinkable Ship', the Captain had been commissioned to set a new transatlantic record for its maiden voyage. Almost 100 years later most people have heard something about the tragedy of the 1500 passengers that drowned in icy-cold waters, just hours after the ship hit an iceberg. No one died because they were evil or the worst of sinners. No, they died because they had boarded the Titanic and failed to be rescued. If a rescue boat had been sent in time, ALL could have been saved, providing they had stepped off the Titanic and stepped on to the rescue boat.

What the Bible teaches about Salvation is that every person born into the world, will die a sinner and face judgement and eternal punishment in hell, unless they receive Salvation through Jesus Christ.
We can't vote on it. God doesn't ask us if we like it. And the notion that there is an additional 'escape hatch' would indicate that God isn't really telling the truth in the Bible.
1Corinthians 15:22 says; "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall be made alive." (emphasis is mine)
By birth a person is doomed, yet by the miracle of the re-birth a person is forever saved.

Questioning God as to WHY He allowed sin, and WHY He doesn't make hell go away, are the wrong questions that will not be answered. God has given all the answers as to HOW a person can be rescued from going to hell. He wants every person to be saved from eternal punishment, and has offered all of that and more in His Son Jesus Christ.

This is my Bible

“This is my Bible!” Every Sunday Joel Osteen, the Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, TX  begins his message with the familiar introduction as he holds up his bible:  “Repeat after me; This is my bible. I believe I am what it says I am, I believe  I have what it says I have. I believe I can do what it says I can do...” History tell us that the Bible is the single most loved and hated book ever  published. Written by 40 different authors from the most diverse of  backgrounds; from kings and peasants, to commoners and the most highly  educated, from those who lived in palaces and those held in prison cells,  to the very poorest and the richest man to ever walk the planet. Much effort was made in the first few centuries when the Bible was first  published to exterminate it. Satan tried the best he could, but failed. Today  the Bible is the number one bestseller with an estimated 6 billion copies  printed since its first release. Published in nearly 2000 languages, with an  additional 2000 that have portions of the Bible printed in their own language.  Of one thing you can be sure; God wanted you to have a bible in your  language. Never underestimate the price that was paid by many people,  just so you could have your own copy of the Word of God. Although the Bible has become readily available few believers actually  read it regularly. An estimated 90 percent of born-again believers have  never even read through the entire Bible. One time, while ministering to  a group of young people, I asked them to turn to the Book of Hezekiah.  The majority started to page through their Bible trying to find it... Not knowing what’s in the Word of God limits you from experiencing the  very things God has made available to you. The enemy will be able to  deceive you more easily and you are likely to give up when times get tough.  The way you get the best out of your bible starts with realizing it is not to be  read like any other book. Read it as if God Himself is there talking to you.  He sees to it that every one of His promises when believed, will become  your experience. Here are some keys that will help you get the most out of reading God’s Word.  Reading the Bible is visiting with the Father. It is a private meeting where you  and God come together for a one-on-one meeting.  Let’s look at the acronym F-A-T-H-E-R It is a great way to keep in memory how reading the Bible can be a transforming  occasion. Find — Find a place that is quiet, where you won’t get distracted Ask — Ask God to open His Word to you; “ Give me eyes to see & ears to hear.” Thank — Whenever you find a promise, thank Him for that promise  Help — Whenever you read a command ask for God’s help to keep it Expect — Whatever you don’t understand, expect the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you Revisit — Return to that passage sometime later to see how the Word has  changed you As so many before you, start to make your bible-reading a daily appointment with  your heavenly Father. I promise you, it will change your life for good!

"Don't drink that seawater!"

Salary.com has revealed in their most recent 2011 survey that only 15% of employees are satisfied in their job, 65% are looking for another job and those who are least satisfied are under the age of 30. These figures were published in spite of the fact that in times of economic downturn you'd expect people would be grateful to actually have a job! 

Do you live in your ideal home? Is the car you drive the one you'd always wanted? Are you married to the person of your dreams? Do you truly love the work you do? Do you like your body shape? Do you enjoy Mondays? Are you considering delaying your retirement, because you are enjoying the life you live? Do you go on holidays just so you get some rest from doing too much of what you love? If you are able to answer all of these questions with a resounding 'YES!' you are not only an unusually rare individual, but you also should be a person most envied, according to the standards set for true happiness.

The reality is that the satisfaction people crave is not found in our surroundings. Even the manufacturers know this. That is why the new model vehicle that is on display in the showroom today will be superseded by a better model next year. The same people that are sleeping overnight outside an Apple store to secure the latest model iPhone, will soon want to replace the handset they had to have. 

Jesus said: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Matt. 5:6)

What does that mean? Simply put, if you make your relationship with Jesus your number one priority, all other areas of life will be enjoyed. Instead of looking for the latest, you will enjoy what you have longer. Instead of longing for the weekend, you will find pleasure in the job God has given you.

I heard the story of some men who had survived a shipwreck. They were floating in a life boat in the middle of the ocean. After a few days they ran out of water. They all looked with great longing at the water in the ocean. There was so much of it, if only they could drink it. One of the men kept reminding the others. "Don't drink that seawater!" After only a day, one by one, they gave in to their thirst. Only two days later the survivors were rescued. All of the men who drank water from the ocean had died... from thirst. 

The Bible says: "Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts at you. This world as you see it is on its way out". (1Corinthians 7:21 The Message) Of course we can enjoy nice things, even new things. Yet, the things that are here are only temporary and can never satisfy the spirit of a man, who like his Creator, is eternal.

Help! I'm being tempted!

Recently I read an entry on Facebook stating that every month 1500 pastors quit the ministry because of 'Moral Failure'. Comments made on this post varied: "Wow! At this rate there won't be any pastors left in ministry.", "They obviously weren't called", "It's because they didn't fast and pray enough", "We are in the last days, and the devil is tempting pastors like never before."

 The internet has enabled us to retrieve information like never before. As a Facebook user, I have contact with family and friends around the globe and can use my iPhone to study the Word, capture new inspiration, download free podcasts and of late, download 'kindle' books at a fraction of the cost you'd expect to pay at the Christian bookshop.
 On the flip side, I am bombarded with invitations to 'flirt', make lots of money with a single mouse-click or simply get lost browsing till the early hours of the morning. I realise my exposure to these things makes me a target for the enemy. His temptations are sent to entice my flesh and invade my life with things that will immobilise me and land me on the 'scrap heap' of moral failure. 1Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you, except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it." The Bible also says that Jesus is our High Priest who sympathises with our weaknesses, being tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15).

 So how do you deal with the onslaught of the enemy? Many years ago I heard an old minister make the analogy of the devil being like the old market merchant who comes to town to buy a young bull or cow. The merchant walks around the animal that's for sale to inspect it. He occasionally pokes the animal to see if he can find any weak areas. It's a good analogy. 1Peter 5:8 warns us; "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." It is good to recognise that you will not defeat the enemy at his game by trying to resist him with sheer willpower.
 Some years ago a minister was revealed to have lived a 'double life'; it had been discovered by the media. In an interview he was asked why he hid his lifestyle until it was too late. His answer was sincere: "I thought if I prayed earnestly just once more, or fasted another week, perhaps I would be able to beat this thing." Any person caught in the 'web' of sin will not get out by trying harder, not even by praying more. Why is this so?

 The basis for Victory for you and me is the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Every blessing and breakthrough in your life as a believer is a direct result of believing what Jesus did for you when He took your place on the cross.
 For instance, the Bible says: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new." (2Corinthians 5:17). My experience may be that there are still habits in my life that don't appear to be 'New' at all. I may still say and do things that really have very little to do with what the Bible terms as 'a new creation'. At that point I don't fast and pray to see if I can make some more 'new creation' manifest.
 The same is true in being tempted. Hopefully, after a person has yielded to temptation, there follows a moment of remorse. You feel guilty and sorry. There is shame and, no doubt, the enemy comes along to condemn. After all, he got you into that mess to start with!
 Well, after the tears and confessing of sins we receive forgiveness and promise the Lord to NEVER do that again, and we mean it. In just about every case though, believers will reoffend. Then follows the same routine of confession and remorse, but this time with a little less zeal in the promise to not do it again. Of course, nowadays we have entire religions that specialise in the practice of the confession of sins 'till we meet again next time'.

 The confusion that many believers face is that they tend to believe what the Bible says as long as it is part of their experience. When our experience does not line up with what the Bible says we either look for a reason to see if maybe 'it's no longer for today' or we admire the promise of God, but feel that God has some hidden reason not to give to us what is clearly promised.

 Let's go back to the internet. In the situation that I see the temptation in front of my eyes I have a number of options.
 1. I can look over my shoulder. "Is anyone around to see what I am about to do?" Next time you feel tempted with this option, remind yourself also to look up... Someone is definitely watching.
 2. I can try and fight the urge, even pray. "Oh Lord, I am tempted. Help me!" Many a person has gone down in battle, not able to resist.
 3. This is the option that will work for you, because it brings into force the power of the Cross. The moment that the thought to give in to temptation presents itself, you begin to declare out of your mouth who Jesus has made you. "Thank God, I'm a new creation. This thing has no power over me. Thank you Jesus! All uncleanness was dealt with at the cross. I know it is so. I am free!" Does that sound too simple to be true?

 Victory is based on my position, not my effort to be a good person.
 My position is IN CHRIST. I don't have to fight with the devil. I don't have to slog it out till I finally 'beat the thing'. All I have to do is with my mouth affirm that Jesus has delivered me from satan's ability to overpower me. It is the difference between ' my good works' and 'His Finished Work' . I choose the latter every time. It is God's will that you triumph in every temptation, every time. Anything less than that is deception of the enemy.