Father, how do you see the Church at New Bern today? What do you say to them?
I see their heart. I see their sorrow. I see their joy. I see their faithfulness and focus. I see their trepidation and reservation. I see their desire for authenticity and depth. I see their longing for a powerful display of my goodness. I see a thirst for the undeniable satisfaction that my Spirit brings. I see a fixation on my holy presence in their midst. Theirs is a pure expectation of my character to bring transformation and a shift in culture. I delight in them.
Thank you, Father. What do you want to say to them?
Keep coming. Keep asking. Keep knocking. Keep seeking. Keep looking. Keep waiting. Keep longing. Keep being thirsty. Keep being hungry. Keep expecting in hope. Keep the course. Keep the instructions given. I really am with you. I really am for you. I really do have good gifts for you. I really will be faithful. I really will finish the work that I started in you.
Amen. Thank you, Lord. I receive that. Please anoint me to communicate your heart. I love you.
Here are these promises in scripture. Before we look at our personal promises, let’s have these rock solid.
1. I really am with you.
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””
MATTHEW 28:18-20
“But the LORD is with me like a dread champion; Therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be utterly ashamed, because they have failed, With an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten.”
JEREMIAH 20:11
2. I really am for you.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”
ROMANS 8:31
“The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?”
PSALMS 118:6
3. I really do have good gifts for you.
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?””
LUKE 11:13
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”
ROMANS 8:32
4. I really will be faithful.
“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”
2 THESSALONIANS 3:3
“For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.”
PSALMS 100:5
5. I really will finish the work that I started in you.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
PHILIPPIANS 1:6
“for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
ROMANS 11:29
How can we get these rock solid? How can we stand firm on them and be rooted and grounded in love?
One way is through what I call covenantal prayer.
~not complaining
~honoring justice
-justice is vengance on the devil
-when people leave, justice is not them failing
~reminding of promises
~it’s really aligning your mind with the promises
If you don’t fully believe these promises, let’s do inventory with the Holy Spirit.
~where are your eyes looking?
to people
to the Lord
to yourself
~Keep your eyes on Jesus
~What emotions are rising up?
FLAG
~what is the undercurrent of your thought life?
take a 24 hour inventory of every thought you have for yourself
encouragement is the language of the Holy Spirit
if you are beating yourself down, another voice is speaking to you.
~Any inner vows? I never...They always...
these are a prison
don’t trap yourself
~Any bitterness against a person?
forgiveness is a trust fall into the name of Jesus
start with the basics - are they a person? What gifts do they have? Honor and bless what the Lord sees
-we could be holding something against the Lord, and not giving ourself permission to forgive Him, because He’s perfect
~Any trauma that you are rehearsing over and over
-some of this is cutting free
-some of this is ministering healing
-some of this is deliverance
~Any stress indications in your body?
we are body, soul, spirit
sozo means made whole, not rejecting the physical
~Any careless words?
we are responsible for any careless word we speak
Let our yes be yes and our no be no
~Any life-giving activities that you are avoiding?
what gives life to you is not an indulgence
creativity is the normal mindset of heaven
exercise not to lose weight, but to honor your body
read not to get smarter but to honor your mind
worship not to be more spiritual, but to honor the Lord
community is not just for you to feel better, but to overflow into others’ lives
~Any instructions from the Lord that you are excusing yourself from?
-fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
-are you looking at yourself, others or the Lord?
~Any areas in your life that you are not leaning on Holy Spirit?
-Jesus emptied Himself and relied on the Spirit
-if it is all on us, the Lord will not be glorified
If all your promises are yes and amen, Lord, then may this be solidly placed in our heart, no matter what else seems to rise up in contradiction. In you, Jesus, we are in a strong tower.