Category: Greatness

Ingredients of Effective Kingdom Ministry

7/7/2019

Adding even one ingredient can make a huge different for food.
For example, add zucchini to get moist brownies. Add fresh apples for sweet coleslaw. Add avocado for rich pudding. If you add each of the ingredients from God’s way instead of the world’s way (Luke 9), you have the recipe for effective kingdom ministry.

Listen to Jesus as He describes eight ingredients of kingdom ministry
in Luke 9:

1. Trust God’s power and authority
Jesus sent the twelve to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing with power and authority over demons and diseases. He told them to take nothing, find housing, and leave if not received as a testimony against them. They went among the villages preaching the gospel and healing everywhere (Luke 9:1-6). Trust God’s power and authority to proclaim His kingdom and perform healing.

2. Surrender available resources
Jesus told the twelve to feed the multitude with five loaves and two fish for 5,000 men. Jesus instructed them to recline in groups of 50 each. He blessed, broke, and gave the disciples bread to set before the multitude. They had 12 baskets left over (Luke 9:7-17). Surrender available resources and trust God to provide what’s lacking.

3. Deny self and take up cross
While praying alone, Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?" Peter said, "The Christ of God." He said the Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected by religious authorities, killed and raised up on the third day. Jesus said to deny self, take up cross daily, and follow Him. He who saves his life loses it, but whoever loses his life for Christ will save it. It’s unprofitable to gain the world and lose your soul (Luke 9:18-27).
Deny self, take up cross, and follow Him to save my life.

4. Listen to God
He took Peter, John and James to pray with Him on the mountain. The three saw His glory with Moses and Elijah standing with Him. A voice said, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" (Luke 9:28-36).
Listen to God as most important priority.

5. Marvel at God’s greatness
The disciples couldn’t cast out a demon. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy. They were amazed at the greatness of God. Despite receiving great praise for His works, Jesus said the Son of Man would be betrayed by men (Luke 9:37-45). Marvel at God’s greatness, even when betrayed by men.

6. Serve the least
After the disciples argued who would be the greatest,Jesus said they must receive Him like a child since the least is the greatest (Luke 9:46-48). Serve the least and disenfranchised.

7. Partner with other believers
Don't hinder anyone casting out demons in Christ's name since he who’s not against you is for you. When the Samaritans didn’t receive Him, Christ said the "Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them" (Luke 9:49-56). Partner with others in the body of Christ for healing.

8. Follow God completely
He told His followers the Son of Man had no home. Let the dead bury their own dead, but proclaim fully and everywhere the kingdom of God. Saying good-bye to your family and not putting your hand to the plow proves unfitness for kingdom of God (Luke 9:57-62). Follow God completely and separate from any hindrances.

Action Steps: Which of the eight ingredients of kingdom ministry will you put into practice this coming week?

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Develop Closer Relationships Between Fathers and Children (Insights in Prophets)

4/28/2013

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To release God's healing for closer heart relationships between fathers and children, surrender your heart to teach whole Bible so you create desire for instruction, unified marriage, purified people, hate oppression, give financially to God's kingdom and expect God to write a scroll of remembrance.

Surrender Your Heart to Show God's Greatness
Malachi told Israel that God showed love by loving Jacob and hating Esau. He turned his mountains into a wasteland called The Wicked Land. God continually demolished it to prove His greatness to Israel. They did not honor and respect God like a son to His father. The priests despised His name by sacrificing crippled or diseased animals on the altar they would not offer to their governor. God was displeased and found these useless fires unacceptable. They shamed and cheated Him by sacrificing blemished animals instead of offering acceptable males they vowed to give. Israel was to show nations that God was to be feared as a great king (Mal. 1:1-14). Surrender your heart to show God's greatness to unbelievers.

Teach Whole Bible to Create Desire for Instruction
If priests did not set their heart to listen or honor God, He sent a curse and cut off their descendants. He made a covenant of life and peace with Levi so they could reverence His name. True instruction was in his mouth as he walked in peace and uprightness turning many from sin. Priests should preserve knowledge so men would seek instruction from the messenger of the Lord Almighty. But they turned from the way, violated the covenant with Levi and their teaching caused many to stumble. God caused them to be despised and humiliated before everyone since they did not follow His ways showing partiality in matters of the law (Mal. 2:1-9). Teach whole Bible to turn people from sin and create desire for instruction.

Guard Your Spirit for Unified Marriage to Bear Godly Offspring
Judah broke faith with one another by marrying the daughter of a foreign god. God did not accept their offerings because they broke their marriage bond through divorce. He sought godly offspring from the one flesh relationship between husband and wife. Husbands who guarded their spirit prevented breaking faith with the wife of their youth since God hated divorce (Mal. 2:10-16). Guard your spirit for unified marriage to bear godly offspring.

Participate with God to Purify His People and Hate Oppression
They wearied Him saying those who did evil were pleasing to Him and questioning whether there was a God of justice. No one could stand the refiner's fire of God's coming as He purified the Levites like gold and silver. Judah's and Jerusalem's righteous offerings would be acceptable. God would judge sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers. He was against those who defrauded laborers of their wages, oppressed the widows and fatherless, and deprived aliens of justice without fearing God (Mal. 2:17-3:5). Participate with God to purify His people and hate oppression of others.

Give Financially to God's Kingdom and Reap His Blessing
His people should return to God and His word so He would return to them. He cursed Israel because they robbed Him of tithes and offerings. Bringing the whole tithe into the storehouse brought food into His house. By testing Him, they saw Him open the floodgates of heaven to pour out so much blessing that there was no room for it. He prevented pests from devouring crops and fruit from their fields. All nations called them blessed in a delightful land (Mal. 3:6-12). Give financially to God's kingdom and reap His blessing.

Expect God to Write a Scroll of Remembrance By Fearing Him
Israel said it was futile to serve God since evildoers prospered and those who challenged God escaped. The Lord listened and wrote a scroll of remembrance for people who feared Him and talked with each other. He distinguished between those who served God as His treasured possession and those who did not (Mal. 3:13-18). Expect God to write a scroll of remembrance by fearing Him.

Release God's Healing for Closer Heart Relationships Between Fathers and Children
A day would come to burn the arrogant and every evildoer. For those who revered God's name, the sun of righteousness would rise with healing so they leaped like calves released from the stall. They trampled down the wicked like ashes under their feet. Malachi commanded Israel to remember the law God gave Moses at Horeb. He would send Elijah before the dreadful day of the Lord to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and hearts of children to their fathers or else curse the land (Mal. 4:1-6). Release God's healing for closer heart relationships between fathers and children.

To release God's healing for closer heart relationships between fathers and children:
1. Surrender your heart to teach whole Bible
2. Turn people from sin
3. Create desire for instruction
4. Guard your spirit for unified marriage
5. Bear godly children
6. Participate with God to purify His people
7. Hate oppression of others
8. Give financially to God's kingdom and reap His blessings
9. Expect God to write a scroll of remembrance

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Would You Like To See God Do the Miraculous? (Insights in Psalms)

11/8/2012

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"When God is going to do something wonderful, He begins with a difficulty.... When He is going to do something miraculous, He begins with an impossibility" (Charles Inwood).

Would you like to see God do the miraculous in your life? Just observe nature through the rain, clouds and lightning. God commands the powerful lightning to strike at the exact spot where He directed. He causes floods to punish and rain to provide. God does this to get our attention so we stop our labor and get to know His work instead.

Listen with Wisdom
The three men stopped answering Job because he was righteous in his own eyes and justified himself. Elihu became very angry with his three friends who condemned Job without refuting him. Elihu was the youngest and said a man's spirit gave understanding. He waited and listened to their reasoning, but none proved Job wrong or answered his arguments. Elihu was like bottled-up wine and spoke to find relief without flattery (Job 32:1-22). Listen with wisdom when someone justifies himself.

Pray for Purity
Elihu told Job that his words came from an upright heart. He heard Job say that he was pure without sin but God found fault with him. God spoke in dreams and visions while men slept to prevent pride and being killed in battle. A man may find constant distress as his flesh wasted away to nothing. If an angel acted graciously as a mediator, then his flesh was renewed like a child's. He prayed to God, found favor, shouted for joy and was restored to his righteous state. He told men that he sinned and God redeemed his soul from the pit to enjoy the light. Elihu wanted Job to be cleared as he taught him wisdom (Job 33:1-33). Pray for purity so you are restored to righteousness.

Trust God's Fairness
Elihu asked the other wise men to discern and learn together what was right and good. Job said he was innocent but God denied him justice and inflicted an incurable wound. Elihu said God would not do evil but repaid a man what his conduct deserved. God sustained the life of everyone and showed no partiality to princes and did not favor the rich over the poor. He saw men's ways, punished wickedness and heard the cries of the needy. God kept the godless man from ruling and laying snares on the people. Elihu said Job should be tested for answering like a wicked man since he rebelled against God by multiplying words against Him (Job 34:1-37). Trust God's fairness to punish wickedness and not favor the rich.

Pray for Wisdom and Relief
Elihu questioned Job's thinking that there was no gain in not sinning since it affected himself. Men cried under oppression but did not acknowledge God their Maker who gave songs in the night and taught wisdom. He would not answer men cries because of their arrogance. Elihu questioned Job's assertions that God did not punish or notice wickedness (Job 35:1-16). Pray for wisdom and relief from wickedness.

Repent of Evil
Elihu said God was just and mighty in His purpose and did not despise men. He gave the afflicted their rights, kept His eyes on the righteous, enthroned them with kings and exalted them forever. If men were bound with chains and held fast by cords of affliction, He commanded them to repent of their evil. If they obeyed and served God, they experienced prosperity and contentment. By not listening, they died without knowledge (Job 36:1-12). Repent of evil and obey God to experience freedom, prosperity and contentment.

Exalt God's Greatness
The godless of heart harbored resentment and did not cry for help. God was wooing Job from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction in the comfort of a table laden with choice food. Be careful not to be enticed with riches or a large bribe instead of affliction. Because God exalted Himself in His power, glorify His greatness and His works. Just as He spread out the clouds, scattered His lightning and commanded it to strike its mark, God governed the nations and provided food in abundance (Job 36:13-33). Exalt God's greatness and power as you look to Him for abundance and provision.

Stop Your Labor
Listen to the roar of God's voice when He unleashed His lightning and thundered with His majestic voice to hold nothing back. He did great things beyond understanding by telling the snow to fall on the earth and the rain shower to be a mighty downpour. He did this so all men would stop their labor and know His work. The breath of God produced ice, loaded the clouds with moisture and scattered His lightning through them. They swirled around at His direction and command to punish men or water His earth to show His love (Job 37:1-13). Stop your labor by reflecting on God's power in nature to punish men or show His love.

Revere God's Attributes
Elihu told Job to stop and consider God's wonders in hanging the clouds and making His lightning flash in perfect knowledge. Since humankind cannot do these things, what right do they have to tell Him what to do. Because God Almighty was beyond reach and exalted in power with justice and great righteousness, He did not oppress. Therefore, men revere Him as He regarded the wise in heart (Job 37:14-24). Revere God's attributes and do not tell Him what to do.

How to see the miraculous occur in your life:
1. Listen with wisdom
2. Pray for purity
3. Trust God's fairness
4. Pray for wisdom and relief
5. Repent of evil
6. Exalt God's greatness
7. Stop your labor
8. Revere God's attributes

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Impact and Lifestyle of True Worship (Insights in Prophets)

10/15/2012

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True worship can be summarized as acknowledging God's holiness and greatness to gain understanding and learn instruction. It begins with repentance of sin and trusts in the Holy Spirit for strength. Personal impact: Waits on Him in prayer and meditates on God's word to heal wounds. Corporate impact: Praises God to defeat evil in the world. Internal impact: relies on the truth of God's word to deliver you from strongholds. External impact: explains God's truth fluently and clearly to satisfy spiritual hunger and thirst. True worship lifestyle: Seeks God desperately until the Holy Spirit works peace, confidence and freedom.

False Worship Summarized
God set up siege works against Ariel where David settled causing them to mourn. Their enemies became like fine dust. The Lord Almighty came with thunder, earthquake and devouring fire so those nations waging war against Mt. Zion became faint with unquenched thirst. The Lord brought deep sleep to the prophets' eyes and His vision was sealed in a scroll so no one could read it. The Lord said His people came near and honored Him with their lips but their hearts were far away. Their worship consisted of rules taught by men. The wisdom of the wise would perish and intelligence of the intelligent vanish (Is. 29:1-14). False worship consists of following man's rules without heart behind them.

True Worship Summarized
Woe to those who hid their plans from God and worked in darkness thinking no one saw them. Should what is formed say to his creator that he did not make him or the pot to the potter, "He knows nothing?" The deaf heard the words of the scroll and eyes of the blind saw. The humble and needy rejoiced in the Lord. The ruthless vanished and mockers disappeared. God cut down those with an eye for evil whose false testimony deprived the innocent of justice. The Lord said Jacob would no longer be ashamed, but acknowledged His holiness and stood in awe of the God of Israel. Those with wayward spirit gained understanding and complainers learned instruction (Is. 29:15-24). True worship acknowledges God's holiness and greatness to gain understanding and learn instruction.

True Worship Initiation
Woe to those who carried out plans and formed alliances without His Spirit. They went to Egypt without consulting God. Looking to Pharaoh for protection brought shame and disgrace instead of help and advantage. Write on a tablet about these rebellious and deceitful children unwilling to listen to the Lord's instruction. They said to the seers and prophets that they wanted no more righteous visions where they were confronted with the Holy One, but pleasant words and illusions. The sin of relying on oppression and depending on deceit became like a high wall that collapsed instantly. In repentance and rest was salvation, in quietness and trust was strength, but instead of being willing, they left on horses with little threat to them (Is. 30:1-17). True worship repents of sin for salvation and trusts in the Holy Spirit for strength.

True Worship Personal Impact
The Lord longed to be gracious and compassionate. Blessed were those who wait for Him. God showed grace and answered when they cried for help. He revealed the way to walk during adversity and affliction so they did not trust in the idols of materialism. He sent rain to sow the seed in the ground that yielded plentiful food. The Lord bound up their bruises and healed their wounds (Is. 30:18-26). True worship waits on Him in prayer and meditates on God's word for the healing of wounds.

True Worship Corporate Impact
His wrath shook the nations and placed a bit to lead them astray. Their hearts sang and rejoiced on the mountain of the Lord. Men heard God's majestic voice to the music of tambourines and harps that shattered Assyria with His scepter and punishing rod (Is. 30:27--33). True worship praises God as the chief weapon of spiritual warfare to defeat evil.

True Worship Internal Impact
Woe to those who went to Egypt for help, relied on horses and trusted in many chariots instead of seeking help from God. The Lord Almighty shielded, delivered and rescued Jerusalem while defeating evildoers. God called Israel to return to Him and reject idols their hands made. The sword of God's word devoured Assyria, placed young men in forced labor, broke their stronghold and caused commanders to panic (Is. 31:1-9). True worship relies on the truth of God's word for deliverance from evil strongholds and slavery to sin.

True Worship External Impact
A king reigned in righteousness and rulers ruled with justice like a shelter from the wind, refuge from the storm and streams of water in the desert. The blind saw, the deaf heard, the rash discerned the truth and the stammering tongue was fluent and clear. The fool was not called noble nor the scoundrel highly respected since the fool spoke nonsense, practiced ungodliness and spread error concerning the Lord so the hungry left unsatisfied and withheld water from the thirsty. The scoundrel made evil schemes and destroyed the poor with lies even when the needy spoke truth. The noble man made noble plans and stood by them (Is. 32:1-8). True worship explains God's truth fluently and clearly to satisfy spiritual hunger and thirst.

True Worship Lifestyle
Complacent women trembled in a little more than one year when the fruit harvest failed. They mourned for the fruitful until the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the land of God's people overgrown with thorns and the city of revelry with the abandoned fortress and deserted city became fertile. The fruit and effect of righteousness would be peace, quietness and confidence forever so His people could live securely in places of rest. Even as the city was leveled completely, how blessed to sow seed by every stream letting animals range freely (Is. 32:9-20). True worship seeks God desperately until the Holy Spirit works peace, confidence and freedom.

Begin to seek God desperately until the Holy Spirit works peace, confidence and freedom in your life.

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The Greatness of God (Insights in Psalms)

10/10/2011

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The earth is intimately tied to the sun, around which it revolves. Without the sun, life on earth could not exist because of the need for light, energy and holding it in place so it won't spin off into outer space. Because the moon is big, its gravity tugs on the earth under the location of the moon producing high and low tides at various locations. Since the sun also produces tides, the sun and moon work together to produce complex tidal variations across the earth. The greatest tides occur when the sun, earth and moon are in alignment with each other. This is one example of God's greatness and wisdom. Psalm 104 details this and other examples of God's greatness regarding His name, works, provision, wisdom and timing.

Bend the knee in your innermost being because God is very great and clothed with splendor and majesty. He covers Himself with light like a cloak and stretches out the heavens like a tent curtain. He lays beams of His upper chambers in the waters. He makes the clouds His chariot, winds His messengers and flaming fire His ministers (Ps. 104:1-4). The greatness of God's name causes you to bless His name in prayer.

He established the earth upon its foundation securely forever. God rebuked the waters so mountains rose and valleys sank down to their established place. He set a boundary so water would never cover the earth again (Ps. 104:5-9). The greatness of God's works causes you to bless His name in prayer.

God sends springs in the valley so every animal can drink from them. The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works. He causes grass to grow for the cattle and vegetation through man's cultivation. It provides food to sustain man's heart and make him glad (Ps. 104:10-17). The greatness of God's provision makes people glad.

The high mountains are for the wild goats and cliffs for rock badgers. God made the moon for the seasons and positioned the sun in its exact place. He appointed night so the lions could prowl to their food from Him. Man works and labors until evening. The Lord made His works in wisdom throughout the earth. Large and small animals live in the sea (Ps. 104:18-26). The greatness of God's wisdom enables every living being to live.

They all wait for Him to give food in its appointed time. They gather it and are satisfied with good. Their life and breadth is dependent on God (Ps. 104:27-30). The greatness of God's timing is delightful and fruitful.

The Lord's glory endures forever. He looks at the earth and it trembles. He touches the mountains and they smoke. The proper response is singing praise and being glad in the Lord as you meditate on Him. He takes care of the wicked (Ps. 104:31-35). Meditate on and sing praise to God because His glory endures forever.

Consider the greatness of God's name, works, provision, wisdom and timing. Your only appropriate response is to meditate on and sing praise to God because His glory endures forever.

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Finding Hope in Hopeless Circumstances (Insights in Psalms)

5/17/2011

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In those hopeless situations of life when everything seems to conspire against you, what are the answers? God seems no where! You feel completely along without a paddle. Do you give up? Do you work harder? Do you think positive thoughts figuring that it can't get any worse? Ps. 77 provides guidance and encouragement in dire situations.
When it seems hopeless and you are troubled, disturbed and without comfort, cry aloud to God because He will hear your prayers. Also, remember and meditate on God's past workings in your life (Ps. 77:1-6).

Your grief can be so great that you believe the Most High God has rejected you forever. His actions seem unfavorable and unloving because nothing is happening. God isn't fulfilling His promises. From all appearances, He is withholding His grace and compassion from you (Ps. 77:7-10).

How can you experience the power and intimacy of God in your life so He doesn't feel distant?

Consider these actions to help you grow close in your relationship with God:
1. Remember God's wondrous deeds and works
2. Consider God's holiness and greatness
3. Meditate on God's power in delivering you from sin (Ps. 77:11-15)
4. Observe God's power and handiwork in creation through thunderstorms and lightning (Ps. 77:16-18)

Because of God's works, character, deliverance and creation, you can trust Him completely to lead your life. It could be a "Red Sea" or "wilderness" experience with enemies chasing you or time of uncertainty wondering if He will protect and provide for you (Ps. 77:19-20).

Are you going through a "Red Sea" or "wilderness" experience? Consider these questions:
1. How have you seen God work in the past?
2. Meditate on God's holiness and greatness
3. How has God delivered you from sin?
4. Observe God's handiwork in creation.
How have your answers given you greater hope in this "hopeless" circumstance?

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God Promotes Who He Desires (Insights in Psalms)

5/9/2011

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When I worked for corporations, it was troubling why some people got promoted and others didn't. Psalm 75-76 show that God promotes who He desires. His greatness, majesty and awesome character make even wicked bosses to fear Him so they will fulfill God's will.

We have two choices. We can praise God for who He is and what He has done or boast in people and their accomplishments. Give thanks to Him for His name is near. Don't speak with insolent pride by glorifying yourself (Ps. 75:1-5).

Why should you boast in God and not people?

God is judge and brings exaltation to those He chooses. He controls who gets promoted or demoted in organizations, businesses, government, churches, etc. (Ps. 75:6-8).

As a result, sing praise to God since He lifts up the righteous (Ps. 75:9-10).

What are God's credentials to promote whoever He desires? Ps. 76 answers this question.

God's Name is Great
God dwells in Zion where He breaks the flaming arrows of the evil one. His name is great and powerful to defeat Satan's schemes on the earth (Ps. 76:1-3).

God's Name is Majestic
He defeats prideful people and their wicked schemes. Both their "rider and horse were cast into a deep sleep." No one can stand in God's presence when He is angry. We have seen that recently with the killing of Osama Bin Laden even though national and international laws were broken to kill an unrighteous man (Ps. 76:4-7).

God's Name is Awesome
God's judgment saves the humble. He can make the wrath of man praise Him so that kings on earth fear Him (Ps. 76:8-12).

Praise God for His greatness in defeating satan
Praise God for His majesty in defeating wickedness
Praise God for His awesomeness in making wicked kings fear Him

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Ingredients of Effective Kingdom Ministry

Develop Closer Relationships Between Fathers and Children (Insights in Prophets)

Would You Like To See God Do the Miraculous? (Insights in Psalms)

Impact and Lifestyle of True Worship (Insights in Prophets)

The Greatness of God (Insights in Psalms)

Finding Hope in Hopeless Circumstances (Insights in Psalms)

God Promotes Who He Desires (Insights in Psalms)

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