The Daily Dose

Jesus is the head

“For who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”  1 Corinthians 2:16

I recently heard a message on “we (believers) are the body, Christ is the head”.  Earlier, I did write a “dose” about being part of the body and that we all need to be in our place for the body to function properly, but during this recent service, part of the focus was on Jesus as the head (the command center of the body).  When I heard that phrase, today’s key verse immediately came to my thoughts, and I could see in the spirit that the head doesn’t work on just one part of the body or someone separated from the assembly of believers.

This scripture has always been one that I like to speak over my thought life.  When I have doubts, unbelief, or confusion going on, I thank my Heavenly Father that I have the mind of Christ according to 1 Corinthians 2:16.  However, after what the LORD has shown me through this new revelation, I don’t believe I can have the mind of Christ on my own.  It is only when I am connected to the rest of the body.  So if my position in the body is an arm but I have separated myself from the rest of the body by not coming together/connecting with in fellowship and worship regularly, I can get my direction from the head, but I cannot do anything with it.  I can pick something up, push or pull it, but I cannot execute the direction given because I have no body to take me there.  I am not in a position as an arm to move on the direction that the “Head” gives me because I am not joined to the rest of the body. I have “cut” myself off from the body resulting in no life flowing through me.

I believe what the Holy Spirit was impressing on me was that it is so vital to be connected to each other!  We cannot function in the plan of God without each other.  He has a place and purpose for each one of us to fit in the body and it is imperative that we get there.  This is not for our benefit . . . It’s all about kingdom progress.  It’s about our mission together to get God’s plan done.  Here’s the thing . . . God works through people.  Even when He does miracles, He does them through people.  All through the Bible all the miracles were done through the hands of God’s people.  Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, Jesus, the disciples, and Paul were just a few of them.  God moves through people by the Holy Spirit to get things accomplished and He needs us to be the vessels for Him to work through.  We cannot sit back and say we are just waiting on God to move… He is moving and I want to say He needs us to get moving into our places, but the truth is if we don’t, He will get someone else that is willing to do it. (See 1 Samuel 3, 16) Let’s not miss out on all the blessings God has for us in our place.

Today I am going to take the stance of the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:1 by saying I beg of you by the mercies of God…this is not a challenge or an encouragement, this is an all-out plea for all of us to get in our place and do our part and follow His direction so we can get His plan accomplished!  God’s work can only be finished in this age of grace when we all get together and do it!!  If you don’t know where you belong, start seeking.  Ask the Lord to show you where you fit and what He needs for you to do.  If you are already in position, help those around you to get connected and find their place.  Put aside petty disagreements and offenses.  Begin to focus on listening to the command center, the “Head” (Jesus) as He gives the instructions for us to walk out each day.  Then you will be able to say: “ I have the mind of Christ and that is what is leading, directing and commanding my life.  I listen to and follow every thought and directions that my “Head” gives me because I am connected to Him and the rest of the body!

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 2:11-16

Eye has not seen

“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him, but God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”    1 Corinthians 2:9-10

For a long time I thought verse 9 in 1 Corinthians 2 was saying that I could not know the things God had planned for me. I would just have to wait and see, and hope that it was good.  However, one day I read the very next verse (verse 10) that says God has revealed these things to me through His Spirit, because the Spirit of God searches and draws out the deep things of God.  I was so excited to find out that I could know God’s plan for me ahead of time instead of just waiting to see what happens. By seeking it out through God’s Spirit living inside me, I could walk out His plans each day.  Even if it was just one step at a time, I was no longer playing the guessing game.  It was at that time I heard these words in my spirit as I was seeking God.  “It’s a plan not a puzzle.”  Glory to God!  God has a plan for my life and the best part is He’s not trying to hide it from me. 

Jeremiah 29:13 says, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”  That’s when I began to seek God and desire His plan for life and when He began to lay it out in front of me day by day. I realized God doesn’t show us the whole plan at once.  If He did it would be too overwhelming and look impossible.  Instead, we grow into it by trusting God step by step.  The way to get the plan is to seek it out, not halfheartedly but with all your heart.  God wants to and has every intention to lead you to the perfect path, but it is not an automatic thing.  You have to be willing to take the steps of faith to walk it out and have no doubt God’s plan will require you to step out in faith.

If you are not walking in a plan that is bigger than you, it is probably not all God has for you.  God’s plan requires you to “step out” in faith on a regular basis and is bigger than what you can handle on your own or else you wouldn’t need God’s help to accomplish it.   The safe path is not necessarily the faith path.  Most of us want to feel secure and feel like we have everything in control, but the truth is we may need to let go of what is secure and trust God to be our source of security.  I am not suggesting that God’s way isn’t secure, I am simply saying that every day we need to get God’s direction and make adjustments to the path we are on.  Then be willing to act instead of just being satisfied to do the same things repeatedly based on what we did yesterday. 

Lastly, I want to point out that God’s plan does not always make sense to our natural mind.  Isaiah 55:9 tells us that God’s ways are higher than our ways.”  If you have an idea that is totally different than you would normally think, it is probably God because He thinks differently than we do.   When that happens, talk to God about it.  He will make the way plain and clear as you follow Him step by step.  Here’s the truth: God is so good and so gentle.  When you see God’s goodness playing out in your obedience and willingness, I assure you that you will want to walk deeper into all of the good plans He has for you.

Today I want to encourage you to take time to seek God with all your heart and then take steps in the direction He leads.  Ask Him to give you the willingness to take the steps and to increase your desire to take them every day.  I promise you will see faith growing up inside you and trust that He will never steer you wrong.  Then you will have the greatest joy and contentment you have ever experienced.  Trust me, it’s never too soon or too late to start!  Your eyes will see, your ears will hear and the things God has planned will enter your heart because you love Him and seek Him with all your heart.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10

The Spirit of power

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 Corinthians 2:1

I have always wanted to be a great orator.  To be a public speaker that was especially eloquent in delivering a great message.  Sadly, I have not yet developed that skill yet, but I will continue to grow in that area.  I do find encouragement in today’s key verse, though.  Written to the church in Corinth, Paul says that he did not speak to them in excellence of speech or wisdom when he was with them in person.  He basically says that he, the apostle Paul, who wrote a huge part of the New Testament was not a gifted preacher.  Yet he was a gifted communicator.  We know this because he started many of the first New Testament churches and discipled many of the people he converted to Christianity.  You cannot do that without communicating.  So how was he so successful in his ministry?

If you continue to read through verse 5 in this chapter, you will see that Paul’s ministry was so effective because of the presence of the Holy Spirit and the demonstration of His power.  Paul kept in touch with the churches when he was not with them, but he determined to only look at Jesus and Him crucified when he was with them. (Verse 2) Paul had decided that the people of Corinth should not have faith in him, but in the power of God so he preached the gospel by demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit.

This should be our starting ground as we minister and speak the good news of God’s Salvation in Jesus.  Start with the power of the Holy Spirit for what the need may be at the time.  The scripture says to desire the best gift (see 1 Corinthians 12:31) and that would be the gift that is needed at the current time you are talking to someone about salvation.  You may have to start out small, but that’s ok.  Listen closely to His leading and make yourself available to reach out to others who are hurting.  He will lead you into all truth and He will start right where you are. (John 16 :13)

Today I want to encourage you to start out your day by praying:  Holy Spirit, I yield and submit to your direction today.  Lead me to those who are lost and hurting and give me words and boldness to touch their lives.  Let your power flow through me so that I can lead them back to You.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.  Now be ready and watching for the opportunities that He opens for you today at work, home and wherever you go.  Be His witness today in demonstration and power and let the Spirit reach through your life into the lives of those around you.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 2:1-5

God calls the foolish

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  1 Corinthians 1:20

Several years ago God put writing in my heart.  I tried a little at that time, but it was the opposite of good.  Now, I write a daily message of encouragement.  I enjoy it very much, but I have no training and had no childhood dreams of writing.  I have no aspiration to be a bestselling author and I don’t expect to become a well-known novelist.  I do, however, have dreams of helping and encouraging others.  My heart is to see people avoid traps that I once got caught in.  My mission is to lead as many people that I can influence to discover their life of significance and purpose.  I’m starting late in life and I hope some will answer their call much earlier through this mission.

Here’s the point:  God calls me to write at this point in my life, so I do.  There are many who are qualified and many more available.  Some use their gift of writing to become well known and famous, never considering using their God given ability for the Kingdom of God.  Others consider it, but put it off until a later time because of much more pressing issues in their day to day living and the busyness of life.  There are only a few who will take the time to answer the invitation God is calling them to right now.  Here’s the thing:  God doesn’t always call the qualified, but He does always qualify the called!  It is more about a willing heart of surrender to Him.

Today’s text says that God had made foolish the wisdom of the world and that the world sees God’s wisdom as foolishness.  So here’s the question for you:  what is in your heart to do?  What have you been putting off?  What ideas do you dismiss and find to be foolish to pursue?  Each one of us have something, something we can do right now that will lead to the next open door.  It doesn’t matter if you are educated in that area or not, God will get you there if He has put it inside of you.  The solution is to submit that idea and desire to the LORD and let Him lead you through the process.

Today I want to encourage you to set time aside to do the things that God has put in your heart that He is prompting you toward.  Maybe it is writing, maybe it’s speaking and teaching.  It could be some form of art or coaching.  Or maybe it is reaching out to the next generation.  Whatever it is, surrender it to your Father today.  He will guide you and equip you to complete the things He has put in your heart and He will take you through the doors required to be effective at your calling.  “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-27

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Enriched in everything

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were ENRICHED in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,”  1 Corinthians 1:4-7

Have you ever felt like you were being ineffective in your witness for Christ Jesus?  Have you ever been in a position that no matter what you thought to say it just didn’t seem like it would be enough to bring someone to the truth of God’s love?  What about the feeling of not being gifted enough to touch and influence the lives around you?   

According to today’s reading, God’s grace on you will enrich your life in the areas of speaking, knowing and being gifted to share His message of Salvation and reveal Jesus to those around you.  My favorite part of this passage is the word “enriched”.  For some reason every time I hear the word enriched, I think of enriching uranium.  I know it’s an extremely random and strange thought, but my understanding of enriching uranium in the context of nuclear power is to bring it to its fullest strength or potential.  The process is taking something from a useless or inactive state and bringing it to a useful form to its greatest potency.  So, to be enriched in all utterance (speech) and knowledge in Him would be to increase to full strength or our greatest effectiveness.

It is not only God’s grace that produces this enrichment in your life.  If you continue reading in the chapter, you will find that coming into agreement in speech and getting rid of contention with those you fellowship and worship with, enriches your speaking ability and knowledge of God’s goodness.  It also brings your gifts together with others to grow them to their greatest fruitfulness in God’s kingdom progress. 

In the same way that components are added to develop uranium to become an armor-penetrating weapon, God’s people can come into agreement to form one body to function properly and powerfully with each other.  Concluding that adding God’s gifts to His body of believers and agreeing with each other enriches God’s people to become an armor-penetrating weapon that defeats the enemy and rescues the wounded.

Today I want to encourage you to begin enriching your speech and knowledge of God by adding God’s grace and His goodness to your everyday activity.  Start each day receiving His grace so that you are not lacking in any gift needed to be a blessing to others.  Ask God to make plain the opportunities in front of you to use the gifts He has given you.  Then, position yourself in the body of Christ to do your part so that God’s work can be brought to its fullest potency.  In doing this you will accomplish your life’s mission.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 1:4-17

Grace and Peace

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 1:3

This scripture is the greeting that the Apostle Paul used in his letter to the people of the church at Corinth.  It’s an interesting greeting in that he starts by giving grace to them.  He says: “I’m sending grace and peace to your from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ”.  How can he write this message?  Did He get permission from God and Jesus to offer grace and peace to those in Corinth?  Paul uses this greeting in many of his letters.  So why does he think it is ok to speak on behalf of God and the Lord Jesus?  The reason is because grace and peace are for all God’s people, and are necessary to live life and complete each assignment.  How does the Apostle Paul know that it is ok to greet members of the body of Christ with grace and peace?  Because he knows that God freely gave them to him at his conversion and also gives them to all believers that receive the Lord Jesus as Savior.

This may sound like a simple concept, but why did he choose these two aspects of salvation as his greeting?  Grace and peace?  We read in 1 John that the Apostle John offered prosperity and health in his greeting. So there are many different ways that the letters were addressed.  The reason, I believe is because that is what they needed at the time he was writing to them.  Paul starts his letter by letting the Corinthian people know that grace and peace are available and this is what he wants to draw their attention to.  God’s unlimited grace and excessive peace.  As we read through 1^st and 2^nd Corinthians, notice the trouble the people at Corinth are having, then we can decide if the solution is indeed grace and peace to all their struggles.

Secondly, although this offer of grace and peace was sent to the Corinthians hundreds of years ago, it is still available today for you and me.  Glory to God!  God’s unlimited grace and excessive peace are still here for us to walk in each day.  Not only that, but we can give them to others just as the Apostle Paul did.  We can greet each other with words of encouragement and remember that grace is available to get you through the day and peace is there to calm the storm you are facing.  Instead of getting down in the dumps with those who are already down, give a word of truth that will remind them they are a child of God and more than a conqueror. (See Romans 8:17 & 37)

Today I want to encourage you to remember that grace and peace belong to you.  As a born-again child of God, you don’t have to be knocked off course and have your world rocked every time a new problem comes along.  The storms will not stop, but you always have a way through riding on the wave of grace through the goodness of God’s love and peace!  Take that with you and then share it as you have the opportunity.  Help others to navigate their storms by remembering that grace and peace are theirs to carry them through, too.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Avoid them

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. Romans 16:17

Have you ever been around people who like to stir up trouble?  Every time they come around they are always looking for an opportunity to cause an argument.  They don’t really want to be involved, they just want to get it started and then step back and watch as relationships melt down.  What about those who like to be offensive.  It seems like some people’s entertainment revolves around who they can through an offense in front of and then watch them stumble over it. Now think about what that would look like if it happened in your church congregation.  How would you handle it or how would you want to help the situation be better?

In today’s reading, Paul is talking to the people of the church in Rome about these kind of people and gives explicit direction on how to handle them.  He plainly says: “Avoid them!”  He doesn’t say “correct them” and he doesn’t say “help them to understand how to have good relationships”.  He says “stay away from them.”  This can be hard to do, especially if it is a friend or family member, but definitely do not get involved. 

I have had some personal experiences with people like this and it is almost miraculous how God can work in the situation if you simple walk away and pray for that individual.  The Lord showed me that I do not have to fix everyone, in fact, that is not my job at all.  My job is to love and pray for them and that opens the way for the Holy Spirit to bring His peace into those situations and gives me peace as well.

So how do we avoid those who want to stir up strife and discord?  Paul says the first thing to do is to recognize them.  Identify people who are instigating arguments and disagreements.  You can pinpoint them by the way they are serving/concerned with their own selfish needs and not the things of God.  Another quality they will display is smooth words and flattering speech that deceive innocent/naïve people.  The text says to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil.  In your obedience to turn away and not get involved in these conflicts, (avoiding them) you are opening the door to the God of peace to crush Satan under your feet soon after.  Meaning, that kind of activity will not come around you anymore.  When that person comes around, that spirit of discord will not show up, because you have released God’s peace that pushed it far away.

Today I want to encourage you to be aware of anyone that comes around you trying to cause some stress.  Be alert and notice their selfish attitude and manipulating conversations to get their own way.  Next, turn away from such activity and do not get involve.  Ask you Heavenly Father, the God of peace to crush that enemy under your feet and the grace of your Lord Jesus will be with you as that evil is driven far away.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 16:17-27

Your partners

Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus.   Romans 16:3

Did you know God has connected you to certain people to be partners with them?  Its true, God brings people into your life to do ministry with.  Whether it is in your local church, at your place of employment or maybe you have your own outreach to lead people to salvation.  The point is, God sends help for you to partner with.  You ask for prayer for your mission, and then you pray for others in their ministry too.  You probably support some in their calling financially and God connects you with others that sow seed into your assignments.  God has called all His people to stand together and through partnerships, we can maximize our impact for His Kingdom.  Partnering with other believers in the work of ministry is a coming together in faith.

The bridge of partnership is not a one-way street, but it’s a mutual connection that offers a two-way exchange.  As you partner with other believers through prayer and giving, you will begin to experience the fulness of God’s blessing and share in the benefits of God’s grace on the missions that you are supporting in partnership.

In today’s reading, the apostle Paul talks about his partners in Rome.  At the beginning of chapter 16, he lists many names of people who have helped and supported the mission he was on.  In exchange, he prayed and wrote letters to them to encourage and build them up.  He also sent support to some as needs arose.  He starts by sending a greeting to Priscilla an Aquila who gave him a job and risked their lives for his ministry.  He talks about Mary who worked for the mission and many others that helped and gave throughout his journey.  The point is ministry doesn’t happen without people praying and helping each other out. 

Today I want to encourage you to partner with other believers.  Whether you are praying for them, encouraging them or supporting them financially, this is what makes God’s kingdom grow.  Start with your local church.  Get involved with ministry there and begin to pray and connect with others to help the mission they are on.  Then take a look at ministries that you grow from whether by reading their material or listening to the messages online. You can partner with them by first of all praying for their ministry to flourish and accomplish the things God sets before them to do.  You can also give to those ministries either in a one time donation or monthly support.  If you think about what you support in the natural world, such things as: cable, internet access, phone, water and electric, you have partnered with these to get the benefits they offer.  Oh, I know you don’t pray for these, but you do get something from them. Why not support the programs that you are getting and growing from spiritually? How much more eternal benefit will there be in partnering with God’s ministries?  Becoming partners with God’s people that are doing God’s work will boost your faith walk greater than ever before.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 16:1-16

The journey

Whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.  Romans 15:24

We are all on a journey, that’s what life is, a journey.  Your journey will take you in one direction while mine takes me in another direction.  Everyone’s journey is different, yet one thing is the same.  Every journey will have twists and turns, bump and bruises, that is a guarantee.  It doesn’t matter how close you walk with God, life happens and sometimes you will be faced with crisis, issues and barriers.  Walking in a close relationship with your Heavenly Father does not mean you will never experience trouble, it simply means He will get you through it.  He doesn’t always take away problems, but He is always faithful through them.

The apostle Paul knew this truth all too well.  He was full of the Holy Spirit, but faced more predicaments and setbacks than any of us ever have.  He was preaching and teaching every where he went.  We know he had a close relationship with his Father, and he even met Jesus face to face, but that did not make his journey perfect.  In today’s scripture, he talks about his plan to visit the church in Rome on his way to Spain, but he was already preparing that he would need some help on there way.  He was pretty sure by this time in his ministry, that stuff always happens and many times his plans were changed at the last minute.  That is why he was seeking to enjoy their encouragement and fellowship when he got there.

On my own journey, I have had many struggles.  Most of them self-inflicted, but many were just because life happened.  What I have found to be true through it all is that God’s grace is great enough to get me through whatever obstacles come my way.  I used to believe that when a problem got in the way that whatever I was heading toward was not God’s will or else it would just work out.  However, now I understand that sometime life gets in the way and with God’s help, you can push through or find another avenue to get you there.  The most important thing is to follow His lead and He will take you through every barricade.

Today I want to encourage you on your journey.  If you do not know where you are going, seek His direction today. Ask Him to make His path plain and clear so you can follow. Also ask Him to put His desire into your heart so you will be lined up with the right way of thinking and attitude on your way.  If you know you are on the right path and journey, I want to encourage you to stay strong and close to your Father.  Listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice as He speaks to your heart the secret solutions to every obstacle and ask Him to expose and traps and potholes the enemy may be trying to catch you in.  Lastly, connect regularly with others that can help and encourage you along the way.  The journey God has planned for you is good, but the path will never be perfect.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 15:22-33

Mighty signs and wonders

In mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.  Romans 15:19

Here is the gospel according to the apostle Paul: Mighty signs and wonders by the power of the Sprit of God.  This is what the New Testament church did to lead people to Jesus.  They did mighty acts and wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit!  This is how they were able to spread the message throughout the entire world.  They were not preaching a gospel about how Jesus came to give a better life or receive Jesus to fulfill your purpose in this world.  They were preaching an eternal gospel, by laying their hands on the sick and seeing them recovered, by casting out demons and by healing the lame and broken around them.  When these signs and wonders were done, people ran to follow Jesus because they knew where their help had come from. 

This was the reason Paul could say back in chapter 2 of Romans that the goodness of God leads people to repentance.  They were tasting the goodness of God firsthand and turning their lives completely over to the Lord.  The whole point was that Jesus didn’t come to make life here in this world better for people. The reason Jesus came was to give people that were dead in their sin eternal life everlasting in His salvation.

This is where we need to be today.  The Holy Spirit hasn’t changed, Jesus hasn’t changed and God the Father hasn’t changed.  It is just people/Christians that have changed.  Because we have not been a generation that has seen a lot of supernatural healings and deliverance, we have somewhere gotten the idea that these things have passed away.  But it simply isn’t true.  We know that God’s Word says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever so it is up to us to walk in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus name.

So, where do we start?  We can start by praying the same prayer, in agreement with other believers, that the disciples prayed in Acts 4:29-31 – Now, Lord, grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Today I want to encourage you to ask your Heavenly Father for a revelation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how to submit to the Spirit’s leading to operate in those gifts.  Then pray for the boldness that the disciples prayed for even after they had been punished for preaching the name of Jesus.  Stop fear from holding you back and step out in faith to pray for the goodness of God to come on those who are broken and lost so they will be lead to repentance.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 15:14-21