Power Of Clamor

 Key Scripture:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32

Power Point:

     This morning I received a devotional in the mail from Kenneth Copeland.He was watching a newscast with someone who, though an American now, had grown up in another country. This is what happened:

"Although I hadn't noticed it, the news commentator had said something derogatory about the president. ( a tear slipped down the lady's cheek), "I don't like to hear anyone talk about this country like that," she said. "I don't care whether it's true or not. I don't want to hear it."

The newscaster's comment had slipped right by me. But it had brought tears to her eyes. Why? Because she had a sensitive heart where this country is concerned."

      As I read this devotional, I was convicted about recent current events.  Around the election, I began watching the news again, at great length.  I noticed that the perfect peace that I had been dwelling in began to go missing. I kept trying to figure out what had happened. When I read this today, it hit me that for several hours a day I had been hearing unkind, critical, angry, bitter voices.  How could that NOT have an effect on me?  How could it NOT dim the light of His Spirit in me?  It was definitely clamor, and evil speaking and I was allowing it to fill my atmosphere for hours at a time.

     Honestly, I don't think we even realise how much this affects us every day. We have been so programmed by the attitudes of those in authority around us haven't we? We want our leaders to have respect for each other don't we?  We want our entertainment to positive and encouraging, not fill our homes and hearts with clamor.  As you think about what you watched yesterday, what was the interaction between the characters?  On almost every television program there is sarcasm, and criticism, and some sort of Anti-Christ attitude toward people.

     That's a really good point isn't it?  Are the things you're allowing into your atmosphere, Anti-Christ?  Would He be comfortable reading what you read, and watching what you watch on television?  Could you recommend those things to Him?  Would He want to enter in to your conversations?   If you say "no", then you might understand that His Spirit in you is not comfortable with it either. He will be grieved and He will withdraw.

It's just not worth it-is it?

    If you're wondering if there is clamor in your life, here's the definition: "slander, speech injurious to another's good name, reproachful, injurious to divine majesty."  Ah. Ouch.

     As we pray for our leaders, and those in authority, let's pray that their eyes would be opened to the clamor they're releasing into our lives. Let's pray that they will hear God and begin to ""take the high road", so we can walk on it with them.

     Let's put clamor away from us, and pray that they will put it away from them.

Power Thought:

I'd rather have perfect peace than pithy comments wouldn't you? If each one of us began to put away clamor and evil speaking from us and from our homes, we could change the world.  Couldn't we?

Copyright © 2014, Suzanne Roberts, Unpublished Work

Power Of Increased Faith

Key Scripture: "To each of you has been given a measure of faith."
                        "Faith works through love."  

Power Point:

       Jesus said that everyone has been given a measure of faith. What if we took that gift and increased it?  What if the gift of faith continued to increase until the very moment when He returns to receive it back from me-with interest? 

If faith comes by hearing, (hearing and understanding) the Word of God, then how am I doing with my investment?

If faith works through love, then is my love growing for every person, so that my faith can grow for every person?

If faith is my shield, then have I been reading the Word, believing the Word, treasuring the Word so that I am shielded through every attack of the enemy?

Has the faith that Jesus left with me to invest for Him grown or have I buried it in the ground? Is it bringing increase into my life?  Is my passion for His word causing my faith to grow exponentially or have I been to busy to treasure it or even read it. To bask in the truth that sets me free is the basis for every spiritual thing in my life?

When, not if, the enemy comes, have I prepared the way for the faith I need to stand my ground, and shield myself?  Have I set the standard of faith for my life so high that the Holy Spirit can come in like a flood and raise up the standard of His truth on my mountain?  What am I giving Him to work with?.

Beloved, no one can excel in their spiritual life without the Word of God having first place. The Spirit of God cannot reveal truth if there is none to reveal.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus came as a baby in a manger.  Just for a moment, visualize that baby in the manger as the Word of God; because it was.  The WORD became flesh and dwelt among us.  The WORD, Jesus, came to offer us all of His kingdom treasures.  The WORD, living, and active, was the gift that lay in that manger just as surely as Baby Jesus was.

What are you doing with the Word? Is it still lying in the manger or on a shelf somewhere?

What if Jesus comes today, what would you have increased and what would have decreased?

Are you investing the Word in your life so that when Jesus comes back, He will see how you treasured His gift to you and how much it has increased in value? Before He left, He extended His Peace to us. Peace is a result of knowing what He has said.  He extended the offer of the riches of His kingdom. The riches of the kingdom will only  be evident in us, when we know what they are. He blessed us with everything He had, and everything He wanted to be for us.

What if the WORD was what He has given you to increase? 

Is Faith increasing?

Is Love increasing?

Is Hope increasing?

Is the Spirit of Truth able to bless your increase and offer you more to increase?

 All the promises are in The Word.  All the strength is in The Word. All the secrets of God are revealed, in the Word. The Word applied, and personal, causes us to increase from strength to strength, from faith to faith, and glory  to glory.

It will set you free.

Power Thought:

Power Of THIS Moment

Key Scripture:  “Be it done unto me according to Your word.”  Luke 1;38

Power Point:

I will never forget the day my first grandson, JD, was born. I was the first grandparent to arrive. When I got off the elevator, I saw a nurse pushing a cart with a baby in it down the hall. Somehow, with my grandmother radar on high alert, I knew that the baby in that plastic container was OURS!  I’ll never forget that moment.  My daughter-in-law, Kim was exhausted.  Frankly, so was my son. Like everyone who has been anticipating this moment, all we wanted to do was to SEE, HOLD and LOVE on that little bundle of joy.

We all said our ‘hello’s” and gave perfunctory hugs but Kim, David (my son), and I really only had eyes for JD.

We had waited patiently for those long nine months of preparation.  We had talked about how wonderful it was going to be, but I don’t think any of us understood the incredible poignancy of that moment.

This is a picture of my friend, Shari. She recently had the joy of welcoming her first grandchild.  I was struck by the quiet joy and perfect peace of this moment for them. After all the waiting, the day has arrived, when words and dreams become flesh and you can hold them in your arms.

I imagine that Mary looked very similar to Shari in this picture. She had been given a promise that she would bear the Promised One.

Shari and Yael

I love what she said to the angel, “My soul is ecstatic, overflowing with praises to God!”  But there was a long period of time between that moment and the moment when the Baby Jesus made His entrance.   It must have been painful at times. There were probably many hurtful words, judgmental glances, and many mistaken conclusions over her pregnancy. Then, suddenly, THIS moment was upon them. Mary found herself actually holding the promise fulfilled. Can you imagine the absolute stillness of that moment, when everything else fades out of your consciousness and you realize that God had chosen you for this assignment and that He was faithful to you?  He kept His promise.  The words that He spoke to you are now flesh and blood, in your very own hands.

I don’t know if you’ve ever had the privilege of witnessing this moment when you can actually see, smell, and touch the birth of a child.  There is nothing that can compare to it.  When you see those pictures of Mary and Joseph, remember that THIS moment was a miracle of the greatest proportions.  Mary and Joseph both knew that she had never been touched by a man.  What she held in her arms was a total impossibility, a miracle; the stunning evidence of God’s love for His people and the fulfillment of His promise to them.  A Savior, who was Christ the Lord, was alive and well, in a stable, in their arms. As much as I savor the memories of my little JD, (And Ben, and Reagan, and Hannah Joy), it pales in comparison to THIS moment when heaven came to earth. Mary and Joseph held in their arms, their own salvation. The  Prince of Peace had come.

You can understand the look on their faces; incredible awe and reverence.

Joy to the World, the Lord has come!

And they were the ones who brought Him forth and laid him in a manger, for all of us to see, to touch, and to love.

May there be Peace in your corner of the earth today, and the joy of a future where you will see, hold and love, His promise fulfilled for your life.

Glory to the Newborn King!

Power Thought:

Have you had THIS moment with Jesus where you SEE Him, Touch Him, and Adore Him?

Copyright ©, 2014, Suzanne Roberts, Unpublished Work