GREAT BATTLES: GREAT VICTORIES

AUG 1, 2010, Our Message Series:
Great Battles - Great Victories, continues. "THE BATTLE WITH AMALEK (The Symbol of All That's Evil in the World)"; Exodus 17. Amalek represent hindrance to the destiny of the Symbolic Church (Israel). He will constantly try to destroy you and will not regard your office, position or anointing but he will ultimately FALL!        A Prophetic Message For Today!   

Look for the message online at www.christalive.cc/mp3messages.html

Imitating Christ - #34

If we would overcome one fault a year we would soon be perfect! But often we find that we were better and purer when we first turned to God than after years supposedly spent in His service.  Actually, our fervor and desire for virtue should increase every day as we grow older. 

But now it is considered wonderful if we still hold on to the spark of our first fervor.  It is far easier to break evil habits at the outset, for then acts of virtue are done more readily and with a happy heart.

Imitating Christ - #33

If only we would exert ourselves and take a firm stand on this battle, we would see how God comes to our aid, for He is always ready to help those who put their trust in Him.  He even provides occasions for us to do battle so that we will overcome and be victorious.

If our religion consists only in outward observances, our piety will soon come to an end. We had better lay our axe to the root, that being purged from our passions, we may possess our soul in peace.

Imitating Christ - #32

If we would die to self-love, soon we would enjoy spiritual things and then we would experience heavenly contemplation.  As it is , we do not force ourselves to overcome our passions and disorderly desires and to follow the path of the Saints and this is our greatest obstacle to contemplation.  As soon as any little difficulty comes our way, we are easily cast down and turn to human consolation.
Father we turn to you for your consolation and support in all seasons of our lives.

Imitating Christ - #31

The reason why the Saints were so perfectly recollected is that they always sought to abstain from worldly desires, leaving thmeselves free to give their whole heart to God.  But we are absorbed in our own passions and too concerned with passing things.  We seldom overcome even one single fault; we are slow to make progress and therefore remain cold and indifferent. 

Lord, let you grace come to us to change us into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Imitating Christ - #30

We would indeed have peace if we would attend to our own affairs.  How can you remain in peace when you deliberately interfere in other people's business and seek worldly occupation with seldom a thought to interior recollections?  The humble and the single-hearted are truly blessed and will have abundant peace.

Imitating Christ - #29

But the sad part of it all is that all we say and do is for nothing; for the comfort we receive from others hinders us from receiving the comfort that comes from God.  It is better to watch and pray so that we do not waste time in idleness.  If you have leave to speak and it is expedient, then speak of God and of those things which will edify.

A bad use or neglect of our spiritual progress makes us careless of what we say.  However, devout conversation on spiritual matters is beneficial to the soul, especially when men who are congenial in mind and spirit are drawn together in God.

Imitating Christ - #28

Flee as much as possible the company of worldly people.  For discussing worldly matters, no matter how good the intention, is a great obstacle to the spiritual life. If we are not careful, we can be easily deceived and attracted by the vanity of the world.  Often I regret the things I have said and wished that I had not spent so much time in worldly company.

We think that by getting togethere with others we will be a comfort to one another and find relaxation by discussing the things that burden us; but the end result of all this gossip about things we like or dislike only leaves us with a guilty conscience.

Imitating Christ - #27

I have often heard it said that it is surer to take advice than to give it!  It is good to listen to every man's advice; but when it is sound, to disagree is sheer stubborness.

The Affliction of Pride (When We Get Too Big For God)

King Uzziah started out well, doing everything that was right but over time he decided that he was bigger than God. He was not satisfied in playing the role that he was called to do but decided that he was now able to do what he wanted.

What a travesty in God's kingdom when we become BIGGER THAN GOD! Now matter how good, our GOOD deeds, God is not pleased - let's find our place, rest in it and allow the Lord to use us where we are and please, walk in love in deed not only in Word because it shows!

2 Chronicles 26:9-22
9 Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate and at the angle of the wall, and he fortified them. 10 He also built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.

11 Uzziah had a well-trained army, ready to go out by divisions according to their numbers as mustered by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officials. 12 The total number of family leaders over the fighting men was 2,600. 13 Under their command was an army of 307,500 men trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies.

14 Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows and slingstones for the entire army. 15 In Jerusalem he made machines designed by skillful men for use on the towers and on the corner defenses to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.

16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in. 18 They confronted him and said, "It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God."

19 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord's temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him.

21 King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house - leprous, and excluded from the temple of the Lord. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

Imitating Christ - #26

In reality, everyone is inclined to do his own will and agrees more readily with those who hold with his views.  But if we want to have the presence of God among us, then we must be willling ot give up our own way in order to live in love and harmony with others.  Surely there is no one so wise that he knows everything.

Therefore, listen to the opinions of others and do not trust too much to your own point of view. Perhaps you are right, but by setting aside your own will and following another out of love for God, you will profit by it.

Imitating Christ - #25

To be obedient, to live under a superior - not seeking our own way - is great virtue.  It is safer to obey orders than to give them.  Many obey more out of necessity than for charity's sake.  These find it burdensome and complain easily;  but they will never have liberty of spirit until they submit wholly to authority for the love of God.

Go where you will, but you will never find rest except in humble obedience to the rule of your superior.  Many are deceived by thinking that a change of location will solve their difficulties.

The Refiner's Fire

Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.' 

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.  One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'  He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy --when I see my image in it.'

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Great Is God In Our Midst

"The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." Zephaniah 3:17 KJV

What else can I say?  Jesus Christ is our all in all, since I was five years old I have known about and loved my Lord Jesus and His Father.   Now that the decades have come and gone I still have such a love and respect for my God!  He is gracious, I've failed, fallen short, even sinned at times but he remains faithfull to forgive me and still walks arm in arm with me through this life. 

O Lord, hear the cry of my heart and save me!

... be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not,[I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down or ( relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] Hebrews 13:5 AMP

Imitating Christ - #24

We must have charity for all, but familiarity is not always expedient. It sometimes happens that a person, when not known, shines by a good reputation, who, when he is present, is disagreeable to them that see him.  We think sometimes to please others by being with them; and we begin rather to disgust them by the evil behaviour which they discover in us.

Imitating Christ - #23

It is good for us to have sometimes troubles and adversities: for they make a man enter into himself, that he may know that he is in a state of banishment, and may not place his hope in anything of this world. 

It is good that we sometimes suffer contradictions and that men have an evil or imperfect opinion of us when we do and intend well.  These things are often helps to humility and defend us from vainglory. 

For then we better run to God, our inward witness, when outwardly we are despised by men and little credit is given to us.

Imitating Christ - #22

If a man gives in to himself, then he sufferes remorse of consience becaue he has yielded to temptation and does not find the peace of mind he desires.  We find our peace only by resisting our passions, not by giving in to them.  Peace is in the heart of the devout and fervent man, not in the one who is carnal and gives himself to outward things.

Imitating Christ - #21

Whensoever a man desires anything inordinately he is presently disquieted within himself.  The proud and covetous are never easy. The poor and humble of spirit live in much peace.  The man that is not yet perfectly dead to himself is soon tempted and overcome with small and trifling things. 

He that is weak in spirit, and in a manner yet carnal and inclined to sensible things, can hardly withdraw himself wholly from earthly desires.  And therefore he is often sad when he withdraws himself from them and is easily moved to anger if any one thwarts him.

Imitating Christ - #20

Men pass away, "but the truth of the Lord remaineth forever".  God speaks in many ways to us, without respect of persons.  Our curiosity often hinders us in reading the scriptures when we attempt to understand and discuss that which should be simply passed over.  If thou wilt receive profit read with humility, simplicity, and faith;  and seek not at any time the fame of being learned. 

Willingly inquire after, and hear with silence the words of the saints; and be pleased with the parables of the ancients, for they are not spoken without cause.

Imitating Christ - #19

Truth is to be sought for in the Holy Scripture, not eloquence.  All Holy Scripture ought to be read with that spirit with which it was made.  We must rather seek for profit in the Scriptures than for subtlety of speech.  We ought as willingly to read devout and simple books as those that are high and profound. 

Let not the authority of the writer offend thee, whether he was of little or great in learning, but let the love of pure truth lead thee to read.  Inquire not who said this, but attend to what is said.

Imitating Christ - #18

It is great wisdom not to be rash in our doings; nor to maintain too obstinately our own opinion. Nor should we believe every man’s word; nor presently tell others the things which we have heard or believed. Consult with a wise and conscientious man and seek rather to be instructed by one who is better than to follow thine own inventions. 

A good life makes a man wise according to God, and expert in many things. The more humble a man is in himself, and more subject to God, the more wise will he be in all things and the more at peace.

And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. Galatians 2:2  KJV

Imitating Christ - #17

We must not be easy in giving credit to every word and suggestion, but carefully and leisurely weigh the matter according to God.  Alas! such is our weakness, that we often more readily believeand speak of another that which is evil than that which is good. 

But perfect men do not easily give credit to every report, because they know man's weakness, which is very prone to evil and very subject to fail in words.

Imitating Christ - #16

How quickly does the glory of the world pass away! I would that our lives had been answerable to our learning; then we would have studied and read well. How many perish in the world through vain learning, who care little for the service of God. And because they choose rather to be great than to be humble, there they are lost in their own imaginations.

He is truly great who is great in love. He is truly great who is little in his own eyes and holds as nothing the pinncacle of honor. He is truly prudent who looks upon all earthly things as nothing that he may gain Chirst. He is very learned indeed who does the will of God and renounces his own will.

Imitating Christ - #15

Oh, if men would use as much diligence in rooting out vices and planting virtues as they do in proposing questions there would not be so great evils committed, nor scandals among the people, nor so much relaxation in monasteries.

Verily, when the day of judgment comes, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done; nor how learnedly we have spoken, but how religiously we have lived.  Tell me where are now all those great doctors with whom thou wast well acquainted while they were living and flourished in learning?

Now others fill their places, and I know not whether they ever think of them.  In their lifetime they seemed to be something and now they are not spoken of.

Imitating Christ - #14

All perfections in this life are attended with some imperfections; and all our speculations with a certain obscurity. The humble knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than the deepest search after science.  Learning is not to be blamed, nor the mere knowledge of anything which is good in itself and ordained by God; but a good conscience and a virtuous life are always to be preferred before it.

But because many make it more their study to knowthan to live well, therefore are they often deceived and bring forth none, or very little fruit.