AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Saturday – August 22, 2020, Elul 2, 5780
THE PLACE OF SAFETY – PART FOURTEEN
Greetings dear saints of God and welcome back to this Saturday series titled “The Place of Safety”. To hear some tell it, you just never know, you just get up in the morning and take your chances. They may go on to tell us that the bad things of this life in our lives is somehow the will of God, our “cross” to bear, and He is working everything together for good, and it is happening for a reason. Is that in your Bible? Is that the God you serve? Before we dive deeper into our lesson lets take a moment and share this teaching to expand the reach of this Ministry and the reach of the Truth. Do we believe that absolute safety is possible for those in Christ Jesus or do we believe disaster could strike without warning at any moment and it would all somehow be the will of God?
Much of the Church believes all of these things I have noted above plus many more traditions of men and doctrines of devils. Do we see any connection between believing something other than the Word of God and the lack in our lives? We might argue that we believe the Bible but is that really the case when we look at the fruit of our lives. Unfortunately, many false doctrines have grown up to support financial poverty, sickness, and all kinds of other lack in our lives. What do you say, we be good Bereans and believe the Bible supporting every belief with at least two witnesses? There is no safety outside of the unwavering faith in the pure Word of God, walking in love, and being led of the Holy Spirit. Again, consider the following passage focused on verse six.
Romans 8:5-8 (KJV)
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Bold added)
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Now, do you like the sounds of death in your life or do you like the sounds of life and peace. The choice is ours. When we look at our lives, are we flesh led or are we Spirit led? Like many places in Scripture it has to do with focus. Are we focused on the Word of God and hearing the Holy Spirit (our inner voice) or are we following and focusing on the things that satisfy (very temporarily) the carnal nature? I am hopeful that we can all agree there is no safety in death but there is safety in life and peace. The very definition of safety is the preservation of life, Zoë life, life as God knows life, and peace, the same peace God enjoys. When we believe the curse may jump us at any moment we are in unbelief and subject to the curse.
What does it mean to “mind the things of the flesh” or mind the things of the Spirit? The word translated as ‘mind’ in our text is also translated as think 5 times, regard 4 times, mind 3 times, be minded 3 times, savour 2 times, and be of the same mind or like minded 4 times according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. The definition in the Greek has to do with what does one interest oneself in (with concern or obedience), set their affection on, be of the same, regard, savour, or think according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. In short, where is our mind most of the time and what do we enjoy the most? Are we about our Heavenly Father’s business in which there is great safety and eternal reward or are we about the god of this worlds business which offers nothing but stealing, killing, and destroying? When I say stealing, killing, and destroying, I don’t mean just the threat of damage but actual damage occurring. Jesus said that where our heart is, is where our treasure and of course our thoughts will be. Is the following passage telling us it is the will of God for us to live in poverty or is it telling us to focus first on the things of God?
Matthew 6:19-24 (KJV)
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Of course, it is about focus, Who or what do we love, set our affection upon. When we are focused on the things of this world we will be continually taking in darkness and the darkness will become greater and greater. We may go to Heaven but in full defeat and retreat from the enemy when all the while Jesus paid for nothing but victory and prosperity in every area of life. As we end for today meditate the following Scripture until next Saturday.
Matthew 12:34-37 (KJV)
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Who decides on the curse or the blessing in their life? Lord willing, I will pick up right here next week.
2 Chronicles 20:20b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name! Quit asking God to bless you, you are already blessed, you have the Blessing, give Him something to do by the words of your mouth. Once you know the will of God, decree the thing (Job 22:28, Isaiah 45:11, Mark 11:23). (The Blessing is the Holy Spirit) We have left God way to long with nothing to do in our lives.
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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