THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING LED

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Romans 8:14 NKJV

I want to say first of all that this is by no means an exhaustive study on being led by the Spirit. This is such a vast subject I am only giving a representative overview to get you started in the exciting, fulfilling life of being led by the Spirit. We spend our life learning to be led by the Spirit and developing sensitivity through relationship with the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us that one of the primary marks of our sonship is the ability and willingness to be led by the Spirit of God. It is possible to know the principles of redemption, faith and confession and not be led and still fail. Many believers are trying to override God’s leading with confession (don’t get me wrong, confession is a vital part of walking in victory). I heard a good example of this from Bro. Keith Moore. He was working for Kenneth Hagin Ministries taking calls for prayer. A lady called and said that she claimed Psalm 91 over herself and got mugged anyway. She wanted to know why her angel did not protect her. After questioning her for a few minutes he found out that where she was mugged was a rough part of town. He then asked if she felt she needed to go there, to which she responded not only did she not feel she needed to go, she actually got a check in her spirit about going from the Holy Spirit. Please understand me, I am not being critical, I have done it. Many of us has done it. But let us not kid ourselves. We cannot override God’s leading with confession. This is why some people go home to heaven early.

We Are To Be Led By The Spirit And Not By Need.

Many ministers in particular wear themselves out because they are not led. They never have time for their own families because they are not led in to whom they minister to. I realize I am not called to help everyone. We would be a lot more effective if we were led. Many bankrupt themselves ministering to the poor. Jesus said that the poor we would have with us always (Matthew 26:11). So if we are led by need there will never be enough. There are also many worthy causes that need millions of dollars of support. So the answer is be led. If everyone does what God leads them to do, God’s purpose will be carried out in the earth. God himself is not and cannot be moved by need. Jesus is touched by the feeling of our infirmities (Hebrews 4:15) but not moved by them. God can only move through our faith in the Word of God. If God was moved by needs there would not be a need in the world. Our need moved God 2000 years ago when He sent His Son to the cross. In that act of redemption every need of ours was met in the mind of God. We have to appropriate it by faith. So if we are going to be led by the Spirit we cannot be led by need.

We Are To Be Led By The Spirit And Not By “Fleeces”

Many believers are “putting out fleeces before the Lord”. If you are not familiar with this line of thinking it comes from a misappropriation of the story of Gideon in Judges 6.

So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said—  look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water.  Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.”  And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.
Judges 6:36-40 NKJV

Although it is true that Gideon did ask to be led by wet and dry fleeces and God honored it, we have to view this story in light of its historical context. First of all the Bible is progressive revelation.

But the word of the LORD was to them, “ Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little,”… Isaiah 28:11 NKJV

Simply put the characters in the Old Testament did not know everything we know under the New Covenant. Both Paul and Jesus said they were revealing mysteries kept secret from the foundation of the world. So we cannot get away with doing some of the things people did under the Old Covenant because they were walking in all the light they had. We, however, should know better.
The second thing to consider about Gideon, as well as all other Old Testament believers, is they were spiritually dead. The New Birth was not available as we know it until Jesus presented His blood on the Heavenly Holy of Holies. That is why God had to deal with His people in such drastic ways. They did not have the Spirit of God residing in their spirit to the same degree we do under the New Covenant.

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:38-39 NKJV

The Holy Spirit would come upon the prophet, priest, and king to accomplish a particular task. Jesus had the Spirit of God come upon Him and remain.

And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:32-34 NKJV

Jesus also said when we receive the Holy Spirit under the New Covenant, that He would remain with us.

Now that we have the Holy Spirit we should flow with God’s process under the New Covenant which is being led by the Spirit.
The third fact about Gideon is that his whole nation was out of fellowship with God. The whole reason God called upon Gideon to deliver His people is because they had gone into captivity because of their rebellion.
You may say, “Well brother that is all well and good, but I have never put out a fleece.” There are different variations of the fleece that believers use all the time. The underlying principle of the fleece mentality is trying to determine the will of God through natural circumstances. Some say, “Lord, if this is Your will, open the door, if not close it.” That is a fleece prayer. We are led by the Spirit, not opportunities. Satan will always offer a shortcut to your divine destiny. This is what satan did when he offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus would ultimately gain authority over the world through His death burial and resurrection. Satan was offering it to Him without having to pay the price for it. So if we require evidence in the seen realm to follow God’s leading Satan can compensate us with a counterfeit. On the other hand we are not to be led by “closed doors”. If you are led this way, all satan has to do is throw up a few roadblocks and you will say, “well, it must not have been the will of God after all”. No! If we have God’s Word and leading on it we should keep standing and keep knocking until the door opens.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-9 NKJV

Another example of a fleece prayer is, “Lord, if this is really you, let three men with red hats walk by.”  Once again, if you are looking in the natural seen realm, you are opening yourself up for deception.

If you want to be in position to expect to receive God’s leading, you must be led by the Spirit.

Another way God led his believers that was valid under the Old Covenant was casting lots. This is how the apostles selected Matthias.

This part is a little blind to us in English. In the Greek the word “sons” is the word “Huios” (pronounced whee-os). It literally means mature sons. Contrast that word with “children” in Romans 8:16.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Romans 8:16 NKJV

The word translated children is the Greek word “teknon” which simply means offspring. In Hebrew culture when a son reached maturity his father would take him to the city gates, where all the business of that day was carried out (much like city hall or the courthouse of our day), and would say, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Hear him.” From that day forward when the son spoke it was as if the father was speaking. He carried all the clout of the father. He would give him his signet ring that acted as a stamp that is just like the fathers signature. This is when he transitioned from a child (teknon) to a son (huios). So according to Paul, being led by the Spirit is one way we are released into greater measures of responsibility.

Not Seeking God’s Leading Is A Manifestation Of Pride.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know whatwill happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”  But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

James 4:13-17 NKJV

When we refuse to seek God’s direction we deny His Lordship which is the height of arrogance thus causing God’s grace to wane off of our life.

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “ God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:6-7 NKJV

It is also not wisdom to not seek counsel from someone eternal when we are finite (see James 4:14).

God’s Provision Is Tied To His Leading.

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Psalm 23:1 NIV

To the degree we submit to God as our Shepherd is to the degree we can expect to walk in His provision. We see this illustrated in the life of Elijah in the time of famine.

“Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.  And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

1 Kings 17:3-4 NKJV

The provision was at the Brook Cherith. Had he not gone there he would  not have received God’s provision. Just when he started to get settled in God led him to move again.

I’ve put together five categories with my personal top five items. (Click here to see Part One: List One—Fitness and wellness rules to live by) These lists are not limited to all that I believe, eat and participate in, but they are the ones I like best and do most often. Included are links to sites that I believe will assist you in gaining knowledge about your weight loss/maintenance efforts. I believe in you, and more importantly so does God! He promised to bless everything you do, and you can do all things through Christ who give you strength (Ps. 1:3; Phil 4:13). Here goes:

List Two—Top five free ways to get fit

After a lot of prayer and research, I ended up living by these methods during my initial weight loss. It barely cost me anything!

1. Get a library card. Go to your local library and check out fitness DVDs that are enjoyable for you. I don’t think I mentioned this earlier, but I did not have a gym membership nor was I a fitness instructor when I lost weight. I was (and still am) at the library often checking things out and trying them out. I renewed and used the ones I liked and returned the rest at no cost!
2. Utilize FitTV. Your satellite, cable or fiber-optic television provider may not offer this channel. However, if you do have it, it is another excellent resource. Nearly everyone owns a DVR. Check out the fitness programs on FitTV, and program your recorder accordingly. This is slightly better than using the library in some cases because you don’t have to leave the house at all. There are a variety of shows to choose from and the information is top notch. Resource: www.fittv.com
3. Go to a local university or high school track. Although the track itself is not one of my favorite things, the variety of things I can do there motivates me. I also love being outside so I can savor God’s awesomeness. This is also a great place to go with a friend or two—and then, go out for lunch! Resource: (http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-520–13479-0,00.html)
4. Invest in a pair of dumbbells or resistance bands. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of strength training as a part of any fitness routine. Initially, I neglected this portion and my body suffered as a result. If your muscles are strong (I didn’t say big), your body will be strong. So even if all you have is a pair of five pound dumbbells for strength training, use them! Here are two resources for you to checkout: http://www.webmd.com/video/exercise-bands and http://women.webmd.com/family-health-9/slideshow-30-minute-workout-routine.
5. Two-minute cardio and toners. Every little bit helps. It’s true. Sometimes on my way to get a basket of dirty laundry from upstairs, I’ll drop and do a set of pushups. Or, in the middle of some kitchen activity, I’ll grab a barstool and crank out some lateral leg lifts. Every form of movement during your day accelerates your metabolism. I’m one of those people who always hears, “I wish I had your energy!” First of all, I live, move and have my being in Christ! Second, I always want to respond, “You do, you just aren’t using it!” God created us in His image. Our bodies have the power to heal themselves and live as long as we want to live—the quality and quantity of your life is entirely up to you (all things being equal, of course). Take ideas from the resources above and give yourself energy boost through exercise all day long. Resource: Live Long, Finish Strong by Gloria Copeland www.kcm.org.

Be blessed friends and have the perfect day everyday

Psalm 138:8

Shontta

One of the reasons that I write the way I do is that I want you to develop a thirst to know God better. God is a good God and he has good plans for your life. Plans of prosperity that are free from harm. Today, I want to talk to you about what you do when you miss the mark. Even when we sin, God has made provision for us to blot that sin from His memory, and to be fully restored to righteousness. 9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? – Proverbs 20:9 If you’ve sinned, you’re not alone. We have all sinned. There is only one man that ever walked the earth sin-free, and that one was both fully man and fully God. His name is Jesus.

“When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to his own land, far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their conquerors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy; for they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace. – 1 Kings 8:46

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:8

If you want to be restored to righteousness, confess it before God. He will forget what you have done and give you a fresh start. God’s mercies are new every morning. He wants to think well of you. He wants you to want Him to think well of you.

He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. – Psalm 103:10-12

In the verse above, Jesus clearly says that we will get what we ask for, which should be what we desire. With this verse in mind, why aren’t people more successful? I would like to submit to you that people don’t generally know how to properly desire success.

My observation is that most people focus on what they have, which is generally what they don’t want. If someone wants more or different from what they have, the secret is to desire what you are missing not what you are currently experiencing. Thus, when you pray, pray for what you want, not what you have.

Spend time today picturing yourself being what you want to be. Do you want to be fit? Imagine in your mind’s eye that you have the exact body that you want, that you eat precisely as you should, and you enjoy exercising. Don’t forget to thank God for causing this image to come to pass in your life. Remember, He said that you would have whatever you asked for. Make this image as clear and detailed as possible. Now, look for opportunities to make this image come to pass. You’ll be amazed how information, relationships, and resources start appearing to help you get to what you desire.

God wants to give us what we desire. Thus, it would make sense that one way to please God is to desire something. What do you desire today?

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” – Mark 11:24 (KJV)

An intimate look at the Kenneth Copeland Ministries Prayer Department. KCM receives over 14,000 calls a week! We also make outbound phone calls to our friends and partners duri…

• The world has a way of thinking, and the end is death
• What you’re expecting is synonymous with what you’re believing for
• You can’t hold two contradictory beliefs simultaneously
• Who are you trying to please?
• Who or what is influencing your thinking?
• Are you going to think Biblically or worldly?

Satan tries to move your mind to accept things that you ought not accept and lower your expectations. We must turn our expecting to what we desire. We need to make up our minds. Are we going to put on an act, or are we going to take actions that us up with what God says about us.

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4

Faith is not optional. Hebrewers 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Worldly thinking keeps you from the reality of the Word. My mindset is that “this is the Truth” when I read the Bible. Try this for a week–eliminate all entertainment but the Word. The results will astound you. Jesus said in John 15:7, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”