The Inspired Box - The Lord Is With Me

 

 

Deuteronomy 31:8

The LORD Himself goes before you;

He will be with you. He will never forsake you.

Do not be afraid or discouraged. 

    You are not alone in the annals of time, when you feel discouraged, a little on the edge or alone: you are in great company. Here Moses is speaking encouragement into Joshua's hearing and spirit in front of all the Israelites. For now Moses has entrusted the leadership he held for so long into Joshua's hands. A young leader taking the place of an elder is being blessed in his position by that elder. 

    Do not be afraid, young leader, nor allow discouragement to take hold of your thoughts and do let it rein in your actions. For THE LORD IS WITH YOU. He must lead you where He wants you to go. He must direct your steps and you must walk in the way He has planned and set before you. 

    The LORD has promised to never leave us, nor forsake us. He is ALWAYS with us when we obey His Word, His direction. We must not let distractions draw our attention away from the duties to hand. Distractions take up time which we do not have to spare, for these are the last minutes, even seconds perhaps, before Christ's return. 

    The disciples believed that they were living in the last days before Christ's return to come and gather them with Him. It's been nearly 2.000 years since then and still the church awaits the return of her King. But if 2,000 years was the last days and the last hours, surely we are nearer now. Do not doubt He is coming.

    For The Word says that "in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Corinthians 15:52) Jesus will come and get His church. "Like a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:2) He will appear: swiftly, silently, stealthily (for no one will see Him, no one will hear Him and no one will be aware of His approach when His Father sends Him to come and get us. 

    So, stand up young leaders; you who have been called to lead God's people into God's kingdom. Stand on The Word of God as you walk in it. Stand and hear what God is speaking to you today. Stand strong in your LORD and Savior (steadfast on The Rock of your Salvation) and see what The LORD can do. 

    Lead by Christ's example: 

Lead in the all-encompassing love of God

Lead in submission to The Word of God

Lead in surrender to The Word of God

Lead in tender mercies

Lead in lovingkindness

Lead where no one wants to go (to the least of these)

Lead in prisons and hospitals (setting captives free and healing the sick)

Lead in your homes, your schools and your towns 

Lead only where God tells you, directs you, to lead 

Lead in humility (admit failings and triumphs, take responsibility for your actions/words spoken)

Lead with integrity (be honorable and live honestly) 

    Many of the faithful churches which still stand are filled with elders. The young have grown up and moved out of the church and its steadfast doctrine of saving grace. The faint sound of children's voices and happy laughter are just a whisper of memory. But even now God is calling His wandering children to repent and return to Him. Fear not little churches, God will raise up leaders for Himself who will serve Him honorably and humbly. 

Dear Lord,

       We pray that The Holy Spirit would get ahold of each and every one of you who are not serving Him faithfully -- regardless of your age--, convicting you of sin and leading you back to Christ in God. We pray that God would pour out His Holy Spirit upon our homes, our neighborhoods, our communities, our towns and cities, our countries. We pray for a mighty outpouring of God to bring you into His kingdom, drawing you in with His Words of Love and Life. 

In Jesus' Beautiful Name,
Amen. 

FEAR NOT - Carman

LET IT RAIN = Michael W. Smith 

HOLY SPIRIT RAIN DOWN 

  

Thanks Be To God - - For His Continued Presence

 

HEBREWS 13:5

Let your manner of life be without covetousness, being satisfied with the present; for He Himself has said: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

LIFE LIVED IN PEACE

Conversation means lifestyle, manner of life. We are to live peaceable lives which glorify God. Lives lived in such a way do not covet, desire, what is not theirs to have. It's okay if we don't keep up with the Joneses of this world. We have God for our God and He is Enough.

Exodus 20:17

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

LIFE LIVED SATISFIED

We are to live a satisfied life, a life that says, I am content with the God who provides for me. As long as I follow His Word, His lead, He will be my God and I will be of His people. 

Philippians 4:11-13

11. I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.

12. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.

13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

LIFE LIVED FEARLESSLY

We are to live our lives in Him, with Him and for Him: for He is with us always, as long as we are with Him. 

Hebrews 13:6

So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

LIFE LIVED IN HIS PRESENCE

We are to give this life we have been given back to the One who gave us life. Romans 12:1 tells us to 'surrender our bodies a living sacrifice'. God wants us to live in Him and He wants to live in us. 

If we want to live fearlessly in this world, we need to live life according to God's Word and maintain a loving, working relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This is the foundation on which we build satisfied, fearless lives. 

Matthew 28:20

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My Righteousness.

LIFE LIVED IN CHRIST

If we want God to remain with us, we need to remain with Him. Once saved, always saved is not a viable option. His Word warns us against leaving Him, for without His continued presence amongst His people, His wrath will fall on us. We will be judged and found lacking. But when we obey His Word and follow His Spirit, we will lack nothing, for He is with us. 

John 15:4

Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. 

Romans 12:4, 5

4. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,

5. so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.

1 Peter 2:5

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3306

Remain: stay, abide, wait for; I stay, I wait for, I abide; not depart, not leave, continue to be present

Dear God, 

As Sarah said, You Are The God Who Sees. See me, see my heart and prepare me to face those who will come against me as I follow You in Your Word. Strengthen my heart to be better equipped to serve You. 
Lord, I long to see Your face and hear Your voice: help me to do so. With joy I search Your Word and ask You to reveal Yourself more everyday. Be strength for those who have walked this journey before me, whom I have loved and admired. Be their memories and their wisdom; remove not their testimony, nor their witness. 

As our elders leave us, meet us where we are and bring us to where You are. Though our hands are weak and our knees are feeble, You are our Strength: You impart Yourself to us and we are made the stronger for it. You give us vision for the days ahead, wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent. 

Help us to glorify Your name wherever we are or may go. As we strive to remain in You, may we be more aware than ever that You are with us. Even now.

In Jesus' Beautiful Name, I pray,

Amen

Nothing Without You by Will Reagan

Whom Shall I Fear? by Chris Tomlin