We're
continuing to look at God's promises and how they relate to us as
believers. Philippians 4:19 is a promise that is quoted frequently: "My
God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by
Christ Jesus." Does that mean that God's going to supply all of your
needs? It's not a promise that He's going to take care of all of your
wants or desires, and when you get down to brass tacks, you'll find out
there's a big difference between needs and wants. God has promised to
cover every area of need: physical, spiritual, and emotional. But if
we're not aware of the promise, then we don't have anything to stand on.
So,
the solution to that is to become aware of His promises. You gotta find
what the Word has to say concerning various situations. And when you
find the promise, you have the right and the authority to stand on it!
So no matter what comes, we stand. It doesn't matter what the devil has
to say or what the world thinks. I'm standing on the promises of God, as
I have need of endurance, so that after I've done the will of God, I
may receive the promise. We just have to find the promise in order to
have a foundation to stand upon. The promise is our platform. It's
what's going to hold us up. It's what we stand on having done all to
stand. If we are aware and knowledgeable of the promise, then we can
stand long and strong knowing that God is faithful! God is not a man
that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should repent. Has He
said, and will He not do? Has He spoken and will He not make it good? He
will! In fact, in the list of attributes of God, faithfulness ranks
right there at the top.
By
the way, someone might say, "Love is the number one attribute of God."
Love is not the number one attribute of God! Love is not just one of His
characteristics. Love is something that He is. He IS love. It's not
just something about Him. It's what He is. God is love; He is life. God
is light. Those are some of the things that "I AM" is.
Many
times what we lack (or where the discrepancy comes in) is in our point
of view. We don't see as God sees, so our outlook must change. God
freely gives vision and provision. This is going to sound very
simplistic to some of you, but all we need is faith in God! You've heard
it said, "Where God gives vision, He gives provision." But you see, you
gotta first have the vision in order to receive and experience the
provision! In other words, the vision is the way that God sees things;
that's His perspective. And when we come into the Kingdom through a
relationship with Jesus Christ, we have a human perspective, and
perspective, by definition, is a periscope. It is THE periscope through
which we are looking at life. In other words, it is the periscope
through which we are viewing each area of our life. It could be in regard to our health, finances, family, or marriage.
I
used to have a totally different perspective many years ago. I used to
think that it was okay for a man and a woman to live together without
being married: co-habitation. My wife would tell you today why so many
people live together. Her definition is very clear, and she means no
offense by this, but why buy the cow when you can have the milk for
free? Some of you will get that later.
But
my perspective has radically changed in many areas of life, like
abortion. I used to think as the world thinks: "That it's a woman's
right to choose and that a woman should have the right to do whatever
she wants with her own body." She has the right to do what she wants
with her own body; she just doesn't have the right to take an innocent
life! Different perspectives!
Perspective
is the periscope through which we view life, and it's the first thing
that needs to begin to change in our lives: the way we see. We must
receive revelation of God's Word in the Bible. Not just what we think He
said, and not just what we feel like the Holy Ghost is speaking to us.
Because if we feel like the Holy Ghost is speaking something to us, and
it's not lining up with the Word, then it might be a ghost, but it ain't
the Holy Ghost!
Perspective
changes as a result of revelation. Revelation by definition is an
uncovering. It is a revealing of something. It is enlightenment. So
suddenly, through the work of the Holy Spirit within us, the Word of God
takes on life. Now the Word of God is being revealed to us in a way
that it never was before. I read the Bible as a sinner and it didn't
make a whole lot of sense, but now it's like, suddenly every time I open
the Bible, WOW! God is speaking to me! YES, He is! And He's speaking to
you, too, for a purpose! He wants to give you revelation. Revelation
is always intended for one purpose: to bring conviction. By conviction, I
do not mean guilt. Conviction literally speaks of persuasion. It speaks
of changing the way you think which is what the Apostle Paul wrote
about in Romans 12:2, "Be not conformed to the world, rather be
transformed . . ." How are you going to be transformed? By the
renewing of your mind. You get your mind renewed when revelation of
God's Word comes. Your perspective begins to change.
Vickie
and I are looking forward to our soon return to Cliffdale Christian
Center after being on an extended mission trip to the Dominican
Republic. Thank you so much for your prayers and support!
~ pg
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