Philippians 1:6 (AMP) "And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you." At salvation, a good work begins in us. The work continues in us daily by the Holy Spirit. We need to realize what the Lord God starts, He always finishes. The Lord God desires to transform our lives, and it is a continual work. Even when we feel discouraged and we are not making progress in our walk with the Lord. We must remember that the Lord God never gives up on us. He promises us that He will finish the good work in us.
When we feel distressed by our shortcomings, we need to remember and be confident in the Lord God's promise, provision, and power. We cannot let our present condition rob us of the joy of knowing Christ, keep us from growing closer to Him, or to be more like Him. Romans tells us the Lord God's goal for believers is that they are to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that [Jesus] might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Copyright @September 2020 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
What causes issues in our lives? Is it truly the situations, circumstances, or could be a lack of knowledge of God's Word? When there is a lack, it means something is still needed. We have some knowledge but not enough. We know God's Word, some but not enough. Hosea states my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Also, what causes us issues is a lack of perception. We think in our understanding, not according to God's wisdom. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Our human insight is never enough.
Another thing that causes us issues is lack of appropriation. We might have knowledge of the Word of God, but it does not abide in our hearts. We do not live the Word. James 1:22 (NKJV) "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." Hearing the Word is only the beginning. We deceive ourselves into thinking hearing is enough. It is only by appropriating God's Word that we will be to withstand the storms of life.
Also, many people lack the desire to change. They are not yielded to the Lord God, so His Holy Spirit can change us. We are to be transformed into the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit, as we spend time in His presence.
Another lack that causes issues in our life is a lack of humility. We are not submitted to the Lord, but think we can do it ourselves. James tells us we need to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord. When we humble ourselves, we acknowledge that we need the Lord God's help. We need Him in every aspect of our lives.
Copyright @August 2020 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
In the Book of Esther, Mordecai tells Queen Esther, Esther 4:14 (AMP), “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?” The Lord God had placed Esther in a place of influence for that time. Esther stepped forward and became that influence that saved her people. The Lord has each of us living at this time, so that we can be an influence. We often need to be reminded that the Lord has a plan for us and that each of us is valuable, and we have a purpose. He did not call us to sit on the sidelines. We need to serve the Lord God, where we are. He has called us to be an influence. First and foremost, we need as believers to pray.
Yes, we live in an uncertain time, but how are we making an impact, bringing encouragement, inspiring others, or making a change. We need to be a light in these times. Spurgeon wrote, “ I believe that in dark times God is making lamps with which to remove the gloom.” We need to bring hope to those who are floundering. We need to be peace amid fear.
Ponder this:
My Life shall touch a dozen lives
Before this day is done,
Leave countless marks of good or ill,
E’er sets the evening sun.
This, the wish I always wish,
The prayer I always pray;
Lord, may my life help other lives,
It touches by the way. —Author Unknown
Copyright @August 2020 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
We sing this song in Church, “Hear these praises from a grateful heart. Each time I think of You the praises start. Love You so much, Jesus. Love You so much. Lord, I love You, my soul sings. In Your presence, carried on Your wings. Love You so much, Jesus. Love You so much.”
The question arises how often do we think about the Lord God during the course of our day. How often do we praise Him during the day? Are we so busy with our daily routine and obligations that the Lord rarely enters our thinking? Is our heart grateful or full of complaints about life? Are we continually entertaining and conversing about things that we are upset about, disagree with, or complaining about others, etc. In our daily life, are we considering the Word of God and how we should apply it to the things we are encountering? Are we instantly praying about these things? Are we trusting the Lord by putting things into His hands, or are we trying to solve things in our own understanding?
We have been called to a life of praise. Psalms 34:1 (NKJV) “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
An elderly gentleman at a midweek meeting offered this prayer: “O Lord, we will praise Thee; we will praise Thee with an instrument of ten strings!” People wondered what he meant, but understood when he continued, “We will praise Thee with our two eyes by looking only unto Thee. We will exalt Thee with our two ears by listening only to Thy voice. We will extol Thee with our two hands by working in Thy service. We will honor Thee with our own two feet by walking in the way of Thy statutes. We will magnify Thee with our tongue by bearing testimony to Thy loving kindness. We will worship Thee with our heart by loving only Thee. We thank Thee for this instrument, Lord; keep it in tune. Play upon it as Thou wilt and ring out the melodies of Thy grace! May its harmonies always express Thy glory!”
Psalm 40:3 (NKJV) “He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.”
Copyright @August 2020 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Many relationships today are based on self. What will that other person be able to do for me? What can they provide? The same is true for some believers; they only want the Lord God for what He can provide. We must ask ourselves is what our relationship is based on with the Lord.
Do we desire to do His will? Are we thirsty for His presence? Do we genuinely love the Lord? What is that we love about the Lord? Is He our desire? Is He all we need? Are we drawing close to Him? Matthew talks about people drawing near with their mouths and lips, but their hearts are far from Him. Are we drawing close to the Lord? The Lord God wants all of us.
Mark 12:30 (NKJV) “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” We are to love God with all heart. We are to love God with all of our souls. We are to love God with all of our minds. We are to love God with all of our strength. The word for love in this verse is "agapao," totally unselfish love. It is a love that we can only have with the help of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who will help us love totally and as we ought to love. Yes, the Lord wants obedience, but He wants devotion. Love for God involves every aspect of us. So, does the Lord have all of us? Is He the focus of our affections? What have we devoted to the Lord?
Copyright @August 2020 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Often, we need to remember that the Lord is faithful, trustworthy, and worthy to believe. Do we believe His written Word? In the day we are living in, we need be assured of His faithfulness.
II Thessalonians 3:3, (NKJV) “ But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” Psalm 37:5, (NKJV) "Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” When we commit to the Lord, it means we trust Him with the outcome. His Words are the promises that we can believe in or stand on.
Isaiah 41:10, (NKJV) "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Not only is this a promise but a command. We are not to fear or worry or have anxiety. If the Lord is with us, what more do we need? His Holy Spirit is with us to give us grace. Sometimes, we might feel all alone, but the Lord is always with us. We need to remember that He is all-powerful, and all-knowing. As believers, we should never forget the greatness of our Lord God.
Copyright @August 2020 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
As believers, we need to resist being selfish and self-focused. We often do not see selfishness and being self-focused as a temptation to sin. As believers, we need to depend on the Lord who is faithful. No matter who we are as a believer, we must depend on the Lord God and continue to obey the Word of God. If we cease to obey the Word, it will be easy to fall into sin. Keeping an offense, not walking in love, unforgiveness are selfish and self-focused, they cause us to see thing through those deceptions and eventually hardened our heart.
We all like to make excuses for our circumstances, that they are the exception, or they are unique, but the Lord God reminds us they are not rare. I Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) “13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” Many people face the same or similar things. As we stand on the Word of God and do it, we will have strength from the Holy Spirit to overcome, that is the way of escape. It is not our own strength. As we rely on the Holy Spirit, we will overcome. Often, believers think the way of escape is for the Lord to remove them from the situation or circumstance. The way of escape is not necessarily easy but possible; it is standing on the Word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Copyright @July 2020 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Do our circumstances and the situations in the world ever cause us to feel downhearted? We all experience times of disappointment and concern. Many are tired of the nation bickering, rioting, and uncertainty etc.? The question is who will see us through. In all of this, we need to look to the Lord God Almighty. He is our hope and our answer. We need to seek Him and believe His promises.
Do we truly believe God is more the able, that He is all-powerful and sovereign? Do we believe that His Word is true? The Lord God is faithful to His name, character and His Word. Perhaps, we have trouble believing the Lord God because we are not faithful to our own word. Numbers 23:19 (NKJV) ““God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Are we fully convinced that what the Lord has promised He is also able to perform it? Do we believe Him despite what we see? Too many people try to work it out themselves. They want everything laid out for them before they believe what He promises. In the time we are living, we must trust the Lord God Almighty and know He is faithful. The Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting. He will see us through.
Copyright @July 2020 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
In today’s world, there are many distractions to our walk with the Lord. The political atmosphere, Covid-19 and all the differing information, job security, children, no school and on-line learning, lack of different items that are needed and the list goes on. There are many situations that the enemy uses to move our focus off the Lord, that is certainly true today. We need to pay attention to where our focus is, do not take the bait of Satan to remove our trust and faith in the Lord. Whatever we focus on becomes magnified in our life. The enemy comes to rob, kill and destroy. He comes to rob our peace and trust.
Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NKJV) “Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.” Do not be distracted by the things happening in the world but instead keep your eyes on the Lord.
Copyright @July 2020 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
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