Gay Marriage Rights in America!?!

OK... so I am a little slow.  I kept seeing all of these signs on Facebook and had no clue of what they all meant.  So I made a post and asked, "What does the red block with the two pink rectangles in the center mean? I've seen it twice today." 

The first reply said, "It's an equal sign meaning equality rights."  So again in my naivety I asked, "What kind of equal rights?"  The next response was, "Gay Marriage."  Then, I noticed all types of comments ranging from those trying to help me understand the sign, to those offering the alternative sign of the cross and of the anti-gay marriage symbol.

Then, I flipped to a friend's page where there was a heavy (really nasty) debate about what the Bible says about the gay lifestyle.  Some were claiming to be graduates of seminary who didn't see anything wrong with gay marriage; others were pastors using force and unpleasant wording claiming that God hates this lifestyle and that America better look out!

Sadly, both "ministers of the gospel" were missing the message of Christ altogether.  The word of God has been, and always will be, the standard for every civilization on earth.  Since there is only one true God who created heaven and earth, He is the author and judge of what is right and wrong among His creation.

So, as I am reading through this Facebook thread on my friends page, I notice a post made to my page from a childhood friend that includes an article based on "Judge not that ye be not judged." - Matthew 7:1.  So I read it! 

Having said this, I did agree with the writings of that author to a certain extent.  He makes a very good point about how Christians so often miss the mark in balancing their proclamation of faith. His article was long and detailed with scripture to prove his point about how we are to love all people.  On this point, I fully agree.  The problem with his article is that it pointed to loving the gay lifestyle. 

The truth is that God does love everyone!  He loves them so much that He wants them to repent of their sin, humble themselves and be born-again!  His grace covers us as we bow down and accept His righteousness in "exchange" for our sin.  Jesus died on the cross so that all could be saved.  This doesn't mean that all will believe, nor does it mean that all will repent of their sin(s). Surely, the gospel "is" good news! The Lord loves humanity so much that He doesn't want anyone to suffer the consequences nor the destruction of sin.  Sin leaves a guilty stain in the soul of mankind that can only by erased by the blood of Jesus.  This blood can only be applied through repentance.
   
There are so many Christians who are afraid to speak the truth on this issue... in love! Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." While many may try to twist the word of God to make it fit into their belief system, God knows their motive. He knows their deepest, hidden sin. His word is either a cornerstone or a stumbling block. My prayer is that "I" will grow to accept more and more of His word, His ways, His absolutes, His righteousness, His peace, and His grace each day that I live. What a waste for anyone to argue that God's word doesn't mean what it says. He wants all saved! He wants all to come to repentance! He wants all set free from the bondage of sin! Anyone who tries to hang onto their sin, while claiming the love of God, has missed the mark. It's not about rules. It's about a life that is FREE INDEED. If we say we love God, we should also love what He loves... and hate what He hates. God hates sin because sin hurts people!

So often, Christians either avoid controversial topics altogether, or they blurt out the facts without filtering them through the heart of God.  So getting back to the favorite verse that is used by those who want to keep their sin and claim God too... "Judge not lest you be judged" from Matthew 7.  Verse 5 tells us that we should first get the beam (or sin) out of our own eye before we attempt to cast the mote (or splinter - lesser sin) out of someone else's eye.  So Jesus wasn't telling Christians not to judge right from wrong, He was simply saying we should clean our own act up before we try to help someone else get cleaned up.

1 Corinthians 6:2

²Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

 

1 Corinthians 11:31-32

³¹For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

³²But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

 

 

You see my friend, everything in the Lord's Kingdom needs to be handled with compassion, balance, love, power, authority, and yet with humility - all at the same time.  As Christians, we are simply saying... "I once was lost (like you), but now I am found!"  We are crying out to those living in darkness that the Lord has a peaceful, promised land of milk and honey (in this life - and in the life to come) for all of those who will lay down their pride, lay down their troubles, lay down their lusts, lay down their excuses... and run to Jesus. 

 

So, yes, Jesus died for all... the homosexual, the heterosexual, the Jew, the gentile, the Muslim, the Hindu, the black, the white, the Asian, the alcoholic, the drug addict, the murderer, the lazy, the workaholic, the poor, the rich...  And yes, His grace is sufficient to cover all sin.  His grace makes the vilest sinner white as snow.  He died for ALL.  But, my friend, His grace covers us when we humble ourselves and seek to know the truth, instead of seeking to make God's word fit into our truth.  That is when the miracle of salvation is obtainable!

 

As far as God's judgment is concerned, Jesus came to make a way for us to escape God's righteous judgment.  He did not come to do away with God's righteous judgment.  There will come a day in which every knee shall bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is not just Savior - but Lord!  Unfortunately, many who will be confessing His Lordship on that day will be doing so with great regret, because they held their own truth higher than God's righteous truth - while on earth.

 

As far as Christians not wanting to grant gay marriage as part of our constitutional rights, this is not because Christians are being narrow minded and unloving.  No, true Christians have a holy fear of God.  They understand that He is in control of nations.  They understand that God will judge a nation who turns their back on Him.  So, if you are gay and you are reading this, please know that the conflict is not with you as a person; it is with the standard that God has set for all people.  The United States of America is the most blessed nation on the earth because our country was built on Christian values.  When we, as a society, take God out of our government, out of our schools and out of our lives, His hand is lifted and we are left to defend ourselves against the devil, his horde of demons and the enemies of our nation- alone! 

 

So, my friend, please know that the over-all Christian concern (allthough not always voiced with humility) is not about your rights, the Christian concern is about your future; and in fact, the future of all American citizens... whether guilty or innocent.  When His judgment falls, the just and the unjust are caught in the storm.

 

My final word is this, Go loves you!  He wants you saved!  He wants you free from the bondage of sin!  He wants you to live a long, healthy life on this earth!  He wants you to live in eternity with Him forever and forever!

-Deborah Ross
www.DeborahRossMinistries.org

 

 

If you are gay and you are reading this article, please consider researching the following website for more on how to find this perfect peace and freedom in Christ Jesus.

http://www.sbministries.org/members/sbm 

Whether you are gay or straight... If you are not 100% sure that you are a born-again child of God, please click the link below to learn more about how YOU can know this God I speak about.

http://www.deborahrossministries.com/pages.asp?pageid=109507 

 



Being Strong and of Good Courage in Marriage

1 Chronicles 22:13


Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.

When you think of someone who is brave, what comes to your mind?  Do you think of a soldier who is not afraid to invade enemy territory?  Maybe you visualize a skydiver who thinks nothing of jumping from an airplane.  Often times you may stand in amazement at the person who is not afraid to take on a "bigger than life" project.  Or, perhaps your thoughts of bravery imagine someone who has the confidence to speak before large crowds of people.  For some, being brave simply means not being afraid of the dark. 

In the word of God, we are admonished, over-and-over again, to trust the Lord in all things.  Trusting in God requires faith.  When we act upon our faith - by obeying the voice of the Lord - we step out into the unknown, which requires bravery.  Then, once we move toward acquiring what the Lord says we can have, we must remain strong and of good courage so that the devil's sure resistance (which tries to thwart God's promises) won't cause us to back down from our obedience. 

Did you know that marriage requires us to be strong and of good courage?  From the moment we say "I Do" and throughout our entire journey of life's ups and downs, marriage requires bravery!

Let's think, first, about the obstacles in life that tend to cause many marriages to dissolve:  communication problems, financial problems, sexual problems, children problems, in-law problems, agreement problems, spiritual/church problems, addiction problems, sickness problems, adultery problems, lack of team work problems... and the list goes on.  The devil comes up with nothing new.  He throws the same stumbling blocks across the path of every marriage.  Why?  Because marriage is a sacred covenant ordained of God that brings multiplication to His Kingdom.  Godly marriages produce a lineage of faith and so the devil tries everything in his power to destroy God's formula for creating generational blessings upon the earth. 

Joshua 1:6


Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

So, what is a person to do when faced with crippling hardships in their marriage?  The answer:  FIGHT!  Now, we are never instructed to fight against flesh and blood.  Instead, the Lord teaches us to war against principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness.  When we fully understand the Lord's desire for us to trust in His love, we will then be able to free-fall into the arms of our faith knowing that His promises not only can, but will, bring healing and blessing to our marriage.  God is "for" our marriage.  He is "for" our family.  The Lord is "for" the salvation of every person and He wants every marriage to inherit a land that is flowing with milk and honey.

In Numbers 13, when Moses sends twelve spies out to report back about the Promised Land of Canaan, ten of the twelve came back with fear and doubt.  Yes, they saw a land that flowed with milk and honey just as God had promised.  Yet, because they also saw giants in the land, they assumed that it would be impossible for them to ever obtain what the Lord had promised to give them.  Ten of the spies allowed fear to overrule bravery; and, therefore, God did not allow them to enter into that place of victory where they could eat of the fruit of His bountiful inheritance.

On the other hand, Joshua and Caleb - who saw the exact same thing as the other ten spies, were not afraid of the giants.  God's promises were magnified in their hearts and minds above the obstacles that their eyes beheld.  Only Joshua and Caleb came back to report that they were ready to fight for their inheritance.  These two spies were confident that the Lord would give them what He had promised.  They believed that God was on their side and that He would make a way where there seemed to be no way.

Sadly, the tens spies who feared fighting for God's promises encouraged the entire congregation of Israel to walk in terror.  They began to murmur and complain about their circumstance instead of speaking to their trepidation according to the word of the Lord.  Because of their unbelief, that entire generation of God's chosen people died in the wilderness, having never walked in the promised land.

Isn't the voice of those doubting spies much like the call of the world today which says, "If things get too tough in marriage, get a divorce.  After-all, the giant of adultery... or, the giant of addiction... or, the giant of financial pressure is just too overwhelming to ever overcome.  God didn't really intend for your promised land of marriage to come with so many battles, did He?  You are justified to murmur and complain against your spouse and against the commandments of God.  It's OK to vindicate bitterness in your mind toward those who seem to have it so easy in their marriage.  You'll never defeat these giants in your life.  You'll be better off to die single than to fight this battle of trying to stay married.  Patience and forgiveness are just too hard."

Choosing to enter into battle in order to gain victory requires bravery.  In Joshua 1:7, the Lord says to, "Only be strong and very courageous... turn not from it to the right hand or to the left..."  When faced with marital hardships that seem impossible to overcome, that is just the time to trust the Lord in all things.  It's easy to trust God during times of peace, but the real test of our faith comes when we can believe him in the times of our troubles. 

Remember, God will allow His children to choose their path.  Then, just as He provided for the children of Israel after they rebelled against His commandments by refusing to fight for their promised land, He will also provide for His children who bail out of their marriage.  Still, there will always be that unknown blessing that could have been obtained if only married couples would be strong and courageous in every battle that is set before them.  Like the Israelite's who never lived in the promised land, those who give up in their marriage will never experience the blessings that only come through entering into battle.

The Lord has a land of milk and honey in mind for every marriage and every family.  He paints a picture of it in His word and then places those desires in our hearts.  Yes, He wants His children to have His best and He will be faithful to His word if we will just believe Him and fight against the powers of darkness which try to divert His plan.  Marriage takes courage.  It requires bravery.  But, oh, the prize that awaits those who - like Joshua and Caleb - magnify the promises of the Lord above the obstacles in life.

Some powerful visualizations to help you endure the conflicts that are sure to come in marriage might include:  Think of one day sitting in a rocker on your front, with your false teeth, and looking over at your spouse to say, "We made it!"  Think of the joy of winning battles together and then testifying of God's power working in your lives.  Think of growing old with someone who has seen you at your worst and at your best, yet, still finds you the most beautiful creature on the face of the earth.  Finally, think of taking your last breathe as you reflect on the memories of your children, your grand-children, and maybe even your great grand-children whom you have watched inherit generational blessings because of your obedience to fight for the things of God. 

Marriage should be a picture of our relationship with Christ.  In our marriage to Jesus, we are confident that He will never leave us nor forsake us - no matter how we sin against Him, and no matter what our faults.  The Lord is always there for us.  In this same way, we should be resolute to our marriage vows as we stand in bravery with our mate (who is sure to disappoint us many times over throughout the course of a life-time).  Finally, marriage should be an unwavering commitment to the love story of 1 Corinthians 13 which states:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8:

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.Charity never faileth:

Will you choose to fight for your promised land?  Will you choose to be strong and of good courage in your marriage?  Because... marriage requires bravery!

By: Deborah Ross

www.DeborahRossMinistries.org

www.HealingABrokenMarriage.com

Finish the Race!

THANKFUL FOR HIS WORD...

Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My husband is a real estate agent.  So, the other day he invited me to join him in walking off some property that he is listing.  He took me on a very long, two hour, hike of over a hundred and seventy-six acres of forest and fields.  Honestly, had I known, at the beginning of our journey, that we were setting out to walk that far - and through such difficult terrain that included creeks, rocks, logs, steep hills, tall grass, potholes and thick woods - I am not sure if I would have agreed to follow him so eagerly.  His excitement in exploring this property was so intense that I had to keep up the pace - or get left behind!  I focused on his every step, making sure I went "only" where he had, first, proven safe.  I trusted him completely.

As I was walking, I was earnestly praying, "Lord, speak to me; I am longing to hear your voice!"  Even though I heard nothing at all from the Lord that entire two hours, I continued to seek Him at every new adventure.  Much like Elijah, I was listening to see if God's voice was in the wind, in the birds, in the sun, or in the creek.  While His majesty was certainly revealed to me through all of nature, still, I had a strong desire to hear a special word from Him that day; something just for me.  I wanted to hear the voice of my Daddy (Abba Father).  I was longing to enter into the Secret Place of the Most High, to bask in the love of my heavenly Father's words of encouragement and affirmation.

As we trekked over, and up, and around, and through... many times we would come to a dead end that required us to look for an alternate passage.  Other times, thick weeds and tall grass blocked our view and made it difficult for us to push through with sure footing.  Never-the-less, we kept walking.  We didn't talk much; we just pressed onward, enjoying the fresh air and all of nature's beauty as we stayed true to our course.

I guess we could have stopped to rest at some point.  We could have even stopped to talk.  But, something inside of each of us kept moving our feet in rhythmic motion as we determined to roam this property in one constant movement of anticipation.  All the while, I was secretly praying - longing to hear the voice of the Lord.

At the end of our long excursion - and just before we emerged from the woods onto a country road that would lead us back to our point of entry - I was just about to tell my husband, "I can't go any further.  My feet are aching... I am thirsty and hungry!  Let's take a rest!"  That's when I suddenly I realized that our walk was almost complete and so I decided to keep silent, instead.  My resolve to march forward with great anticipation set in as the thought of relaxing - once and for all - catapulted me down that country road and through the open field that led back to our car.  I was dead set on finishing my journey in the comfort of the front seat of my car.

That's when I heard the Lord's voice!  Just as my red car - which seemed like an oasis in the desert - came into view, the Lord spoke to my heart and said, "Well done thou good and faithful servant.  You have finished the race!" 


Wow!  The Lord used our day in the woods as an object lesson concerning His written Word to teach me the importance of staying the course, persevering, and following Him with every step. 

Here is how He unfolded His message to me:  My husband represented the Lord.  As I kept my eyes on my husband's every step, trusting him for safe footing, it was an example of how I am to keep my eyes on the Master - trusting Him in every decision.  Then, as we overcame the many obstacles we encountered throughout our exploration while continuing to move forward, we were creating a visual life-lesson of how we should live by faith, everyday.  We are to press toward the mark, the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14)!  Finally, as we determined to keep our pace in the woods that day, we were creating, yet another, object lesson of what it means to not grow weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9).

The Lord revealed to me how each of our lives are much like that hike in the woods.  Our adversary, the devil, has laid before us many road blocks, many detours, many briers, and many potholes.  In addition, the world we live in has a busy and long drawn-out way of doing things that often times wears us down.  Still, when we keep our eyes on the Lord and stay in constant movement toward the thing that He has called us to do, we are assured that He will bring us to an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11).  That's when we'll hear Him say...

Matthew 25:21

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." 

You know, I believe this promise is just as true for the life we now live as it is for the life we will live in all of eternity.  God's Word has persuaded me to believe that pressing on in the midst of difficult circumstances leads to our breakthrough!  We will enter into the joy of the Lord - even on earth - and actually begin to rule those areas of our lives that were once oppressively overwhelming... if we just keep on, keepin' on.

God is so thorough.  To solidify my spiritual lesson that day, the Lord inspired my husband (unknowingly) to take me to see the movie, Secretariat.  What a wonderful seal from the Lord as He used that movie to nail down His message of faith and perseverance that I had learned in the woods earlier that day.  Each of our lives contain various cross roads that require us to choose between the status quo of a "sure thing" or a faith walk that involves potential risks.  God's call is usually that of selling-out to the cause and never looking back.  Oh, the richness of a life that has taken chances, lived to the fullest, trusted God, and stayed the course.  (That's the broad theme of the movie.  I'll keep the rest a secret and let you see it for yourself.  It's really good!)

I pray that YOU will be encouraged today to run the race that is set before YOU.  What is it that the Lord has asked you to do that, perhaps, seems too big or maybe even impossible?  Would you pledge to trust Him like never before?  Would you trust Him to bring to pass that thing in your heart that will require total faith and commitment in His Word to achieve?  Would you give it all to Him and begin to walk in rhythm on the journey of faith that He has designed - specifically - just for you?

He loves you, and He has good gifts for you (Matthew 7:11).  Now go!  Take a chance.  Live on the edge.  Trust Him.  Finish your race!

I am thankful for His Word, because His Word is true...

1 Corinthians 9:24 

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."

In Christ,
Deborah Ross
Strengthening Families & Encouraging Women
http://www.deborahrossministries.org/

BELIEVING FOR GOD'S BEST

Romans 12:2

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that GOOD, and ACCEPTABLE, and PERFECT, will of God."

Do you think everything that comes down the pipe is God's PERFECT Will? If you do, I am afraid you will miss some great blessings that the Lord has in store for you throughout your earthly journey.

All through scripture we read of story after story where God's people were to conquer, fight, stand, believe, defeat the enemy, take back what was stolen, receive, obey, walk in holiness, and proclaim the victory. With overwhelming obstacles and impossible circumstances, people (leaders, prophets, priests, those sick, those surrounded, those held captive - really, ALL people) were commanded to overcome. Unfortunately, with this commandment most often came warfare.

It can seem so much easier to shrink back and settle for something that is just "a part of life" or settle for "the results of some sin" rather than humble ourselves, seek God's face, and turn from our wicked ways (maybe even wicked ways of doubt) to be miraculously delivered, healed or restored.

The forces of darkness have always been adamant about thwarting God's plan. This being said, I have found that in order for me to gain new territory in the path that God has predestined for my life, I must be willing to step out of my comfort zone, ready to encounter resistance. Notice I said "ready" to encounter resistance. Too often, Christians are not prepared for battle because they have spent their time prior to Satan's attack - or God's challenge - drinking milk and not searching the deep things of God. Many will even allow a little leaven (religious doctrine - Matthew 6:12) to water down the power of God's Word working in their lives. Then, once the enemy hits, they simply aren't equipped to fight, nor win the victory.

In addition, strongholds of the mind will cause many Christians to lay lifeless as Satan works them over with lies that he masquerades as truth. Sadly, this is where so many well meaning Christian people will compromise, justify, settle for, and propagate their weak interpretation of scripture as they fold in battle.

God wants to show Himself strong in our lives so that His glory will prick the hearts of those watching. He wants to use our struggles and our victories to spread His fame throughout the entire earth. Sure, God can (and will) get the glory in every situation of a Christian's life - whether in victory or in defeat - however, I believe He is always encouraging us to travel the road to victory. He wants to do a miracle on our behalf!

The scriptures say, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" - Hosea 4:6. This is why it is imperative to study God's Word diligently with childlike faith. God doesn't want any of His children to be defeated. He always makes a way of escape, but we must find it AND we must choose to take it.

Are you trusting God as Moses did by:
*persevering through difficult times;
*believing God's Word against all odds;
*stepping out in faith to ACT on His instruction;
*and by standing your ground until deliverance comes?

Like Pharaoh, the devil will fight you tooth and nail to keep you in bondage, sickness, poverty, and spiritual complacency. You must be willing to fight the good fight of faith in a radical way if you want to live in the Promised Land of this earthly life. Sadly, far too many Christians choose to die in the wilderness either because of lack of knowledge, doubt, fear, unbelief, or they'll simply grow weary in well-doing.

Let's look at Exodus 6:3. It says, "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them." God Almighty or El Shaddai means He is the One True God - He is the Most Powerful God. Jehovah or Yahweh means the Existing One. "Name" means reputation, fame, and glory. In other words when Moses asked God, "Why have you brought trouble upon these people?", speaking of the Israelites in bondage to Pharaoh - Exodus 5:22-23. God replied, "I am going to make Myself known as the One And Only True God to all nations by showing my undeniable glory through signs, wonders, and miracles. Everyone will SEE that "I AM, THAT I AM" - my paraphrased version.

As Moses obeys the Lord in commanding Pharaoh to let God's people go, things seem to get worse instead of better. Plague after plague, God shows miraculous signs and wonders to give the Egyptian people and the Pharaoh an opportunity to repent of their evil ways. God also uses this time to prepare the Israelites for a journey of faith into the Promised Land. I am sure the Israelites would have much rather received their deliverance without such warfare but God had a long-term plan that was much more beneficial to both them and their captors.

Pharaoh tried long and hard to win the battle. He was so adamant about not surrendering to God's might that he even offered some "easy" ways out for Moses and the children of God. First, he offered to let God's people make their sacrifices and worship in the Egyptian land. While this may sound reasonable at first glance, it was not God's PERFECT WILL. God wanted to set his children FREE so that they could worship freely in a land that was abundantly fruitful. He didn't want them to have regulations on their worship and he surely didn't want them to remain in bondage to the Egyptians. God wanted to take them to a land flowing with milk and honey and had they compromised their determination to win the battle, they would have forfeited the goodness to come of the Promised Land.

Then another time, Pharaoh said he would let them go and worship in the desert, but he said they "couldn't go very far". Again, the Pharaoh was putting a stipulation on God's deliverance. This was not God's PERFECT WILL. God doesn't want his people on a leash. He wants them free! John 8:36 says, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Later in the Exodus account, we read where Pharaoh agrees to let only the men go, but not the women and children. Pharaoh goes on to twist the words of Moses by saying, "That is all you asked for, anyway." That was a lie! Moses had said from day one, "Let my people go." I think the Pharaoh was trying to make Moses doubt his own intent. Furthermore, he was still pressuring Moses to accept only half of God's will. This was not God's plan; it was not His PERFECT WILL.

Finally, Pharaoh says, "You can all go, but you must leave all of your wealth with me." Here, Pharaoh tries to tempt Moses into accepting poverty as a trade off for God's deliverance. How many times does the devil use this one on us? Satan always wants us in lack, but God wants us in plenty. The Promised Land was a land of plenty. By instructing the Israelites to plunder the wealth of the Egyptians just before they escaped bondage, He was showing them - and us today - that His desire is to bless us. God says we are to be the head and not the tail, the first and not the last, the lender and not the borrower (Deuteronomy 28)!

Once again, IT WAS NOT GOD'S PERFECT WILL for Moses to accept poverty as a trade off for the victory. Anything less that 100% of what God had clearly told Moses earlier in Horeb (the mountain of God) was not to be considered. Thankfully, Moses didn't buy into these bail-outs offered by the Pharaoh. He kept on believing God - for His best!

With this lesson from Exodus chapters 1-13, we should easily see that it is our duty to believe for God's best. But, once we have believed for God's best we should, also, expect resistance. The devil hates for God's children to progress. He hates for us to obtain God's best. Satan does not want us to win and ultimately does not want God to show forth His glory with signs, wonders, and miracles.

I wonder if the devil's ploy could have something to do with so many Christians remaining milk fed, traditional, and religious - thus, never truly believing in the supernatural power of God for their deliverance? Perhaps the devil has helped them create strongholds in their mind that prevent them from believing for a miracle. Unfortunately, choosing to remain a babe in Christ - whether by ignorance or by deliberate stubbornness - can bring consequences of failure in the Christian life.

Friend, everything in life that is worth having will usually cost us something. Receiving God's best may take years or even a lifetime to achieve (take the example of Moses and the Israelites wondering in the wilderness for 40 years trying to get to the Promised Land). Just the same, I am convinced that as we:
*grow in Christ;
*walk in faith;
*speak God's promises;
*stand our ground;
*live in holiness;
*and purge the ways of the world (like the Israelites had to purge the ways of Egypt), we can AND WILL obtain the blessings of the Promised Land - even on earth.

Learning to see our troubles as grasshoppers instead of giants, we can be like Joshua to become The Remnant of God's people who receive complete deliverance. Hallelujah!


(Note: When I write these articles, I am teaching myself just as much as I am teaching you. I must remind myself, daily, that I am more than a conqueror. Our earthly journey requires each of us to hold each other up with the standard of the Lord.)

With Love in Christ,

Deborah Ross
http://www.deborahrossministries.org/