Tell them "I HAVE IT ALL IN CONTROL". And that it doesn't matter what circumstances they are facing or the situation they find themselves in, no matter how dark it seems to get.... know that my light can and will overtake that darkness because "I HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL BE IN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS".
Today more than ever the body of Christ needs to be encouraged, uplifted and to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. It seems everyone you talk to from leaders to laymen are saying the same things and that is that they are under heavy attack and feel like they are walking through the fire of testings.
I pray this series of messages will help all of us to better understand why and how God chastens His children and why He allows trials that test us and what seems to be uncertain circumstances and unfavorable situation to come into our lives.
The chastening of the Lord will hit us at a very deep level in certain areas and seasons of our lives and why? because He is trying to work within us the fruits of the Spirit that are:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Long suffering-Patience
5. Gentleness
6. Goodness
7. Faith
8. Meekness
9. Self Control-Temperance
These are the qualities/characteristic needed in order for God to use us effectively in the area of ministry He has called us to and for us to live an overcoming life. Let's begin with two key words that will help us better understand the reasons and purposes of God in the chastening process.
Our first word is the word "chasten".
If we look up this word in the Hebrew language it means: To instruct, correct, reform, reprove and to punish in some instances.
And in the Greek is means: Disciplinary correction and instruction.
The dictionary says that to "chasten" means: To subdue, to make somebody less self satisfied or self assertive and to moderate the intensity of something or someone.
Our second word is the word "control".
And it means: To be restrained or limited, managed so as to exercise power or authority over and also is the ability to run, manage or direct with authority successfully.
Think and ponder on these words and what they mean.
Our main text that I will be teaching from is Hebrews 12:5-12 so let's begin.
Hebrews 12:5b (KJV) My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord.
and the Amplified version says: My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him.
Let's take the word "despise" and find out what it means in this scripture: To regard with loathing, contempt, reject, refuse, cast off as to set aside and dislike intensely.
So what is God telling us here? Not to reject, refuse or cast off what He knows to be the best thing for us and think that there just has to be a better or easier way to get through or accomplish what needs to be done in our lives or situation. How many times have we maybe made that statement to others or thought it?
God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts and plans I have for you says the Lord, thoughts and plans for good, welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
"Hope" this is the key word in this scripture. So what is "hope"? The dictionary defines "hope" as: Confident desire of good, the source of success or relief, favorable expectation concerning the unseen future. It is having confidence concerning the unseen and trust that there is a future.
So what happens to us when we are right in the center of a crisis, trial, uncertain circumstances or unfavorable situations? We become blinded and caught up in our present condition and the uncontrollable situation and all we can see is what's in the here and now. We see things through tunnel vision and we can't seem to see beyond or get past the now which causes us to lose "hope".
In Romans 5: 1-5 the word encourages us:
Verse 1: Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 2: Through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
Verse 3: And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
Verse 4: And perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
Verse 5: and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
What is this "hope" that doesn't disappoint?
H - Having our hearts
O - Open to the Holy Spirit so He can
P - Pour into us His Peace that will allow us to
E - Enter into Gods rest.
Blessings,
Elma Garlock
This week we will continue with our study on the Seven Pillar of Wisdom. Our next pillar we need to put into position for a strong spiritual foundation is: The V Pillar which is "Instruction" Proverbs 4:13 tells us:
Verse 13: Take fast hold of instruction let her not go, keep her, for she is your life.
The word "instruction" in this scripture means: Reproof, warning, chastening, a check, correction and discipline. It can also be used as the act of teaching, giving instruction and can mean giving an order or direction.
This is really interesting that the word "life" in this scripture means: Alive, fresh water, living thing and maintenance.
So what this scripture is saying to us is: Grasp firmly with both hands and use her as a support that will keep you in place (balance) and give you instruction. And if we will accept her, she will teach us, correct us, discipline us and give us direction in understanding and applying God's wisdom. She is our source that quenches our thirst when we are dry, she sustains us and provides us with life that is active and alive.
All through the book of Proverbs, the scriptures give us precise directions on why we need to accept "instruction" and if we don't what the consequences will be as believers. Here are some of the consequences we will have to face if we don't accepting "instruction" and they are:
1. Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses "instruction".
2. He shall die without "instruction".
3. I hated "instruction" and would not listen, therefore sinned.
4. Fools despise wisdom and "instruction".
5. He that refuses "instruction" despises his own soul.
Beloved, we will never get to old in age or mature in character that we will not need to be instructed or taught. We need to stay teachable, open to correction and discipline, be accountable to and willing to receive counsel.
The VI Pillar is: "Righteous". In Proverbs 2:7 says: He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous.
So to be "righteous" it means: Being straight or even (so as to take the straight way or path of life) to be balanced, justified, in right standing with God, pleasing and agreeable.
The word "righteous" in this scripture is used as an adjective that describes something. All through Proverbs there are scriptures that describe what being "righteous" does, how it acts and what it produces.
1. What are some of the things Proverbs says about what being "righteous" does?
a. The thoughts of the "righteous" are right.
b. The light of the "righteous" rejoices.
c. The "righteous" eat to the satisfying of his soul.
d. The "righteous" does sing and rejoice.
2. How does being "righteous" act?
a. The "righteous" gives and spares not.
b. The "righteous" are bold as a lion.
c. The lips of the "righteous" feed many.
3. And what does it produce? Good fruit, the fruits of the Spirit, which are: Love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. But our foundation must be established in the word of God in order for us to yield this fruit.
Because in Proverbs 11:30 tells us: The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. And in Proverbs 12:12 it says: But the root of the righteous yields the fruit. And lastly in Proverbs 12:3 states: But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
So again, being "righteous" does something - it acts a certain way - and it produces what? Good fruit.
In Proverbs 9:1 it lets us know that: Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out and set up her seven pillars.
The word hewn in this scripture means: To cut by blows with an ax or other sharp edged instruments and to be shapen with an instrument.
Each of these seven pillars is in reality an attribute, a quality and are the characteristics of wisdom. They are available to us for the asking but are not easily possessed and why? Because of the difficulty of the process we must go through in order to possess them.
In the natural, before they can begin shaping a piece of stone or marble into a pillar they have to cut deep into the rock quarry in order to find the best quality of material to work on. Once they have removed the chosen piece they begin to chip away at its outer core in order to expose it's inner beauty.
They cut out the defects and begin the shaping process. Then it is sanded and polished so its beauty can shine. It's then placed and attached into position upon it's foundation and the pillar and foundation become one in strength and the house is built.
This is exactly what the Master builder does in our lives. He takes us just as we are in our raw state and cuts away at the flesh to expose the beauty within. He then builds the foundation, line upon line, precept upon precept to make ready for it's pillars. Then they are placed into position and the house becomes firm and has strength to withstand time, and it's storms.
So let's refresh our memory and go over the Seven Pillars of Wisdom needed for a Spiritual Foundation again and they are:
1. The Fear of the Lord - We have a reverential fear and a positive feeling of awe.
2. Understanding - Insight & reason
3. Knowledge - Intelligence to discover and to know
4. Integrity - Unimpaired moral principles and honesty
5. Instruction - We are teachable & we take correction
6. Humility - Obedience & lack of resistance towards God
7. Righteous - Balanced, pleasing and agreeable. It does something, it acts a certain way and produces good fruit.
Blessings,
Elma Garlock
