LAM Updates

Join us for our Bible studies. The new day and time starts Feburary 14th at 6:00 PM (PST). These are open and you do not need to sign up. You can attend by calling the teleconference phone number:
1-218-486-1300 and using access #742492. Just follow the prompts and you are in! (Long distance charges may apply so check with your phone company.) We are going to be teaching in light of Life Application Ministries focus - relationships, forgiveness, love, health and healing and seeing what the Bible says about these things as we go.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? by Linda

Have you ever prayed, "God just tell me what to do and I'll do it?" Well, I have. And sometimes I hear something and sometimes I don't. But I learned recently that is not the right question to ask. We need to start asking "God help me and guide and direct me in what I have decided to do."

See, God has already "told" us everything He needs to tell us in the Word. He tells us to "go" and "do." I urge you to run a reference in your Bible on these two words and see all that God has told you to do. The Holy Spirit leads you into "going" and "doing" by giving you ideas and promptings, but how to go and do is really up to you!

Jesus said, "Whatever you have seen me do, then do." So as you read the Bible and it says that Jesus told us to love our neighbor - are we "doing" that? When Jesus told us to "go" into all the world and preach the gospel Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost." Are we? Many of us are sitting around waiting for a ministry, a job, direction, etc., yet aren't seeing any results. I know of a couple who loved the Lord greatly, but they waited for years for a ministry. The man even said, "unless Jesus came through that door and tells me to move to Arkansas, I won't." He knew in his heart to move there and do a ministry but he needed 4 trumpet blasts and Jesus himself to come through the door! He was waiting for that special invitation with all the plans laid out before him. The day after he spoke these words he had a stroke. His wife then got angry as well, and for years after that they pined away mad at God for not DOING what they wanted Him to do.

God has already "done" everything there is to do. Now it's up to you to "do" it. He's given us a road map, He's given us the power to do it, He's given us what we need to do it. I've heard people say, "God doesn't need us, we need Him." But that isn't true. In order for things to be done on this earth, He uses me and you to do them! Why did he put the Kingdom of God inside us? Because He needed us to be filled with Him so we can go and do. Jesus even had to come in human form to relay the message that God loves us. So we also are to be used in our human form to tell other humans of God's infinate mercy, love and forgiveness. Not to mention helping people who have needs.

It goes along with that scripture when Jesus was teaching about the hungry neighbor. He came to the house and wanted food, but the guy said, I'll pray for you, go and I hope you get some food. That person was supposed to give the food. We have what we need when God calls upon us. Let me get one thing really clear. Don't be waiting for God to TELL you to do anything. You may be led, you may be prompted, you may even see a vision for direction, but it's up to you to follow through with it. In Matthew 4:1 the scriptures say that "Jesus was led by the Spirit." He wasn't forced, He wasn't made, He wasn't told, He was led! So are we led by this same Spirit. The difference is, Jesus knew who He was, He didn't have doubt or confusion, he had no sin, so he heard the Spirit's voice and harkened. In our life, the spirit's voice is hidden and sometimes unnoticed because we don't know who we are, we don't know God's love is complete in us, we don't know really know God's infimate mercy and His amazing grace. Because if you were in that place, you could hear the Spirit leading more effectively. This brings me to an observation: If God doesn't tell us what to do, why do we tell Him what to do? Something to think about.

Then you say, "But what if it isn't God and I do it?" Well, you won't know until you go and do. If you step out believing in your heart that is what you knew to do. He will honor it whether or not you heard correctly because you did it in faith. Remember, God works all things out for good even when we make a mess, all awhile thinking it was correct. And on top of that, each step you take the Lord will direct. He said, "A man can plan his ways (ways means action word of "go and do") but the Lord directs his steps (leads, guides and directs).

My husband demonstrates this to me constantly. I have an idea and I want to do it. So I ask Him if I should. He would say everytime, "You know what to do." But then I would say, "I just want you to tell me what to do and I'll do it." But he doesn't because He knows I already have the answer. He does share his heart on the subject but leaves the final decision to me if it only affects me. Because as a married couple, He does make the decisions in our life but also has respect enough for me to allow me to make decisions as well. But that's another topic.

There is a condition to this working in your life and here it is #1) If you know God personally - not just for salvation but an intimate relationship with Him 2) Believe Him completely - in all areas of your life believing that He is... (I teach on God is and God isn't on the Jan. Newsletter); 3) And receive His love perfectly - that means you have received His unconditional love for you no matter what! Then the condition of leading and directing will be met. Otherwsie we are out doing a bunch of stuff without the power to do it, and it becomes works of the flesh. That is why so many people fail and are mad at God. It's not God's fault at all, it's ours because we didn't get first things first. Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added." These things aren't necessarily "stuff" but it is wisdom, understanding, direction and ability to clearly hear His promptings, which I believe are the most important!

So for an example, I have a desire to go to church on Wednesday nights for prayer. First of all, God does place the desires in our hearts - so keep that in mind as well. But I question if I should go or not. Why do I question it? Because I want to be sure it's God's will. Some say to go to church whenever the doors are opened, anything less than that is sin. Others say to go as led. Which one is correct. I believe the Bible is clear on assembling - we are not to forsake it, but it doesn't say how often - that's when the "leading" comes together. If you are at church every night and the family suffers, that is not of God. If you are putting your church activities before loving your family and spending time with them - that is not of God. The truth is, you know... you just may not like the answer.

Do you remember the game where you have to find the ball under one of 3 cups, but before choosing they mix the cups up? But in order to find the ball you have to pick a cup! If it's not the right cup, you get to try again. I believe this is the same, how will you know which is the right direction if you don't pick one and go! God will let you know if it's not the right one, but it's important to be decisive. Because then you can rule out that direction and try another. Even when you don't choose the correct one in the beginning, remember, even in those times God is there and uses it to train you, help you learn to discern, show you what is still inside you needing purged, helps you trust Him more. All these are worth while! But if you just sit there with 4 directions in front of you, they will just sit there, (and by the way, 4 more will be added causing you more confusion if you don't choose) and so will you. Then that's when we get mad at God because He didn't do something. It's not Him that has to do something, it's you.

My husband summed all this up with one statement. I was going over some of the directions for my life concerning this ministry. I have several ways to choose from, so I asked my husband, "Which way should I go?" He simply said, "Go --- Forward." And he said pronouncing each word and saying each word long for emphasis. I asked, "Forward -- which way?" He said, The way that you are running from." I just looked at him and laughed. He was right. He had told me that I purposely distract myself from the task right in front of me. He asked me why I did that? Was it because you are afraid to succeed? And as I thought about it, I had to agree because with that success comes obligation and commitment - well, it looks like here's another area God is fine-tuning. Stay tuned.... (no pun intended - smile).

THE COST OF FREEDOM by Pete

American history is replete with valiant efforts by a group of people endeavoring to have new beginnings. Their primary goal - religious freedom. To their peers, they were giants of renown taking an entire nation into a new era of liberty this world had never before seen. To the Crown, they were treasonist rebels worthy of the noose. As one Founder said concerning their fight for freedom, "We must hang together, or we will most certainly hang separately." Individuals were to be "king" of their castle and land, not some Government, person of wealth and power, or Monarch. In the first time of world history, people were the sovereign. The proper order of God, man, then government was recognized and desired. For this reason America has been called, "The Great Experiment." This "Experiment" was delineated in documents called the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the one that gave notice to the King of England, The Declaration of Independence. These writings did not guarantee the rights, they simply spelled out what they were. Within were the words revealing the Giver of these rights, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed BY THEIR CREATOR with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." The "unalienable Rights" or rights that one cannot attach a "lien" [to tie, band or bind] against were called "self-evident" and were available to ALL PEOPLE. If the Creator was the Giver of these rights, then no man had the authority to usurp them, the exception being by due process of law.

It seems that we all have this intrinsic value system inside of us to not be enslaved. Americans are not the only people worthy of our Creator's gift of freedom. Every person on this planet has equal right to liberty, being the sovereign over their land and dealings. But not every country had the vision to provide their posterity a future of governmental non-interference by virtue of it's design. We didn't have a perfect beginning, and we are far from perfect now, but the promotion of faith in the One and only true God not only allowed for personal liberty and prosperity, but also put us on track to bring the liberty of the Gospel message around the world as commissioned in Matthew 28:18-20, to go ye therefore and teach all nations. The Revolution that took place in this land to secure these God given realities was costly, men giving their entire wealth and their lives to provide us a future.

Looking back several centuries, Jesus had already set the example, purchasing our eternal freedom with His own life, [John 3:16]. Venture very far at all into spiritual freedom and your natural state will soon follow. America's beginning and success was from incorporating this belief system of Jesus as the Great Liberator. But what makes that high price of the cross of value is what we do with it. Again, the people of this world have every bit the right to the liberties that we enjoy here, yet have to come to this country to find them. For 200 years we've been a model, yet many nations stay dominated by forces that mandate servitude. For 2000 years Jesus and His followers have been a model for those in the kingdom of darkness, but many refuse the light, choosing subjection to a tyrannical overlord. So the cost of eternal freedom is not just what it took to provide it, but is either validated or spurned by an act of the will, by what we choose to do with it.

God has always had a paradise plan for His creation. His magnificent mind figured in every contingency, from how to deal with fallen angels, to providing a life line for humanity by way of the cross, so even after we lost the original idea, His plan ultimately wins. Yet, we error when we superficially quip that "God is in control." Yes, He is in ultimate control. His fore knowledge of our ideas positions Him to be many steps ahead of our bad decisions. However, God is not stuck in the here and now, we are. As His Ambassadors, He relies on us to the direction of our will, expecting it will be synchronous to His own.

Creation is on a crash coarse with fire [II Peter 3:7], and we have a limited amount of time to redeem, that is, to effect change in the hearts and lives of those around us. Make no mistake, God has done all He is going to, or needs to do concerning our impact in this world. What has He done? God's provisions in John 15:13 says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends," and in Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Then Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Being imprisoned in the kingdom of darkness for any length of time can certainly offer a telling comparison to Grace. As we rotted in some cell, a guy came up to us and said, "I'm going to trade places with you, you are free to leave." The wise prisoners broke the sound barrier in mass exodus.. But isn't it the conundrum of all time that when one looks back, there are some people still sitting there? The door is open and the guards are standing aside, yet there they sit. Be the cell a Muslim persuasion, a Buddhist mind set, or a Believer's doubt, the will is the gate keeper. Will we stay locked up, or Will we choose freedom? God left our will inviolate. It's our call.

A man says, "I thank God for this car wreck that caused me to lift my hand and say, 'I surrender.'" Ok, so the car wreck got him there, but it's a sad day when we give the glory to the car wreck because we were so bull headed that we wouldn't look up any other way. It's a sad day when we accredit an accident instead of the love of God, considering what it has cost God to leave our will intact, to chance that we would stay in our prison cell. At great cost He let Adam to his own way. Every time someone chooses their own path, it makes empty the love sacrifice called Jesus. Proverbs 16:25 "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." What a high honor we give back to God when we choose time with Him over all else. Within the orchestra of prayer and the mysteries of the unseen battles that rage, a split second decision to be born again changes the very course of our entire life. God breathed intercession for others is vital to that end. But if we choose to run amuck and reap the whirlwind, can we at least be honest and admit that it is not God "taking" us though a wreck, but rather our carnal, untrained choices?

God knows the challenges that await us, which is why He said in 2Peter 1:2-4, "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

Grace and Peace Multiplied, His Divine Power, Life and Godliness, Exceeding Great and Precious Promises, Partakers of the Divine Nature, all given to us through the Knowledge of God. Doesn't appear He left anything out. Yet, God's provision of absolute victory for us is still only as good as our will or decision to believe and act on it. Jesus told His disciples in Luke 11:11-13 that, "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Or, ". . . how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" [Matthew 7:11]. Not only is our Father in Heaven good, but has put the seeds or nature of His goodness in us. To emulate Christ is an inside job.

When a local town rejected Jesus, the contrast of the carnal mind of the disciples to the mind of Christ showed up in Luke 9:54-56, "And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and REBUKED THEM, and said, YE KNOW NOT WHAT MANNER OF SPIRIT YE ARE OF. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." They didn't ask Jesus to call down fire. They asked Jesus if THEY could "command" fiery judgement on this crowd. Their faith was ready, but their mind was not of Christ. The sons of thunder confused mighty activity with compassionate accomplishment. Saul had the same problem. Even with his vast knowledge of the Word as a Pharisee, he was locking Christians up.

What happened to God's credibility when a multi-million dollar ministry was laid waste by a $20 prostitute? What was the collateral damage in souls from that fiasco? For God to control such an event, He would have to take charge and breach our will by excluding our power of choice. If He was going to do that, why not back up to Adam, or better yet, the devil? At the risk of chaos in the world, our future eternity, and even His own reputation, He puts the power of life and death in our tongues, the casting down or embracing carnal thoughts in our grasp, the walking in power and miracles or warming a pew for years in our control. Paul said in 1Corinthians 2:4, "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."

I don't believe anyone would argue that God can do an infinitely better job at running the affairs of our lives and this world. But His Divine plan includes us, risk and all. The world has been jerked around and lied to incessantly, so when it comes to first impressions of their only Hope, they really need to see in us in the Gospel light. We simply don't have the luxury of sowing to the flesh, but need to set the example of speaking to our mountain in the authority we have in Jesus. If we choose an intimate walk with Him now in the midst of all of the deceptions and temptations, He knows we want this relationship to be long term.

To come full circle, the relevance of striving to be the express image of Christ is not only for the eternal souls of others, but to offer continued platform for that mission. It's been said that America is great because America is good, but if it ceases to be good, it will cease to be great. If our country falters, the mission will continue down another path, but people of wise principle and fore sight gave action and substance to a bigger picture, a plan that has seen expression in bringing Christ to the nations of the world. We've been warned of the deceitfulness of riches, the pride of life and the lust for other things. There's nothing wrong with creature comforts, but they need to be a fruit of the Spirit, not a result of the love of money. We are kidding ourselves if we believe we can allow the godly infrastructure of our country's dawning to unravel without personal, national and global implication. The value of the gift of life is usually not as appreciated until one loses that precious gift, be that natural or eternal. Unfortunately, so is the value of choice and freedom.

Schedule of Events

Seminars

Your Comments

Back