Standing in Freedom

Free to Stand

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

"That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies..." Joshua 7:12

It matters not how strong you are. It matters not whether you have the greatest resources and talent. It matters not if you have the best plans and procedures. It will all fail if you have a break in your armor.

This is the message God told Joshua when he attempted to go against a small army at Ai, which was the Israelites' second battle in the Promised Land. Sometimes we try to figure out why we are not successful in an endeavor. We look at all aspects of our performance to see what went wrong. For the people of Israel, it was not easily seen on the surface. Everything seemed just as it should be from Joshua's vantage point, so when his army was soundly defeated, he cried out to God, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?" (Josh. 7:7a)

The people had been defeated because God could not bless them. One person had violated the covenant with God. They were not to take any possessions from the first battle, but one person failed to live up to this, and the whole army suffered.
Sin makes our armor vulnerable to attack from satan, who then gains permission from God to attack us in the area where we have failed to uphold righteousness. If we break down in moral purity, satan comes in and establishes a stronghold. If we give place to bitterness and unforgiveness, we will break fellowship with God and others. If we become money-focused, we will fall into greed and deception. It is a vicious cycle.
Examine your armor today. Make sure you are not susceptible to attack. Begin from a solid spiritual foundation and your chances of success will be great.

The old saying that a family or group is only as strong as the weakest link is true. Especially in the spiritual realm. The great news following this bad news is that Christ came to reinforce all the links. We each must examine, discern or judge - whatever you desire to call it - our "self". We must ask the Holy Spirit, which through Christ we have received, to show us what our true image in self looks like, acts like and then give that which is less than His best for us to Him so that He can work out our salvation in us.

Do not be mistaken we are here to support, encourage, confront and give GOD'S wisdom to each other. All with the focus of God's will. This is to be in love and not for "self" gain of the giver being the focus. It is true that we all gain when the body is in unity, but loves first desire is to cover the sin - not expose it in ridicule and shame. It is for the edification, sanctification, prosperity in fullness of all things.

Look back in the archives to increase your understanding in the area of "standing".  When we have done all to stand then we are to "stand".  It is through Christ, what He did, that we have the Holy Spirit which searches the depths of all things allowing us to remain standing.  God also tells us that if we shrink back that He has no pleasure in us.  Increase your knowledge in this area so that you can receive the promise: where there is Christ there is Liberty.  Then may I suggest that you stand in it.  Above all else don't allow yourself to choose the path that leads to death.  We know that God said his people perish for lack of knowledge - so if you(or I) are a weak link....that puts the ball in YOUR(or my) court, not God's- ouch!

With the love of Christ I pray this over us all so we might see as He sees, love as He loves and be transformed into the maturity of Him.
Candace

Do We Even Like Knock-Off's?

Today I am adding another verse as well as some definitions.  Stick with me, I know this will seem random as we add to the puzzle we are working here. 

Hebrews 4: 9 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

We stopped yesterday with Hebrews 9:5 using GWT this verse states: Above the arc were angels of glory with their wings overshadowing the throne of mercy.  Cherubium are "angels of glory"

Hebrews 4:7 spoke of God setting another "day" and it being "today" - Day is derived from a Greek work Hemero meaning the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
Today is derived from the Greek word semeron meaning this day, or what has happened today.

Now to connect some other things we know about spiritual light and darkness: God tells us all things are common to man.  He asks us what does light hav in common with darkness. In 2 Cor. 6:14 He tell us not to be bound together with unbelievers- for what fellowship has light with darkness. In 11:14 He speaks of Satan disguising himself as an angel of light.  Other verses on light refer to us being darkness but are now light as well as light consisiting of goodness, righteousness and truth.  He tells us "all things being visible when exposed by light", also that we are being called out of darkness into glorious light.

We obviously cannot cover all this today.  God plants seeds.  Althought they are metaphorical when planted they become visable within our creative capacities.  They eventually become real...mighty miracles which bring glory to Christ, which glorifies our God.

So lets revisit being in-between.  Yesterday we were pondering being the movement in-between and we defined what the word means.  Today we discovered that Hemero or day means in-between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night. We know we are to be following Christ, therefor  Him being bright light when it falls over us it would cast a perfect shadow.  When we are under him our shadow will not fade.  What happens when the sun starts to set to shadows?  They diminish don't they?  Sometimes do you think it is possible we are following what we think is the Son, however there doesn't seem to be much light? 

This is where our new verse drops in so perfectly!  If the son we are following is a knock-off we will fall...there will be no light and no one to help us.  He is an example of disobedience - He and those around him do not care about us.  They care about "self".

I pray that the eyes of your hear are enlightened, and that you hear what the spirit of God is telling you this day.  I pray that when you are down there is One to help you up.  I pray that you feel the love He offers in the many that love Him and strive to wrap you in their care "today".

Kisses in Christ,
Candace

Do I REALLY have to fight?

God so often makes me giggle. Yesterday was a super taxing day for me, just when I want to say "uncle" ..."you win, okay", God steps in and says just take a deep breath...a time out...you'll make it! So that is what I finally did by the end of the day. I laid myself down and said I will just trust you, believe what you have said and rest. Today, I decided to go to an older devotional that I never tired of. I went to their site to pull up their daily devotion.


After a good night sleep, God reminded me "Today, you fight for Me!" I will post that after the devotion.

I pray that in our weakest moments we are broken to our knees so that we can rise in His strength, courage and perseverance. To the God be the honor and glory and power for ever. Amen.

In Christ,
Candace

Go up and Possess It

By Richard Blackaby

Look, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the LORD God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 1:21)

One of the paradoxes of the Christian life is that God’s gifts often require labor on our part. God brought the Israelites to the Promised Land and told them He was going to “give” it to them (Num. 13:2). The gift of the Promised Land sounded great to the Israelites until they realized that, with the gift, came battles against giants and fortified cities! Perhaps they assumed God was going to obliterate the inhabitants of the land before they entered. Ideally for the Israelites, they could then have entered a vacant land with houses and cities already built and ready to inhabit.

Instead, God said they would have to fight for it. They would not have to fight in their own strength, however; God would be present to fight for them. God would bring down the walls of cities, give them strategies to defeat their enemies, and empower their warriors to fight. The Israelites would have a divine advantage over anyone they fought, but they would still have to fight.

It would be wonderful if, when we become Christians, God would fill our minds with a complete knowledge of the Bible and with Bible verses already memorized. It would be easy if God would instill in us a delight in spending hours in prayer each day and a fearless desire to share our faith with others. But God doesn’t relate to us that way. Instead, He gives us the free gift of His salvation and then tells us to “work out” our salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12b). Are you discouraged because the Christian life is more difficult and challenging than you expected? Don’t be. God’s gifts to you are perfect because, through them, God makes you perfect as well (Matt. 5:48; James 1:17).

Building of Today

If it is my word,
    it is to be today through all known time.
No doubt shall change what is,
    what is known is what shall be.
Faith is believing all,
    knowing what shall come will pass.
Those who are my own,
    are standing sure on what is firming under feet.
Reality is tomorrow,
    not moments fading away.
Yesterday built today,
    the tomorrow which fades to grey.
In what do you know of this reality,
    you so claim to understand?
A mind that I created,
    with limits of a man.
The known is not among those:
    who lavish on themselves,
    to squander and belittle,
    the majesty of His will.
By Candace Huffmaster
© 2006 All Rights Reserved


Not Today!

You will not win, oh heavy spirit of burden "Not Today!"
Today, I fight!

Today ,I fight the good fight,
Today ,I fight the righteous fight.
Today, I overcome,
Today, I lead in battle,
Today, my strongholds are gone.

Today, my spirit stands tall
Today, I hear your voice,
    and today your victory is true
Today, I fight for YOU!
By Candace Huffmaster
© 2006 All Rights Reserved

For Every Thing....There is a Season

Time and Season
Open your eyes and see as I see,
Look where I turn, be one with my world,
Your breath is my wind: the seeds scattered, job done.
My presence in your faith will water their ground,
Be all I am… trust, do not stop,
Keep watch in the distance and know all is done,
Today has a future but was done in the past,
So time doesn’t matter… for all matter will pass.
Remember those passing and always be in prayer,
My spirit is with them, with you, and the air.
What once seemed impossible is now known through light,
So travel, my angel, come home, it’s your flight.
By Candace Huffmaster ©

There are times when I read Oswald's writings and I thank God that we are not friends or acquaintances. If we were, I would have to believe he was writing about conversations I have had with people or experiences I have gone through. If God had not told us that ALL things are common to man, I would not have the confidence to keep trusting and allowing Him to transform me into what He has desired me to be at creation.
Today, don't look at what your best moment has been....that is in the past. Don't look at what mistakes you made....they are only stepping stones to getting it right. Remember, all striving is chasing after the wind unless your sights are set as flint on the Kingdom of God. When that is what we are chasing after, He is faithful to add all else to that: in abundance, to the full....till it overflows in Glory for His name sake.
With love in Christ,
Candace

Be Ready in Season and Out of Season —2 Timothy 4:2

from My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Many of us suffer from the unbalanced tendency to “be ready” only “out of season.” The season does not refer to time; it refers to us. This verse says, “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season.” In other words, we should “be ready” whether we feel like it or not. If we do only what we feel inclined to do, some of us would never do anything. There are some people who are totally unemployable in the spiritual realm. They are spiritually feeble and weak, and they refuse to do anything unless they are supernaturally inspired. The proof that our relationship is right with God is that we do our best whether we feel inspired or not.

One of the worst traps a Christian worker can fall into is to become obsessed with his own exceptional moments of inspiration. When the Spirit of God gives you a time of inspiration and insight, you tend to say, “Now that I’ve experienced this moment, I will always be like this for God.” No, you will not, and God will make sure of that. Those times are entirely the gift of God. You cannot give them to yourself when you choose. If you say you will only be at your best for God, as during those exceptional times, you actually become an intolerable burden on Him. You will never do anything unless God keeps you consciously aware of His inspiration to you at all times. If you make a god out of your best moments, you will find that God will fade out of your life, never to return until you are obedient in the work He has placed closest to you, and until you have learned not to be obsessed with those exceptional moments He has given you.

In the Clouds

There is a destiny that makes us brothers:
None goes his way alone;
All that we send into the lives of others
Comes back into our own.
—Markham

(verses from Hebrew 11, 12 and 1 Corinthians 10)

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that all our ancestors who left Egypt were under the cloud, and they all went through the sea. They were all united with Moses by baptism in the cloud and in the sea. All of them ate the same spiritual food, and all of them drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them, and that rock was Christ. Yet, God was not pleased with most of them, so their dead bodies were scattered over the desert. These things have become examples for us so that we won’t desire what is evil, as they did.
These things happened to make them an example for others. These things were written down as a warning for us who are living in the closing days of history. So, people who think they are standing firmly should be careful that they don’t fall. There isn’t any temptation that you have experienced which is unusual for humans. God, who faithfully keeps his promises, will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist. But when you are tempted, he will also give you the ability to endure the temptation as your way of escape.
Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see. God accepted our ancestors because of their faith .Faith convinces us that God created the world through his word. This means what can be seen was made by something that could not be seen. We don’t belong with those who turn back and are destroyed. Instead, we belong with those who have faith and are saved.
What more should I say? I don’t have enough time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtha, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Through faith they conquered kingdoms, did what God approved, and received what God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, and escaped death. They found strength when they were weak. They were powerful in battle and defeated other armies. Women received their loved ones back from the dead. Other believers were brutally tortured but refused to be released so that they might gain eternal life. Some were made fun of and whipped, and some were chained and put in prison. Some were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. Some wore the skins of sheep and goats. Some were poor, abused, and mistreated. The world didn’t deserve these good people. Some wandered around in deserts and mountains and lived in caves and holes in the ground. All these people were known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised. God planned to give us something very special so that we would gain eternal life with them. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up. We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God. Think about Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, so that you don’t become tired and give up.
You struggle against sin, but your struggles haven’t killed you. You have forgotten the encouraging words that God speaks to you as his children:
“My child, pay attention when the Lord disciplines you.
Don’t give up when he corrects you.
The Lord disciplines everyone he loves.
He severely disciplines everyone he accepts as his child.”
Strengthen your tired arms and weak knees. Keep walking along straight paths so that your injured leg won’t get worse. Instead, let it heal. Try to live peacefully with everyone, and try to live holy lives, because if you don’t, you will not see the Lord. Make sure that everyone has kindness from God so that bitterness doesn’t take root and grow up to cause trouble that corrupts many of you. Make sure that no one commits sexual sin or is as concerned about earthly things as Esau was. He sold his rights as the firstborn son for a single meal You have not come to something that you can feel, to a blazing fire, to darkness, to gloom, to a storm, to a trumpet’s blast, and to a voice. You have come to Jesus, who brings the new promise from God, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better message than Abel’s. Be careful that you do not refuse to listen when God speaks. Your ancestors didn’t escape when they refused to listen to God, who warned them on earth.
Continue to love each other. Don’t forget to show hospitality to believers you don’t know. By doing this some believers have shown hospitality to angels without being aware of it. Remember those in prison as if you were in prison with them. Remember those who are mistreated as if you were being mistreated.

Just think...we are part of that cloud now, and we have an opportunity everyday to be a person lifting up another to look from our shoulders...and see higher than we did. Isn't that awesome?
Much love,
Candace