The Bible says there is "false humility"---it is not recognizing who we are in Christ as joint heirs with Christ. Romans 8:17
Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Col. 2:23
We are nothing without Christ, but like Paul said, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philip 4:13
Our power, our anointing, our ability comes through the Holy Spirit. That is not to say I can go out and play professional football. I know my weaknesses as a woman. I do not have a false modesty when it comes to I like an accountability partner (husband) in life. I don't like sleeping alone. But I know the difference from having a quality relationship (the abundant life) in Christ in a marriage, and having a relationship even as a Christian based on lust.
One thing that amazes me is when I travel and get out of Indiana, it's like God's voice is more fresh and real in my life. It leads me to believe there is something like Daniel had --a prince of Persia and it's right over the Bible belt of Indiana. When I go and visit my daughter and traveled around Los Angeles, just leaving this city here has been amazing. Same with going to New Zealand, Australia and other places. God's voice was very fresh in having a change of scenery.
There are a couple of examples in the Bible of a man wanting bread in the middle of the night and finally the person gets up and gives him bread. Not because he wants to be a good neighbor, but because he does not want someone knocking on his door continually in the middle of the night. Jesus also gave a parable of an unjust judge where a widow kept bugging him and finally granted her the request to avenge her adversaries. Jesus used both of these example to show a persistent faith in prayer to not give up. Then we have examples a more quiet type trust as far as becoming little children.
Who is our warfare against as far as our persistence? Are we storming down the gates of heaven to get what we want or are we taking back the land that the enemy has taken in life. Who has the promise land in our lives? It's the enemy. It's waiting out the devil through persistence to get what is rightfully ours. Through faith and patience they inherited the promises. Hebrews 6:12
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16
As Christians, we are to soar like eagles, not be bottom feeders like chickens. Duet. 28 talks about being the head not the tail in life. It's disturbing that many children brought up in the inner city, some will end up in gangs and being killed early, some will end up in prison, some will never overcome their circumstances and go to college. That is just in the natural realm. The movie The Blind Side showed that. I'm not even talking in the spiritual realm in God in learning to be an overcomer and understanding that we are nothing without God, but with God become something.
There are many times I just go to church and get in and out of church. Same way with work and same with my everyday life. I do not think about what is going on around me or care. Then we can have the attitude-Lord what would you have me do today -- who would you have me minister to? That is what happened when I broke my ankle, I ended up ministering to a man who is a midget who had to have surgery for a degenerative disease.
It's just being open to kick a door down that would not necessary be open. It's ministering when it's not convenient.
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2
Paul said a wide effectual door was open to him, but there were many adversaries. (Because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me. 1 Cor. 16:9).
Sometimes the door is open with many adversaries around, sometimes I've kicked the door down like Daniel did with persistence prayer or kept knocking until it opened. Being open to God's leading. Looking forward to “kicking the door down” with the Indian Creek church singles this weekend in ministering to the homeless.
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