Podcast appearances and mentions of michelle bentham

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2020

Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. This week Michelle continues her very personal series about Mirror Moments with God where she found the courage to receive His forgiveness, trust His love and walk in who He created and redeemed her to be. Introduction Greetings to God’s Beautiful Wildflowers! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Last week I began sharing my mirror moments testimony here on the podcast. As I shared last week, Embracing Identity is a core value here at Blooming Inspired Network. In my own experiences I’ve found spiritual identity is not at all about discovering who YOU are in Christ, but rather settling your heart in intimacy to know Him - just Him - discovering who He is and how He wants to express Himself through you. Last week I shared the messier parts of my testimony and how God used these practical mirror moments to reveal not only His heart for me, but also to help me embrace my identity and who He says I am. Today I’ll share a final mirror moment in the context of the story of a biblical woman. As I share with you today, I want to encourage you to put yourself in today’s passage as we look at the adulterous woman who was cast at Jesus feet for judgment and found herself receiving mercy instead. Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that You would give each person within the sound of my voice eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know you more. I pray that we would be able to step into the story and find you there, meeting with us and speaking to our hearts personally - up close. I ask Lord for you to allow us to encounter you and realize the truths revealed for ourselves today! Show us Your Glory Lord! I ask these things in Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN. Would you allow your heart to engage with Jesus and settle on Him today? Last week I shared that somehow in leading women’s Bible study I missed the idea of God taking my confession of sin and cleansing me of all unrighteousness. So as we begin today I want to turn to a familiar passage of scripture and begin with an encounter activation today. Rather than turn in your Bible’s I want to encourage you to do something completely different. Today, I want you to get in a comfortable position sitting in a comfy chair or your couch. If you can do so safely of course… Please don’t do this next part if you are driving in your car… But, now I’d encourage you - let your shoulders drop back, close your eyes and let whatever cares you are holding onto go. Now, take a few deep breaths (in through your nose, out through your mouth), and as you do I want you to think about the place in your body you are most aware of the presence of God when He shows up. Once you have settled on where you are most aware of GOd’s presence, I want you to focus from that place of awareness on who you know Jesus to be from Scripture. What do you know about Him to be true? And when you have that place of awareness, I’ll call it your heart, when you have your heart set on Jesus then join me in the reading. Lord, come and meet with your children today. We ask you to come and introduce yourself to us in real and tangible ways. Thank you Lord, for your goodness and grace today. If you remember, last week I shared that I had a moment when God woke me from my sleep and had me recall all of the unconfessed sins I had committed. And as I confessed them to Him, grieved over what they had cost Him… He gave me His perspective of me in exchange - “Look what a mess you made out of the beauty I created.” I feel sure some of you need to encounter the Lord’s goodness much the same way I did that night. If, at any time during the reading God begins to speak to you, stay with Him. Otherwise, join me as we place ourselves into this story found in the Gospel of John. Today’s reading is in John 8:1-11 and I’ll be reading from The Passion Translation: Let me set the stage for you - women in Jesus’ time where considered more property than precious gift. Men often married them when they were very young and the women had taken to sewing their valuables into their garments and braiding their jewelry into their hair so that if their husband came home one day and said, “I divorce you. I divorce you. I divorce you.” they would not be found destitute. A woman in this situation without means could not return to her family, for she is disgraced. An adulteress by law since she is now divorced. She has no choice in order to survive she would have to do one of two things, 1) choose to live with a man unmarried, or 2) prostitute herself to make a living. The law found in the Deuteronomic Code prescribed that both a woman and a man caught in adultery should be stoned to death. But, in this narrative we find that the pharisees only brought the woman to Jesus. Now, Let’s Begin: Verse 1-3: Jesus walked up the Mount of Olives near the city where he spent the night. Then at dawn Jesus appeared in the temple courts again, and soon all the people gathered around to listen to his words, so he sat down and taught them. Then in the middle of his teaching, the religious scholars and the Pharisees broke through the crowd and brought a woman who had been caught in the act of committing adultery and made her stand in the middle of everyone. Can you picture this woman with me for a moment? She was likely in some state of undress - perhaps even naked. She may be crying, trembling and fearful of the men who are dragging her through the street. Her tears mingling with the dirt being stirred as she is escorted to the temple steps where this angry, pious group of men cast her down at Jesus’ feet. Can you see her? Defeated. Broken. Ashamed. Fearful. Weeping. Crying out, perhaps. Cowering at the feet of Jesus. Not even daring to look up. Now that you see her, could you be her? Could you be the woman caught in a trap of sin - suddenly exposed, found out and cast at the feet of Jesus? How are you feeling? What are you thinking? Maybe your sin isn’t adultery, but the wages of sin is death - and we all have sinned. Verse 4-6 Then they said to Jesus, “Teacher, we caught this woman in the very act of adultery. Doesn’t Moses’ law command us to stone to death a woman like this? Tell us, what do you say we should do with her?” They were only testing Jesus because they hoped to trap him with his own words and accuse him of breaking the laws of Moses. But Jesus didn’t answer them. Instead he simply bent down and wrote in the dust with his finger. Can you hear their voices? Accusing you. Shaming you. Demanding judgment and an answer. You know what’s coming - first one, then another - they’ll soon begin casting their stones of judgment beyond these words. Caught in the act - they said. The Punishment is Death. What have I done? Oh Lord… Please. Help me. Your thoughts must be racing, pounding out a rhythm of panic with each beat of your heart. Suddenly you sense His presence, low to the ground. What is He doing? He’s writing something with His finger in the dirt. I could throw myself at His feet and beg for mercy… But, that won’t do any good. I deserve this. I was caught in the act. Two or three witnesses - I heard him say it. Verses 7-8: Angry, they kept insisting that he answer their question, so Jesus stood up and looked at them and said, “Let’s have the man who has never had a sinful desire throw the first stone at her.” And then he bent over again and wrote some more words in the dust. Can you hear His voice speaking to the men who accuse you? Did He just give them permission to stone me? They are the Pharisees. Surely none of them even thinks about sinning… Well, except that one who comes to see me a few times a week… Suddenly you hear it… and with each sound you cry out and flinch again and again - weeping uncontrollably as they fall - THUD. THUD. THUD…. One by one the rocks begin to fall. Verses : Upon hearing that, her accusers slowly left the crowd one at a time, beginning with the oldest to the youngest, with a convicted conscience. Suddenly, you realize that the rocks are not hitting you at all, but wait… What is happening? Can you enter into this moment with this woman? Can you be her? Can you see her? Can you experience this with her? Verse 10: Until finally, Jesus was left alone with the woman still standing there in front of him. So he stood back up and said to her, “Dear woman, where are your accusers? Is there no one here to condemn you?” Can you see her? She is still cowering, sobbing, weeping as she realizes she is not going to die today. They didn’t stone me! What is happening? Why did they leave… You lift your head and see that the men who accused you have all left. The rocks haphazardly creating a circle surrounding you and this man, Jesus. So many follow Him… You finally lift your head fully and… Verse 11: Looking around, she replied, “I see no one, Lord.” NO ONE LORD! NO ONE! NO ONE ACCUSES ME! Then you feel it the relief bubbling up and turning to joy. Now you’re laughing through your tears. He offers you His hand, He pulls you up to stand. He takes off His robe and wraps it around your naked body, covering your shame. You slip your arms into its swallowing sleeves. You pull it tight around you. And that is when He places his hand on each side of your face and pulls your eyes up to meet His own. What do you see in His eyes? Jesus said, “Then I certainly don’t condemn you either. Go, and from now on, be free from a life of sin.” At this point can you see Him there holding your face in His hands as the lifter of your head and encouraging you to go and live your life free of this sin that so easily entangled you. Can you see her? Can you be her? Redeemed, Forgiven and Released. I shared about that moment when I walked into the bathroom and I felt that He told me I was beautiful. Today, I want to share a bit more of my mirror moments story from a time when I had to forgive betrayal and learn to let God tend my heart. Last week I spent time bragging on my husband, #TheFisherman, and how precious he is to me. And boy, is he. But we’ve been through it. And though most of our relationship I’ve been making messes and he’s been there to help me clean up afterwards… There was a time about 11 years ago that he hurt me, and I had to walk on the other side of this conversation. During our recovery I asked my husband for permission to share our story if it could help others who may find themselves in a similar situation. He gave me his permission. In 2008, right after Christmas, I learned my husband had become involved in an emotional affair with a woman he met playing an online video game. My heart was broken, but my resolve to save my marriage strong, and if I am honest - I had neglected him in those three years before after my son passed away and we walked out unimaginable pain as a family. And that affair hit me right in the love languages - if you catch what I am saying. Meaning my top two love languages are quality time and words of affirmation. He had been giving exactly what I need to another woman, a virtual stranger, for six months while my needs for emotional intimacy and quality time went unmet. It was not easy to overcome that kind of betrayal for me - and beside my child dying this would have been my #2 confessed fear - my husband choosing someone else over me. As we both determined to focus on our marriage and begin to date again while figuring out how to overcome the wounds we both carried from our first decade of marriage - I found myself home alone during the day and processing the pain I felt with God throughout the day. Our lead pastor at church had shared in a series one time that in the morning we should worship God in our quiet time, and if you are not quite sure what to sing, just sing the song that is playing in your heart. One particular morning a few weeks after discovering the affair, I was cleaning my bathroom and found myself standing in front of the bathroom mirror humming a familiar tune from my younger days. The song playing in stereo in my head. The greatest love of all is happening to me, learning to love yourself - it is the greatest love of all… Whitney Houston’s exquisite voice singing the song in the recesses of my mind. After several minutes of singing the song while I cleaned the large plate glass mirror above our double sink vanity, I finally stopped and dropped the paper towels on the cabinet. “God! Why is that the song in my heart today?” He waited a beat or two and then I heard what I have come to know as His voice in my thoughts as He said, “Because I am the greatest love of all, and when my perfect love happens to you - you learn to love yourself.” You see, Jesus said in the Gospels that the first commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and the second is like it - it is learning to love your neighbor as yourself. As I stood staring at my face in that mirror, the tears began to fall again as I realized God had once again brought me to His truth in the sweetest way. 1 John 3 & 4 tells us that God not only loves us, but He is love. Perfect Love. And that love casts out fear - including worries, anxieties and insecurities. For me, the journey of learning to love myself would take me a decade. And as I have learned to love myself, I have learned to see myself from His perspective and to recognize I was created by love, made in the image of love so that I may be a full expression of His Love to the world around me. He is so good. Next week I will conclude this message series with a final testimony of how I came to realize that though I had found myself in Love, I still had not fully embraced my identity in Christ. Tune in to here more of the story next Friday as we continue to embrace identity, encourage passion, equip purpose and empower calling at Blooming Inspired Podcast. Closing Remarks That’s all the time we have for today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I pray the Lord met you through these words today. That His grace and love permeated your heart and mind in such a way that you were changed by an encounter of His presence through His Word. #TheGospels #VerseByVerse Bible Study focusing on the Book Of John begins November 14, 2020 right here in Granbury, TX. This season we will spend around 20 weeks reading verse by verse through the Gospel of John asking ourselves the question, “What would I believe about God, Myself, Others and What is Possible if I only had the Scriptures to inform my faith?” We will be meeting each Saturday morning from 10am to 12 pm (CT) at the Five Crowns International Ministries Offices at 2201 Commercial Lane in Granbury. For more information or to register for this season of Bible study please visit bloominginspirednetwork.com/calendar and select the 11/14 link for Bible study. Cannot wait to read through the last of our four Gospels with you Verse By Verse! If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to me by visiting bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page or michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. If you need encouragement of any kind, prayer or would just like to stay connected with us here at Blooming Inspired Network, please reach out by visiting us on Facebook, @BloomingInspired or bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the Direct Message or Contact link at the top of the page. We’d love to join hands with you in this season and lift you up. We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire other women to live their lives blooming alive! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on both Apple and Google Podcasts - take a moment to Subscribe and leave a review today! Speaking of partnering… Blooming Inspired Network is working with an up and coming ministry called Women of Verve. I began a little more than a year ago to walk with my friend, Melissa, as she birthed this idea of doing a community based outreach to women through retreats and Bible studies. In June we hosted 24 women and 4 leaders for a life-changing weekend away at MO Ranch in Hunt, TX. As we did the community of women we served has rallied! We are meeting in early November for a Brunch and time of fellowship with some light teaching. Be Sure to Follow @WomenOfVerve on Facebook or you can learn more by looking us up at facebook.com/WomenOfVerve and if you’d like to join us for our 2021 retreat July 23-25th you may visit womenofverve.com for more information and to reserve your spot! Space is limited so sign up today! Mark Your Calendars Be sure to tune into our Network’s weekly shows featuring these women who are living their lives Blooming Alive! Wednesdays | Jennifer Eikenhorst is bringing hope and building community with Accidental Hope Podcast. You can learn more about Jennifer and Accidental Hope by visiting facebook.com/accidentalhope. Thursdays | Beverly Flanagan is helping us age wisely and live well as mature women of God on In All Seasons Podcast. You can find Beverly’s latest episode at facebook.com/BloomingInspired or by visiting bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. And, Of Course, I continue to serve you each Friday by empowering the voices of women who live their lives blooming alive right here on the Blooming Inspired Podcast. Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs weekly on Fridays. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. Podcast music provided by standard license from premiumbeats.com, “Spirit of Fire” created by FASSound.

Blooming Inspired Podcast |168: Mirror Moments (Testimony Psalm 45:11)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2020

Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. This week Michelle shares from the heart about a very personal series of Mirror Moments with God. Last February she was preparing to speak at a conference and share her testimony - and, God was gracious in allowing her to prepare the glory story of all the victories she’s known in her life with Him. As she put the final period on the end of the last sentence - she felt Him nudge her heart. “Now that you have that out of your system, would you like to know what I want to say?” This testimony was her response to that question! Introduction Hello Wildflowers! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. We’re moving in a new direction this week - over the next two or three weeks I’ll be sharing my personal testimony - really, it’s my identity journey into Poppa, Jesus & the Holy Spirit’s heart for me. This is a word straight from the deep places of healing and messy life I’ve walked with God as I’ve grown in knowing Him. For the last 10 years my prayer has been “God, I want to know you the way you know me.” And in that time, I’ve come through these beautiful mirror moments, learning to see His image in me. Embracing Identity is a core value here at Blooming Inspired Network. In my own experiences I’ve found spiritual identity is not at all about discovering who YOU are in Christ, but rather settling your heart in intimacy to know Him - just Him - discovering who He is and how He wants to express Himself through you. As I pray for you today, I want you to keep in mind in Genesis 1 & 2 we learned that we - as human beings - were born in the image of God. Our life as believers should be an ever increasing journey toward becoming what we behold in Him - seeing, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, faintly as in a mirror but as we grow more like Him looking forward to that day when we finally know Him as He knows us - FULLY - Face to Face. Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that You would give each person within the sound of my voice eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know you more. I pray that every person would encounter and be reminded that You think thoughts toward us and those thoughts are plans to prosper us and to bring about our future and hope in You. That as I share the testimony of the truth I’ve lived in you, that those within the sound of my voice would find a resonating life song they can begin to sing in their own experiences with you. Let our hearts be inspired to press into You more, to live for more and to experience more so Your glory may be known upon the earth. I ask these things in Jesus’ Precious Name, AMEN. Would you allow that reality to settle deep in your heart as you hear my testimony of Jesus today? Last February I prepared to speak at a conference and share a sweet little testimony about my life with Jesus. God’s grace allowed me to prepare that glory story of all the victories I’ve known in my life with Him. I settled down after the final period landed on the end of the last sentence of that testimony. Satisfied. Excited. I had two weeks until the conference and all I needed to do was tweak it, read it again and again so I could deliver it from my heart. And that’s when it happened… I felt Him nudge my heart. “Now that you have that out of your system, would you like to know what I want to say?” How else would I respond? My simple reply in that moment was yes, Lord. It still took me two full weeks to let go of my glory story complete with a cute anecdote my daddy loves to tell about how I thought the preacher was God at a revival meeting when I was just 3 years old. At 9:30 am, on the morning of the conference, I opened my laptop and typed up what I am about to share with you now. Just 5 hours before delivering it to the women I had been invited to serve that weekend. You see, God did not want me to share that “Glory Story” because it only told you the good parts of my experiences with Him, without digging into the not so lovely parts. Anybody else? Do you have those not so lovely parts of your testimony you’d just really rather not share with 100+ strangers much less the entire interwebs… As I am choosing to do now? I mean, come on – who here has Facebook or Instagram, or maybe that “Pinterest. Perfect. Account?” I attended the conference I shared this testimony at the year before serving as the Worship Painter. The day that I spoke, the room filled with many of the same women who watched me paint a glorious masterpiece of God’s Pearl of Great Price the year before, I confessed: “I really am not ‘that good’ at painting.” Meaning, I usually learn to do things that I don’t think I can do by doing them. (REPEAT) And, because I was painting the entire day the previous year, I didn’t get to fully participate in all the activations offered. In particular, the mirror moment activation each woman was encouraged to do during the conference. They stood before the mirror taking off the lies they’d believed about themselves and asked God to show them how He sees them. That night, as I walked my tired body into the hotel room provided I found myself standing in front of the mirror taking off my shoes. The day had been long and hard, but my hair looked great and my make-up still in all the right places. And as I looked He took me back to a moment many years earlier. As I lingered there staring at myself in the mirror my heart spoke up... Has that ever happened to anyone out there? Well it does to me! You see, your heart has a voice and sometimes it talks to you. That night it would have been unusual for me to pause in front of a mirror. After ministering through paint, being on my feet and working more than 12 hours - I’m normally exhausted! By extension – my heart is usually quiet. But this night, because of the women I served – MY HEART WAS QUITE FULL. And as my eyes stared back at me I said aloud, “I think I’m finally starting to see her – that girl you’ve shown me I am. And, what’s more... I think I like her. And maybe, even I’m starting to love her...” The moment was not nearly as vain as it sounds. You see I have a very Jerry Springer meets Jennie Jones kind of story. A story that mirrors a few women we read about in scripture who had amazing encounters with Jesus when He walked the earth. The woman at the well, Mary Magdalene, and the adulterous woman the pharisees brought before Jesus to be stoned. We’ll look at one of these stories together, but before I go there... I need to tell you a bit of my story. As I wrote my testimony last February, I wanted to share all the things I counted as victories and how I have never known a day of my life when I didn’t believe God exists and that Jesus is real. Every word of it 100% TRUE, but it wasn’t complete. In sharing the victories, I skipped right over those years I often call my wilderness or prodigal season. A time when I was a very poor mother to small children, divorced and promiscuously working my way through 100s of men in bars – I don’t remember many of them, much less their names. I skipped the part about being married twice. And the abusive men who tried to utterly destroy me sending me off in the PTSD of Battered Women’s Syndrome. I was a hostage in my own mind. Can I just brag about my husband a little bit? We met when I was still hiding out and a hot mess - running from the law, and he quickly became the truest taste of unconditional love I’ve ever known. I like to call him my Kinsman Redeemer, but mostly I just call him #TheFisherman because he often catches all the fishes. Beside Jesus, he is the love of my life. He made me the catch of his life 22 years ago last August. We share a blended family of 2 sons and 3 daughters, two sons in love, and one who will soon be officially joining our family in November... and then there’s that little Grandbaby we learned about in January! He was due in August, but came a little early while his pops and I were on vacation in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Can I tell you I loved that little boy before I ever know him and I’m one happy Mimi? That little boy truly has my heart. And holding him is about the sweetest thing I’ve ever known. But, before all that I had a life riddled with traumas. My parents struggled with volatile anger and emotional drama while I was in my mother’s womb. She was really sick while carrying me, and the doctor force delivered me after my mother had a near fatal episode in the delivery room. I grew up believing I had nearly killed my mother and given her high blood pressure. SO! Birth was traumatic, my family life - full of emotional drama. In addition, I suffered a number of external traumas before I was 18: the deaths of both my grandmothers – the first at 5 years old, my cousin’s girlfriend was murdered when I was 12, and if that were it would be enough! I was also bullied in middle school, and at 16 I was raped as a virgin which messed me up -BIG. TIME. I carried that event as a secret for a number of years. I dated a man much older than me as I turned 17, and a few months later found out I was pregnant a few weeks before I began my senior year in high school. He abandoned me and his child when he learned of my condition. As I graduated from school and left home - I would hear boys say, “She’s really pretty and all, but she has a kid.” As an adult I was in several traumatic car accidents that resulted in major injuries to my body, I ended up moving in with the first guy who paid attend and ended up being physically abused in my first marriage and another relationship I had before I met #Theisherman. That’s a laundry list of opportunities for the enemy to come in and take footholds or build strongholds through my life. He sought to destroy my identity, and didn’t have to work too hard at it either. I carried a lot of self deception and self hatred. I think it was around 5 years of age that I decided it would be better to make up or pretend to have a better life than the one I was living. By 8 years old I was convinced I was a problem and constantly in trouble with my parents - one particular incident which was attributed to an error my teacher made not recording my grades for several weeks sealed my wounded heart shut. I decided at that point if I was going to get in trouble I’d have a great time doing it. I lived in active rebellion towards authority almost my entire life – including a few days in jail here and there. I had been in church enough as a child to be saved at age 12, but I had such an immature mindset because I was not discipled in the word of God – though my daddy tried. (Did I say I lived in active rebellion? YEAH.) At this point in my story, I’m pretty sure my pastor friend who invited me to speak was thinking - “Why on earth did I invite her to speak?” As You Have Heard, I have a messy testimony. Full of pitfalls and potholes and lots of self sabotage! It’s a messy story that has an equal number of amazing BUT GOD moments to tell as well. He intersected my life after I face-planted a windshield on the way home from a bar with a friend in 1998. And as hard as I had run from God all those years before, I ran after God and I’ve not ever looked back. But, when I started going to church there was this moment when I realized I had all these SKELETONS in the closet... All these things I’d done that only my family really knew about – well, some of them are public record with the state of Texas. Are you with me? At age 30, I ended up in this little church in Rhome, TX with my unsaved second husband, our blended family of five kids with three different last names, and I wanted to pretend we were Ozzy & Harriet. Put on my best clothes and my best face each week and smiled and nodded my way through those first few months in church. Around Christ that year, my husband and later three of our five kids surrendered their lives to salvation and Jesus. And after a summer of Bible study with my pastor’s wife our fourth of five came to know Jesus at summer camp, and I began leading women’s ministry at the church. That was it... I knew what I was made to do from that moment on. But, REMEMBER... I still had this closet in my head full of skeletons. And that door had been slammed shut with a padlock in place to keep that wreck of a life hidden. There were even a few of those old bones sticking through the cracks in the door and I was terrified that they might just come flying out one night at Bible study and sprawl themselves across the floor – You know what that means, right? I’d be disqualified... And DISQUALIFIED is exactly how I felt. You know, somehow in all that Bible study I missed the part where Jesus died to redeem my past and not only forgive my sins, but to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. SAY THAT TO with me – Jesus not only forgives my sin, but cleanses me from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. Here’s the deal though, 1 John 1:9 tells us we have to do something to receive the cleansing... Confess the sins to God. “If we confess our sins (to God), He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL -” Say ALL! “All unrighteousness.” What’s our part? To confess our sins. To come clean about all the things we’ve done to offend God and hurt other people. It’s been a long way from there to here, and I wouldn’t say I’ve arrived - still, I work daily to keep my life confessed up with God so the enemy doesn’t get any more footholds. Amen? I spent from those early years in church digging into the depths of God’s word, leading women’s Bible study at church, and doing my own word studies on the side. Things were not ideal at home, but I was growing in God and learning so much about Him. Still, I kept the not so lovely parts of our lives hidden from those around me. Like the fact that my teenage son was spinning wildly out of control and that our issues with him often escalated to violence between he and I. That’s when the enemy hit our family hard… Side Swiped us for real. In 2005 my oldest son suffered severe head injuries in a car accident. Eight days after his accident he passed away and I like to say he is now in Heaven’s safe keeping. God has been so good and gracious to me. As I walked out the healing journey after Justin’s death I discovered that God wanted me to give him everything... And that led me to several mirror moments that would change my life forever. I’ll save the others for the next couple of weeks, but today I’ll share the one that stemmed from that night in the hotel room in 2019. (FACEBOOK TESTIMONY) Do. You. See. It's been a long journey from there to here... From that night when I heard a voice call me from my sleep sending me to the living room to watch a video. I sat in the dark, my attitude far from polite, watching my favorite Bible study teacher speak on the screen across the room. From that moment when one by one all the unconfessed sin in my life played through my mind. Sin that brought tears... not of shame, not of guilt and not of regret, but rather tears of conviction at the high price Jesus paid for each picture remembered. I lay there, face in the carpet, sobbing in grief over what my sin cost Jesus. It seemed like time had stopped. From that moment after gut sobbing, snot in my hair kinda' crying when I asked Him what I should do with all this mess. And I felt He said, Go look in the mirror. From that moment when I walked into the bathroom where the light intensified so brilliant white I could not see to the clarity that came as I stepped in front of the vanity mirror and saw my piercing brown eyes. Chocolate brown dots staring back at me from a splotchy red face. And that's when I heard the most beautiful words, "Look what a mess you made out of the beauty I created." I didn't hear condemnation, but loving acknowledgement. He said He created me beautiful. Still beautiful in spite of the mess. I had always felt less than, somewhat ordinary... Crook in my nose, brown eyes -one noticeably smaller than the other-naturally dishwater colored hair, freckles and speckles and splotches in pasty white skin, a square shaped jaw and sparsely drawn in brows. A blank canvas... But He said I'm beautiful. Lately, I see her. That woman He fashioned and designed me to be - the uniquely fabulous way my dark eyes catch and reflect light. The sweet little way my mouth turns first down then up creating a beautiful smile that deeply creases my cheeks on both sides. The way my chin juts down from a softly square jawline. The way my fine mass of hair wisps and curls around my face, taking the style I carefully apply. I've started to love her lately in a way I didn't realize she needed to be loved. I see myself as He sees me - as He is within me. Scriptures commends us to love - first God with all our heart, soul, mind & strength and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I cannot love others well, unless first I love myself. I cannot love myself well, unless I first love God. And when I choose to see myself through His eyes, I learn to see others as I see myself - from Love's perspective. Do. You. See. I am starting to see that girl He showed me back then. I love her, too. "The King is enthralled with your beauty. Honor Him for He is Lord." Psalm 45:11 (My Memory) Closing Remarks That’s all the time we have for today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I pray this is some encouragement to you as you seek to set your heart in a posture of love through turbulent days that are warring for our hearts and minds. May His power, wisdom and presence be complete in you and may you walk in His steadfast love daily. Next week we’ll dig deeper into this idea of Moving Forward in the power of the Holy Spirit. I’m very excited to announce that Blooming Inspired Network is sharing a new office space with Michelle Bentham’s Coaching Practice in Granbury, TX! If you’d like to learn more about mentoring through Blooming Inspired Network or sign up for coaching please reach out to Michelle by email and she will send you all the information you need to get started. WOW! OCTOBER is upon us… We’re already more than half way through and that means there are approximately 68-70 days left in 2020!!! Our fall Bible study has been delayed but we’ll be making announcements for a November start reading our last book in #TheGospels #VerseByVerse! I have excellent news… We’ll be meeting in person again this fall. I’ve got a few details to iron out before making the announcement but I cannot wait to get connected with you all again in Bible Study and community! If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to me by visiting bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page or michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. If you need encouragement of any kind, prayer or would just like to stay connected with us here at Blooming Inspired Network, please reach out by visiting us on Facebook, @BloomingInspired or bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the Direct Message or Contact link at the top of the page. We’d love to join hands with you in this season and lift you up. If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on both Apple and Google Podcasts - take a moment to Subscribe and leave a review today! We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire other women to live their lives blooming alive! Speaking of partnering… Blooming Inspired Network is working with an up and coming ministry called Women of Verve. I began a little more than a year ago to walk with my friend, Melissa, as she birthed this idea of doing a community based outreach to women through retreats and Bible studies. In June we hosted 24 women and 4 leaders for a life-changing weekend away at MO Ranch in Hunt, TX. As we did the community of women we served has ralled! We are meeting in early November for a Brunch and time of fellowship with some light teaching. Be Sure to Follow @WomenOfVerve on Facebook or you can learn more by looking us up at facebook.com/WomenOfVerve and if you’d like to join us for our 2021 retreat July 23-25th you may visit womenofverve.com for more information and to reserve your spot! Space is limited so sign up today! Mark Your Calendars Be sure to tune into our Network’s weekly shows featuring these women who are living their lives Blooming Alive! Wednesdays | Jennifer Eikenhorst is bringing hope and building community with Accidental Hope Podcast. You can learn more about Jennifer and Accidental Hope by visiting facebook.com/accidentalhope. Thursdays | Beverly Flanagan is helping us age wisely and live well as mature women of God on In All Seasons Podcast. You can find Beverly’s latest episode at facebook.com/BloomingInspired or by visiting bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. And, Of Course, our very own Michelle Bentham is empowering the voices of women who live their lives blooming alive right here on the Blooming Inspired Podcast. Bible Study starts in October! We’ll be reading with fresh perspective in the Gospel of John as we wrap up our four year journey walking through #TheGospels #VerseByVerse. Be listening for more information here and be sure to check out facebook.com/bloominginspired for regular updates. Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs weekly on Fridays. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. Podcast music provided by standard license from premiumbeats.com, “Spirit of Fire” created by FASSound.

Blooming Inspired Podcast | 167: Not Missing My Appointment (Philippians 3)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2020

This week Michelle shares from the heart about revelation she feels is critical to the coming new year and season we find ourselves in as believers, global citizens and as women! Join her as she unpacks what she means when she says, “I’m Not Missing My Appointment!” reading from Philippians 2 and 3 about what it means to press into what’s ahead, leave what’s behind and move forward into God’s unlimited potential in your life! Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Hello Wildflower Friend! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. A NEW PODCAST EPISODE!!! I’m so excited. I’ve been getting back into my flow around the podcasting mic this week publishing our In All Seasons podcast yesterday and working up this powerful episode as a follow up. To say this year has been challenging is an understatement. Can I get an AMEN? n addition to all the Corona craziness and political posturing going on in the world around us - we’ve suffered the loss of my father-in-law in September, welcomed our very first grandchild in July (while on vacation) no less. Just this past week we also welcomed our first great nephew - to his big sister’s delight! And, we have a daughter getting married in November. It’s been a year full of high highs and low lows and everything in between. Life has been a series of unexpected heartbreaking events alongside expectant and exciting events! This year and the ups and downs of life ebbed and flowed in a maximized and magnified fashion. Scott and I in many instances have had to rely solely on God to both comfort and provide the way as we sought to return home to family in the midst of medical crises and to care for our family in the loss of my husband’s beloved dad. I’ve spent my time since we got the word Dad went to the hospital splitting my time between helping my mother-in-law and my momma. It’s been a beautiful blessing in the midst of deep sorrow, and a tremendous challenge figuring out how to balance moving to a new office and jumping back into ALL THE THINGS I’ve been working toward these last few years. And that is just my story… There are millions of people around the world who have had their best laid plans and their lives turned upside down this year. Yesterday as I met with a client God dropped a truth so powerful in my spirit I had to write it down: “The only way to miss your appointment in this season, is to allow disappointment to rule over things you feel you haven’t done instead of focusing on what God is calling you to do now!” As I’ve weighed that thought and talked to God about it I felt Him pointing me to Paul’s writings in Philippians. Specifically: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14, and that’s in the New American Standard Bible. Now For This Week’s Reading… Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that You would give each person within the sound of my voice eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know you more. I pray that every person would encounter and be reminded that You think thoughts toward us and those thoughts are plans to prosper us and to bring about our future and hope in You. That as we read Your words of Truth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, we would be changed by them. Let our hearts be inspired to press into You more, to live for more and to experience more so Your glory may be known upon the earth. I ask these things in Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN. As we move toward the end of this upside down kinda’ year, I’m going to be talking about the importance of vision and moving forward. Last October I was in much the same position as I am this October, my husband is working in Wisconsin while I keep the home fires burning back here in Texas. As I spent last fall reflecting and listening to the heart of the Lord for the upcoming new year - I heard three specific words: Vision, Velocity & Victory. As I did, the Lord showed me a picture of a FINISH LINE. I knew this meant that the long season of preparation I’ve been walking out was coming to an end. And with it - all the should’ves would’ves and could’ves were going to be behind me as well. Which brings me back to that quote from my coaching session yesterday. We often look back at what we’ve missed, what we failed to do or accomplish and we hold onto that disappointment and regret. The Apostle Paul had a life that he believed he was living for God before he met Christ on that Damascus road. But, after his conversion he pursued God’s path wholeheartedly --- and though others might reject him because of his past, he didn’t let that stop him from living out God’s plan and purpose for his redeemed and transformed life. I believe we can learn so much from his example. How to persevere in adversity - when life knocks you down and the enemy attacks you trying to thwart God’s plan. We must learn to be people with a persevering spirit and a relentless pursuit of all that God is and who Jesus wants to be through us. It’s the only way forward. Today as we read, I want you to pay attention to the powerful promises that come when we set our gaze upon Jesus, and seek first His Kingdom and righteousness - the prize toward which He calls us heavenward. I pray you can sense the overwhelming passion of God in my heart toward you - believing that you, too, would fulfill the GOD-SIZED potential He created you to live in. Let’s Begin in Philippians Chapter 3 in The Passion Translation: Verse 1-2: My beloved ones, don’t ever limit your joy or fail to rejoice in the wonderful experience of knowing our Lord Jesus! I don’t mind repeating what I’ve already written you because it protects you— beware of those religious hypocrites who teach that you should be circumcised to please God. Did you catch that? Religious hypocrites - holding fast to traditions - will lead us into dead works. What religious traditions might you be observing that God is asking you to let go of at this very moment? For me, God has been arresting my opinions and judgments about and against others from my tightly clenched fists. He gives me discernment to pray and protect me, not to tear others down. But, my words and my mind sometimes take off through my mouth before I have a chance to filter them. Another tradition is the church I attend, and the roles women should play in them. I’m learning so much from God about how He sees His daughters and what He desires for them. I see life and light coming to them and a place being prepared for them - a place at His table. Verse 3: For we have already experienced “heart-circumcision,” and we worship God in the power and freedom of the Holy Spirit, not in laws and religious duties. We are those who boast in what Jesus Christ has done, and not in what we can accomplish in our own strength. Has your heart been circumcised? I remember a number of years ago - some 15 if I’m counting correctly - I was reading these Pauline epistles with fresh eyes and was hit with a fresh awareness that there was more to water baptism than just a symbolic act of obedience. The act of water baptism is a prophetic declaration over my life that my old nature and the old me has died, and my new self - what I like to call my originally created self - raises from that burial delivered from my past and the desires of my flesh to walk in submission to Christ not only as Savior but as my Lord. In that season I prayed those Scriptures and asked God if He would kindly cut away every part of my flesh until only He remained. It was during this same season that I began to pray to Know God the way He knows me. A longing - a hunger and a thirst for both His intimacy and righteousness - was birthed in me in that beautiful season. A longing that has led me ever deeper into His grace, His love, His presence, and His glory. It is a place of the deepest abiding - that place of knowing and being known by the one who formed you in your mother’s wombs. Who knows every thought you think before you form it in your mind. He knows the life you’ll live, the path you’ll take and the way you’ll wander off from Him along the way - and still - He chose you to bear not only His image, but also His glory as He transforms you - from glory to glory - and allows us to be partakers of His divine nature even as we are yet sinners. Christ died for us - it is a severe kind of mercy that sacrifices itself so it can attain one so loved. And beloved, if you did not already know - YOU ARE SO VERY LOVED. Let God tend those matters in your heart. Paul’s Past… Verse 4-6: It’s true that I once relied on all that I had become. I had a reason to boast and impress people with my accomplishments—more than others—for my pedigree was impeccable. I was born a true Hebrew of the heritage of Israel as the son of a Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin. I was circumcised eight days after my birth and was raised in the strict tradition of Orthodox Judaism, living a separated and devout life as a Pharisee. And concerning the righteousness of the Torah, no one surpassed me; I was without a peer. Furthermore, as a fiery defender of the truth, I persecuted the messianic believers with religious zeal. Here Paul deals honestly with both his virtues and his shortcomings… Paul gives us a glimpse at how destructive religious piety can be when it attacks and persecutes those who believe in Christ. Has your heart been wounded by leaders in the church, or maybe even your parents, misappropriated their authority over you and wounded your soul whether the wounding was intentional or not - it needs to be brought to Jesus, tenderly cut away so that healing can take place. Verse 7: Yet all of the accomplishments that I once took credit for, I’ve now forsaken them and I regard it all as nothing compared to the delight of experiencing Jesus Christ as my Lord! There is this beautiful thing that takes place when you come to terms with the fact that IN CHRIST you can do nothing of your own accord. You cannot boast of your accomplishments for they are also His. You cannot even point to your past successes for they are buried now with your old life. No… As one who is accepted in the beloved you gladly join yourself to Him, allow Him to receive your glory which He gladly shares with you. He honors you beloved and He delights to see you bring honor and glory to His own name. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. (See Psalm 37:4) Verse 8: To truly know him meant letting go of everything from my past and throwing all my boasting on the garbage heap. It’s all like a pile of manure to me now, so that I may be enriched in the reality of knowing Jesus Christ and embrace him as Lord in all of his greatness. Jesus when He arrests our hearts and minds - He changes everything. He gives us strength, grace and peace to walk through our lives… Not striving to accomplish something that earns us favor, but living from His love and favor as we surrender every part of ourselves to Him. For Him. And His glory. Verse 9-11: My passion is to be consumed with him and not clinging to my own “righteousness” based in keeping the written Law. My “righteousness” will be his, based on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ—the very righteousness that comes from God. And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus more fully and to experience the overflowing power of his resurrection working in me. I will be one with him in his sufferings and I will be one with him in his death. Only then will I be able to experience complete oneness with him in his resurrection from the realm of death. What are you passionately pursuing in life? For me, as Paul writes, I find myself more and more driven to know and experience the fullness of Who Jesus is - the wonders of His power and supernatural presence - the glorious fruit of His Spirit - Holy Spirit - living on the inside of me. I want to be acquainted with Him in every way - familiar and yet still in awe of His complete otherness. His complete Godness. That thing that drives my face to the ground in worship and awe that one so magnificent could love so well one like me. Verse 12: I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. For those of you thinking - I have so NOT arrived. We can thank God for Paul’s testimony - and I’ll add my own. I will not know the completion of my desire, the fullness of them this side of Heaven - but in the fullness that He offers me daily - I want to live and move and find my being over and over again. Amen? Verse 13: I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. Learning from our past and the missteps we’ve taken through life is valuable as we walk through them, but to live our lives driven by them and focused on them keeps our eyes off the promise. Jesus - He said, Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness… All of these things are found in the person of Jesus Christ, and the empowering nature of Holy Spirit. We are not victims of circumstance doomed to repeat the past failures we have walked through - no, we are not. We are repented sinners, now called saints who walk in the pure victory of Christ as OVERCOMERS. We cannot depend on what we view as strengths or even our own ideas. We must pursue the higher thoughts, purpose and plans of God. His strength perfected in our weakness as we learn all the wondrous ways He fashioned us to express His glory and person to the world in Christ. In coaching one of the things we are taught is that we do not dwell on the past - if it comes up we look at it to see what we can learn from it, and then we set ourselves in purpose-filled fashion on a course of action to accomplish what we are looking toward our future to see. Paul said he forgets the past that is behind him and fastens his heart to the future instead. So let me ask you--- What is Your Heart Fastened to in this Season? Verse 14: I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. There is so much more for us in Christ if we will run straight to Him and His divine invitation. What heavenly goal do you sense Him putting before you today? Run with everything you have beloved toward that victory-prize and let His anointing carry you easily across His finish line. Verse 15-16: So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them. And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion. Have you every heard the saying, “Not my monkey, not my circus?” or perhaps the more common, “Stay in your lane.” Paul is writing just this to the church at Philippi. He says let all who are fully mature have this same passion. What passion? The passion to pursue the fullness of Christ and what He has set before us to run toward in our lives each day. And then he offers grace to those who are “not quite there yet…” I had such Zeal when I finally began to pursue the Lord and His goodness. I dug deep in His Word and I studied long. As I did, I found myself frustrated and even infuriated with people who didn’t quite “GET HIM” they way I did. I shared these thoughts with my cousin who is 10 years my senior and about the same distance from me in wisdom. She smiled and said, “You know what drives me crazy?” I shook my head. “People who always think you have to GET IT the way they do.” Touche! Write. Or maybe it is a little more like ouch. God reminds me often that it is okay others are not quite where I am in my journey with Him. He’s got them - He’s working in and through them just as He has done with me. I need to trust Him in the lives of others the way I have learned to trust Him with myself. When I try to “fix” others on His behalf - it usually ends poorly and there is a always relational reconciliation that needs to be done. Verse 17: My beloved friends, imitate my walk with God and follow all those who walk according to the way of life we modeled before you. Here is where Paul says, Follow me - or imitate me - as I imitate Christ. You see Paul followed Christ’s lead, so it would be safe for others to follow Paul. Why? Because Paul was leading them to Jesus. If you are called to leadership this is an important note: I cut my teeth in God’s word through Beth Moore Bible studies more than ten years ago. One thing she said back then in her video teaching that has never left me was, “Beloved, follow me as I follow Christ. Don’t just follow me because I’ll leave you in a ditch.” She then said, “Be the kind of leader that when your time is done, you move out of the way and those who followed you still follow Christ.” This is what I desire for all of you - follow Jesus. Live and Breath Him. Immerse Yourself In Him. He is the only one worthy of your devotion and your loyal faithfulness. He is everything. Every. Thing. Verses 18-19: For there are many who live by different standards. As I’ve warned you many times (I weep as I write these words), they are enemies of the cross of the Anointed One and doom awaits them. Their god has possessed them and made them mute. Their boast is in their shameful lifestyles and their minds are in the dirt. As one who has walked with many on life’s road with Jesus, I can relate to Paul’s words here in the deeper places of my heart. We cannot say we follow Jesus and yet fail to live by His standards. We don’t want to find ourselves opposing the truth and work of Christ after we’ve spent our lives coming to find Him. Be cautious and mindful - bathe yourself in the Scriptures and write them on your heart. Know them inside and out - and live by Faith in the One who Saved you. He alone is worthy, beloved. He is our author and perfector. He knows how the story ends. Stay close to Him - He will never fail you. Verses 20-21: But we are a colony of heaven on earth as we cling tightly to our life-giver, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our humble bodies and transfigure us into the identical likeness of his glorified body. And using his matchless power, he continually subdues everything to himself. The sweet spot for those of us who are in Christ is in this exactly poignant and beautiful expression of how we are to live out our days on earth - defined by our submission, clinging to Jesus as our life-giver and daily walking out the transformation that will result in us beholding Him on that glorious last day as we look in His beautiful face. He will subdue everything in His timing and He brings it continually to Him. He is matchless in every way. Closing Remarks That’s all the time we have for today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I pray this is some encouragement to you as you seek to set your heart in a posture of love through turbulent days that are warring for our hearts and minds. May His power, wisdom and presence be complete in you and may you walk in His steadfast love daily. Next week we’ll dig deeper into this idea of Moving Forward in the power of the Holy Spirit. I’m very excited to announce that Blooming Inspired Network is sharing a new office space with Michelle Bentham’s Coaching Practice in Granbury, TX! If you’d like to learn more about mentoring through Blooming Inspired Network or sign up for coaching please reach out to Michelle by email and she will send you all the information you need to get started. OCTOBER is upon us… WOW! We’re already half way through and that means there are approximately 75 days left in 2020!!! Our fall Bible study has been delayed but we’ll be making announcements for a November start reading our last book in #TheGospels #VerseByVerse! I have excellent news… We’ll be meeting in person again this fall. I’ve got a few details to iron out before making the announcement but I cannot wait to get connected with you all again in Bible Study and community! If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to me by visiting bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page or michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. If you need encouragement of any kind, prayer or would just like to stay connected with us here at Blooming Inspired Network, please reach out by visiting us on Facebook, @BloomingInspired or bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the Direct Message or Contact link at the top of the page. We’d love to join hands with you in this season and lift you up. If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on both Apple and Google Podcasts - take a moment to Subscribe and leave a review today! I also want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it on Apple or Google Podcasts, and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire other women to live their lives blooming alive! Speaking of partnering… Blooming Inspired Network is working with an up and coming ministry called Women of Verve. I began a little more than a year ago to walk with my friend, Melissa, as she birthed this idea of doing a community based outreach to women through retreats and Bible studies. In June we hosted 24 women and 4 leaders for a life-changing weekend away at MO Ranch in Hunt, TX. As we did the community of women we served has ralled! We are meeting in early November for a Brunch and time of fellowship with some light teaching. Be Sure to Follow @WomenOfVerve on Facebook or you can learn more by looking us up at facebook.com/WomenOfVerve and if you’d like to join us for our 2021 retreat July 23-25th you may visit womenofverve.com for more information and to reserve your spot! Space is limited so sign up today! Mark Your Calendars Be sure to tune into our Network’s weekly shows featuring these women who are living their lives Blooming Alive! Wednesdays | Jennifer Eikenhorst is bringing hope and building community with Accidental Hope Podcast. You can learn more about Jennifer and Accidental Hope by visiting facebook.com/accidentalhope. Thursdays | Beverly Flanagan is helping us age wisely and live well as mature women of God on In All Seasons Podcast. You can find Beverly’s latest episode at facebook.com/BloomingInspired or by visiting bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. And, Of Course, our very own Michelle Bentham is empowering the voices of women who live their lives blooming alive right here on the Blooming Inspired Podcast. Bible Study starts in October! We’ll be reading with fresh perspective in the Gospel of John as we wrap up our four year journey walking through #TheGospels #VerseByVerse. Be listening for more information here and be sure to check out facebook.com/bloominginspired for regular updates. Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs weekly on Fridays. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. Podcast music provided by standard license from premiumbeats.com, “Spirit of Fire” created by FASSound.

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Blooming Inspired Podcast |Episode 166: We Need You, Holy Spirit! (Isaiah 11)

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2020

This week Michelle begins a new series “We Need You, Holy Spirit!” about these times of escalation and seasons of turbulence that we are finding ourselves in and how to move forward with God with everything else around us seems to be falling apart. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Afternoon!! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Review Last week I had Beverly Flanagan on my show - she is a brand new host here on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network! She is an elder in our network who is full of wisdom and life experience with a passion for God, His Spirit and His Word. Her show, In All Seasons: Living Wisely, Aging Well airs each week on Thursdays. I want to encourage you to check that out! This Week’s Reading Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know you more. I pray that every person would encounter your living presence and power through the Scriptures today and that as we do we would be changed by them. Let our hearts be inspired to believe for more, to live for more and to experience more so your glory may be known upon the earth. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know! I ask these things in Jesus’ Precious Name, AMEN. The title for this episode and series is “We Need You. Holy Spirit!” I’m going to focus on Isaiah 11 today, where we learn about the seven fold ministry of God, or what is called The Seven Spirits of God. Today as we read, I want you to pay attention to the powerful promise of this passage and what God is saying to us about our circumstances today. As we read, don’t just listen for my insights - grab a notebook and pen, have your Bible open as we read and make notes about what you hear Him saying to you about where we are in this hour as a world, a nation, a city and the church. So much has been happening these last few months - and I’ve been in two positions since I last brought a word here in March. 1) Warring in the heavenly realms through intercession. Friends, if we do not understand that the war being waged around the world - especially here in the United States - is not of human origin, but it is of Dark Principalities, Powers and Spiritual Forces that are raging in the heavenlies right now then we will not rightly respond to this hour. I’ll share more on this in the weeks to come, but for now I will move on to that second position I’ve held these last few months. 2) I’ve been still in heart and mind, set on God and trusting Him. Living from rest and peace. I have traveled a few times and sat on a beach twice now that seemed so beautifully unaffected by the world raging around it. I’ve taken road trips to see my husband who is working out of town. With all the focus on the underlying conditions that bring complications with the Coronavirus and CoVid19, I also came to a decision and began a weight loss journey in June. I’ve spent the last nine weeks learning to manage and discipline my appetites and as a result I’ve lost 29 pounds and am now 69 pounds from my goal weight. I’ve also seen my total cholesterol drop from 257 to 174. My energy levels are better, and I’ve realized that I really don’t enjoy the processed and inflammatory foods that I ate in the past. I’m learning that I turned to food for comfort and to destress, that SUGAR totally handicapped not only my body but also my brain. I’ve learned that I can enjoy, explore and create a meal I love with healthy food choices and those choices don’t need to include fat, most sugars, starchy carbohydrates, soy products, or dairy - before you get to feeling too sorry for me - I can have about a cup and a half of fruit and egg whites so I’m not totally suffering! This journey amazes me. I’m learning to lean in and trust God. I buy mostly fresh produce and grass fed or organic meat products. I sleep better. I think clearer. I have more energy. My blood pressure and blood sugar aren’t spiking - and the pounds are falling off. My joints don’t ache when I move as they once did. My encouragement to you… Find what works and make the changes to live a healthier life. The weight loss is honestly a side win, because the major victory is my health and overall quality of living that is coming forward now. In Episode 164 I made the observation… “God is calling His Church to rise in this hour above the fear and the dismay, into a place of battle. Do you have your armor on?” Let’s put it on every single day and walk in the victory of Christ, following His leadership as we go. Proverbs 9:10 Assures us that fearing the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Let’s choose to remember that God is both personal and Holy, or wholly other than human beings. He is the God of all other gods, the Creator and Architect of everything that Exists, He is the righteous judge who is also the Ancient of Days and He has never missed anything. Those who encounter His glorious presence do not simply bow in His presence, but rather they fall down like they are dead, as the Apostle John wrote of his own experience. We serve a Holy, Righteous and Sovereign God. Nothing takes Him by surprise and nothing - not one thing - we face is impossible with Him. Fear Him in holy awe. Adore Him in holy worship. Be Holy as He is holy within you. Let Him have His way. Today’s Reading As we open Scripture today, turn to Isaiah 11. I’m so excited to read with you. I’ll be reading Isaiah from the New English & Passion Translations simply because they both express some deep things I want to highlight. Let’s Begin. Reading Isaiah 11: Verse 1: The cut-off stump of Jesse will sprout, and a fruitful Branch will grow from his roots: This is clearly a prophecy written about Jesus, or a Messianic Prophecy, the promised anointed one or Deliverer that we know as The Savior, Christ and Messiah through Scripture. Interestingly I read commentary by Bob Yandian (read here) about how the root is Jesus and the fruitful branch that springs out of that root is the church. He indicates by extension that the verses that follow would demonstrate that the same qualities of God’s Spirit that rested on Jesus as He walked the earth now reside within us, as Believers. Let’s look at these… Verse 2: the Spirit of Yahweh will rest upon him, the Spirit of Extraordinary Wisdom, the Spirit of Perfect Understanding the Spirit of Wise Strategy, the Spirit of Mighty Power, the Spirit of Revelation, and the Spirit of the Fear of Yahweh. Catch this… The Holy Spirit (the Spirit of God) rests upon Jesus. Remember in Matthew, Mark and Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ baptism that the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove and came to rest upon Jesus? With Holy Spirit comes Extraordinary Wisdom, Perfect Understanding, Wise Strategy (Counsel) - the NET says, the ability to Execute Plans - and wrapping up the list: Mighty Power, Revelation and the Fear of the Lord. Do We Ever Need The Holy Spirit In THIS HOUR? Look around you in the world today, where do you see these expressions of the nature of the Holy Spirit in Society at large, our nation, and the Church? Bob Yandian says that these are the seven ministries of the Holy Spirit. All of them are found in Jesus. That Spirit of Counsel as it is commonly called, here in the Passion Translation it is called “Wise Strategy” I remember about ten years ago I was working at a church in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro area here in Texas. One of the things they had us do was take the Clifton Strengthsfinder test. I did as I was instructed and reported back my top five strengths: 1) Strategic, 2) Arranger, 3) Connectedness, 4) Belief, and 5) Maximizer. One day, after taking the test, I drove home and was listening to a local Christian station that hosted a Strengths Coach on the show. The woman being interviewed said this, “Only 4% of people in the entire world have a number 1 strength of Strategic and a number 2 strength of Arranger. Do you know what that means?” She went on to explain that a person with this top two strength set not only has the capability to make the best plan or strategy to accomplish a goal, but they are tactical enough to be able to put the necessary people and resources in place to carry out the plan as well. This was something I really had to take to God. You see I never thought I was good at planning and executing. Why? Because I never executed. Yet, my top two strengths are executive in nature. I could always make a really good plan, but I’d blow it big when it came to executing, or I’d get stuck in the process of evaluating and always trying to make it BETTER. (Maximizer, much?) As I’ve grown with the Lord and moved in different circles of friends and churches, one thing comes up often - I am a woman who walks in the Gifts of Wisdom. I carry it, along with peace. And I am convinced that this is because I walk in the fear of the Lord more and more each day. Micah 6:8 shows us what it means to walk in the fear of the Lord, the prophet writes that God says He has shown us what is good, that we should do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. As I read this passage more than a decade ago, God showed me this beautiful picture of how as children of God the way we stay humble before Him is to continually submit ourselves to Him and let Him examine our hearts so as to “Do Justice in our own hearts” and then to “Love Mercy toward other people” let the judgments and the offenses go, so that when we walk with God it demonstrates not only that I am in relationship with Him, but also the character and nature of Him who lives within me. In the NET Verse 2 reads this way: The Lord’s Spirit will rest on him - a spirit of extraordinary wisdom, a spirit that provides the ability to execute plans, a spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the Lord. Take note in this translation that the indication is this is one spirit that produces a variety of outcomes. It is productive to be engaged with and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God. His Presence brings extraordinary wisdom, mighty power, counsel and wise strategy, revelation and understanding, and most of all, THE FEAR OF THE LORD. Reverent Awe for the one who formed you in your mother’s womb and gave His own Son so you could be redeemed. Verse 3: He will find his delight in living by the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord. He will neither judge by appearances nor make his decisions based on rumors. Let me ask you this… If Jesus lives within us, how are we doing with finding our delight in living by the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord. I mean, church? Church leaders fearing the government refusing to hold services, judging each other based on doctrinal interpretations, openly and publicly spreading malicious slander and gossip against other professed believers and making a killing of a living at it by writing books about it. Rumor, innuendo and speculation (A.K.A as judging) are circulating regularly… Maybe I’ve gone to meddlin’now! Remember when Samuel summoned Jesse to bring his sons forward so one could be anointed as King after Saul? 1 Samuel tells us that Jesse called all his sons in to meet the prophet that day, save one. David, the youngest of his boys, the Shepherd of the family. While his brothers put on their armor and went off to war, David grabbed his shepherd’s hook and lived in the fields among his father’s sheep. He protected them, fed them, and made sure they were not injured, stolen or killed. He fought off lions and bears, and wore the marks of the work and sleeping in the dirt among the animals on his body. His skin was red from the sun. Samuel examined these sons of Jesse arrayed before him and said he did not find the one he sought. He asked Jesse if he had any other sons, and Jesse replied that his youngest son David was still in the fields watching the sheep. Samuel sent for David and when Jesse questioned his judgment, Samuel replied, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” Friends, in order for us to get through this season of extreme disconnect and division both within the body of Christ and the United States of America, we are going to have to have the wisdom and revelation of Holy Spirit so that we can look past what we see on the outside of a person’s life and look into what God is saying about their hearts. I often counsel parents who are struggling to help their children, to listen for the lie their heart believes because if you can identify and address the lie by speaking truth to your child then the behaviors and other aspects of their character that suffer will be made right. How is your heart doing today? Verse 4: With righteousness he will uphold justice for the poor and defend the lowly of the earth. His words will be like a scepter of power that conquers the world, and with his breath he will slay the lawless one. Jesus, God’s one and only Son who gave Himself for us - is the one who holds the Justice for the poor, the lowly and the defenseless in the earth. His words, what Jesus speaks, is like a scepter of power that will conquer the world systems, demonic principalities and assignments and even the godless governments of the nations that are now raging against Him. Jesus, with one breath from His mouth, slays the lawless one - Satan, His adversary and our enemy. In many settings throughout Christendom - believers are constantly blaming or rebuking the devil, but to what end? Nothing much changes. We don’t see lasting results. Why? Because we have forgotten that not only is Scripture the written word of God, but Jesus - who carries all the authority of heaven, life and death - is the LIVING WORD and the fullest expression of God’ to us on earth. A God who is just, merciful, gracious and whose very essence is love. Verse 5: Righteousness will be his warrior’s sash and faithfulness his belt. What sets Jesus apart, and makes Him TRUTH to us… It is His righteousness. He who was without sin, became sin for us so that we should not die but live and work alongside Him, empowered by His Holy Spirit, to bring forth the Kingdom of His Father upon the earth. (See 2 Corinthians 5) We have not been left as orphans, the spirit of God resides in us. Have You Received His Presence and Power Fully In Your Life? Before Jesus ascended into Heaven scripture tells us that He breathed on His disciples and saying for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Every one of them having been among those who acknowledged Jesus as the Christ by faith received the Holy Spirit. And yet, Jesus’ last command to His disciples and apostles was not “Go.” but “Wait…” Wait for what? Wait for the Holy Spirit that you have received to come upon you in power. I believe a big part of our problem in the western church is that we undervalue the waiting on the Lord to visit us in His power and presence before we go out. Without His power and love, I am nothing. My efforts toward doing good offers only wood, hay and stubble on a pile that will be consumed in His holy fire. The only way to store up treasures for yourself in Heaven is to rightly understand that apart from Christ and the empowering of His Holy Spirit we can do nothing of value. And without that we have no treasure. The God Who Restores Verse 10: On that day, the root of Jesse will be lifted up as a miracle-sign to rally the people. Gentiles will diligently seek him, and his resting place will be glorious! This was true of Jesus during His life, death, burial and resurrection and it will be true of Him again in His second coming. The nations of the world will bow in reverence and awe as the one true Son of God is revealed in all the earth. His resting place now is in us. The glory of God chooses to rest within each of us… And oh, friends. That truly is glorious. Now, more than any other time in my life I cry out to God saying, We Need Your Holy Spirit! Will you join me in making this your heart cry to God every day? So, Let me ask you… What is the Holy Spirit highlighting for you from today’s reading? Ask Him to breathe on it, give light to it. And Ask Him to show you what He wants you to do in response to it. Put your faith in action today and follow the Lord in obedience as you choose to move forward. We will be reading from Zechariah 4 next week as we look at what it takes to move forward when God calls us to move. Closing Remarks Thank you for tuning in with us. I pray this is some encouragement to you as you seek to set your heart in a posture of love through turbulent days that are warring for our hearts and minds. May His power, wisdom and presence be complete in you and may you walk in His steadfast love daily. Next week we’ll dig deeper into this idea of Moving Forward in the power of the Holy Spirit. I also want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it on Apple or Google Podcasts, and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire other women to live their lives blooming alive! Speaking of partnering… Blooming Inspired Network is working with an up and coming ministry called Women of Verve. I began a little more than a year ago to walk with my friend, Melissa, as she birthed this idea of doing a community based outreach to women through retreats and Bible studies. In June we hosted 24 women and 4 leaders for a life-changing weekend away at MO Ranch in Hunt, TX. As we did the community of women we served has ralled, and we met last Saturday for lunch, and are having Bible study this evening here in the Hood-Somerville County area of Texas. You can learn more by looking us up at facebook.com/WomenOfVerve and if you’d like to join us for our 2021 retreat July 23-25th you may visit womenofverve.com for more information and to reserve your spot! Space is limited so sign up today! If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to me by visiting bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page or michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. If you need encouragement of any kind, prayer or would just like to stay connected with us here at Blooming Inspired Network, please reach out by visiting us on Facebook, @BloomingInspired or bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the Direct Message or Contact link at the top of the page. We’d love to join hands with you in this season and lift you up. If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on both Apple and Google Podcasts - take a moment to Subscribe and leave a review today! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs weekly on Tuesdays. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. Podcast music provided by standard license from premiumbeats.com, “Spirit of Fire” created by FASSound.

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Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 164: Fasting & Prayer (Daniel 9:3 & 1 John 4)

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2020

This week Michelle begins a new series with commentary on the CoVid19 Pandemic from a biblical perspective and talking the next few weeks about turning the posture of our hearts to fasting and prayer. Today, we will look at how perfect love casts out fear and how turning our hearts to receive God’s Perfect Love helps us to in turn love others well. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Review Over the last 6 weeks we’ve been having a conversation with Karen Dearmand Gardener sharing her testimony about walking out of a 30 year marriage where she suffered Domestic Abuse and Violence, and how God spent the last 15 years redeeming her past and her pain as she has learned to heal and overcome those years of trauma and abuse. Be sure to keep up with Karen and the publication of her book on the subject scheduled for publication in 2021. Her Facebook Page is: facebook.com/crackthesilence This Week’s Reading Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know you more. I pray that every person would encounter your living presence and power through the Scriptures today and that as we do we would be changed by them. Let our hearts be inspired to believe for more, to live for more and to experience more so your glory may be known upon the earth. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know! I ask these things in Jesus’ Precious Name, AMEN. The title for this episode and series is “Fasting & Prayer” It comes from Daniel 9:3 (ESV) “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.” Today we’re going to look at this posture of Fasting & Prayer represented in Daniel’s prayers throughout the book that bears his name. A posture of mourning, solitude and prayer where he allowed himself to be afflicted in order to draw near to God. Before we jump into Scripture I’d like to speak a bit on the CoVid19 Pandemic and just how I plan to spend my days in solitude as we watch for God’s healing power to overcome this deadly disease and bring peace and healing to all the people afflicted by it’s symptoms. I’ve been watching the “panic button” type fears as our stores are emptying with shoppers stocking up on anything and everything concerned about quarantines, and reading the posts of individuals who are living in what is now more than 50 days of isolation in Wuhan. Watching the “Flash Mob” on balconies in Italy and the ever darkening reports of increasing numbers of those who are testing positive, being hospitalized and the climbing death toll. I returned home with my husband last Friday night after going to the store to pick up groceries to get us through a couple of weeks and wept in his arms. Not because I am afraid, but because I am dismayed. Dismayed by people so selfish in their thinking that they would buy up all the toilet paper in the county daily. I mean really, toilet paper? I understand staple food products like bottled water, powdered milk or juice concentrates, flour, sugar, rice, beans, milk, cheese, bulk meats like ground beef, chicken and sausage. But the first thing to disappear is toilet paper? Dismayed by the mainstream media and Fox News for their fear mongering, politicizing and downright irresponsible reporting. Everything is exaggerated, dramatized and criticized. It is crazy out there. And as I felt myself spinning with all this dismay, wrapped in my husband’s arms - we prayed. I turned my heart to God, the Father whom I affectionately call Poppa, and I wept over the state of the people around me, and prayed for my family and those I love, my community, city, state nation and the entire world who is so affected by this pandemic: a word that has given much anxiety and fear in recent days. I wanted to take a moment to read a few posts from Facebook to you. Two of my own and one of the woman I read about in Wuhan. Rebecca Franks posted: March 8 at 1:42 AM WUHAN. It's roughly day 48 of the city's quarantine. We've been locked in our apartment complex for many weeks. I haven't eaten out since January 19. We're living in such strange times. After my last post, which was all about locks on doors and further restrictions, my husband asked me if I've posted any of the good. But...but... well, but nothing. That convicted me. So from the epicenter of the coronavirus, here is just SOME of the good we have been experiencing because of the lockdown: (Be warned - there is no way this post could be short.) Our family life has never been better. Usually one weekend is long enough before I'm ready to send each of us back to school or work. But for SEVEN weeks, we've been home together with very little outside influences or distraction, forced to reconnect with one another, learn how to communicate better, give each other space, slow down our pace, and be a stronger family than ever before. We've learned how to accept help from others. During this time, we've HAD to rely on others to show us how to get food and other things we need. People here are so good, and they want to help. It's satisfying to accept the help. Shopping is so much easier now. It comes straight to our complex, and we just pick it up. Simple. Right now I hear birds outside my window (on the 25th floor). I used to think there weren't really birds in Wuhan, because you rarely saw them and never heard them. I now know they were just muted and crowded out by the traffic and people. All day long now I hear birds singing. It stops me in my tracks to hear the sound of their wings. Spring in Wuhan is absolutely stunning. God has been giving us glimpses of the beauty to come with near-perfect weather. Because of lockdown, we get to watch spring slowly unfold right in front of us with no work, traffic, pollution, or other distractions. I have pulled up my chair and am ready for the creator's show. My cooking has gotten way more creative. I'm cooking like a homesteader. Housekeeping hasn't suffered, either. We take naps in the middle of the day sometimes. We've all been reading so much more than before. I've reconnected with lots of old friends. We've talked with our families more than ever before. We still work and do school, but all from home and all on flexible hours. It is not perfect, but it is fairly productive and good. We are exercising more. Because we borrowed a rowing machine from school right before the lockdown, Edgar Franks has been rowing regularly at home and has lost several kilos already. I still walk in the morning as usual, but I do so with no time restrictions and now with friend Erika Carlson. In my yoga world, I have finally done a forearm stand. I also share goofy yoga photos each day with a local friend/yogi. This keeps us connected in spirit and movement. I could devote a whole post to the amazing community we've been blessed with because of this lockdown. We live near 4 other staff members, most of whom we didn't know well at all prior to this. Because of this quarantine, we have bonded with and supported each other in ways that I've never experienced in 9 years of living here. (Crowd sourcing for feminine products and coffee, creatively sharing overstock of carrots and squash, etc) Friday night, we four staff women celebrated Julia Marie Roehrkasse's birthday together. We four have never before been together without husbands, kids, or larger community. But that night, I felt like I won the lottery in the friendship department. Our gathering was genuine in a way that can only be shared by people who are experiencing the same thing at the same time and understand what each other are going through. This bond we have may lessen when our world gets back to normal, but for now I wouldn't trade it for anything. It is good. My prayer life has never been better and my study time has been much more real. I have quiet time that is actually (usually) quiet - and I can devote real time to it. Most days I have so much more time to think, to listen, to process, and to discover. I am discovering the good gifts that God has given me and my family. More than anything, I am bowled over by his goodness at every turn. He overwhelms me with his goodness. We had "church" by Zoom this morning at 10:30, as usual. My husband just woke up from his nap. My kid is reading quietly on the couch. I have the luxury of writing uncensored here on FB. We are about to go pick up a ham that a friend is giving us, taking her our coffee and cranberries to share. God is providing so many opportunities for good while we are here, and he is showing us his goodness every single moment. We are at peace in the epicenter of the virus. We are at peace in the epicenter of his will. Fear is a faithless coward and has no place in the lives of believers. Fear and worry have no seat at our table. We're here because he wants us here, right now, for his purpose. Coronavirus wants you to isolate and stock up and take care of your own first. Instead, look to him first while you take care of others. In community, we can do so much more than we can do on our own. God is caring for us so richly and showering us with SO MUCH GOOD each and every moment. And the song just plays nonstop in my head - Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God. It chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the 99. I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away. Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God. Psalm 118:6 - The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Pray.” And my response was to consider in all this what I am grateful for in spite of all that dismays me in this world. And so I also wrote, after putting the groceries away and reading Rebecca’s post at 12:08 am March 14, 2020: I don't know what else I have to offer, but I'm offering Jesus and gratitude tonight. For a Good God still in the miracle business. Grateful for friends and family to share life with. That Scott and I have life's necessities tonight. Food, Clothing, Shelter Community and Family. I'm grateful for the conversations we had with our girls this week planning for our first grandbaby and other milestones that are just too good and joyful... But cannot yet be spoken of in public. I'm grateful for the privilege of taking my nearly 75 yo Momma to the gym and shopping for workout clothes which have not disappeared from the store racks this week. I'm grateful for air to breathe and that another day to awaken to life is another day to reach into the lives of others with Jesus' truly good news!!! I'm letting you know He came to save you, but that's not all... He also came to transform you, heal you, deliver you, set you free, equip you, empower you, and to give you His joy, His peace, His love, His life and His abundance. Nothing in life scares me when I remember Who He is, all He has promised, all He has done and all He will come back to finish this with us!!! Do you know Him? Yes, I'm grateful for Him most of all. Nothing is impossible for those who believe!!! And all those things He will do for you - He wants to do through you in the lives of other people. "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world." - Jesus (John 16:33) "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything through prayer and petition - with thanksgiving - make your requests known to God, and His peace which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." - Apostle Paul (Philippians 4:6-7) He is love. Love casts out fear. Love Never fails. Take heart indeed. March 14 at 9:08 am As I become more and more dismayed by humanity... I have one hope: Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes in His disciples hands. He is the God of more than enough. Praying for peace and rest over you today as we watch our world feeding a hysterical panic. Let's get better at expressing the only Love that saves. "God is Perfect Love. There is no fear in love... Perfect Love casts out ALL Fear." -The Apostle John (1John 4) Now for today’s reading, found in 1 John 4, The New King James Version (NKJV) The heading for Chapter Four Reads: Love for God & One Another Verses 1-3: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. As I have been praying over this virus God began to show me the governments of this world that oppose Him and operate in an Anti-Christ Spirit. He bid me pray for these government leaders and for the repentance of nations, especially governmental leaders who oppose Him. Many of these countries have been heavily afflicted by this virus. Now mind you, I’m not saying the people are of the Anti-Christ spirit - but the governments oppose God through the Anti-Christ Spirit. China, North Korea, Iran, Italy - except for Italy the other three countries oppose Jesus Christ as the Son of God. They persecute believers and seek to destroy anything that opposes their government, especially Jews and Christians - and in China, more recently Muslims. And in Italy the Pope recently met with a leader of the Islamic faith and agreed to an accord that stated that whether one serves the God of the Bible or the God of the Koran, Allah, that we serve the same God. How does that ring to you? And now CoVid19, also known as the Coronavirus, has spread to the United States of America where the church has largely surrendered her influence to the government, expecting the government to do for us what God has called us to do in Him. In case you’ve missed it, our government is failing miserably at honoring God in most every way these days. Even with President Trump, who allows for weekly worship and prayer. Who is standing by faith to protect religious freedoms and calling the nation to prayer. Still. Failing. Why? Anything we put our faith in that is not God, will surely fail us. It has to - or else why would we need God. We can buy every roll of toilet paper in the world, and still not save ourselves or our family from this deadly virus. We should remember that God’s adversary Satan is one whom Jesus called a liar, the Father of lies actually, and Satan trafficks in scarcity, lack and fear as he rules this world - the prince of the air, with authority from God - as he comes to kill, steal and destroy. But, my question is… Will you let him win this battle? Will you give in to fear, scarcity and lack - allowing Him to steal from you, to destroy those around you and even seek to take the lives of those you love? Or, Are you willing to take your position, stand your watch upon God’s wall and not give Him rest day or night until He makes this nation, every nation for that matter, a praise declaring His glory upon the earth. (Isaiah 62) You see the Coronavirus may seem new, but it’s been around since the mid- 1960s when it was first identified. The CoVid19 strain may be more potent than previous strains, but it is not new. And the enemy of God is using it to destroy people. The world has turned further and further away from God because the church has not risen to the occasion. We are right now in a moment where the clarion call of Heaven is for the church to rise up and take her place. Reclaiming for God the nations, the people, she is called to preach the Gospel to and make disciples of… The nations she serves. God is calling His Church to rise in this hour above the fear and the dismay, into a place of battle. Do you have your armor on? When I say none of this is new: Think about it… John likely wrote these books toward the end of his life. Many date the writing to between 70-90 AD. And John writes during the end of the first century that the Anti-Christ Spirit had already been released in the world. The Anti-Christ spirit has been opposing God and His people for generation after generation. And we’re still here. We may be barely breathing, but if we’re breathing He will strengthen us for the fight. Verse 4: You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Do you hear that beloved of God? If you are in Christ, you are of God - His Children - and you have already overcome them. How? Jesus. HE is in YOU. And He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Amen? Verses 5-6: They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. We have to be careful what we agree with, partner with and confess with our mouth. We are of God. And He is about to tell us what part of fear we should have… Where we line up will tell us if we believe in truth or in the lies of the enemy who is seeking to devour us. Heading: Knowing God Through Love Verse 7-10: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (meaning the substitutionary sacrifice that paid the price) for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. God’s love is identified by the Greek word, agapē (Strong’s G26) which is most commonly translated simply love, but may also be translated as benevolence - a word commonly associated with charity - but herein actually refers to the sacrificial nature of God who is love. A love so lavish we may feast upon it. Some say it is the highest form of love, a love that desires the very best for others and pursues that best on their behalf - sacrificing itself, believing the best, expressing affection and kindness, bearing up in patience, refusing to be rude, never jealous of - but jealous for, a love free of envy, boasting, anger or the like. 1 Corinthians 13 concludes it’s ode to love saying, “Love bears all things, believe all things, hopes all things. Love Never Fails.” If God is love - HE NEVER FAILS. Do you get that? Why should we fear if we belong to God? He will not fail us. He is love - He sacrifices so we can experience Him as love. That is a beautiful thing to consider. Heading: Seeing God Through Love… Do You See God through Love? Verse 12-16: No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. First of all, I would be remiss if I didn’t seize this opportunity to ask… Have you confessed Jesus as the Son of God, who died as the sacrifice paying the price for your sins? Well, beloved, no time like the present. If you want a relationship with Jesus and to surrender to him as Love, then today’s the day. Just confess with your mouth what you believe in your heart (See Romans 8:9-10). “Lord God, I believe that Jesus is your only Son who died on a cross for my sins and rose in power to be the Lord of my life. Today I surrender myself to your love, fill me with your eternal life and your holy spirit.” That’s it… now all you have to do is learn to abide in Him as Love and be an expression of that love to the world around you. Isn’t that good news? Do you know God, do you see Him as love? Not just a God who loves, but our God who is Love. That’s a capital L. It was His love for us that compelled the Father to send the Son to die on a cross for us. It was His love for us and His Father that compelled Christ to the Cross to willingly die on our behalf. Jesus died so we don’t have to live in eternal punishment, separated from God for sin. And if we know Him and abide in Him then we abide in love. Now let me ask you, How are you doing at abiding in love? Sacrificing on behalf of others so they may know Love, too. Heading: The Consummation of Love Verse 17-19: Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. The Love that is God is consummated in us when it casts out all FEAR. Fear involves torment, but when God comes to us as Perfect Love - it casts out all fear. Not some, not part - but all. If I am responding and reacting in panic to fear then I am not abiding in God who is perfect love. Do you get that? I cannot possibly love others selflessly without first abiding in the only Sacrificial love there is the Love who is God, Himself. The Common English Bible (CEB) renders verse 18 this way: “ There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear expects punishment. The person who is afraid has not been made perfect in love.” And if I give place to fear, allowing anxiety and worry to keep me from abiding in God, then I am living in fear. You see, fear is not of God because it is not God’s desire to punish us. He will chasten those He loves to teach us discipline - the root word of discipline is disciple. But, He will not willingly bring harm to us or torment us with fear. It is not in His nature. To fear God is to live in awe of His glory, to be reverent of His holiness, and to honor Him as Good. But, this fear is not the same as fear of punishment or torment. A healthy caution and a holy reverence are often called fear, but in fact they are true wisdom. A healthy caution understands that danger and evil exist in this world and lives proactively pursuing God in reverence, walking in His wisdom and love - which casts out fear. When we live with the wisdom of healthy caution and holy reverence - fear will have no place in our lives because the Spirit of God - the Holy Spirit - who lives inside of us will guide us into all truth when we yield ourselves to Him. When we love God, we yield ourselves to Him which brings us to our conclusion. Heading: Obedience by Faith Verse 20-21: If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. Bill Johnson is the Senior Leader of Bethel Church in Redding, CA. My friend, Tracy, and I have been to Bethel for prophetic and healing schools and follow their services regularly online. She reminds me often of something that Bill says, “Obedience is the love language of the Holy Spirit.” To walk in fear is to walk in disobedience to the love of God. Do you see that? To walk in hatred toward others, to mock them or believe deception and live by it - confess it - means you do not live in obedience to the Love of God. I mentioned 1 Corinthians 13 earlier and here is how the Apostle Paul defined love: “Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up...Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13 TPT) You see if I am going to love as God loves, I have to first live in Him as Love. And as He lives in me, and expresses Himself through me - when I yield myself to His perfect love - only then will I be loving others with incredible patience, through gentle and consistent kindness to ALL, not just believers, but everyone - even those who despise me, insult me, persecute me and seek my life - ALL. Only then will I be able to refuse jealousy when I see the blessing in other people’s lives. Only then will I not be concerned with bragging about my achievements or inflating myself in self-promotion or importance, but rather I will bow low, and humbly serve even if I am never recognized. I will gladly promote others and their welfare beyond my own. If I live in the Perfect Love that is God, and that Love abides in me then I will not traffic in shame or disrespect toward others, nor selfishly seek my own honor. I will not be easily irritated or angered, and will not be quick to take offense. YOU SEE.. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and doesn’t glory when others or even itself is found wrong. When I walk in God’s Love toward others I become a safe place of shelter, never failing to believe the best for others. I never take failure as a sign of defeat, and I never give up! Paul assures us that in the end three things will remain: faith, hope and love - and LOVE will be what surpasses them all. So let’s do it friends. Let’s overcome the present evil, and this plague of Coronavirus with Love - for it is the most beautiful prize we run toward. Jesus Himself, our God is Love. I pray over the next week you’ll find yourself fasting from judgments, criticisms and fear as you turn your heart toward Perfect Love and become an expression of that love to everyone around you! Poppa God, we come today humbled by your words of exhortation toward perfect love. Make us vessels of your perfect love, and turn our hearts to dwell in you, the God who is Perfect love. Keep our minds from anxious and worried thoughts, keep our hearts set on you and your perfect love through these trying days, seeking ways to sacrificially love others more than we love ourselves. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Closing Remarks Thank you for tuning in with us. I pray this is some encouragement to you as you seek to set your heart in a posture of love through this grievous time of solitude, mourning and despair. May His joy be complete in you and you walk in His steadfast love for you. Next week we’ll dig deeper into this idea of turning our hearts to God, grieving over the state of His people and our communities as we seek His face in Fasting & Prayer. I also want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. Join Us Through Facebook Live for Bible Study on Saturday at 10am (CT)! We’ll continue reading Luke 14 this week and digging into the life of Christ Verse-By-Verse considering what we would believe if reading the Scriptures was the primary way we inform our faith! You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. If you need encouragement of any kind, prayer or would just like to stay connected with us here at Blooming Inspired Network, please reach out by visiting us on Facebook, @BloomingInspired or bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the Direct Message or Contact link at the top of the page. 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Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 164: Fasting & Prayer (Daniel 9:3 & 1 John 4)

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2020

This week Michelle begins a new series with commentary on the CoVid19 Pandemic from a biblical perspective and talking the next few weeks about turning the posture of our hearts to fasting and prayer. Today, we will look at how perfect love casts out fear and how turning our hearts to receive God’s Perfect Love helps us to in turn love others well. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Review Over the last 6 weeks we’ve been having a conversation with Karen Dearmand Gardener sharing her testimony about walking out of a 30 year marriage where she suffered Domestic Abuse and Violence, and how God spent the last 15 years redeeming her past and her pain as she has learned to heal and overcome those years of trauma and abuse. Be sure to keep up with Karen and the publication of her book on the subject scheduled for publication in 2021. Her Facebook Page is: facebook.com/crackthesilence This Week’s Reading Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know you more. I pray that every person would encounter your living presence and power through the Scriptures today and that as we do we would be changed by them. Let our hearts be inspired to believe for more, to live for more and to experience more so your glory may be known upon the earth. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know! I ask these things in Jesus’ Precious Name, AMEN. The title for this episode and series is “Fasting & Prayer” It comes from Daniel 9:3 (ESV) “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.” Today we’re going to look at this posture of Fasting & Prayer represented in Daniel’s prayers throughout the book that bears his name. A posture of mourning, solitude and prayer where he allowed himself to be afflicted in order to draw near to God. Before we jump into Scripture I’d like to speak a bit on the CoVid19 Pandemic and just how I plan to spend my days in solitude as we watch for God’s healing power to overcome this deadly disease and bring peace and healing to all the people afflicted by it’s symptoms. I’ve been watching the “panic button” type fears as our stores are emptying with shoppers stocking up on anything and everything concerned about quarantines, and reading the posts of individuals who are living in what is now more than 50 days of isolation in Wuhan. Watching the “Flash Mob” on balconies in Italy and the ever darkening reports of increasing numbers of those who are testing positive, being hospitalized and the climbing death toll. I returned home with my husband last Friday night after going to the store to pick up groceries to get us through a couple of weeks and wept in his arms. Not because I am afraid, but because I am dismayed. Dismayed by people so selfish in their thinking that they would buy up all the toilet paper in the county daily. I mean really, toilet paper? I understand staple food products like bottled water, powdered milk or juice concentrates, flour, sugar, rice, beans, milk, cheese, bulk meats like ground beef, chicken and sausage. But the first thing to disappear is toilet paper? Dismayed by the mainstream media and Fox News for their fear mongering, politicizing and downright irresponsible reporting. Everything is exaggerated, dramatized and criticized. It is crazy out there. And as I felt myself spinning with all this dismay, wrapped in my husband’s arms - we prayed. I turned my heart to God, the Father whom I affectionately call Poppa, and I wept over the state of the people around me, and prayed for my family and those I love, my community, city, state nation and the entire world who is so affected by this pandemic: a word that has given much anxiety and fear in recent days. I wanted to take a moment to read a few posts from Facebook to you. Two of my own and one of the woman I read about in Wuhan. Rebecca Franks posted: March 8 at 1:42 AM WUHAN. It's roughly day 48 of the city's quarantine. We've been locked in our apartment complex for many weeks. I haven't eaten out since January 19. We're living in such strange times. After my last post, which was all about locks on doors and further restrictions, my husband asked me if I've posted any of the good. But...but... well, but nothing. That convicted me. So from the epicenter of the coronavirus, here is just SOME of the good we have been experiencing because of the lockdown: (Be warned - there is no way this post could be short.) Our family life has never been better. Usually one weekend is long enough before I'm ready to send each of us back to school or work. But for SEVEN weeks, we've been home together with very little outside influences or distraction, forced to reconnect with one another, learn how to communicate better, give each other space, slow down our pace, and be a stronger family than ever before. We've learned how to accept help from others. During this time, we've HAD to rely on others to show us how to get food and other things we need. People here are so good, and they want to help. It's satisfying to accept the help. Shopping is so much easier now. It comes straight to our complex, and we just pick it up. Simple. Right now I hear birds outside my window (on the 25th floor). I used to think there weren't really birds in Wuhan, because you rarely saw them and never heard them. I now know they were just muted and crowded out by the traffic and people. All day long now I hear birds singing. It stops me in my tracks to hear the sound of their wings. Spring in Wuhan is absolutely stunning. God has been giving us glimpses of the beauty to come with near-perfect weather. Because of lockdown, we get to watch spring slowly unfold right in front of us with no work, traffic, pollution, or other distractions. I have pulled up my chair and am ready for the creator's show. My cooking has gotten way more creative. I'm cooking like a homesteader. Housekeeping hasn't suffered, either. We take naps in the middle of the day sometimes. We've all been reading so much more than before. I've reconnected with lots of old friends. We've talked with our families more than ever before. We still work and do school, but all from home and all on flexible hours. It is not perfect, but it is fairly productive and good. We are exercising more. Because we borrowed a rowing machine from school right before the lockdown, Edgar Franks has been rowing regularly at home and has lost several kilos already. I still walk in the morning as usual, but I do so with no time restrictions and now with friend Erika Carlson. In my yoga world, I have finally done a forearm stand. I also share goofy yoga photos each day with a local friend/yogi. This keeps us connected in spirit and movement. I could devote a whole post to the amazing community we've been blessed with because of this lockdown. We live near 4 other staff members, most of whom we didn't know well at all prior to this. Because of this quarantine, we have bonded with and supported each other in ways that I've never experienced in 9 years of living here. (Crowd sourcing for feminine products and coffee, creatively sharing overstock of carrots and squash, etc) Friday night, we four staff women celebrated Julia Marie Roehrkasse's birthday together. We four have never before been together without husbands, kids, or larger community. But that night, I felt like I won the lottery in the friendship department. Our gathering was genuine in a way that can only be shared by people who are experiencing the same thing at the same time and understand what each other are going through. This bond we have may lessen when our world gets back to normal, but for now I wouldn't trade it for anything. It is good. My prayer life has never been better and my study time has been much more real. I have quiet time that is actually (usually) quiet - and I can devote real time to it. Most days I have so much more time to think, to listen, to process, and to discover. I am discovering the good gifts that God has given me and my family. More than anything, I am bowled over by his goodness at every turn. He overwhelms me with his goodness. We had "church" by Zoom this morning at 10:30, as usual. My husband just woke up from his nap. My kid is reading quietly on the couch. I have the luxury of writing uncensored here on FB. We are about to go pick up a ham that a friend is giving us, taking her our coffee and cranberries to share. God is providing so many opportunities for good while we are here, and he is showing us his goodness every single moment. We are at peace in the epicenter of the virus. We are at peace in the epicenter of his will. Fear is a faithless coward and has no place in the lives of believers. Fear and worry have no seat at our table. We're here because he wants us here, right now, for his purpose. Coronavirus wants you to isolate and stock up and take care of your own first. Instead, look to him first while you take care of others. In community, we can do so much more than we can do on our own. God is caring for us so richly and showering us with SO MUCH GOOD each and every moment. And the song just plays nonstop in my head - Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God. It chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the 99. I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away. Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God. Psalm 118:6 - The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Pray.” And my response was to consider in all this what I am grateful for in spite of all that dismays me in this world. And so I also wrote, after putting the groceries away and reading Rebecca’s post at 12:08 am March 14, 2020: I don't know what else I have to offer, but I'm offering Jesus and gratitude tonight. For a Good God still in the miracle business. Grateful for friends and family to share life with. That Scott and I have life's necessities tonight. Food, Clothing, Shelter Community and Family. I'm grateful for the conversations we had with our girls this week planning for our first grandbaby and other milestones that are just too good and joyful... But cannot yet be spoken of in public. I'm grateful for the privilege of taking my nearly 75 yo Momma to the gym and shopping for workout clothes which have not disappeared from the store racks this week. I'm grateful for air to breathe and that another day to awaken to life is another day to reach into the lives of others with Jesus' truly good news!!! I'm letting you know He came to save you, but that's not all... He also came to transform you, heal you, deliver you, set you free, equip you, empower you, and to give you His joy, His peace, His love, His life and His abundance. Nothing in life scares me when I remember Who He is, all He has promised, all He has done and all He will come back to finish this with us!!! Do you know Him? Yes, I'm grateful for Him most of all. Nothing is impossible for those who believe!!! And all those things He will do for you - He wants to do through you in the lives of other people. "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world." - Jesus (John 16:33) "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything through prayer and petition - with thanksgiving - make your requests known to God, and His peace which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." - Apostle Paul (Philippians 4:6-7) He is love. Love casts out fear. Love Never fails. Take heart indeed. March 14 at 9:08 am As I become more and more dismayed by humanity... I have one hope: Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes in His disciples hands. He is the God of more than enough. Praying for peace and rest over you today as we watch our world feeding a hysterical panic. Let's get better at expressing the only Love that saves. "God is Perfect Love. There is no fear in love... Perfect Love casts out ALL Fear." -The Apostle John (1John 4) Now for today’s reading, found in 1 John 4, The New King James Version (NKJV) The heading for Chapter Four Reads: Love for God & One Another Verses 1-3: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. As I have been praying over this virus God began to show me the governments of this world that oppose Him and operate in an Anti-Christ Spirit. He bid me pray for these government leaders and for the repentance of nations, especially governmental leaders who oppose Him. Many of these countries have been heavily afflicted by this virus. Now mind you, I’m not saying the people are of the Anti-Christ spirit - but the governments oppose God through the Anti-Christ Spirit. China, North Korea, Iran, Italy - except for Italy the other three countries oppose Jesus Christ as the Son of God. They persecute believers and seek to destroy anything that opposes their government, especially Jews and Christians - and in China, more recently Muslims. And in Italy the Pope recently met with a leader of the Islamic faith and agreed to an accord that stated that whether one serves the God of the Bible or the God of the Koran, Allah, that we serve the same God. How does that ring to you? And now CoVid19, also known as the Coronavirus, has spread to the United States of America where the church has largely surrendered her influence to the government, expecting the government to do for us what God has called us to do in Him. In case you’ve missed it, our government is failing miserably at honoring God in most every way these days. Even with President Trump, who allows for weekly worship and prayer. Who is standing by faith to protect religious freedoms and calling the nation to prayer. Still. Failing. Why? Anything we put our faith in that is not God, will surely fail us. It has to - or else why would we need God. We can buy every roll of toilet paper in the world, and still not save ourselves or our family from this deadly virus. We should remember that God’s adversary Satan is one whom Jesus called a liar, the Father of lies actually, and Satan trafficks in scarcity, lack and fear as he rules this world - the prince of the air, with authority from God - as he comes to kill, steal and destroy. But, my question is… Will you let him win this battle? Will you give in to fear, scarcity and lack - allowing Him to steal from you, to destroy those around you and even seek to take the lives of those you love? Or, Are you willing to take your position, stand your watch upon God’s wall and not give Him rest day or night until He makes this nation, every nation for that matter, a praise declaring His glory upon the earth. (Isaiah 62) You see the Coronavirus may seem new, but it’s been around since the mid- 1960s when it was first identified. The CoVid19 strain may be more potent than previous strains, but it is not new. And the enemy of God is using it to destroy people. The world has turned further and further away from God because the church has not risen to the occasion. We are right now in a moment where the clarion call of Heaven is for the church to rise up and take her place. Reclaiming for God the nations, the people, she is called to preach the Gospel to and make disciples of… The nations she serves. God is calling His Church to rise in this hour above the fear and the dismay, into a place of battle. Do you have your armor on? When I say none of this is new: Think about it… John likely wrote these books toward the end of his life. Many date the writing to between 70-90 AD. And John writes during the end of the first century that the Anti-Christ Spirit had already been released in the world. The Anti-Christ spirit has been opposing God and His people for generation after generation. And we’re still here. We may be barely breathing, but if we’re breathing He will strengthen us for the fight. Verse 4: You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Do you hear that beloved of God? If you are in Christ, you are of God - His Children - and you have already overcome them. How? Jesus. HE is in YOU. And He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Amen? Verses 5-6: They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. We have to be careful what we agree with, partner with and confess with our mouth. We are of God. And He is about to tell us what part of fear we should have… Where we line up will tell us if we believe in truth or in the lies of the enemy who is seeking to devour us. Heading: Knowing God Through Love Verse 7-10: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (meaning the substitutionary sacrifice that paid the price) for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. God’s love is identified by the Greek word, agapē (Strong’s G26) which is most commonly translated simply love, but may also be translated as benevolence - a word commonly associated with charity - but herein actually refers to the sacrificial nature of God who is love. A love so lavish we may feast upon it. Some say it is the highest form of love, a love that desires the very best for others and pursues that best on their behalf - sacrificing itself, believing the best, expressing affection and kindness, bearing up in patience, refusing to be rude, never jealous of - but jealous for, a love free of envy, boasting, anger or the like. 1 Corinthians 13 concludes it’s ode to love saying, “Love bears all things, believe all things, hopes all things. Love Never Fails.” If God is love - HE NEVER FAILS. Do you get that? Why should we fear if we belong to God? He will not fail us. He is love - He sacrifices so we can experience Him as love. That is a beautiful thing to consider. Heading: Seeing God Through Love… Do You See God through Love? Verse 12-16: No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. First of all, I would be remiss if I didn’t seize this opportunity to ask… Have you confessed Jesus as the Son of God, who died as the sacrifice paying the price for your sins? Well, beloved, no time like the present. If you want a relationship with Jesus and to surrender to him as Love, then today’s the day. Just confess with your mouth what you believe in your heart (See Romans 8:9-10). “Lord God, I believe that Jesus is your only Son who died on a cross for my sins and rose in power to be the Lord of my life. Today I surrender myself to your love, fill me with your eternal life and your holy spirit.” That’s it… now all you have to do is learn to abide in Him as Love and be an expression of that love to the world around you. Isn’t that good news? Do you know God, do you see Him as love? Not just a God who loves, but our God who is Love. That’s a capital L. It was His love for us that compelled the Father to send the Son to die on a cross for us. It was His love for us and His Father that compelled Christ to the Cross to willingly die on our behalf. Jesus died so we don’t have to live in eternal punishment, separated from God for sin. And if we know Him and abide in Him then we abide in love. Now let me ask you, How are you doing at abiding in love? Sacrificing on behalf of others so they may know Love, too. Heading: The Consummation of Love Verse 17-19: Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. The Love that is God is consummated in us when it casts out all FEAR. Fear involves torment, but when God comes to us as Perfect Love - it casts out all fear. Not some, not part - but all. If I am responding and reacting in panic to fear then I am not abiding in God who is perfect love. Do you get that? I cannot possibly love others selflessly without first abiding in the only Sacrificial love there is the Love who is God, Himself. The Common English Bible (CEB) renders verse 18 this way: “ There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear expects punishment. The person who is afraid has not been made perfect in love.” And if I give place to fear, allowing anxiety and worry to keep me from abiding in God, then I am living in fear. You see, fear is not of God because it is not God’s desire to punish us. He will chasten those He loves to teach us discipline - the root word of discipline is disciple. But, He will not willingly bring harm to us or torment us with fear. It is not in His nature. To fear God is to live in awe of His glory, to be reverent of His holiness, and to honor Him as Good. But, this fear is not the same as fear of punishment or torment. A healthy caution and a holy reverence are often called fear, but in fact they are true wisdom. A healthy caution understands that danger and evil exist in this world and lives proactively pursuing God in reverence, walking in His wisdom and love - which casts out fear. When we live with the wisdom of healthy caution and holy reverence - fear will have no place in our lives because the Spirit of God - the Holy Spirit - who lives inside of us will guide us into all truth when we yield ourselves to Him. When we love God, we yield ourselves to Him which brings us to our conclusion. Heading: Obedience by Faith Verse 20-21: If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. Bill Johnson is the Senior Leader of Bethel Church in Redding, CA. My friend, Tracy, and I have been to Bethel for prophetic and healing schools and follow their services regularly online. She reminds me often of something that Bill says, “Obedience is the love language of the Holy Spirit.” To walk in fear is to walk in disobedience to the love of God. Do you see that? To walk in hatred toward others, to mock them or believe deception and live by it - confess it - means you do not live in obedience to the Love of God. I mentioned 1 Corinthians 13 earlier and here is how the Apostle Paul defined love: “Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up...Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13 TPT) You see if I am going to love as God loves, I have to first live in Him as Love. And as He lives in me, and expresses Himself through me - when I yield myself to His perfect love - only then will I be loving others with incredible patience, through gentle and consistent kindness to ALL, not just believers, but everyone - even those who despise me, insult me, persecute me and seek my life - ALL. Only then will I be able to refuse jealousy when I see the blessing in other people’s lives. Only then will I not be concerned with bragging about my achievements or inflating myself in self-promotion or importance, but rather I will bow low, and humbly serve even if I am never recognized. I will gladly promote others and their welfare beyond my own. If I live in the Perfect Love that is God, and that Love abides in me then I will not traffic in shame or disrespect toward others, nor selfishly seek my own honor. I will not be easily irritated or angered, and will not be quick to take offense. YOU SEE.. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and doesn’t glory when others or even itself is found wrong. When I walk in God’s Love toward others I become a safe place of shelter, never failing to believe the best for others. I never take failure as a sign of defeat, and I never give up! Paul assures us that in the end three things will remain: faith, hope and love - and LOVE will be what surpasses them all. So let’s do it friends. Let’s overcome the present evil, and this plague of Coronavirus with Love - for it is the most beautiful prize we run toward. Jesus Himself, our God is Love. I pray over the next week you’ll find yourself fasting from judgments, criticisms and fear as you turn your heart toward Perfect Love and become an expression of that love to everyone around you! Poppa God, we come today humbled by your words of exhortation toward perfect love. Make us vessels of your perfect love, and turn our hearts to dwell in you, the God who is Perfect love. Keep our minds from anxious and worried thoughts, keep our hearts set on you and your perfect love through these trying days, seeking ways to sacrificially love others more than we love ourselves. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Closing Remarks Thank you for tuning in with us. I pray this is some encouragement to you as you seek to set your heart in a posture of love through this grievous time of solitude, mourning and despair. May His joy be complete in you and you walk in His steadfast love for you. Next week we’ll dig deeper into this idea of turning our hearts to God, grieving over the state of His people and our communities as we seek His face in Fasting & Prayer. I also want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. Join Us Through Facebook Live for Bible Study on Saturday at 10am (CT)! We’ll continue reading Luke 14 this week and digging into the life of Christ Verse-By-Verse considering what we would believe if reading the Scriptures was the primary way we inform our faith! You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. If you need encouragement of any kind, prayer or would just like to stay connected with us here at Blooming Inspired Network, please reach out by visiting us on Facebook, @BloomingInspired or bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the Direct Message or Contact link at the top of the page. 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Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 158: Live By Faith - Hebrews 11 (Faith & Power Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2020

This week Michelle concludes her new series called Faith & Power: Understanding the Power of Who Christ Is In You reading Hebrews 11 about those who lived by faith in The Passion Translation. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. We are in the last week of the series “Faith & Power: Discovering the Power of Who Christ is in You!” Our reading last week came from Matthew 13:31-32 as we talked about how Christ living in us is the hope of glory revealed to us and those around us. Today, our reading will be primarily found in Hebrews 11 of The Passion Translation. So, Grab your Bible and get ready to dig into today’s reading as we continue to consider the power of who Christ is in us! Review As you do let’s just review a few take-aways from last week’s reading: We compared sins that take root in our lives to that of a tree stump that will resprout over and over again until the tree is taken up by its roots. So it is with sin, evidences of sin will continually represent in our lives until we deal with the roots of sin, whether the sins are our own willful decision or generational sin patterns we’ve picked up in life. A Mustard Seed sized faith can speak to the roots of sin and life patterns that have been blocking your growth and sucking the life out of you for years and tell it to be removed from your life. Whether you have walked long in faith, or your faith is new and small like the mustard seed - we must remember we can do powerful things when we believe that the source of our mustard seed faith is Jesus. We can be saved, and still lack faith and power in our lives because of doubt. We must hold onto faith, even when the answers to our prayers look different than we prayed, and be willing to lose a battle but still vigorously contend for the reality in other’s lives as well. This is how we stand by faith - even when our circumstances and reality look wholly different than what our faith can see. This Week’s Reading Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know you more. I pray that every person would encounter your living presence and power through the Scriptures today and that as we do we would be changed by them. Let our hearts be inspired to believe for more, to live for more and to experience more so your glory may be known upon the earth. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know! I ask these things in Jesus’ Precious Name, AMEN. The title for this episode is “Living By Faith” It comes from Romans 1:17 (ESV) “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Today we’re going to look at Hebrews 11 and what it means to live by faith. This passage of Scripture is often called the Hall of Faith, because it lists the people of God who by faith lived their entire lives without fully receiving the promise. Today we will read the entire chapter as we look for inspiration to carry us as we walk and live by faith. Let’s begin: Verse 1-3: Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. This testimony of faith is what previous generations were commended for. Faith empowers us to see that the universe was created and beautifully coordinated by the power of God’s words! He spoke and the invisible realm gave birth to all that is seen. The writer of Hebrews begins with defining faith for us. In the NKJV, Hebrews 11:1 reads: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” As I re-read verse 1 in the NKJV my mind begs the question, “What is the substance of the things I hope for?” I mean, is it just wishful thinking, which requires not faith, or is it something I hope for that I can accomplish in my own power - things that I can accomplish within my own strength don’t require much faith after all. If faith is the substance of things hoped for then what qualifies as hope… And that is what we see in the last part of the verse. Faith is not just the substance of things we hope for, but it is also the evidence of things not yet seen. I love the way that the Passion Translation says the exact same thing… “Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. And this same faith is the foundation of our testimony - we have no testimony without faith. It empowers us to see that it was God, through His Word, that created and beautifully coordinated the entire universe as He spoke into existence every realm that now exists. It was the unseen spiritual realm that gave birth to all that we are able to now see. As a matter of fact in Romans 4 Paul writes that Abraham believed by faith and it was credited to Him as righteousness. It also says that this kind of faith - the faith Abraham carried that was credited as righteousness - called things that were not yet as though they already are. Get this… Faith and Power walk hand in hand in our lives if we believe as Jesus commanded us that everything we ask in His Name will be done for us. When Jesus manifests (The Word Speaks) - the invisible realm (what we do not see) - the Spiritual Realm - brings what is unseen into our reality. . Verses 4-5: Faith moved Abel to choose a more acceptable sacrifice to offer God than his brother Cain, and God declared him righteous because of his offering of faith. By his faith, Abel still speaks instruction to us today, even though he is long dead. Faith lifted Enoch from this life and he was taken up into heaven! He never had to experience death; he just disappeared from this world because God promoted him. For before he was translated to the heavenly realm his life had become a pleasure to God. By implication, we understand that Abel’s offering pleased God because Abel gave God his very best. He trusted that if he gave God his very best - even though it cost him much - that God as Abel’s provision would sustain him. The writer of Hebrews tells us that Abel’s sacrifice still offers us instruction for today. In what areas do we withhold ourselves, our offerings and our lives from God? When we trust God as our source, we learn that through intimacy with Him we can give ourselves, our lives and our sacrifices to Him because He provides well for His children. He is trustworthy and true - there is nothing good that He will withhold from His children. If we will believe. It is faith that leads us in a life that is pleasing to God. Not works, not lofty words and prayers, not even the finances we give out of compulsion or obligation… Because these things without faith are nothing to God, but with Faith everything we do becomes a pleasing aroma to Him. Think of Enoch. Many generations after Adam and Eve’s fall living a life that pleased God so much that God promoted Enoch from earth to heaven without requiring him to pass through death. Enoch walked with God by faith. Genesis tells us that Enoch walked with God and then he was no more. The only reason we know he went to heaven is because God reveals it to us in the book of Hebrews. But Enoch, his faith carried him home. Verse 6: And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who give all their passion and strength into seeking him. What do you believe about God? That is what you have faith in… Faith is expressed through belief that guides our motivations, passions and our actions. The words we speak and the things we do come from the heart of what we believe. What faith is expressed in your everyday lives? I’m preparing to serve at a retreat in June and a friend of mine is leading worship, but she doesn’t play an instrument. Over the last few weeks we have talked about this concern for the worship sessions. This weekend, as she and I spent time together at a conference, I felt like God said, “Learn to play guitar.” So before the event was over I told one of the guitar players on the worship team I needed to learn to play guitar by June. His eyes grew wide, and he laughed. He said, “I learned to play guitar quickly but I practiced like 3 hours a day.” I smiled wide. “I can do that.” Later, I told my husband I need to buy a guitar because I’m going to learn to play the guitar. #TheFisherman, standing with a few of his friends from the church response team, chuckled and said, “Good luck with that.” My response was, “I don’t need luck. God says nothing is impossible for those who believe.” I believe by faith that I am going to learn to play guitar well enough to lead worship at the retreat I’m servine at in Mid-June. This while I have speaking engagements, a non-profit to legalize and several trips planned in the midst of it all. But, my God is big enough to handle all of that and my desire is to live a life pleasing to Him. To lay my life down in His service, to help others worship Him and believe Him for something as complex as learning to play guitar and as simple as to take the next step of obedience to what He is calling them to. Verse 7: Faith opened Noah’s heart to receive revelation and warnings from God about what was coming, even things that had never been seen. But he stepped out in reverent obedience to God and built an ark that would save him and his family. By his faith the world was condemned, but Noah received God’s gift of righteousness that comes by believing. Here again, our righteousness comes from believing - from faith in Christ and His Gospel. To understand that I don’t get to heaven because I prayed a prayer to receive Christ, but because I believed in my heart by faith that what the Bible says about Him is true and that He is my Lord. The faith in this invisible reality alone attributes to me all of the righteousness of Christ. Noah had faith to do something God called him to do because Noah believed what God said was true. He saved not only himself, but also his family by acting in obedience to God by faith. Imagine, what would be possible if only we believed. When my actions follow my faith in God victory is assured. Faith expresses itself through what we are motivated to do in response to it. As we continue to read through the stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob watch for how their faith motivated their actions to obey God and how God brought about the impossible through their steps of obedient faith - even when they did not know what the outcome would be. Verse 8-10: Faith motivated Abraham to obey God’s call and leave the familiar to discover the territory he was destined to inherit from God. So he left with only a promise and without even knowing ahead of time where he was going, Abraham stepped out in faith. He lived by faith as an immigrant in his promised land as though it belonged to someone else. He journeyed through the land living in tents with Isaac and Jacob who were persuaded that they were also co-heirs of the same promise.His eyes of faith were set on the city with unshakable foundations, whose architect and builder is God himself. I have been heard to say that I believe God doesn’t give us a road map to our destiny ahead of time because He knows that the knowledge of good and evil would cause us to hinder His work in our lives. I can tell you that if God would have given me a grand vision of my life, and I could’ve seen that my son was going to die on August 23, 2005, I would have done everything in my power to stop that from happening. But, I would have missed the glorious comfort of a God who captures my heart-broken tears in a bottle and heals my heart through His beautiful love, joy and peace. A God who is big enough to carry me and hurt with me at the same time. My faith grew exponentially as I learned to walk by faith through the valley of the shadow of death. Verse 11-12: Sarah’s faith embraced the miracle power to conceive even though she was barren and was past the age of childbearing, for the authority of her faith rested in the One who made the promise, and she tapped into his faithfulness. In fact, so many children were subsequently fathered by this aged man of faith—one who was as good as dead, that he now has offspring as innumerable as the sand on the seashore and as the stars in the sky! We often focus on Sarah’s lack of faith when she gave her handmaid, Hagar, to Abraham which brought forth Ishmael, or how she laughed at Abraham when he told her that she would bear him a son. But, even after Ishmael’s birth when Sarah, past the age of childbearing years, could’ve left her husband to her handmaid, no… Sarah, believing the One who promised gave herself to her husband and they bore a son, Isaac, who was the child God had promised them. And Abraham became the father of many nations - not just one nation through Jacob/Israel, but many nations as Ishmael and Isaac’s seed went forth. Think of this, Abraham and Sarah had one son while Rebekah and Isaac had two sons, but Jacob through Leah and Rachel had 12 sons and those 12 sons would become the nation of Israel, while Ishmael’s would go on to marry both Esau and his sons. And so many nations came from two sons of one man. Verse 13-16: These heroes all died still clinging to their faith, not even receiving all that had been promised them. But they saw beyond the horizon the fulfillment of their promises and gladly embraced it from afar. They all lived their lives on earth as those who belonged to another realm. For clearly, those who live this way are longing for the appearing of a heavenly city. And if their hearts were still remembering what they left behind, they would have found an opportunity to go back. But they couldn’t turn back for their hearts were fixed on what was far greater, that is, the heavenly realm! So because of this God is not ashamed in any way to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them. Think about your life - the place where you found God, and the life you’ve lived between here and there. We hear it said a lot, “If I had it to do over again, I would do it differently.” We mean to say we’ve learned some things from our experience that would help us if we had these things to do over again, but think of all you would have missed with God if you would have looked backward and gone back to something old the first time something you believed God for didn’t come fully into your reality. These heroes of the faith lived their lives 1) not fully realizing the promise, and 2) as if they belonged to another realm - because they did. God’s Heavenly Realm is as real as this earthly one we set our feet down in every single day of our lives. It is real, and the promises of God exist there without repentance. It our lives of faith, steps of obedience and declaration of belief that bring that heavenly reality into our earthly one. We walk by faith in the unseen, not by the things we can readily see with our natural eyes. Verses 17-22: Faith operated powerfully in Abraham for when he was put to the test he offered up Isaac. Even though he received God’s promises of descendants, he was willing to offer up his only son! For God had promised, “Through your son Isaac your lineage will carry on your name.” Abraham’s faith made it logical to him that God could raise Isaac from the dead, and symbolically, that’s exactly what happened. The power of faith prompted Isaac to impart a blessing to his sons, Jacob and Esau, concerning their prophetic destinies. Jacob worshiped in faith’s reality at the end of his life, and leaning upon his staff he imparted a prophetic blessing upon each of Joseph’s sons. Faith inspired Joseph and opened his eyes to see into the future, for as he was dying he prophesied about the exodus of Israel out of Egypt, and gave instructions that his bones were to be taken from Egypt with them. And as each of the patriarchs of the nation of Israel walked in obedience to God, declaring and bestowing upon the next generation their faith and the promises/prophecies of God - they birthed a faith so great that it made the way for Moses to come and deliver the people of Israel from the bondage of Egypt. Verse 23-31: Faith prompted the parents of Moses at his birth to hide him for three months, because they realized their child was exceptional and they refused to be afraid of the king’s edict. Faith enabled Moses to choose God’s will, for although he was raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, he refused to make that his identity, choosing instead to suffer mistreatment with the people of God. Moses preferred faith’s certainty above the momentary enjoyment of sin’s pleasures. He found his true wealth in suffering abuse for being anointed, more than in anything the world could offer him, for his eyes looked with wonder not on the immediate, but on the ultimate—faith’s great reward! Holding faith’s promise Moses abandoned Egypt and had no fear of Pharaoh’s rage because he persisted in faith as if he had seen God who is unseen. Faith stirred Moses to perform the rite of Passover and sprinkle lamb’s blood, to prevent the destroyer from harming their firstborn. Faith opened the way for the Hebrews to cross the Red Sea as if on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to cross they were swallowed up and drowned! Faith pulled down Jericho’s walls after the people marched around them for seven days! Faith provided a way of escape for Rahab the prostitute, avoiding the destruction of the unbelievers, because she received the Hebrew spies in peace. Over and over again, FAITH is the answer to seeing the promises of God manifest in your lives with power. Moses’ parents put him in the river as an infant by faith, Moses’ Egyptian mother raised Moses as her own son, as a son of Pharaoh. And when Moses’ heart was moved by God, the anointing for deliverance would come to Moses that would ultimately lead him to forsake the life he knew, to live in the desert, encounter God and deliver the people of Israel as God commanded him to do. Moses’ life changed the lives of many - both the nation of Israel, and the lives of Rahab, a prostitute in a pagan land who helped the Israelite spies as they sought to take the promised land God had brought them into. Rahab’s life was not only spared, but is memorialized in the genealogies of Jesus in the New Testament Gospels. Faith makes a way of escape if only we will believe God is a God of His Word who keeps His promises. Verses 32:40: And what more could I say to convince you? For there is not enough time to tell you of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Through faith’s power they conquered kingdoms and established true justice. Their faith fastened onto their promises and pulled them into reality! It was faith that shut the mouth of lions, put out the power of raging fire, and caused many to escape certain death by the sword. In their weakness their faith imparted power to make them strong! Faith sparked courage within them and they became mighty warriors in battle, pulling armies from another realm into battle array. Faith-filled women saw their dead children raised in resurrection power. Yet it was faith that enabled others to endure great atrocities. They were stretched out on the wheel and tortured, and didn’t deny their faith in order to be freed, because they longed for a more honorable and glorious resurrection! Others were mocked and experienced the most severe beating with whips; they were in chains and imprisoned. Some of these faith champions were brutally killed by stoning, being sawn in two or slaughtered by the sword. These lived in faith as they went about wearing goatskins and sheepskins for clothing. They lost everything they possessed, they endured great afflictions, and they were cruelly mistreated. They wandered the earth living in the desert wilderness, in caves, on barren mountains and in holes in the earth. Truly, the world was not even worthy of them, not realizing who they were. These were the true heroes, commended for their faith, yet they lived in hope without receiving the fullness of what was promised them. But now God has invited us to live in something better than what they had—faith’s fullness! This is so that they could be brought to finished perfection alongside of us. They died not seeing the fulfillment of all God had promised them because they looked forward to a BETTER promise. One that includes all of us. Each generation who dies in faith, leaves both a higher foundation and a legacy of belief for the next generation to step out onto. Let’s live declaring, believing and fastening our faith to the promises of God so we can see His Kingdom truly come and His will being done on earth as it is in heaven right now - in our lifetimes. Amen? Poppa God, we come today humbled by your words of exhortation and the lives of the faithful who have gone before us preparing the way. Help us to believe bigger, live stronger and faithfully walk out the steps of obedience you call us to so that we may see your Kingdom reality come to earth as it now exists in Heaven. Keep us steadfast and fruitful Lord as we look forward to that better promise and that heavenly city that only you can build. IN Jesus’ name I pray, AMen. Closing Remarks Thank you for tuning in with us. Next week I will begin a conversation with my friend, and upcoming author Karen DeArmond Gardener who has overcome lifelong abuse and lives to help others, especially women in similar situations find freedom as the break the bonds of abuse and walk into God’s loving arms of protection and healing. Join us next week for this powerful testimony of God’s redemptive power and healing. I also want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. Join Us Through Facebook Live for Bible Study on Saturday at 10am (CT)! We’ll continue reading Luke 9 this week and digging into the life of Christ Verse-By-Verse considering what we would believe if reading the Scriptures was the primary way we inform our faith! You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. Once again, I’d like to remind you that I will be speaking at a women’s conference (R.E.A.L. Women Conference) at (The Ranch Cowboy Country Church South) in Edna, TX. Registration is available for $40 through January 10th, and will be $45 after the 10th through the day before the conference. Tickets at the door will be $60. This one day conference is February 22 this year and includes a continental style breakfast, full lunch and dinner provided. I’d love to see some familiar faces attending. If you’d like to register please email or DM at the email listed above or through our FB page for details or visit theranchsouth.org for more information! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on both Apple and on Google Podcasts - take a moment to Subscribe today! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs weekly on Tuesdays. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page.

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 158: Live By Faith - Hebrews 11 (Faith & Power Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2020

This week Michelle concludes her new series called Faith & Power: Understanding the Power of Who Christ Is In You reading Hebrews 11 about those who lived by faith in The Passion Translation. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. We are in the last week of the series “Faith & Power: Discovering the Power of Who Christ is in You!” Our reading last week came from Matthew 13:31-32 as we talked about how Christ living in us is the hope of glory revealed to us and those around us. Today, our reading will be primarily found in Hebrews 11 of The Passion Translation. So, Grab your Bible and get ready to dig into today’s reading as we continue to consider the power of who Christ is in us! Review As you do let’s just review a few take-aways from last week’s reading: We compared sins that take root in our lives to that of a tree stump that will resprout over and over again until the tree is taken up by its roots. So it is with sin, evidences of sin will continually represent in our lives until we deal with the roots of sin, whether the sins are our own willful decision or generational sin patterns we’ve picked up in life. A Mustard Seed sized faith can speak to the roots of sin and life patterns that have been blocking your growth and sucking the life out of you for years and tell it to be removed from your life. Whether you have walked long in faith, or your faith is new and small like the mustard seed - we must remember we can do powerful things when we believe that the source of our mustard seed faith is Jesus. We can be saved, and still lack faith and power in our lives because of doubt. We must hold onto faith, even when the answers to our prayers look different than we prayed, and be willing to lose a battle but still vigorously contend for the reality in other’s lives as well. This is how we stand by faith - even when our circumstances and reality look wholly different than what our faith can see. This Week’s Reading Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know you more. I pray that every person would encounter your living presence and power through the Scriptures today and that as we do we would be changed by them. Let our hearts be inspired to believe for more, to live for more and to experience more so your glory may be known upon the earth. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know! I ask these things in Jesus’ Precious Name, AMEN. The title for this episode is “Living By Faith” It comes from Romans 1:17 (ESV) “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Today we’re going to look at Hebrews 11 and what it means to live by faith. This passage of Scripture is often called the Hall of Faith, because it lists the people of God who by faith lived their entire lives without fully receiving the promise. Today we will read the entire chapter as we look for inspiration to carry us as we walk and live by faith. Let’s begin: Verse 1-3: Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. This testimony of faith is what previous generations were commended for. Faith empowers us to see that the universe was created and beautifully coordinated by the power of God’s words! He spoke and the invisible realm gave birth to all that is seen. The writer of Hebrews begins with defining faith for us. In the NKJV, Hebrews 11:1 reads: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” As I re-read verse 1 in the NKJV my mind begs the question, “What is the substance of the things I hope for?” I mean, is it just wishful thinking, which requires not faith, or is it something I hope for that I can accomplish in my own power - things that I can accomplish within my own strength don’t require much faith after all. If faith is the substance of things hoped for then what qualifies as hope… And that is what we see in the last part of the verse. Faith is not just the substance of things we hope for, but it is also the evidence of things not yet seen. I love the way that the Passion Translation says the exact same thing… “Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. And this same faith is the foundation of our testimony - we have no testimony without faith. It empowers us to see that it was God, through His Word, that created and beautifully coordinated the entire universe as He spoke into existence every realm that now exists. It was the unseen spiritual realm that gave birth to all that we are able to now see. As a matter of fact in Romans 4 Paul writes that Abraham believed by faith and it was credited to Him as righteousness. It also says that this kind of faith - the faith Abraham carried that was credited as righteousness - called things that were not yet as though they already are. Get this… Faith and Power walk hand in hand in our lives if we believe as Jesus commanded us that everything we ask in His Name will be done for us. When Jesus manifests (The Word Speaks) - the invisible realm (what we do not see) - the Spiritual Realm - brings what is unseen into our reality. . Verses 4-5: Faith moved Abel to choose a more acceptable sacrifice to offer God than his brother Cain, and God declared him righteous because of his offering of faith. By his faith, Abel still speaks instruction to us today, even though he is long dead. Faith lifted Enoch from this life and he was taken up into heaven! He never had to experience death; he just disappeared from this world because God promoted him. For before he was translated to the heavenly realm his life had become a pleasure to God. By implication, we understand that Abel’s offering pleased God because Abel gave God his very best. He trusted that if he gave God his very best - even though it cost him much - that God as Abel’s provision would sustain him. The writer of Hebrews tells us that Abel’s sacrifice still offers us instruction for today. In what areas do we withhold ourselves, our offerings and our lives from God? When we trust God as our source, we learn that through intimacy with Him we can give ourselves, our lives and our sacrifices to Him because He provides well for His children. He is trustworthy and true - there is nothing good that He will withhold from His children. If we will believe. It is faith that leads us in a life that is pleasing to God. Not works, not lofty words and prayers, not even the finances we give out of compulsion or obligation… Because these things without faith are nothing to God, but with Faith everything we do becomes a pleasing aroma to Him. Think of Enoch. Many generations after Adam and Eve’s fall living a life that pleased God so much that God promoted Enoch from earth to heaven without requiring him to pass through death. Enoch walked with God by faith. Genesis tells us that Enoch walked with God and then he was no more. The only reason we know he went to heaven is because God reveals it to us in the book of Hebrews. But Enoch, his faith carried him home. Verse 6: And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who give all their passion and strength into seeking him. What do you believe about God? That is what you have faith in… Faith is expressed through belief that guides our motivations, passions and our actions. The words we speak and the things we do come from the heart of what we believe. What faith is expressed in your everyday lives? I’m preparing to serve at a retreat in June and a friend of mine is leading worship, but she doesn’t play an instrument. Over the last few weeks we have talked about this concern for the worship sessions. This weekend, as she and I spent time together at a conference, I felt like God said, “Learn to play guitar.” So before the event was over I told one of the guitar players on the worship team I needed to learn to play guitar by June. His eyes grew wide, and he laughed. He said, “I learned to play guitar quickly but I practiced like 3 hours a day.” I smiled wide. “I can do that.” Later, I told my husband I need to buy a guitar because I’m going to learn to play the guitar. #TheFisherman, standing with a few of his friends from the church response team, chuckled and said, “Good luck with that.” My response was, “I don’t need luck. God says nothing is impossible for those who believe.” I believe by faith that I am going to learn to play guitar well enough to lead worship at the retreat I’m servine at in Mid-June. This while I have speaking engagements, a non-profit to legalize and several trips planned in the midst of it all. But, my God is big enough to handle all of that and my desire is to live a life pleasing to Him. To lay my life down in His service, to help others worship Him and believe Him for something as complex as learning to play guitar and as simple as to take the next step of obedience to what He is calling them to. Verse 7: Faith opened Noah’s heart to receive revelation and warnings from God about what was coming, even things that had never been seen. But he stepped out in reverent obedience to God and built an ark that would save him and his family. By his faith the world was condemned, but Noah received God’s gift of righteousness that comes by believing. Here again, our righteousness comes from believing - from faith in Christ and His Gospel. To understand that I don’t get to heaven because I prayed a prayer to receive Christ, but because I believed in my heart by faith that what the Bible says about Him is true and that He is my Lord. The faith in this invisible reality alone attributes to me all of the righteousness of Christ. Noah had faith to do something God called him to do because Noah believed what God said was true. He saved not only himself, but also his family by acting in obedience to God by faith. Imagine, what would be possible if only we believed. When my actions follow my faith in God victory is assured. Faith expresses itself through what we are motivated to do in response to it. As we continue to read through the stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob watch for how their faith motivated their actions to obey God and how God brought about the impossible through their steps of obedient faith - even when they did not know what the outcome would be. Verse 8-10: Faith motivated Abraham to obey God’s call and leave the familiar to discover the territory he was destined to inherit from God. So he left with only a promise and without even knowing ahead of time where he was going, Abraham stepped out in faith. He lived by faith as an immigrant in his promised land as though it belonged to someone else. He journeyed through the land living in tents with Isaac and Jacob who were persuaded that they were also co-heirs of the same promise.His eyes of faith were set on the city with unshakable foundations, whose architect and builder is God himself. I have been heard to say that I believe God doesn’t give us a road map to our destiny ahead of time because He knows that the knowledge of good and evil would cause us to hinder His work in our lives. I can tell you that if God would have given me a grand vision of my life, and I could’ve seen that my son was going to die on August 23, 2005, I would have done everything in my power to stop that from happening. But, I would have missed the glorious comfort of a God who captures my heart-broken tears in a bottle and heals my heart through His beautiful love, joy and peace. A God who is big enough to carry me and hurt with me at the same time. My faith grew exponentially as I learned to walk by faith through the valley of the shadow of death. Verse 11-12: Sarah’s faith embraced the miracle power to conceive even though she was barren and was past the age of childbearing, for the authority of her faith rested in the One who made the promise, and she tapped into his faithfulness. In fact, so many children were subsequently fathered by this aged man of faith—one who was as good as dead, that he now has offspring as innumerable as the sand on the seashore and as the stars in the sky! We often focus on Sarah’s lack of faith when she gave her handmaid, Hagar, to Abraham which brought forth Ishmael, or how she laughed at Abraham when he told her that she would bear him a son. But, even after Ishmael’s birth when Sarah, past the age of childbearing years, could’ve left her husband to her handmaid, no… Sarah, believing the One who promised gave herself to her husband and they bore a son, Isaac, who was the child God had promised them. And Abraham became the father of many nations - not just one nation through Jacob/Israel, but many nations as Ishmael and Isaac’s seed went forth. Think of this, Abraham and Sarah had one son while Rebekah and Isaac had two sons, but Jacob through Leah and Rachel had 12 sons and those 12 sons would become the nation of Israel, while Ishmael’s would go on to marry both Esau and his sons. And so many nations came from two sons of one man. Verse 13-16: These heroes all died still clinging to their faith, not even receiving all that had been promised them. But they saw beyond the horizon the fulfillment of their promises and gladly embraced it from afar. They all lived their lives on earth as those who belonged to another realm. For clearly, those who live this way are longing for the appearing of a heavenly city. And if their hearts were still remembering what they left behind, they would have found an opportunity to go back. But they couldn’t turn back for their hearts were fixed on what was far greater, that is, the heavenly realm! So because of this God is not ashamed in any way to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them. Think about your life - the place where you found God, and the life you’ve lived between here and there. We hear it said a lot, “If I had it to do over again, I would do it differently.” We mean to say we’ve learned some things from our experience that would help us if we had these things to do over again, but think of all you would have missed with God if you would have looked backward and gone back to something old the first time something you believed God for didn’t come fully into your reality. These heroes of the faith lived their lives 1) not fully realizing the promise, and 2) as if they belonged to another realm - because they did. God’s Heavenly Realm is as real as this earthly one we set our feet down in every single day of our lives. It is real, and the promises of God exist there without repentance. It our lives of faith, steps of obedience and declaration of belief that bring that heavenly reality into our earthly one. We walk by faith in the unseen, not by the things we can readily see with our natural eyes. Verses 17-22: Faith operated powerfully in Abraham for when he was put to the test he offered up Isaac. Even though he received God’s promises of descendants, he was willing to offer up his only son! For God had promised, “Through your son Isaac your lineage will carry on your name.” Abraham’s faith made it logical to him that God could raise Isaac from the dead, and symbolically, that’s exactly what happened. The power of faith prompted Isaac to impart a blessing to his sons, Jacob and Esau, concerning their prophetic destinies. Jacob worshiped in faith’s reality at the end of his life, and leaning upon his staff he imparted a prophetic blessing upon each of Joseph’s sons. Faith inspired Joseph and opened his eyes to see into the future, for as he was dying he prophesied about the exodus of Israel out of Egypt, and gave instructions that his bones were to be taken from Egypt with them. And as each of the patriarchs of the nation of Israel walked in obedience to God, declaring and bestowing upon the next generation their faith and the promises/prophecies of God - they birthed a faith so great that it made the way for Moses to come and deliver the people of Israel from the bondage of Egypt. Verse 23-31: Faith prompted the parents of Moses at his birth to hide him for three months, because they realized their child was exceptional and they refused to be afraid of the king’s edict. Faith enabled Moses to choose God’s will, for although he was raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, he refused to make that his identity, choosing instead to suffer mistreatment with the people of God. Moses preferred faith’s certainty above the momentary enjoyment of sin’s pleasures. He found his true wealth in suffering abuse for being anointed, more than in anything the world could offer him, for his eyes looked with wonder not on the immediate, but on the ultimate—faith’s great reward! Holding faith’s promise Moses abandoned Egypt and had no fear of Pharaoh’s rage because he persisted in faith as if he had seen God who is unseen. Faith stirred Moses to perform the rite of Passover and sprinkle lamb’s blood, to prevent the destroyer from harming their firstborn. Faith opened the way for the Hebrews to cross the Red Sea as if on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to cross they were swallowed up and drowned! Faith pulled down Jericho’s walls after the people marched around them for seven days! Faith provided a way of escape for Rahab the prostitute, avoiding the destruction of the unbelievers, because she received the Hebrew spies in peace. Over and over again, FAITH is the answer to seeing the promises of God manifest in your lives with power. Moses’ parents put him in the river as an infant by faith, Moses’ Egyptian mother raised Moses as her own son, as a son of Pharaoh. And when Moses’ heart was moved by God, the anointing for deliverance would come to Moses that would ultimately lead him to forsake the life he knew, to live in the desert, encounter God and deliver the people of Israel as God commanded him to do. Moses’ life changed the lives of many - both the nation of Israel, and the lives of Rahab, a prostitute in a pagan land who helped the Israelite spies as they sought to take the promised land God had brought them into. Rahab’s life was not only spared, but is memorialized in the genealogies of Jesus in the New Testament Gospels. Faith makes a way of escape if only we will believe God is a God of His Word who keeps His promises. Verses 32:40: And what more could I say to convince you? For there is not enough time to tell you of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Through faith’s power they conquered kingdoms and established true justice. Their faith fastened onto their promises and pulled them into reality! It was faith that shut the mouth of lions, put out the power of raging fire, and caused many to escape certain death by the sword. In their weakness their faith imparted power to make them strong! Faith sparked courage within them and they became mighty warriors in battle, pulling armies from another realm into battle array. Faith-filled women saw their dead children raised in resurrection power. Yet it was faith that enabled others to endure great atrocities. They were stretched out on the wheel and tortured, and didn’t deny their faith in order to be freed, because they longed for a more honorable and glorious resurrection! Others were mocked and experienced the most severe beating with whips; they were in chains and imprisoned. Some of these faith champions were brutally killed by stoning, being sawn in two or slaughtered by the sword. These lived in faith as they went about wearing goatskins and sheepskins for clothing. They lost everything they possessed, they endured great afflictions, and they were cruelly mistreated. They wandered the earth living in the desert wilderness, in caves, on barren mountains and in holes in the earth. Truly, the world was not even worthy of them, not realizing who they were. These were the true heroes, commended for their faith, yet they lived in hope without receiving the fullness of what was promised them. But now God has invited us to live in something better than what they had—faith’s fullness! This is so that they could be brought to finished perfection alongside of us. They died not seeing the fulfillment of all God had promised them because they looked forward to a BETTER promise. One that includes all of us. Each generation who dies in faith, leaves both a higher foundation and a legacy of belief for the next generation to step out onto. Let’s live declaring, believing and fastening our faith to the promises of God so we can see His Kingdom truly come and His will being done on earth as it is in heaven right now - in our lifetimes. Amen? Poppa God, we come today humbled by your words of exhortation and the lives of the faithful who have gone before us preparing the way. Help us to believe bigger, live stronger and faithfully walk out the steps of obedience you call us to so that we may see your Kingdom reality come to earth as it now exists in Heaven. Keep us steadfast and fruitful Lord as we look forward to that better promise and that heavenly city that only you can build. IN Jesus’ name I pray, AMen. Closing Remarks Thank you for tuning in with us. Next week I will begin a conversation with my friend, and upcoming author Karen DeArmond Gardener who has overcome lifelong abuse and lives to help others, especially women in similar situations find freedom as the break the bonds of abuse and walk into God’s loving arms of protection and healing. Join us next week for this powerful testimony of God’s redemptive power and healing. I also want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. Join Us Through Facebook Live for Bible Study on Saturday at 10am (CT)! We’ll continue reading Luke 9 this week and digging into the life of Christ Verse-By-Verse considering what we would believe if reading the Scriptures was the primary way we inform our faith! You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. Once again, I’d like to remind you that I will be speaking at a women’s conference (R.E.A.L. Women Conference) at (The Ranch Cowboy Country Church South) in Edna, TX. Registration is available for $40 through January 10th, and will be $45 after the 10th through the day before the conference. Tickets at the door will be $60. This one day conference is February 22 this year and includes a continental style breakfast, full lunch and dinner provided. I’d love to see some familiar faces attending. If you’d like to register please email or DM at the email listed above or through our FB page for details or visit theranchsouth.org for more information! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on both Apple and on Google Podcasts - take a moment to Subscribe today! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs weekly on Tuesdays. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page.

Blooming Inspired Podcast |157: Matthew 17:14-20 Mustard Seed Faith (Faith & Power Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2020

This week Michelle continues her new series called Faith & Power: Understanding the Power of Who Christ Is In You reading Matthew, Mark, and Luke about Mustard Seed Faith from The Passion Translation. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. We are in the third week of our new series “Faith & Power: Discovering the Power of Who Christ is in You!” Our reading last week came from Colossians 1:15-29 as we talked about how Christ living in us is the hope of glory revealed to us and those around us. Today, our reading will be primarily found in Matthew 13:31-32 with additional readings from Matthew. Mark and Luke as we look at faith the size of a Mustard Seed from The Passion Translation. So, Grab your Bible and get ready to dig into today’s reading as we continue to consider the power of who Christ is in us! Review As you do let’s just review a few take-aways from last week’s reading: When God looks at you as His beloved child, He sees you through the veil of Christ If Christ lives inside of you, if it is true about Jesus then it is true about you - whether you live from that reality or not. All of the power that you need to accomplish those ideas, dreams and passions in your life rests with Christ. The only thing you need to understand is His purpose in your passion. And that often comes through executing - taking steps of faith and watching Him work wonders through them. Jesus has first place in everything. In Christ, you hold first place with Him. Victory is yours in Christ. Jesus restores everything and every person who comes to Him back to our original design, purpose and back to innocent purity once again. YOU CAN BE MADE PURE AND WHOLE THROUGH THE POWER OF CHRIST IN YOU. Living as Christ in us and expressing Him to the world around us. It is a MYSTERY (to us)… Being unveiled day by day, hour by hour as we pursue Him in intimacy and truth. Taking on Christ’s Sufferings is a powerful reality in the Christian life, to live as Christ is to take on His sufferings. This is the work of Christ in us through the Holy Spirit: to be in the midst of great struggle and turmoil and experience peace that passes understanding is truly a mark of Christ on our lives. There is a divine mystery: a secret, a surprise, has been concealed for many centuries but through Christ is now being revealed, unfolded and manifested for every holy believer to experience. Our faith in God is not just something we read about, but instead is a life to be lived, a reality to be experienced daily in our lives. Last week we closed with the last two verses in this passage: “Christ is our message! We preach to awaken hearts and bring every person into the full understanding of truth. It has become my inspiration and passion in ministry to labor with a tireless intensity, with his power flowing through me, to present to every believer the revelation of being his perfect one in Jesus Christ.” This is a key: when we preach Christ as our message, awakening hearts and bringing others into a full understanding of the truth - His power flows through us perfecting us in the only one who saves - Jesus Christ. Transformation in our own lives will draw others to the one who transforms us day by day into His glorious image. Amen? This Week’s Reading Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You today through the Scriptures. Give our hearts, minds, souls and bodies your truth today as we read and give us understanding by revelation and wisdom from Heaven to seek, act and live from the truth of Your words. I thank you our faith, though as small as a mustard seed, can powerfully move mountains and uproot trees if only we believe. Let our hearts be inspired to believe for more, to live for more and to experience more so your glory may be known upon the earth. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know! I ask these things in Jesus’ Precious Name, AMEN. The title for this episode is “Mustard Seed Faith.” It comes from Matthew 17:20 in the the passion translation: “He told them, “It was because of your lack of faith. I promise you, if you have faith inside of you no bigger than the size of a small mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move away from here and go over there,’ and you will see it move! There is nothing you couldn’t do!” We’re looking for what it means that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains and uproot trees. How does Christ in us plant a seed of Faith that, when activated, releases His Power to do the impossible? So let’s begin with the parable of the Mustard Seed in Matthew 13: Verse 31-32: He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” (This parable is also found in Mark 4:30-34 and Luke 13:18-19.) First of all, have you ever seen a mustard seed? They are tiny, as tiny as a speck of dust or lint. I read on the Home Guides website that when planted in cool, moist soil they germinate quickly and reach maturity in anywhere from 80-95 days depending on the type of mustard seed. And Jesus compares His Kingdom to a mustard seed. The website Hunker.com provide even more insight: “Mustard seeds like growing in cool weather. However, if they are grown in hot weather, the leaves will become tough and spicy, which is a treat in certain culinary dishes. Mustard plants like getting lots of sun and water, so plant them in a clear, sunny area and water them during dry periods. A weeded garden bed will minimize the mustard's competition for water with other plants.” They grow best in cooler environment (above 40 degrees) and if grown in hotter weather become tougher or spicier (they carry more flavor). They need lots of sun (LIGHT) and Water. So how does this apply to us? When we place our faith in Christ by believing in Him we aren’t just getting salvation - we are getting Him living inside of us. And that seed of faith, picture it the size of a mustard seed, will grow and thrive the more we expose our hearts to the Light of the world (Jesus, the Word of God) and Living Water (The Holy Spirit). As our mustard seed faith grows, it makes a place of shade and rest for others who need a respite from the harsh realities of the world we live in and the enemy’s assaults. I believe the Mustard Seed parable shows us how the Kingdom of God is supposed to affect our lives and how we then become Kingdom Influencers in the world around us. A bird does not make its nest in a tree because the tree calls it out, but rather because the fullness of limbs and leaves provides the necessary cover and protection that is required for baby birds to be born and nest within the branches. So it is with us, the more the Kingdom comes alive in us through growth and maturity in both the Word of God and The Holy Spirit’s Power - the more appealing we become to others because we look like Jesus. Now let’s read from Luke 17:6 & Matthew 17:14-20: Luke 17:6: Jesus responded, “If you have even the smallest measure of authentic faith, it would be powerful enough to say to this large tree, (in some translations, a Mulberry Tree) ‘My faith will pull you up by the roots and throw you into the sea,’ and it will respond to your faith and obey you.” Have you ever tried to uproot a large tree? No… Well, let me tell you. We have a large tree that grows in our back yard every year blocking the view of the lake behind our house. My husband cuts down this tree to a stump every year, but with the roots still in the ground, the stump resprouts and grows up again and again. If the trunk grows very large it will require a tractor to pull the stump out by i’s roots. This is like sin that has taken root in our lives. Whether that sin stems from your own willful choices or learned patterns of behavior that has been handed down from generation to generation in your family - the result is still the same. Until the roots are dealt with - the tree of sin will continually grow back. So what does it take to uproot that sinful tree? A mustard seed of faith - that’s it. A Mustard Seed sized faith can speak to the roots of sin and life patterns that have been blocking your growth and sucking the life out of you for years and tell it to be removed from your life. In other words, someone who is new in the faith, whose seed is just about to take root and grow can do powerful things if we just remember that mustard seed of our faith is Jesus Christ. Our passage in Matthew 17:14-20 is a bit longer than the passage in Luke, but let’s take a look as we close out today’s show: Verse 14-16: They came to where a large crowd had gathered to wait for Jesus. A man came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, please show your tender mercy toward my son. He has a demon who afflicts him. He has epilepsy, and he suffers horribly from seizures. He often falls into the cooking fire or into the river. I brought him to your followers, but they weren’t able to heal him.” The situation is that a man has brought his son to the disciples because his son was afflicted by a demon that caused epileptic seizures. He had fallen into the fires and the river before - which meant his life was severely threatened by this affliction. But, Jesus’ followers who had reported back that they had been healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead after he had sent them out could not bring healing to this boy. Jesus’ response is telling… Verse 17-18: Jesus replied, “Where is your faith? Can’t you see how wayward and wrong this generation is? How much longer do I stay with you and put up with your doubts? Bring your son to me.” Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him and the boy was instantly healed! I don’t know about you, but it seems Jesus is concerned that His disciples have no faith and have lost their way with Him. Jesus attributes the inability to cast this demon out by His disciples to doubt. Did you know you can be saved, and still lack faith and power in your life experiences because of doubt? Have you ever prayed for something and then doubted whether or not it would happen? For me that season came when my oldest son was struggling with choices, consequences and we were just trying to hold our family together. The police would call us to pick him up or we would call them to the house for his out of control behavior. I remember the doubts that rose up, Maybe my son is the one child God cannot pull out of the fire. What am I doing wrong? Am I praying the wrong things? I understand what you do when you raise Isaac, but it seems I’m raising Ishmael. One day on the way home from a funeral for a childhood friend, I felt in my heart God said, You need to prepare your heart to lose your son. An odd peace settled over me, I didn’t know what it meant, but I knew God was preparing me for something I could not yet see. Turns out it would be my worst confessed fear: the death of my oldest child. A few months later the accident came, it’s been more than 14 years since I got the call to get to the hospital as soon as I could because my son had been in a car accident with his friends. That day as I rode to the hospital I wrestled with my one confessed fear and what I believed about God to be true. As I prayed I said to God, “Lord, if this is what you’ve been preparing me for all these months then you better be everything you’ve promised me you’d be. Your word says you are my strength, well, you better be because right now I’ve got none. Your word says you are my peace, well, you better be because right now I’ve got none.” And as I prayed I saw the puffy white clouds dotting a perfectly cerulean afternoon sky and I confessed, “If you can hold this world in orbit around the sun, and those clouds up there in the sky then I know you can take care of my son.” Before that day I had studied the story of Hagar and Ishmael in the desert after Abraham had sent them out of the camp - where Hagar carried her nearly grown son through the desert after he fainted from a lack of nourishment (their food and water had run out) and she laid him under a bush there in the desert to die. She walked about a bow-shot’s distance away and sat down waiting for him to pass as she could not bear to watch him die. That afternoon as we sat in the waiting room of the hospital my pastor asked me how I was doing. I had a Bible in my lap, turned to that familiar story in the book of Genesis and said, “I just keep thinking about Hagar and Ishmael in the desert. If God took care of Ishmael, He’ll take care of Justin, too.” God did take care of my son, and eight days later he delivered him safely into the arms of Jesus who carried him home to Heaven’s safe keeping. I would later receive the Scripture from Isaiah that says, “The Lord takes the righteous early to spare them an evil that is yet to come.” I believe God knew a fate worse than death was coming for my son in those days of his coming into adulthood and in His mercy, God took Justin home to spare him that worse fate - indeed to spare us all. I’ve come to realize God answered my prayers for mercy for my son, and indeed He gave me peace that passes all understanding. The very things I asked for as I prayed by my son’s body while he lay in a coma those long perilous days in the hospital. It wasn’t easy to hold onto my faith in those moments of utter despair as my son lay dying and after He passed, but God delivered me from all my fears and He held me close as I walked out the painful reality of our lives in those difficult days. Verse 28-29: Later the disciples came to him privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we cast out the demon?” He told them, “It was because of your lack of faith. I promise you, if you have faith inside of you no bigger than the size of a small mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move away from here and go over there,’ and you will see it move! There is nothing you couldn’t do!” As I have read the passage over and over again, and recounted my own experience of not receiving a miracle healing in my son’s life and I realized that though I lost that battle - I still pray vigorously for injury and illness to be healed and I’ve seen much healing. My faith in God is strong, though the enemy did his very best to steal my faith in those early days of walking out my grief. A mustard seed is all the faith it takes to turn tragedy into triumph and see the impossible become probable - if only we will believe. What mountains in your life do you need to speak to with a mustard seed of faith today? Closing Remarks Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. Join Us Through Facebook Live for Bible Study on Saturday at 10am (CT)! We will be reading Luke 9 this week and digging into the life of Christ Verse-By-Verse considering what we would believe if reading the Scriptures was the primary way we inform our faith! You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. Once again, I’d like to remind you that I will be speaking at a women’s conference (R.E.A.L. Women Conference) at (The Ranch Cowboy Country Church South) in Edna, TX. Registration is available for $40 through January 10th, and will be $45 after the 10th through the day before the conference. Tickets at the door will be $60. This one day conference is February 22 this year and includes a continental style breakfast, full lunch and dinner provided. I’d love to see some familiar faces attending. If you’d like to register please email or DM at the email listed above or through our FB page for details or visit theranchsouth.org for more information! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on both Apple and on Google Podcasts - take a moment to Subscribe today! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs weekly on Tuesdays. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page.

Blooming Inspired Podcast |157: Matthew 17:14-20 Mustard Seed Faith (Faith & Power Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2020

This week Michelle continues her new series called Faith & Power: Understanding the Power of Who Christ Is In You reading Matthew, Mark, and Luke about Mustard Seed Faith from The Passion Translation. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. We are in the third week of our new series “Faith & Power: Discovering the Power of Who Christ is in You!” Our reading last week came from Colossians 1:15-29 as we talked about how Christ living in us is the hope of glory revealed to us and those around us. Today, our reading will be primarily found in Matthew 13:31-32 with additional readings from Matthew. Mark and Luke as we look at faith the size of a Mustard Seed from The Passion Translation. So, Grab your Bible and get ready to dig into today’s reading as we continue to consider the power of who Christ is in us! Review As you do let’s just review a few take-aways from last week’s reading: When God looks at you as His beloved child, He sees you through the veil of Christ If Christ lives inside of you, if it is true about Jesus then it is true about you - whether you live from that reality or not. All of the power that you need to accomplish those ideas, dreams and passions in your life rests with Christ. The only thing you need to understand is His purpose in your passion. And that often comes through executing - taking steps of faith and watching Him work wonders through them. Jesus has first place in everything. In Christ, you hold first place with Him. Victory is yours in Christ. Jesus restores everything and every person who comes to Him back to our original design, purpose and back to innocent purity once again. YOU CAN BE MADE PURE AND WHOLE THROUGH THE POWER OF CHRIST IN YOU. Living as Christ in us and expressing Him to the world around us. It is a MYSTERY (to us)… Being unveiled day by day, hour by hour as we pursue Him in intimacy and truth. Taking on Christ’s Sufferings is a powerful reality in the Christian life, to live as Christ is to take on His sufferings. This is the work of Christ in us through the Holy Spirit: to be in the midst of great struggle and turmoil and experience peace that passes understanding is truly a mark of Christ on our lives. There is a divine mystery: a secret, a surprise, has been concealed for many centuries but through Christ is now being revealed, unfolded and manifested for every holy believer to experience. Our faith in God is not just something we read about, but instead is a life to be lived, a reality to be experienced daily in our lives. Last week we closed with the last two verses in this passage: “Christ is our message! We preach to awaken hearts and bring every person into the full understanding of truth. It has become my inspiration and passion in ministry to labor with a tireless intensity, with his power flowing through me, to present to every believer the revelation of being his perfect one in Jesus Christ.” This is a key: when we preach Christ as our message, awakening hearts and bringing others into a full understanding of the truth - His power flows through us perfecting us in the only one who saves - Jesus Christ. Transformation in our own lives will draw others to the one who transforms us day by day into His glorious image. Amen? This Week’s Reading Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You today through the Scriptures. Give our hearts, minds, souls and bodies your truth today as we read and give us understanding by revelation and wisdom from Heaven to seek, act and live from the truth of Your words. I thank you our faith, though as small as a mustard seed, can powerfully move mountains and uproot trees if only we believe. Let our hearts be inspired to believe for more, to live for more and to experience more so your glory may be known upon the earth. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know! I ask these things in Jesus’ Precious Name, AMEN. The title for this episode is “Mustard Seed Faith.” It comes from Matthew 17:20 in the the passion translation: “He told them, “It was because of your lack of faith. I promise you, if you have faith inside of you no bigger than the size of a small mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move away from here and go over there,’ and you will see it move! There is nothing you couldn’t do!” We’re looking for what it means that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains and uproot trees. How does Christ in us plant a seed of Faith that, when activated, releases His Power to do the impossible? So let’s begin with the parable of the Mustard Seed in Matthew 13: Verse 31-32: He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” (This parable is also found in Mark 4:30-34 and Luke 13:18-19.) First of all, have you ever seen a mustard seed? They are tiny, as tiny as a speck of dust or lint. I read on the Home Guides website that when planted in cool, moist soil they germinate quickly and reach maturity in anywhere from 80-95 days depending on the type of mustard seed. And Jesus compares His Kingdom to a mustard seed. The website Hunker.com provide even more insight: “Mustard seeds like growing in cool weather. However, if they are grown in hot weather, the leaves will become tough and spicy, which is a treat in certain culinary dishes. Mustard plants like getting lots of sun and water, so plant them in a clear, sunny area and water them during dry periods. A weeded garden bed will minimize the mustard's competition for water with other plants.” They grow best in cooler environment (above 40 degrees) and if grown in hotter weather become tougher or spicier (they carry more flavor). They need lots of sun (LIGHT) and Water. So how does this apply to us? When we place our faith in Christ by believing in Him we aren’t just getting salvation - we are getting Him living inside of us. And that seed of faith, picture it the size of a mustard seed, will grow and thrive the more we expose our hearts to the Light of the world (Jesus, the Word of God) and Living Water (The Holy Spirit). As our mustard seed faith grows, it makes a place of shade and rest for others who need a respite from the harsh realities of the world we live in and the enemy’s assaults. I believe the Mustard Seed parable shows us how the Kingdom of God is supposed to affect our lives and how we then become Kingdom Influencers in the world around us. A bird does not make its nest in a tree because the tree calls it out, but rather because the fullness of limbs and leaves provides the necessary cover and protection that is required for baby birds to be born and nest within the branches. So it is with us, the more the Kingdom comes alive in us through growth and maturity in both the Word of God and The Holy Spirit’s Power - the more appealing we become to others because we look like Jesus. Now let’s read from Luke 17:6 & Matthew 17:14-20: Luke 17:6: Jesus responded, “If you have even the smallest measure of authentic faith, it would be powerful enough to say to this large tree, (in some translations, a Mulberry Tree) ‘My faith will pull you up by the roots and throw you into the sea,’ and it will respond to your faith and obey you.” Have you ever tried to uproot a large tree? No… Well, let me tell you. We have a large tree that grows in our back yard every year blocking the view of the lake behind our house. My husband cuts down this tree to a stump every year, but with the roots still in the ground, the stump resprouts and grows up again and again. If the trunk grows very large it will require a tractor to pull the stump out by i’s roots. This is like sin that has taken root in our lives. Whether that sin stems from your own willful choices or learned patterns of behavior that has been handed down from generation to generation in your family - the result is still the same. Until the roots are dealt with - the tree of sin will continually grow back. So what does it take to uproot that sinful tree? A mustard seed of faith - that’s it. A Mustard Seed sized faith can speak to the roots of sin and life patterns that have been blocking your growth and sucking the life out of you for years and tell it to be removed from your life. In other words, someone who is new in the faith, whose seed is just about to take root and grow can do powerful things if we just remember that mustard seed of our faith is Jesus Christ. Our passage in Matthew 17:14-20 is a bit longer than the passage in Luke, but let’s take a look as we close out today’s show: Verse 14-16: They came to where a large crowd had gathered to wait for Jesus. A man came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, please show your tender mercy toward my son. He has a demon who afflicts him. He has epilepsy, and he suffers horribly from seizures. He often falls into the cooking fire or into the river. I brought him to your followers, but they weren’t able to heal him.” The situation is that a man has brought his son to the disciples because his son was afflicted by a demon that caused epileptic seizures. He had fallen into the fires and the river before - which meant his life was severely threatened by this affliction. But, Jesus’ followers who had reported back that they had been healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead after he had sent them out could not bring healing to this boy. Jesus’ response is telling… Verse 17-18: Jesus replied, “Where is your faith? Can’t you see how wayward and wrong this generation is? How much longer do I stay with you and put up with your doubts? Bring your son to me.” Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him and the boy was instantly healed! I don’t know about you, but it seems Jesus is concerned that His disciples have no faith and have lost their way with Him. Jesus attributes the inability to cast this demon out by His disciples to doubt. Did you know you can be saved, and still lack faith and power in your life experiences because of doubt? Have you ever prayed for something and then doubted whether or not it would happen? For me that season came when my oldest son was struggling with choices, consequences and we were just trying to hold our family together. The police would call us to pick him up or we would call them to the house for his out of control behavior. I remember the doubts that rose up, Maybe my son is the one child God cannot pull out of the fire. What am I doing wrong? Am I praying the wrong things? I understand what you do when you raise Isaac, but it seems I’m raising Ishmael. One day on the way home from a funeral for a childhood friend, I felt in my heart God said, You need to prepare your heart to lose your son. An odd peace settled over me, I didn’t know what it meant, but I knew God was preparing me for something I could not yet see. Turns out it would be my worst confessed fear: the death of my oldest child. A few months later the accident came, it’s been more than 14 years since I got the call to get to the hospital as soon as I could because my son had been in a car accident with his friends. That day as I rode to the hospital I wrestled with my one confessed fear and what I believed about God to be true. As I prayed I said to God, “Lord, if this is what you’ve been preparing me for all these months then you better be everything you’ve promised me you’d be. Your word says you are my strength, well, you better be because right now I’ve got none. Your word says you are my peace, well, you better be because right now I’ve got none.” And as I prayed I saw the puffy white clouds dotting a perfectly cerulean afternoon sky and I confessed, “If you can hold this world in orbit around the sun, and those clouds up there in the sky then I know you can take care of my son.” Before that day I had studied the story of Hagar and Ishmael in the desert after Abraham had sent them out of the camp - where Hagar carried her nearly grown son through the desert after he fainted from a lack of nourishment (their food and water had run out) and she laid him under a bush there in the desert to die. She walked about a bow-shot’s distance away and sat down waiting for him to pass as she could not bear to watch him die. That afternoon as we sat in the waiting room of the hospital my pastor asked me how I was doing. I had a Bible in my lap, turned to that familiar story in the book of Genesis and said, “I just keep thinking about Hagar and Ishmael in the desert. If God took care of Ishmael, He’ll take care of Justin, too.” God did take care of my son, and eight days later he delivered him safely into the arms of Jesus who carried him home to Heaven’s safe keeping. I would later receive the Scripture from Isaiah that says, “The Lord takes the righteous early to spare them an evil that is yet to come.” I believe God knew a fate worse than death was coming for my son in those days of his coming into adulthood and in His mercy, God took Justin home to spare him that worse fate - indeed to spare us all. I’ve come to realize God answered my prayers for mercy for my son, and indeed He gave me peace that passes all understanding. The very things I asked for as I prayed by my son’s body while he lay in a coma those long perilous days in the hospital. It wasn’t easy to hold onto my faith in those moments of utter despair as my son lay dying and after He passed, but God delivered me from all my fears and He held me close as I walked out the painful reality of our lives in those difficult days. Verse 28-29: Later the disciples came to him privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we cast out the demon?” He told them, “It was because of your lack of faith. I promise you, if you have faith inside of you no bigger than the size of a small mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move away from here and go over there,’ and you will see it move! There is nothing you couldn’t do!” As I have read the passage over and over again, and recounted my own experience of not receiving a miracle healing in my son’s life and I realized that though I lost that battle - I still pray vigorously for injury and illness to be healed and I’ve seen much healing. My faith in God is strong, though the enemy did his very best to steal my faith in those early days of walking out my grief. A mustard seed is all the faith it takes to turn tragedy into triumph and see the impossible become probable - if only we will believe. What mountains in your life do you need to speak to with a mustard seed of faith today? Closing Remarks Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. Join Us Through Facebook Live for Bible Study on Saturday at 10am (CT)! We will be reading Luke 9 this week and digging into the life of Christ Verse-By-Verse considering what we would believe if reading the Scriptures was the primary way we inform our faith! You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. Once again, I’d like to remind you that I will be speaking at a women’s conference (R.E.A.L. Women Conference) at (The Ranch Cowboy Country Church South) in Edna, TX. Registration is available for $40 through January 10th, and will be $45 after the 10th through the day before the conference. Tickets at the door will be $60. This one day conference is February 22 this year and includes a continental style breakfast, full lunch and dinner provided. I’d love to see some familiar faces attending. If you’d like to register please email or DM at the email listed above or through our FB page for details or visit theranchsouth.org for more information! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on both Apple and on Google Podcasts - take a moment to Subscribe today! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs weekly on Tuesdays. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page.

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 156: Faith & Power - The Hope of GloryColossians 1:27 TPT

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2020

This week Michelle continues her new series called Faith & Power: Understanding the Power of Who Christ Is In You reading Colossians 1:15-29 from The Passion Translation. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Last week we began a new series called “Faith & Power: Discovering the Power of Who Christ is in You!” Our reading last week came from Ephesians 1:17-23 as we talked about the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. Today, our reading will be in Colossians 1:15-29 from The Passion Translation. So, Grab your Bible and get ready to dig into today’s reading as we continue to consider the power of who Christ is in us! Review As you do let’s just review a few take-aways from last week’s reading: Deepening our intimacy with God is a key to experiencing His Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation Ministry happens in the culture of relationships. Impartation happens in the culture of intimacy. God wants to light up your imagination and use it for His glory! Another key comes from understanding who Christ is in you. Discovering who Christ is unlocks revelation and wisdom insight into who we are… Then, we need only find the way He wants to express Himself through us to fully realize His purpose in our life. And this comes through intimacy. The same power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead, is in and works through us. Faith activates the gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit in our life, empowering us to live as Christ commanded us to live. This Week’s Reading Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You today through the Scriptures. Impart Your truth to our hearts, minds, souls and bodies - we ask for Holy Spirit wisdom and revelation to illuminate our eyes with your light so we may see as You see, heighten our sense of hearing so that we may know and obey Your voice, empower our minds with your understanding, and rend our hearts as we come to know Your heart in intimacy and truth. I thank you that though Christ in us is a mystery that you are continually unfolding - it is that very thing - He in Us that is the Hope of Glory. Remind us of these truths as we read today and make them real for us! I ask these things in Jesus’ Precious Name, AMEN. The title for this episode is “The Hope of Glory.” It comes from Colossians 1:27 in the New King James Version: “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” We’re looking for what it means that Christ in us is the Hope of Glory in a lost and dying world, and how that leads us to His Faith and Power. So let’s begin: Verse 15-17: He is the divine portrait, the true likeness of the invisible God, and the first-born heir of all creation. For through the Son everything was created, both in the heavenly realm and on the earth, all that is seen and all that is unseen. Every seat of power, realm of government, principality, and authority—it was all created through him and for his purpose! He existed before anything was made, and now everything finds completion in him. We begin with a portrait of who Christ is from Heaven’s Perspective - A Divine Portrait. A number of years ago I was reading in the Gospels where Jesus was baptized at the Jordan River by John the Baptist. When Jesus comes up out of the water, the Spirit of God descends from Heaven and comes to rest on Jesus like a dove. Then the Father’s voice comes down from Heaven declaring, “This is my beloved Son in Whom I’m well pleased.” As I read that verse and asked God to show me what He wanted to see about it I felt in my heart He said, “If it’s true about Jesus, it’s true about you.” And by extension, every believer who is in Christ. Have you ever thought about that? That when God looks upon you as His child, He sees you through the veil of His Beloved Son. You see, apart from Christ there is no righteousness. We cannot be righteous without Him. As a matter of fact, the only righteousness we can ever possess is His righteousness imparted to us through our relationship by faith in Him. Jesus often said, when you see Him you have seen the Father. He is the divine portrait and the true likeness of the invisible God - the firstborn and heir of all creation. We are His inheritance - Paul emphasizes this over and over again in His epistles. Here we also see that God’s act in creation was executed by the Son - both in the heavens and on the earth - everything we can see and what cannot be seen!!! This is beyond our ability to fathom really. Just as we cannot look beyond the stars in our own sky without a powerful telescope - and to think that the vast reach of God’s Kingdom and the heavens extend well beyond what we know as the universe. And in this God created every seat of power, realm of government, principality and authority through Christ - He is in charge of it all. He has authority over it all. He existed before anything else was created and everything that has ever been created finds its completion in Him. That is who CHRIST is. He is the Son. The creative power and authority of the Son of God lives inside of you. Do you get that? So if that power lives inside you --- what does that mean? I’m a visual artist, and I’m passionate about connecting people to God’s heart through Creative Expression. As I’ve grown through the arts, I’ve come to understand that God empowers my mind to think creatively -- and when I am empowered to think creatively I have faith to act creatively. I’ve taken sparing little art instruction in my lifetime, but as I’ve grown in trusting God through the process of creating - I’ve discovered I can do things that both intimidate and challenge me. Right now I am using professional grade watercolors and brushes to paint a portrait of my granddog, Cooper. It wasn’t very long ago that I said I didn’t paint with watercolors because I didn’t know how to use them, and refused to paint anything that might look like a real person for the fear I would fail at it miserably and remarkably… My painting of Cooper looks like Cooper. It’s amazing to me everytime I put a brush to canvas that God shows up and guides my hand to reveal through me a skill greater than I could ever learn on my own. What is it that you dream to do but feel powerless to accomplish? All of the power that you need to accomplish those ideas, dreams and passions in your life rests with Christ. The only thing you need to understand is His purpose in your passion. And that often comes through executing - taking steps of faith and watching Him work wonders through them. Verse 18-20: He is the Head of his body, which is the church. And since he is the beginning and the firstborn heir in resurrection, he is the most exalted One, holding first place in everything. For God is satisfied to have all his fullness dwelling in Christ. And by the blood of his cross, everything in heaven and earth is brought back to himself—back to its original intent, restored to innocence again! Jesus has first place in everything! Have you ever wanted to come in first? Well, in Christ - you are first with Him. We are co-heirs. And yet, He is still the most exalted one - the Head of us who are His body. The fullness of God dwells in Christ and Christ dwells in you - that means that the fullness of who God is resides in YOU! It is through Christ’s work on the cross, the shedding of His blood to make atonement for all the sins of the world, (that’s past, present and future), God, Himself, has already restored everything in heaven and on earth back to Himself, back to original design and intention -- meaning what was lost in the garden when Adam and Eve sinned and fell short of God’s glory -- through Christ has been restored. This means in Him, part of our responsibility is to exercise His power and authority by faith to bring that restoration into our reality, think: “On Earth as it already is in Heaven.” Restoring us back to our original design, purpose and back to innocent purity once again! For someone within the sound of my voice today this is good news. YOU CAN BE MADE PURE AND WHOLE THROUGH THE POWER OF CHRIST IN YOU. Verse 21-23: Even though you were once distant from him, living in the shadows of your evil thoughts and actions, he reconnected you back to himself. He released his supernatural peace to you through the sacrifice of his own body as the sin-payment on your behalf so that you would dwell in his presence. And now there is nothing between you and Father God, for he sees you as holy, flawless, and restored, if indeed you continue to advance in faith, assured of a firm foundation to grow upon. Never be shaken from the hope of the gospel you have believed in. And this is the glorious news I preach all over the world. THERE IT IS AGAIN… Christ is the one who reconnected us to Himself. Jesus said that no one can come to Him except the Holy Spirit draws them to Him. Even your ability and capacity to believe and have faith in God comes from God Himself. And as we receive this faith from God, the peace of Christ comes to us as His payment for sin is credited to us that we may live in His presence, experience His glory and know His power. The scripture tells us that nothing stands between us and Father God - He now sees us as holy, flawless and restored, that is the foundation of our faith - that the work of God in us was finished at the cross and the power that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us so that we may continually act, live and do what He has purposed us to do according to Him will. This is powerful truth, my friends. s The key is to continue to advance (or mature) in the faith. You see our hope of the Gospel that we have believed is not just about salvation - it is about being made complete or whole in Christ. That in our lives, as we mature in His word and His works that we would come to look and act more like Him so the world would see Him through us. If that does not make you want to jump up and down --- I don’t know what would! This is the point of it all. Everything in life leads us to this moment. Living as Christ in us and expressing Him to the world around us. And still, much of it is a MYSTERY… Being unveiled day by day, hour by hour as we pursue Him in intimacy and truth. Verse 24-25: I can even celebrate the sorrows I have experienced on your behalf; for as I join with you in your difficulties, it helps you to discover what lacks in your understanding of the sufferings Jesus Christ experienced for his body, the church. This is the very reason I’ve been made a minister by the authority of God and a servant to his body, so that in his detailed plan I would fully equip you with the Word of God. Suffering for God’s glory is a real thing. Paul eludes to it here as he writes about the suffering of the believers in the Colossian Church. He said that when we struggle in our suffering we lack understanding of the sufferings Christ experienced for us. You see to live as Christ is to take on His sufferings. I don’t know about you, but there was a time in my life when my suffering drove me from God and made me question His goodness. You see, in my immature understanding I did not know God well and did not understand that suffering comes to us in this life for many reasons: as a consequence to sins I commit or because of the sins of another that affect me, the enemy’s desire to steal, kill and destroy to keep me from realizing God’s goodness and glory in my life and because the earth has not fully been redeemed from the curse that human sin has brought to it. Yet, the very One for Whom nothing is impossible - Jesus, Himself - was not spared suffering, but willingly took it for our sakes. How could we not endure suffering as the Old Testament believer Job did in saying, “Shall we only accept good from God and not evil.” He would not curse God in His suffering. I think God can handle our questions, doubts and even our anger at Him over things that happen in our lives we struggle to make sense of along the way. I think He wants to speak to us and heal us. It is in the overcoming that we see His glory. As we experience despair by choose joy instead, or perhaps fear paralyzes us but we choose love instead… That our lives feel completely out of control and yet, we choose self-discipliine instead. This is the work of Christ in us through the Holy Spirit. To be in the midst of great struggle and turmoil and experience peace that passes understanding is truly a mark of Christ on our lives. Let’s live this way my friends, pursuing the best of God in the worst of what life has to offer us. Being marked by His glory, His power and His promise so that when others see our suffering it makes them hungry to know Him, too. On of my favorite teachers, Bill Johnson, often says that it is only on earth that we have the honor of offering God a sacrifice of praise. That in the deepest sorrows of our lives, when the questions come, the power to praise God in the midst of such pain is a fragrant offering to the Lord most high. And, before we move on, I want to highlight this portion from verse 25: This is the very reason I’ve been made a minister by the authority of God and a servant to his body, so that in his detailed plan I would fully equip you with the Word of God. This is the heart of my ministry through Blooming Inspired Network!! To equip and empower women to walk in their role and reign in God’s Kingdom. That women around the world would realize the detailed plan of God’s purpose in their lives and live fully from who Christ is in you. This is why I live and breath - to help you move out into the world taking the ground you walk on for the Kingdom of God wherever you may serve Him. It is a daunting task and I need many prayers and women to both walk alongside me and to partake from the ministry and service Christ has entrusted to me. I’m grateful for each person who has come along to this point and I pray that if God commends you that you would reach out to us and let us know how we may serve you in this calling we have to women in His Kingdom. Verse 26-27: There is a divine mystery—a secret surprise that has been concealed from the world for generations, but now it’s being revealed, unfolded and manifested for every holy believer to experience. Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it! There is a divine mystery!!! Paul writes, that in his time that a secret, a surprise, has been concealed for many centuries but through Christ is now being revealed, unfolded and manifested for every holy believer to experience. Did you know your relationship with God is not just something you read about, but it is a mystery that is revealed through experience. We are supposed to know Him through the Scriptures and experience Him through His presence. Practical manifestations of His glory revealed to us and through us in our everyday lives. We are all supposed to experience the unveiling ministry that manifests through His presence. So let me ask you, When was the last time you experienced the presence of God in a powerful and revelatory way? Let’s press into this truth, my friends. Let’s live this way - on that edge with Jesus, looking for His power and presence to reveal mysteries and wonders to us and through us every single day of our lives. And as we do, the Christ who is living (active) within us floods us with the expectation of His glory!!! And this mystery that is embedded within us - a part of who we are - becomes a trove of treasured hope - a hope-filled glory rich for God’s people, and He wants everyone to know! Let’s make Him known as the hope of glory that lives within us for the rest of our lives. Let’s live like this every day. Oh the glory of it all… That He would choose to live through us and express Himself through us - what a wonderful mystery and revelation all at the same time! I’m so overwhelmed by the goodness of God in this moment, my heart is bowing low before Him, it is a moment when I need to be on my knees rather than speaking these words… so that all I can say in humility and pure devotion is, “Here I am Lord, Send Me.” And now I will close with Paul’s parting words in this passage: Verse 28-29: Christ is our message! We preach to awaken hearts and bring every person into the full understanding of truth. It has become my inspiration and passion in ministry to labor with a tireless intensity, with his power flowing through me, to present to every believer the revelation of being his perfect one in Jesus Christ. Closing Remarks Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. Join Us Through Facebook Live for Bible Study on Saturday at 10am (CT)! We will be reading Luke 9 this week and digging into the life of Christ Verse-By-Verse considering what we would believe if reading the Scriptures was the primary way we inform our faith! You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. Once again, I’d like to remind you that I will be speaking at a women’s conference (R.E.A.L. Women Conference) at (The Ranch Cowboy Country Church South) in Edna, TX. Registration is available for $40 through January 10th, and will be $45 after the 10th through the day before the conference. Tickets at the door will be $60. This one day conference is February 22 this year and includes a continental style breakfast, full lunch and dinner provided. I’d love to see some familiar faces attending. If you’d like to register please email or DM at the email listed above or through our FB page for details or visit theranchsouth.org for more information! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on both Apple and on Google Podcasts - take a moment to Subscribe today! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs weekly on Tuesdays. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page.

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 156: Faith & Power - The Hope of GloryColossians 1:27 TPT

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2020

This week Michelle continues her new series called Faith & Power: Understanding the Power of Who Christ Is In You reading Colossians 1:15-29 from The Passion Translation. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Last week we began a new series called “Faith & Power: Discovering the Power of Who Christ is in You!” Our reading last week came from Ephesians 1:17-23 as we talked about the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. Today, our reading will be in Colossians 1:15-29 from The Passion Translation. So, Grab your Bible and get ready to dig into today’s reading as we continue to consider the power of who Christ is in us! Review As you do let’s just review a few take-aways from last week’s reading: Deepening our intimacy with God is a key to experiencing His Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation Ministry happens in the culture of relationships. Impartation happens in the culture of intimacy. God wants to light up your imagination and use it for His glory! Another key comes from understanding who Christ is in you. Discovering who Christ is unlocks revelation and wisdom insight into who we are… Then, we need only find the way He wants to express Himself through us to fully realize His purpose in our life. And this comes through intimacy. The same power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead, is in and works through us. Faith activates the gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit in our life, empowering us to live as Christ commanded us to live. This Week’s Reading Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You today through the Scriptures. Impart Your truth to our hearts, minds, souls and bodies - we ask for Holy Spirit wisdom and revelation to illuminate our eyes with your light so we may see as You see, heighten our sense of hearing so that we may know and obey Your voice, empower our minds with your understanding, and rend our hearts as we come to know Your heart in intimacy and truth. I thank you that though Christ in us is a mystery that you are continually unfolding - it is that very thing - He in Us that is the Hope of Glory. Remind us of these truths as we read today and make them real for us! I ask these things in Jesus’ Precious Name, AMEN. The title for this episode is “The Hope of Glory.” It comes from Colossians 1:27 in the New King James Version: “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” We’re looking for what it means that Christ in us is the Hope of Glory in a lost and dying world, and how that leads us to His Faith and Power. So let’s begin: Verse 15-17: He is the divine portrait, the true likeness of the invisible God, and the first-born heir of all creation. For through the Son everything was created, both in the heavenly realm and on the earth, all that is seen and all that is unseen. Every seat of power, realm of government, principality, and authority—it was all created through him and for his purpose! He existed before anything was made, and now everything finds completion in him. We begin with a portrait of who Christ is from Heaven’s Perspective - A Divine Portrait. A number of years ago I was reading in the Gospels where Jesus was baptized at the Jordan River by John the Baptist. When Jesus comes up out of the water, the Spirit of God descends from Heaven and comes to rest on Jesus like a dove. Then the Father’s voice comes down from Heaven declaring, “This is my beloved Son in Whom I’m well pleased.” As I read that verse and asked God to show me what He wanted to see about it I felt in my heart He said, “If it’s true about Jesus, it’s true about you.” And by extension, every believer who is in Christ. Have you ever thought about that? That when God looks upon you as His child, He sees you through the veil of His Beloved Son. You see, apart from Christ there is no righteousness. We cannot be righteous without Him. As a matter of fact, the only righteousness we can ever possess is His righteousness imparted to us through our relationship by faith in Him. Jesus often said, when you see Him you have seen the Father. He is the divine portrait and the true likeness of the invisible God - the firstborn and heir of all creation. We are His inheritance - Paul emphasizes this over and over again in His epistles. Here we also see that God’s act in creation was executed by the Son - both in the heavens and on the earth - everything we can see and what cannot be seen!!! This is beyond our ability to fathom really. Just as we cannot look beyond the stars in our own sky without a powerful telescope - and to think that the vast reach of God’s Kingdom and the heavens extend well beyond what we know as the universe. And in this God created every seat of power, realm of government, principality and authority through Christ - He is in charge of it all. He has authority over it all. He existed before anything else was created and everything that has ever been created finds its completion in Him. That is who CHRIST is. He is the Son. The creative power and authority of the Son of God lives inside of you. Do you get that? So if that power lives inside you --- what does that mean? I’m a visual artist, and I’m passionate about connecting people to God’s heart through Creative Expression. As I’ve grown through the arts, I’ve come to understand that God empowers my mind to think creatively -- and when I am empowered to think creatively I have faith to act creatively. I’ve taken sparing little art instruction in my lifetime, but as I’ve grown in trusting God through the process of creating - I’ve discovered I can do things that both intimidate and challenge me. Right now I am using professional grade watercolors and brushes to paint a portrait of my granddog, Cooper. It wasn’t very long ago that I said I didn’t paint with watercolors because I didn’t know how to use them, and refused to paint anything that might look like a real person for the fear I would fail at it miserably and remarkably… My painting of Cooper looks like Cooper. It’s amazing to me everytime I put a brush to canvas that God shows up and guides my hand to reveal through me a skill greater than I could ever learn on my own. What is it that you dream to do but feel powerless to accomplish? All of the power that you need to accomplish those ideas, dreams and passions in your life rests with Christ. The only thing you need to understand is His purpose in your passion. And that often comes through executing - taking steps of faith and watching Him work wonders through them. Verse 18-20: He is the Head of his body, which is the church. And since he is the beginning and the firstborn heir in resurrection, he is the most exalted One, holding first place in everything. For God is satisfied to have all his fullness dwelling in Christ. And by the blood of his cross, everything in heaven and earth is brought back to himself—back to its original intent, restored to innocence again! Jesus has first place in everything! Have you ever wanted to come in first? Well, in Christ - you are first with Him. We are co-heirs. And yet, He is still the most exalted one - the Head of us who are His body. The fullness of God dwells in Christ and Christ dwells in you - that means that the fullness of who God is resides in YOU! It is through Christ’s work on the cross, the shedding of His blood to make atonement for all the sins of the world, (that’s past, present and future), God, Himself, has already restored everything in heaven and on earth back to Himself, back to original design and intention -- meaning what was lost in the garden when Adam and Eve sinned and fell short of God’s glory -- through Christ has been restored. This means in Him, part of our responsibility is to exercise His power and authority by faith to bring that restoration into our reality, think: “On Earth as it already is in Heaven.” Restoring us back to our original design, purpose and back to innocent purity once again! For someone within the sound of my voice today this is good news. YOU CAN BE MADE PURE AND WHOLE THROUGH THE POWER OF CHRIST IN YOU. Verse 21-23: Even though you were once distant from him, living in the shadows of your evil thoughts and actions, he reconnected you back to himself. He released his supernatural peace to you through the sacrifice of his own body as the sin-payment on your behalf so that you would dwell in his presence. And now there is nothing between you and Father God, for he sees you as holy, flawless, and restored, if indeed you continue to advance in faith, assured of a firm foundation to grow upon. Never be shaken from the hope of the gospel you have believed in. And this is the glorious news I preach all over the world. THERE IT IS AGAIN… Christ is the one who reconnected us to Himself. Jesus said that no one can come to Him except the Holy Spirit draws them to Him. Even your ability and capacity to believe and have faith in God comes from God Himself. And as we receive this faith from God, the peace of Christ comes to us as His payment for sin is credited to us that we may live in His presence, experience His glory and know His power. The scripture tells us that nothing stands between us and Father God - He now sees us as holy, flawless and restored, that is the foundation of our faith - that the work of God in us was finished at the cross and the power that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us so that we may continually act, live and do what He has purposed us to do according to Him will. This is powerful truth, my friends. s The key is to continue to advance (or mature) in the faith. You see our hope of the Gospel that we have believed is not just about salvation - it is about being made complete or whole in Christ. That in our lives, as we mature in His word and His works that we would come to look and act more like Him so the world would see Him through us. If that does not make you want to jump up and down --- I don’t know what would! This is the point of it all. Everything in life leads us to this moment. Living as Christ in us and expressing Him to the world around us. And still, much of it is a MYSTERY… Being unveiled day by day, hour by hour as we pursue Him in intimacy and truth. Verse 24-25: I can even celebrate the sorrows I have experienced on your behalf; for as I join with you in your difficulties, it helps you to discover what lacks in your understanding of the sufferings Jesus Christ experienced for his body, the church. This is the very reason I’ve been made a minister by the authority of God and a servant to his body, so that in his detailed plan I would fully equip you with the Word of God. Suffering for God’s glory is a real thing. Paul eludes to it here as he writes about the suffering of the believers in the Colossian Church. He said that when we struggle in our suffering we lack understanding of the sufferings Christ experienced for us. You see to live as Christ is to take on His sufferings. I don’t know about you, but there was a time in my life when my suffering drove me from God and made me question His goodness. You see, in my immature understanding I did not know God well and did not understand that suffering comes to us in this life for many reasons: as a consequence to sins I commit or because of the sins of another that affect me, the enemy’s desire to steal, kill and destroy to keep me from realizing God’s goodness and glory in my life and because the earth has not fully been redeemed from the curse that human sin has brought to it. Yet, the very One for Whom nothing is impossible - Jesus, Himself - was not spared suffering, but willingly took it for our sakes. How could we not endure suffering as the Old Testament believer Job did in saying, “Shall we only accept good from God and not evil.” He would not curse God in His suffering. I think God can handle our questions, doubts and even our anger at Him over things that happen in our lives we struggle to make sense of along the way. I think He wants to speak to us and heal us. It is in the overcoming that we see His glory. As we experience despair by choose joy instead, or perhaps fear paralyzes us but we choose love instead… That our lives feel completely out of control and yet, we choose self-discipliine instead. This is the work of Christ in us through the Holy Spirit. To be in the midst of great struggle and turmoil and experience peace that passes understanding is truly a mark of Christ on our lives. Let’s live this way my friends, pursuing the best of God in the worst of what life has to offer us. Being marked by His glory, His power and His promise so that when others see our suffering it makes them hungry to know Him, too. On of my favorite teachers, Bill Johnson, often says that it is only on earth that we have the honor of offering God a sacrifice of praise. That in the deepest sorrows of our lives, when the questions come, the power to praise God in the midst of such pain is a fragrant offering to the Lord most high. And, before we move on, I want to highlight this portion from verse 25: This is the very reason I’ve been made a minister by the authority of God and a servant to his body, so that in his detailed plan I would fully equip you with the Word of God. This is the heart of my ministry through Blooming Inspired Network!! To equip and empower women to walk in their role and reign in God’s Kingdom. That women around the world would realize the detailed plan of God’s purpose in their lives and live fully from who Christ is in you. This is why I live and breath - to help you move out into the world taking the ground you walk on for the Kingdom of God wherever you may serve Him. It is a daunting task and I need many prayers and women to both walk alongside me and to partake from the ministry and service Christ has entrusted to me. I’m grateful for each person who has come along to this point and I pray that if God commends you that you would reach out to us and let us know how we may serve you in this calling we have to women in His Kingdom. Verse 26-27: There is a divine mystery—a secret surprise that has been concealed from the world for generations, but now it’s being revealed, unfolded and manifested for every holy believer to experience. Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it! There is a divine mystery!!! Paul writes, that in his time that a secret, a surprise, has been concealed for many centuries but through Christ is now being revealed, unfolded and manifested for every holy believer to experience. Did you know your relationship with God is not just something you read about, but it is a mystery that is revealed through experience. We are supposed to know Him through the Scriptures and experience Him through His presence. Practical manifestations of His glory revealed to us and through us in our everyday lives. We are all supposed to experience the unveiling ministry that manifests through His presence. So let me ask you, When was the last time you experienced the presence of God in a powerful and revelatory way? Let’s press into this truth, my friends. Let’s live this way - on that edge with Jesus, looking for His power and presence to reveal mysteries and wonders to us and through us every single day of our lives. And as we do, the Christ who is living (active) within us floods us with the expectation of His glory!!! And this mystery that is embedded within us - a part of who we are - becomes a trove of treasured hope - a hope-filled glory rich for God’s people, and He wants everyone to know! Let’s make Him known as the hope of glory that lives within us for the rest of our lives. Let’s live like this every day. Oh the glory of it all… That He would choose to live through us and express Himself through us - what a wonderful mystery and revelation all at the same time! I’m so overwhelmed by the goodness of God in this moment, my heart is bowing low before Him, it is a moment when I need to be on my knees rather than speaking these words… so that all I can say in humility and pure devotion is, “Here I am Lord, Send Me.” And now I will close with Paul’s parting words in this passage: Verse 28-29: Christ is our message! We preach to awaken hearts and bring every person into the full understanding of truth. It has become my inspiration and passion in ministry to labor with a tireless intensity, with his power flowing through me, to present to every believer the revelation of being his perfect one in Jesus Christ. Closing Remarks Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. Join Us Through Facebook Live for Bible Study on Saturday at 10am (CT)! We will be reading Luke 9 this week and digging into the life of Christ Verse-By-Verse considering what we would believe if reading the Scriptures was the primary way we inform our faith! You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. Once again, I’d like to remind you that I will be speaking at a women’s conference (R.E.A.L. Women Conference) at (The Ranch Cowboy Country Church South) in Edna, TX. Registration is available for $40 through January 10th, and will be $45 after the 10th through the day before the conference. Tickets at the door will be $60. This one day conference is February 22 this year and includes a continental style breakfast, full lunch and dinner provided. I’d love to see some familiar faces attending. If you’d like to register please email or DM at the email listed above or through our FB page for details or visit theranchsouth.org for more information! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on both Apple and on Google Podcasts - take a moment to Subscribe today! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs weekly on Tuesdays. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page.

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 155: The Same Power - Ephesians 1:17-23 (Faith & Power Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2020

A week into 2020 Michelle opens up this new season of podcasting with a new series called Faith & Power: Understanding the Power of Who Christ Is In You. She begins the series reading Ephesians 1:17-23 from The Passion Translation. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. We are a week deep into 2020 - Can You Believe It? A Brand New Decade! I’ve been sitting with the Lord the last few months, resting and listening. Quieting my heart to hear His truth and His word as I walk out God’s plan and purpose in my life for 2020. I’ll share a bit about this in a future episode, but the short version is God gave me several passages of Scripture from Habakkuk 2:1-3 (NLT), Amos 9:13-15 (MSG), and Isaiah 14:24, 7-8, 4 (tpt). Through these passages He revealed to me that most of my year is beyond “The Finish Line” and that as I walk with the Father - my vision will increase, as I walk with the Son - my victory will increase, and as I walk with the Holy Spirit that velocity will be added to my life. I’m in an entirely new season, seeking intimacy with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit like never before and seeking to run the uncharted path of my race with vision, velocity and victory as I move out of the old season and into the new. How about you? What is your word for 2020? Leave it in the comments or email or send it by direct message to me: for email send to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com or on Facebook DM @BloomingInspired. Everyone who sends in their word will get a photo print of my Word of the Year as a free gift for engaging with the podcast. This week we are beginning a new series called “Faith & Power: Discovering the Power of Who Christ is in You!” Our reading today will be from the book of Ephesians 1 in The Passion Translation. Grab your Bible, your favorite winter beverage and get comfy as we dig into this new study for our new year. This Week’s Reading Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You, Your Son and the Holy Spirit this morning as we read Your words of life together. Impart the truth of who You are to our hearts, minds, souls and bodies today - we ask for Holy Spirit revelation to open our eyes to the way You see, open our ears to hear Your majestic voice, and open our hearts to know Your heart in intimacy and truth. I thank you that when we believe in Christ, we are hidden in Him and His blessings, and that same power that raised Him from the dead now lives bodily in us and we have access to it by Faith. Remind us of these truths as we read today and make them real for us! I ask these things in Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN. The title for this episode is “The Same Power.” We’re looking for what it means that the same power that raised Jesus from the Dead now lives bodily in us. So let’s begin: Verse 17: I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation to know him through your deepening intimacy with him. Paul has just commended the believers at Ephesus for their love and devotion as well as their strong faith in God. Then He prays for them - as we reread those words, what do you hear God saying to you? I pray that the Father… would impart to you the RICHES of the SPIRIT OF WISDOM and the SPIRIT OF REVELATION to KNOW HIM through your DEEPENING INTIMACY WITH HIM. Last night I was painting bookmarks I will send off to Edna,TX this weekend for the gift bags that will be given to women attending a conference where I’ll be speaking on February 22nd. I am a bit overwhelmed painting bookmarks for 100 women, but I’m also deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve in this way. I love creating gifts for people that spark a desire in their heart to know God more. I went to bed very late and as I laid my head on the pillow I had these sentences running through my mind: “Ministry happens in the culture of relationship. Impartation happens in the culture of intimacy.” My question becomes if Wisdom and Revelation is imparted by Spirit that comes from knowing Him in intimacy - what cultivates intimacy in your life? For me, it’s worship… Hands down. Not just singing songs to God, but focusing my heart on His presence and His goodness. Engaging my heart with what I see the Father doing and hear Him saying. Prayer and Intercession birthed out of the deep ache of my soul drives my heart in longing toward God in intimacy. I want to lean back against His chest and feel His heart beating - then I want my heart to find that rhythm in my own life. I want to be attentive to what He is doing every moment of every day not just in the ministry moments. What I’m realizing is I can know God in a relationship with Jesus Christ and never fully engage or incline my heart toward Him. I can do ministry for God, serve the people of God and never fully know the heart of God because I do not engage His heart in intimacy. Intimacy is a key to experiencing the Wisdom and Revelation that comes only by the Holy Spirit. For many years I read the Bible seeking to understand the words of Scripture with little to know understanding, but then as I learned to listen and hear from God as I read. The more I inclined my heart to deeply know Him, the more He revealed Himself to me through both Scripture and Experience. Encountering the Presence of God - Holy Spirit - will change my heart, my mind and my life. So let me ask you… How engaged is your heart with the presence of God? Moses, David and the disciples and apostles knew God in this way. What would happen if we inclined our heart to know God deeply through intimacy and presence? Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Verse 18: I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling—that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones! Paul prayed that the imagination of the believers at Ephesus would have the eyes of their imagination illuminated. Come on… If you love to dream, explore and create then this should get your heart pounding! God wants to light up your imagination and use it for His glory! Isn’t that exciting? I remember being a young girl in third grade and we had to write a story and draw a picture to match it. My momma and daddy loved the oldies music from the 50s and 60s and so we had tons of little 45 records with various songs on them. The Purple People Eater was one of my favorite songs. I wrote my story about this one-eyed, one-horned, flying Purple People Eater and drew a picture of it. My teacher told my parents at the open house that I had a “Very Vivid Imagination.” And I do… When I read fiction I picture myself as one of the characters in the story so I can understand what is happening. The same thing with Scripture - I’ve begun to read Scripture as if I were living it rather than just reading about it. My redeemed imagination has the power to tap into the Holy Spirit’s revelation and wisdom in a way my natural mind and reasoning cannot. Now, I’m not saying we throw logic and reasoning out the window - I’m just saying to truly know God in intimacy we need an integrated approach where our intuition and imagination plays an equal role as we Engage His presence, Read His Word and Encounter His Love. Faith brings us into this relationship with God, but it is all the fascinating ways He created us, and the fact that when we believe in Him by faith all of who He is comes to live inside of us. Paul also writes in this passage that when He floods us with His Light, and we experience that flooding until we are full of revelation of the Hope of His Calling… That somehow, and this is atrue mystery and a wonder, that this revelation of Hope and His calling makes us a full expression of the wealth of God’s glorious inheritance that He finds in us… We are called Saints - His Holy Ones! Christ in You - that is the key. Discovering who Christ is unlocks revelation and wisdom insight into who we are… Then, we need only find the way He wants to express Himself through us to fully realize His purpose in our life. And this comes through intimacy. Verse 19-20: I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you! This is the mighty power that was released when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted him to the place of highest honor and supreme authority in the heavenly realm! C’mon! Not only does Jesus by Holy Spirit come to live inside of us, but the same power that RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, Paul writes in Romans 6 & 8 that this same power lives in us and if it raised Jesus from the dead it will give life - more than eternal life, but abundant life here on earth as well. Matthew 10 indicates Jesus commissions His disciples to carry the same power that He carries to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons and cleanse lepers. The SAME POWER - He even says that the signs of healing, casting out demons, and handling deadly poison and snakes should not harm the disciples (poison and snakes both bring death) and in John 14 He says that those who believe in Him and did not see Him will do all the works He has done, He being Jesus, and even greater works because of their Faith in Him. At the end of Matthew, what most believers in the Western Church call “The Great Commission” tells the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus to go into all the world preaching the Gospel, baptizing believers into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and to teach them all the things He had imparted through commandment to His disciples. He imparted to His disciples authority and power by the measure of their faith over every evil thing the enemy is empowered to do in this earth. And yet, we live fearing the devil and cowering at death’s door. Faith in what you have not yet seen, but believe in empowers us to do the greater works! Works greater than the signs, wonders and miracles we see Jesus performing in the Gospels. He even told His disciples not to rejoice in the power they had to work miracles, signs and wonders among the people, but rather to rejoice that these things were evidence that their names were written in the Lamb’s book of life. Faith should bring us into revelation, wisdom, and power. Do You Understand? Verse 21: And now he is exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence! He is gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised,not only in this age, but in the age that is coming! Do we really live like we believe Jesus has been exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence? DO WE? He is now and forevermore gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised! And yet professing believers in the body of Christ believe to live is a Struggle and to Die is to Gain Everything God Promised. But, that is not what Paul said. Paul wrote so eloquently that he would count his suffering with joy, just as Christ endured the cross for the Joy Set Before Him. And Jesus counted it joy, that He would gain us, when we endure suffering and overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit - knowing that as Paul wrote, “To Live is Christ and to Die is Gain…” What if we believed it is true that to live is Christ and die is gain? What would we do with the power and authority that comes to us by faith? What kind of victory could we realize if we only believe Faith and Power belong to us in Christ? They are both brought to us by the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1 and 1 Corinthians 12) and because Jesus, by the Sealing Work of the Holy Spirit, now lives inside of us - so do this faith and power, the authority to act as He acted when He lived upon the earth. He is our archetype and model. Not, the traditions of men we are often taught by well meaning leaders in our church houses today. Verse 22: And he alone is the leader and source of everything needed in the church. God has put everything beneath the authority of Jesus Christ and has given him the highest rank above all others. How would we live differently if we truly believed that Jesus is who Paul prophesses him to be, who the disciples and apostles knew Him to be? How would we live differently if we believed that in Christ we find the lone leader and source of everything we need as His body? Jesus outranks everyone. EVERY. ONE. He alone is sufficient to meet our every need. He alone is the provision and the protection we are looking for - and He alone paid the price that we should live free, empowered and faithful to all He calls us to - especially the work of His Holy Spirit within us. Verse 23: And here’s where we’re going to wrap it up. And now we, his church, are his body on the earth and that which fills him who is being filled by it! I don’t know about you, but the way the Passion Translation transcribes this verse is a bit confusing to me, but I can read it in the NKJV and see how it says, that we as Christ’s body are continually being filled by Him, who fulfills Himself in us. IN OTHER WORDS, as Brian Simmons included in his footnote for this verse in the Passion Translation: “That is, we are those who are filled (completed) by Christ, we also complete (fill) Him. What a wonderful and humbling mystery is revealed by this verse.” What if we REALLY believed this is true!? That our identity is so wrapped up in Christ and who He is that when we fully realize who He is… We fully become who we are supposed to be. That in Him we find ourselves, and our purpose and our destiny… As we allow Him to be fully expressed through us - finite as we are - somehow we complete Him as His body reaching a lost and dying world. What a glorious thing to consider. As I close out today’s show I want to say something a bit strong - to challenge you a bit - and, I hope that is okay! I want to challenge everyone within the sound of my voice to consider this one thing… When you are singing, Waymaker at church on Sunday or are contemplating that prayer request where the outlook is not so lively, and here is what I want you to consider: Either we believe this is true or we don’t. Are we living our lives full of faith and power, believing God for the impossible and the greater works, or are we dumbing down the testimony of Scripture about faith, power and impossibilities to fit our experience and expectations or traditions from a religious perspective? Do we live like Pharisees? Questioning every sign and wonder, warning people off of the devil while dismissing the power of God and holding onto our set of rules, taboos, doctrines and superstitions about God. Do we leave no room for revelation, power or even repentance to have a perfect work at any moment of our lives? Have we studied the Scriptures searching for Him, but miss Him when He shows up in power and moves among us. Where is the bold faith that steps out and risks everything for God, seeking to see His Kingdom come and Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven? When was the last time you stopped, listened and prayed to know what the Father was saying or doing so you could partner with Him rather than try to talk Him into doing what you thought He should do? And finally… Do we live like the Apostles? Stepping out in risky, unfavorable and downright dangerous circumstances BY FAITH - seeing the impossible not only become possible, but probable as the miraculous becomes mainstream. Do we live by supernatural power imparted by the Holy Spirit or by the whims of our Human Heart? Are we satisfied with our normal religious preferences and failing to step out to take up a cross and follow Jesus with Bold Faith to see His Kingdom become our reality even now? Lord God, I pray that as these words go out penetrating the airwaves through the internet that your will would be accomplished. That they would be guided to the hearts of those who listen and bring with them the HOPE of Your Faith and Power that is waiting for us to step up, step out and step into the Kingdom of God. Saying, “Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Is not a passive wish we speak out, but a promise from Heaven, that when we ask, seek and knock that you will respond and answer, reveal and unlock what we are seeking you for… So Lord we are asking, seeking, and knocking - meet us where we are with your faith and your power and give us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation as your light illuminates our imaginations with Your Impossible Possibilities! In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! We began our The Gospels: Verse-By-Verse Bible Study in October. We will be reading in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live at 10 am (Central Time). That’s right - This season our study is found in the book of Luke. We will be reading Luke 8 this week and digging into the life of Christ Verse-By-Verse considering what we would believe if reading the Scriptures was the primary way we inform our faith! You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. As I mentioned earlier, I will be speaking at a women’s conference (R.E.A.L. Women Conference) at (The Ranch Cowboy Country Church South) in Edna, TX. Registration is available for $40 through January 10th, and will be $45 after the 10th through the day before the conference. Tickets at the door will be $60. This one day conference is February 22 this year and includes a continental style breakfast, full lunch and dinner provided. I’d love to see some familiar faces attending. If you’d like to register please email or DM at the email listed above or through our FB page for details or visit theranchsouth.org for more information! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on both Apple and on Google Podcasts - take a moment to Subscribe today! Again, I would like to ask you partner with us. We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs weekly on Tuesdays. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page.

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Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 155: The Same Power - Ephesians 1:17-23 (Faith & Power Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2020

A week into 2020 Michelle opens up this new season of podcasting with a new series called Faith & Power: Understanding the Power of Who Christ Is In You. She begins the series reading Ephesians 1:17-23 from The Passion Translation. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. We are a week deep into 2020 - Can You Believe It? A Brand New Decade! I’ve been sitting with the Lord the last few months, resting and listening. Quieting my heart to hear His truth and His word as I walk out God’s plan and purpose in my life for 2020. I’ll share a bit about this in a future episode, but the short version is God gave me several passages of Scripture from Habakkuk 2:1-3 (NLT), Amos 9:13-15 (MSG), and Isaiah 14:24, 7-8, 4 (tpt). Through these passages He revealed to me that most of my year is beyond “The Finish Line” and that as I walk with the Father - my vision will increase, as I walk with the Son - my victory will increase, and as I walk with the Holy Spirit that velocity will be added to my life. I’m in an entirely new season, seeking intimacy with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit like never before and seeking to run the uncharted path of my race with vision, velocity and victory as I move out of the old season and into the new. How about you? What is your word for 2020? Leave it in the comments or email or send it by direct message to me: for email send to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com or on Facebook DM @BloomingInspired. Everyone who sends in their word will get a photo print of my Word of the Year as a free gift for engaging with the podcast. This week we are beginning a new series called “Faith & Power: Discovering the Power of Who Christ is in You!” Our reading today will be from the book of Ephesians 1 in The Passion Translation. Grab your Bible, your favorite winter beverage and get comfy as we dig into this new study for our new year. This Week’s Reading Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You, Your Son and the Holy Spirit this morning as we read Your words of life together. Impart the truth of who You are to our hearts, minds, souls and bodies today - we ask for Holy Spirit revelation to open our eyes to the way You see, open our ears to hear Your majestic voice, and open our hearts to know Your heart in intimacy and truth. I thank you that when we believe in Christ, we are hidden in Him and His blessings, and that same power that raised Him from the dead now lives bodily in us and we have access to it by Faith. Remind us of these truths as we read today and make them real for us! I ask these things in Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN. The title for this episode is “The Same Power.” We’re looking for what it means that the same power that raised Jesus from the Dead now lives bodily in us. So let’s begin: Verse 17: I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation to know him through your deepening intimacy with him. Paul has just commended the believers at Ephesus for their love and devotion as well as their strong faith in God. Then He prays for them - as we reread those words, what do you hear God saying to you? I pray that the Father… would impart to you the RICHES of the SPIRIT OF WISDOM and the SPIRIT OF REVELATION to KNOW HIM through your DEEPENING INTIMACY WITH HIM. Last night I was painting bookmarks I will send off to Edna,TX this weekend for the gift bags that will be given to women attending a conference where I’ll be speaking on February 22nd. I am a bit overwhelmed painting bookmarks for 100 women, but I’m also deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve in this way. I love creating gifts for people that spark a desire in their heart to know God more. I went to bed very late and as I laid my head on the pillow I had these sentences running through my mind: “Ministry happens in the culture of relationship. Impartation happens in the culture of intimacy.” My question becomes if Wisdom and Revelation is imparted by Spirit that comes from knowing Him in intimacy - what cultivates intimacy in your life? For me, it’s worship… Hands down. Not just singing songs to God, but focusing my heart on His presence and His goodness. Engaging my heart with what I see the Father doing and hear Him saying. Prayer and Intercession birthed out of the deep ache of my soul drives my heart in longing toward God in intimacy. I want to lean back against His chest and feel His heart beating - then I want my heart to find that rhythm in my own life. I want to be attentive to what He is doing every moment of every day not just in the ministry moments. What I’m realizing is I can know God in a relationship with Jesus Christ and never fully engage or incline my heart toward Him. I can do ministry for God, serve the people of God and never fully know the heart of God because I do not engage His heart in intimacy. Intimacy is a key to experiencing the Wisdom and Revelation that comes only by the Holy Spirit. For many years I read the Bible seeking to understand the words of Scripture with little to know understanding, but then as I learned to listen and hear from God as I read. The more I inclined my heart to deeply know Him, the more He revealed Himself to me through both Scripture and Experience. Encountering the Presence of God - Holy Spirit - will change my heart, my mind and my life. So let me ask you… How engaged is your heart with the presence of God? Moses, David and the disciples and apostles knew God in this way. What would happen if we inclined our heart to know God deeply through intimacy and presence? Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Verse 18: I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling—that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones! Paul prayed that the imagination of the believers at Ephesus would have the eyes of their imagination illuminated. Come on… If you love to dream, explore and create then this should get your heart pounding! God wants to light up your imagination and use it for His glory! Isn’t that exciting? I remember being a young girl in third grade and we had to write a story and draw a picture to match it. My momma and daddy loved the oldies music from the 50s and 60s and so we had tons of little 45 records with various songs on them. The Purple People Eater was one of my favorite songs. I wrote my story about this one-eyed, one-horned, flying Purple People Eater and drew a picture of it. My teacher told my parents at the open house that I had a “Very Vivid Imagination.” And I do… When I read fiction I picture myself as one of the characters in the story so I can understand what is happening. The same thing with Scripture - I’ve begun to read Scripture as if I were living it rather than just reading about it. My redeemed imagination has the power to tap into the Holy Spirit’s revelation and wisdom in a way my natural mind and reasoning cannot. Now, I’m not saying we throw logic and reasoning out the window - I’m just saying to truly know God in intimacy we need an integrated approach where our intuition and imagination plays an equal role as we Engage His presence, Read His Word and Encounter His Love. Faith brings us into this relationship with God, but it is all the fascinating ways He created us, and the fact that when we believe in Him by faith all of who He is comes to live inside of us. Paul also writes in this passage that when He floods us with His Light, and we experience that flooding until we are full of revelation of the Hope of His Calling… That somehow, and this is atrue mystery and a wonder, that this revelation of Hope and His calling makes us a full expression of the wealth of God’s glorious inheritance that He finds in us… We are called Saints - His Holy Ones! Christ in You - that is the key. Discovering who Christ is unlocks revelation and wisdom insight into who we are… Then, we need only find the way He wants to express Himself through us to fully realize His purpose in our life. And this comes through intimacy. Verse 19-20: I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you! This is the mighty power that was released when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted him to the place of highest honor and supreme authority in the heavenly realm! C’mon! Not only does Jesus by Holy Spirit come to live inside of us, but the same power that RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, Paul writes in Romans 6 & 8 that this same power lives in us and if it raised Jesus from the dead it will give life - more than eternal life, but abundant life here on earth as well. Matthew 10 indicates Jesus commissions His disciples to carry the same power that He carries to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons and cleanse lepers. The SAME POWER - He even says that the signs of healing, casting out demons, and handling deadly poison and snakes should not harm the disciples (poison and snakes both bring death) and in John 14 He says that those who believe in Him and did not see Him will do all the works He has done, He being Jesus, and even greater works because of their Faith in Him. At the end of Matthew, what most believers in the Western Church call “The Great Commission” tells the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus to go into all the world preaching the Gospel, baptizing believers into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and to teach them all the things He had imparted through commandment to His disciples. He imparted to His disciples authority and power by the measure of their faith over every evil thing the enemy is empowered to do in this earth. And yet, we live fearing the devil and cowering at death’s door. Faith in what you have not yet seen, but believe in empowers us to do the greater works! Works greater than the signs, wonders and miracles we see Jesus performing in the Gospels. He even told His disciples not to rejoice in the power they had to work miracles, signs and wonders among the people, but rather to rejoice that these things were evidence that their names were written in the Lamb’s book of life. Faith should bring us into revelation, wisdom, and power. Do You Understand? Verse 21: And now he is exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence! He is gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised,not only in this age, but in the age that is coming! Do we really live like we believe Jesus has been exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence? DO WE? He is now and forevermore gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised! And yet professing believers in the body of Christ believe to live is a Struggle and to Die is to Gain Everything God Promised. But, that is not what Paul said. Paul wrote so eloquently that he would count his suffering with joy, just as Christ endured the cross for the Joy Set Before Him. And Jesus counted it joy, that He would gain us, when we endure suffering and overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit - knowing that as Paul wrote, “To Live is Christ and to Die is Gain…” What if we believed it is true that to live is Christ and die is gain? What would we do with the power and authority that comes to us by faith? What kind of victory could we realize if we only believe Faith and Power belong to us in Christ? They are both brought to us by the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1 and 1 Corinthians 12) and because Jesus, by the Sealing Work of the Holy Spirit, now lives inside of us - so do this faith and power, the authority to act as He acted when He lived upon the earth. He is our archetype and model. Not, the traditions of men we are often taught by well meaning leaders in our church houses today. Verse 22: And he alone is the leader and source of everything needed in the church. God has put everything beneath the authority of Jesus Christ and has given him the highest rank above all others. How would we live differently if we truly believed that Jesus is who Paul prophesses him to be, who the disciples and apostles knew Him to be? How would we live differently if we believed that in Christ we find the lone leader and source of everything we need as His body? Jesus outranks everyone. EVERY. ONE. He alone is sufficient to meet our every need. He alone is the provision and the protection we are looking for - and He alone paid the price that we should live free, empowered and faithful to all He calls us to - especially the work of His Holy Spirit within us. Verse 23: And here’s where we’re going to wrap it up. And now we, his church, are his body on the earth and that which fills him who is being filled by it! I don’t know about you, but the way the Passion Translation transcribes this verse is a bit confusing to me, but I can read it in the NKJV and see how it says, that we as Christ’s body are continually being filled by Him, who fulfills Himself in us. IN OTHER WORDS, as Brian Simmons included in his footnote for this verse in the Passion Translation: “That is, we are those who are filled (completed) by Christ, we also complete (fill) Him. What a wonderful and humbling mystery is revealed by this verse.” What if we REALLY believed this is true!? That our identity is so wrapped up in Christ and who He is that when we fully realize who He is… We fully become who we are supposed to be. That in Him we find ourselves, and our purpose and our destiny… As we allow Him to be fully expressed through us - finite as we are - somehow we complete Him as His body reaching a lost and dying world. What a glorious thing to consider. As I close out today’s show I want to say something a bit strong - to challenge you a bit - and, I hope that is okay! I want to challenge everyone within the sound of my voice to consider this one thing… When you are singing, Waymaker at church on Sunday or are contemplating that prayer request where the outlook is not so lively, and here is what I want you to consider: Either we believe this is true or we don’t. Are we living our lives full of faith and power, believing God for the impossible and the greater works, or are we dumbing down the testimony of Scripture about faith, power and impossibilities to fit our experience and expectations or traditions from a religious perspective? Do we live like Pharisees? Questioning every sign and wonder, warning people off of the devil while dismissing the power of God and holding onto our set of rules, taboos, doctrines and superstitions about God. Do we leave no room for revelation, power or even repentance to have a perfect work at any moment of our lives? Have we studied the Scriptures searching for Him, but miss Him when He shows up in power and moves among us. Where is the bold faith that steps out and risks everything for God, seeking to see His Kingdom come and Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven? When was the last time you stopped, listened and prayed to know what the Father was saying or doing so you could partner with Him rather than try to talk Him into doing what you thought He should do? And finally… Do we live like the Apostles? Stepping out in risky, unfavorable and downright dangerous circumstances BY FAITH - seeing the impossible not only become possible, but probable as the miraculous becomes mainstream. Do we live by supernatural power imparted by the Holy Spirit or by the whims of our Human Heart? Are we satisfied with our normal religious preferences and failing to step out to take up a cross and follow Jesus with Bold Faith to see His Kingdom become our reality even now? Lord God, I pray that as these words go out penetrating the airwaves through the internet that your will would be accomplished. That they would be guided to the hearts of those who listen and bring with them the HOPE of Your Faith and Power that is waiting for us to step up, step out and step into the Kingdom of God. Saying, “Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Is not a passive wish we speak out, but a promise from Heaven, that when we ask, seek and knock that you will respond and answer, reveal and unlock what we are seeking you for… So Lord we are asking, seeking, and knocking - meet us where we are with your faith and your power and give us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation as your light illuminates our imaginations with Your Impossible Possibilities! In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! We began our The Gospels: Verse-By-Verse Bible Study in October. We will be reading in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live at 10 am (Central Time). That’s right - This season our study is found in the book of Luke. We will be reading Luke 8 this week and digging into the life of Christ Verse-By-Verse considering what we would believe if reading the Scriptures was the primary way we inform our faith! You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. As I mentioned earlier, I will be speaking at a women’s conference (R.E.A.L. Women Conference) at (The Ranch Cowboy Country Church South) in Edna, TX. Registration is available for $40 through January 10th, and will be $45 after the 10th through the day before the conference. Tickets at the door will be $60. This one day conference is February 22 this year and includes a continental style breakfast, full lunch and dinner provided. I’d love to see some familiar faces attending. If you’d like to register please email or DM at the email listed above or through our FB page for details or visit theranchsouth.org for more information! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on both Apple and on Google Podcasts - take a moment to Subscribe today! Again, I would like to ask you partner with us. We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs weekly on Tuesdays. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page.

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Ep 59: Michelle Bentham Blooming Inspired and Hope For The Hurting

Face To Face Mentoring

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2019 26:42

This week on Face To Face Mentoring Podcast Episode 59 my special guest is Michelle Bentham, Blooming Inspired and Hope For the Hurting. Michelle will discuss her passion to encourage others and how she learned to hold on to God’s mercy and peace through her journey of grief.

god christianity mentoring hurting blooming hope for michelle bentham

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 148: Psalms 119 I Want To Follow You (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 169-176 in the Passion Translation. Today, we'll look at the question: “Who or What am I following after?” As our hearts search our soul for the answer, we will look at the Key of Worship as our life’s pursuit Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. I want to take a moment to encourage you. I don’t know if you’ve been in the thick of spiritual warfare lately, but around the lake here in Granbury it has been amped up. Last week my prayer group and I took the time to stand and pray with other prayer groups around our nation and in other countries. We have been praying together a few years and asking God to move in our personal lives, our families, our city, county, region, state and nation as well as throughout the entire world. As we did, things began to happen and even though we experienced resistance in the spiritual realms there was breakthrough. My friend, Deb DeArmand just released a new quick-read devotional packed with humor and practical wisdom called Bumper Sticker Be-Attitudes over at Amazon.com. And even though this sounds like some kind of shameless promotion, I wanted to share something she posted on Facebook: “It’s never too late to finish, and it’s always too early to quit.” This happens to be a chapter title in her book. As I think about this encouragement I’m drawn to a particular Scripture. Galatians 6:9 in The Passion Translation reads this way: “And don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!” Don’t give up! Yes, the battle in this season may be hard, but victory and breakthrough are on the other side. Just like the tiny seed that is birthed beneath the hard earth. It take a lot of stick to it and determination to breakthrough - but once you do there is light and life -- especially opportunities to grow in abundance and bear much fruit. So stay at it, friends. The other side of the story - the harvest is worth the price you pay. And be sure to pick up Deb’s book over at Amazon.com and leave a review once you’ve read it. You can click the link in this post for more information about her book! Now--- For our final reading in Psalm 119 in “The Revival Series.” I have to say I am grateful to be at the end of this journey with you today. WHY? You may be asking. Well, remember at the beginning way back in May - 28 Episodes ago, I began reading in Psalm 119:1… I told you that I felt God has encouraged me to read Psalm 119 back in 2014 but each time I tried I couldn’t get past the first 20 verses? Yes. Well, that struggle WAS VERY REAL. Amen? I didn’t see myself as the person who was happy to keep God’s commands, and His Word. Not that I ddin’t try to be obedient, and remain in His word daily. Not that at all… But, because I didn’t see myself as a person of integrity. I know. This may be news to you… But, friends. I”ve lived most of my life with an impoverished spirit hanging on me like an old coat. Anytime success or a move in God’s direction got me excited, there the enemy would be trying to discourage me by reminding me of not only the horrible past I had lived, but also the struggle with strongholds and temptation to sin I face daily. I believed deep in my heart I’d never change completely until I got to Heaven and saw Jesus. In truth, I was trying to change myself not trusting God to do it… So in 2016 when in prayer I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me and ask me why I had not read Psalm 119 as the Lord had put on my heart to do… I responded, “Because I cannot find myself in it.” Then is when I felt like Jesus pulled my face up in His hands and said, “Beloved, you aren’t supposed to read Scripture to find yourself… Your supposed to read Scripture to find Me.” That’s a life-changing truth right there, my friends. A life changing truth. Maybe you need to hear that for yourself today. God’s Word - the fullest expression of Himself to us - is Jesus. The primary way He reveals Himself to us in this season is through the Scriptures, but Holy Spirit is the great Revelator. He guides us into all truth. And He will teach us to hear and respond to the Shepherd’s voice if we will only give ourselves to the process. Surrender is a position of obedience and victory in God’s Kingdom. Let’s surrender one more time to read our last 8 verses of Psalm 119. This week we are going to be reading from Psalm 119:169-176 in the Passion Translation - so grab your favorite Bible translation to read from and let’s get ready to read by reviewing what we covered last time. Review In our last episode, we read verses 161-168 as we continued to discover keys to revival. As we read, we considered the question: “What Do I Have My Heart Set On?" And as we walked through each verse we picked up another Revival Key that comes from remaining devoted to God’s Word. That key is a longing and a hunger for more of Him through His Word. That desire to go deep into God’s Word leads us to discover both His love and His power in a way that compels us to change and live only for Him. As we read through verses 169-176 today, I want you to ask yourself, “Who or What am I following after?” As our hearts search our soul for the answer, we will look at the Key of Worship as our life’s pursuit This Week’s Reading So Now Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You, Your Son and the Holy Spirit this morning as we read Your words of life together. Impart the truth of who You are to our hearts, minds, souls and bodies today - we ask for Holy Spirit revelation to open our eyes to the way You see, open our ears to hear Your majestic voice, and open our hearts to know Your heart in intimacy and truth. I thank you that when we believe in Christ, we are hidden in Him and His blessings. Let our heart’s rend themselves before you today in a sacrifice of praise as we give our lives to worship you - the only one who is worthy of all praise! Remind us of these truths as we read today and make them real for us! I ask these things in Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN. The heading for today’s reading is, “I Want To Follow You” Verse 169: Lord, listen to my prayer. It’s like a sacrifice I bring to you; I must have more revelation of your word! Do you hear that? Our prayers and longing for God are a sacrifice that praises and glorifies Him as God. It keeps us dependent upon the Holy Spirit’s revelation as we seek to know Him through His Word. My heart is tender to the glory of God in this hour. My morning has been full of distractions - people requesting time with me for coaching, sharing and declaring His truth in our lives. I’ve also been praying with my prayer sisters and receiving revelation for a loved one as I’ve reviewed what God has taught us through the last six months of our lives together. And then, the posts about the horrible massacre of the families from LeBaron, Mexico. I’ve seen the reports, and I personally know family members here in the states who broke away from their lifestyle. But, if in our religious piety as Christians we can have no compassion for people who were murdered for the simple fact that they existed. If we cannot pray for the people of Mexico in this hour who are tormented, tortured and terrorized by the drug-lords and cartels. Then who is the God we are serving? I don’t have to agree with their lifestyle to grieve for their loss. I don’t have to know them to love them from His perspective. Jesus died on the cross for both those murdered in Mexico yesterday and for the drug-lords and cartel members, and the corrupt government who has allowed this to go on unabated for decades. God’s arm is not too short to save, but His people seem to have hardened hearts when it comes to their desire for justice. May His mercy endure and His goodness be made known to those who grieve today. May He put His protective hand on the citizens of Mexico in this hour and all who make their home there. May His loving-kindness and tender mercy bring repentance and deliverance for both the people and the oppressors and may those who pray for peace and safety find it in Him today. In Jesus’ name, amen. Verse 170: Take my words to heart when I ask you, Lord; rescue me, just like you promised! Micah 6:8 commends us that God has shown us how to live our lives in surrender to Him. My memory reflects it this way, “Do justice (in our own hearts), love mercy (toward other people) and walk in humility with oug God.” So often, our heart cry to God is for mercy for ourselves, we do love mercy for ourselves. And we also cry out for justice toward those we deem wrong, hurtful or criminal. And in so doing, I believe we grieve the heart of God as He was so willing to lay His life down for us to be free, but we cannot cross that line of sacrifice and give up our own rights and prideful judgments to minister His love and mercy to those who offend us the most. It’s no wonder we find Him absent in the midst of tragedy when our hearts will not bend to sacrifice for Him in our praise. Verse 171: I offer you my joyous praise for all that you’ve taught me. When the worship music plays at church, when the circumstances are overwhelming your heart, when people are hurting you and fear consumes you - Where Do You Find Your Heart Focused? The only way to live in joyous praise for all He has taught you is to make every moment of your life an act of worship. If the music at church, the actions of others, the circumstances or pain of your life and fear are consuming your focus - if you aren’t focused on who God is, what He has promised you and the way He has delivered you over and over again - then you will not be able to offer Him your joyous praise. Joy is a gift from God - happiness, is fleeting and temporary, but the state of being the blessed of God defies all circumstances determined only by the condition of our heart before Him. Will we bow and bend to His will or be driven by the wanton fear that compels us to forsake His perfect love? Verse 172:Your wonderful words will become my song of worship, for everything you’ve commanded is perfect and true. My favorite worship song right now might surprise you… It’s Kanye West’s title song from the album “Jesus is King.” This song is the exclamation point on a beautiful, resounding chorus of words that tells the story of one who was lost and became found by God. Of The Son who is worthy of celebrating, and the way a surrendered life to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords brings life to even those that society calls crazy, vain and unworthy. I know Scripture, and the words of worship I hear on the lips of Kanye West are the highest praise for a worthy King. Verse 173: Place your hands of strength and favor upon me, for I’ve made my choice to follow your ways. When God’s strength comes to you, His favor rests upon you - the key is to choose. God has given us the ability to choose who and what we worship and pursue in life. When we make Him our life’s pursuit, His strength empowers us and His favor carries us into places that would never be open to us without Him. The most obvious gates that open to us, the gates of Heaven and living in His eternal presence beyond our life on earth. And that favor alone is worth everything - He is worthy of surrender, worship and the highest praise. Verse 174: I wait for your deliverance, O Lord, for your words thrill me like nothing else! A heart focused on the promises of God, having experienced His life-giving presence and the fulfillment of His promises will wait patiently for His deliverance and timing as we remain steadfast in our worship of Him. Verse 175: Invigorate my life so that I can praise you even more, and may your truth be my strength! A heart bent on worshipping God seeks revival for one purpose - To praise God even more. To seek truth at all costs. To be strengthened and enraptured by the joy of the Lord which is our strength. Verse 176: I’ll never forget what you’ve taught me, Lord, but when I wander off and lose my way, come after me, for I am your beloved! Knowing God shouldn’t just change the way we think or act, it should change the way we worship. We will rest in His unfailing love when we remember that the final Key to Revival is a life surrendered in daily worship to the most high and majestic God of the Universe who is our only source of life, hope and redemption. Amen? I’m about to read you the keys we’ve discovered through Psalm 119 these last six months. If you’d like a PDF copy of the Keys to Revival from Psalm 119 please email michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com and put “Subscribe” in the subject line! Everyone who subscribes to Blooming Inspired Network this week will receive a printable PDF of the promises of God and Keys to Revival found in Psalm 119. Let’s take a look back… In Episode 122, we read Psalm 119:1-8! The subtitle for this passage was “The Way to Happiness” where we found the KEY TO REVIVAL: Obedience. This key leads to a life of joy and integrity that is found in God through focusing on His Scriptures and His Son, Jesus, who is His Word. Key Verse: I will give my thanks to you from a heart of love and truth. And every time I learn more of your righteous judgments,I will be faithful to all that your word reveals—so don’t ever give up on me! - Psalm 119:7-8 TPT In Episode 123, we read Psalm 119:9-16! The subtitle for this passage was “True Joy” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Meditation. Focusing our hearts and minds on Scripture which leads us to treasure God’s Word, leading us to experience more of God’s true joy and purity in our hearts. Key Verse:I consider your prophecies to be my greatest treasure,and I memorize them and write them on my heart to keep me from committing sin’s treason against you.- Psalm 119:11 TPT In Episode 124, we read Psalm 119:17-24! The subtitle for this passage was “The Abundant Life” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: A Humble & Teachable Heart. When we remain humble and teachable, focusing our hearts and minds on Scripture, it leads us to treasure God’s Word in our hearts. Key Verse: Your commandments are my counselors; your word is my light and delight! - Psalm 119:24 TPT In Episode 125, we read Psalm 119:25-32! The subtitle for this passage was “Revived By The Word” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Relying on God’s Strength. When we grow weary and are overcome with discouragement or fatigue, God’s Word brings strength to our hearts, mind and physical being - reviving us to press up and into who God is to discover who we are. Key Verse: I will run after you with delight in my heart, for you will make me obedient to your instructions. - Psalm 119:32 TPT In Episode 126, we read Psalm 119:33-40! The subtitle for this passage was “Understanding God’s Word” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Revelation Wisdom. Focusing our hearts and minds on the revelation wisdom of God through His Word is a key that leads us to passionate obedience as God transforms our hearts and minds to obey His command. As we pursue passionate obedience, His Word delights and protects our hearts from idolatry and deception. Key Verse: See how I long with cravings for more of your ways? Let your righteousness revive my spirit! - Psalm 119:40 TPT In Episode 130, we read Psalm 119:41-48! The subtitle for this passage was “Trusting the Lord” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Trusting God. As we lean into who God is revealed to be in Scripture, we learn to trust Him as we receive His grace, love and comfort, affirming His promises as truth that is safe to obey. Our longings turn to His righteousness that revives our spirit! Key Verse: I long for more revelation of your truth, for I love the light of your word as I meditate on your decrees.- Psalm 119:48 TPT In Episode 131, we read Psalm 119:49-56! The subtitle for this passage was “My Comfort” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: God’s Comfort. Experiencing God’s comfort leads us to treasure the promises of His Word and gives us a desire to know Him with a devoted heart. Key Verse: Your revelation-light is eternal; I’m encouraged every time I think about your truth! - Psalm 119:52 TPT In Episode 132, we read Psalm 119:57-64! The subtitle for this passage was “My Heart’s Devotion” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Devotion to God. As we realize God’s comfort and set our hearts on Him through His Word and obedience, we realize our utter dependence on Him to live our lives according to His will as He cares for us. Key Verse: Give me more revelation of your ways, for I see your love and tender care everywhere.- Psalm 119:64 TPT In Episode 133, we read Psalm 119:65-72! The subtitle for this passage was “My True Treasure” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: God’s Goodness & Kindness. As we rest our hearts in God’s goodness and loving kindness it leads us to understand God is our safe place and refuge as we experience the power and beauty of His Word. Key Verse: Everything you do is beautiful, flowing from your goodness; teach me the power of your wonderful words!- Psalm 119:68 TPT In Episode 134, we read Psalm 119:73-80! The subtitle for this passage was “Growing Through God’s Word” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Maturing In Scripture. As we come to understand God’s character, nature and promises through His Word, alongside walking in obedience to all of who He is, we are delivered of both pride and shame. With pride and shame defeated in our lives - God restores honor that unlocks passion and purpose in every area of our lives. Out of His Abundance and Truth our wholehearted pursuit become to fulfill God’s every desire. Key Verse: Make me passionate and wholehearted to fulfill your every wish, so that I’ll never have to be ashamed of myself.- Psalm 119:80 TPT In Episode 135, we read Psalm 119:81-88! The subtitle for this passage was “Deliver Me” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Deliverance As we mature by growth in God’s Word, we become delivered by that same word as our hearts are renewed by His tender love which leads us to an obedience from our hearts in gratitude and love toward a God who proves Himself worthy. Key Verse: Revive me with your tender love and spare my life by your kindness, and I will continue to obey you.- Psalm 119:88 TPT In Episode 136, we read Psalm 119:89-96! The subtitle for this passage was “Faith In God’s Word” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Revelation Truth As we realize God’s revelation truth in our life, our faith in Him grows, rooting His words deeply in our hearts. These roots displace the lies of the enemy that keep us from realizing His Freedom. Key Verse: I’ve learned that there is nothing perfect in this imperfect world except your words, for they bring such fantastic freedom into my life!- Psalm 119:96 TPT In Episode 137, we read Psalm 119:97-104! The subtitle for this passage was “I Love God’s Word” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: God’s Wisdom As we fall in love with God’s Word, through the revelation of Scripture, we are filled with His Wisdom. As we discover His Wisdom in our hearts, we begin to see not only ourselves, but others and the world around us by His revelation-light. His wisdom is the revelation-light by which our spiritual eyes see, our spiritual ears hear and our spiritual hearts understand. Key Verse: I refuse to turn away from difficult truths, for you yourself have taught me to love your words.- Psalm 119:102 TPT In Episode 138, we read Psalm 119:105-112! The subtitle for this passage was “Truth’s Shining Light” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Gratitude As God’s revelation-light informs our understanding with His Wisdom,our hearts turn to Him in gratitude and joy, His Spirit’s refreshing becomes our standard which leads us to continually partner with God in obedience to His Word and Commands - realizing freedom that leads us to our life’s rest and righteousness found only in Jesus Christ. Key Verse: Everything you speak to me is like joyous treasure, filling my life with gladness. - Psalm 119:111 TPT In Episode 139, we read Psalm 119:113-120! The subtitle for this passage was “Trust & Obey” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Living From His Presence As we learn to live in the freedom of gratitude that produces joy, refreshing and leads us to rest and righteousness in Christ, we find our obedience comes continually from a heart that obeys and trust God completely. This heartfelt obedience and humility it requires bows us low in reverence for God’s holiness and righteousness when we live from his presence. The New Testament reveals that Jesus has clothed us in a robe of His Righteousness - His wrap-around presence keeps our hearts obedient to His Word. Key Verse: You’re my place of quiet retreat, and your wrap-around presence becomes my shield as I wrap myself in your word! - Psalm 119:114 TPT In Episode 142, we read Psalm 119:121-128! The subtitle for this passage was “I Will Follow You” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Intimacy As we come into this place of living from His presence, in obedience to all that Scripture reveals Him to be, realizing we are His gives our hearts the desire to experience and encounter His tender love more and more. As we encounter His presence and His love we grow in revelation understanding our hearts long to follow Him in all His wonderful ways. Key Verse: Let me feel your tender love, for I am yours. Give me more understanding of your wonderful ways.. - Psalm 119:124 TPT In Episode 143, we read Psalm 119:129-136! The subtitle for this passage was “I Long To Obey You” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Sin’s Grief As we come into this place of living from His presence, in obedience to all that Scripture reveals Him to be, we begin to look around and see the state of our fellow man and the decaying world culture that surrounds us giving us a grief from God’s heart over sin and its consequences. We understand His justice comes through loving-kindness and tender mercy - offering salvation to those who most grievously offend. Our grief compels us to follow God’s heart to intercede for God’s breakthrough, salvation and mercy in the world and lives around us. We desire for His Kingdom to Come and Will Be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Key Verse: When I witness the rebellious breaking your laws, it makes me weep uncontrollably! - Psalm 119:136 TPT In Episode 144, we read Psalm 119:137-143! The subtitle for this passage was “God’s Word is Truth” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Freedom As we discover the freedom that comes from God’s word that burns like fire in our bones, a furious passion for His truth and His freedom rises in us. Just like the disciples who encountered the resurrected Christ on the Damascus road, we recognize His presence and His power when our hearts burn within us as His words are spoken over us, through us and from the Scriptures. Key Verse: All your promises glow with fire; that’s why I’m a lover of your word. - Psalm 119:140 TPT In Episode 145, we read Psalm 119:144-151! The subtitle for this passage was “Save Me, O God” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Surrender As God’s words burn like fire in our bones, stirring a passionate fire within our hearts for His presence and His word, we realize our utter dependence on God as our source - our source of life, our source of existence, our source of salvation and our source of victorious eternal life. Only He can save us and redeem us which leads us to surrender to His lordship and His love, asking Him to weave Himself into the very fiber of our being as we find ourselves in Him. Key Verse: Before the day dawns, I’ll be crying out for help and wrapping your words into my life.- Psalm 119:147 TPT In Episode 146, we read Psalm 119:152-160! The subtitle for this passage was “Breathe Life Into Me Again” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Heart Cry As God’s words blaze themselves into the very fiber of our being, revival comes to our hearts. We cry out to Him in trial and affliction, and perseverance, strength and power reinforce us as Holy Spirit breathes life into our soul and spirit once again. This is a key to personal and corporate revival. Key Verse: Lord, see how much I truly love your instructions. So in your tender kindness, breathe life into me again. 119:159 TPT In Episode 147, we read Psalm 119:161-168! The subtitle for this passage was “Devoted to God’s Word” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Hunger For More As we realize His strength and the power of revival in our life, we long for more of Him - His presence, His salvation, His deliverance, His truth, His righteousness, His victory - in our lives. This causes us to hunger and thirst for His righteousness. A hunger and thirst that is most fulfilled when we give ourselves wholeheartedly to His Word. Key Verse: My love for your ways is indescribable; in my innermost being I want to follow them perfectly! - Psalm 119:167 TPT Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! We began our The Gospels: Verse-By-Verse Bible Study in October. We will resume this Saturday, in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live at 10 am (Central Time). That’s right - This season our study is found in the book of Luke. We’ll pick up with Chapter 3 on Saturday morning at 10am (CT). You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on Apple and on Google Podcasts. Again, I would like to ask you partner with us. We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Be sure to TUNE IN! BIPN’s Accidental Hope Podcast airs on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. central time. Each week Jennifer Eikenhorst brings hope-filled messages and interviews related to overcoming accidents and traumas we face in life. You don’t want to miss her inspiring podcast this week. And now, I want to remind you as I always do: Blooming where you're planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs on Tuesdays at 11 am central time. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. Psalm 119:169-176 The Passion Translation (TPT) I Want to Follow You 169 Lord, listen to my prayer. It’s like a sacrifice I bring to you; I must have more revelation of your word! 170 Take my words to heart when I ask you, Lord; rescue me, just like you promised! 171 I offer you my joyous praise for all that you’ve taught me. 172 Your wonderful words will become my song of worship, for everything you’ve commanded is perfect and true. 173 Place your hands of strength and favor upon me, for I’ve made my choice to follow your ways. 174 I wait for your deliverance, O Lord, for your words thrill me like nothing else! 175 Invigorate my life so that I can praise you even more, and may your truth be my strength! 176 I’ll never forget what you’ve taught me, Lord, but when I wander off and lose my way, come after me, for I am your beloved! The Passion Translation (TPT) The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC. Used by permission. All rights reserved. thePassionTranslation.com

god jesus christ amazon trust lord earth apple bible mexico kingdom truth christians happiness holy spirit worship strength kings pray universe kanye west psalm scripture keys llc fall in love kindness comfort tx focusing revival psalms galatians surrender new testament trusting scriptures google podcasts goodness amen faith in god beloved devotion lords verse his word obey copyright knowing god devoted remind o lord his son his kingdom damascus his spirit o god abundant life commands in jesus my heart experiencing god father god blooming understanding god true joy shining light podcast community lebaron passion translation revelator your son impart granbury invigorate deliver me inspired podcast will be done jennifer eikenhorst i will follow you i love god michelle bentham

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 148: Psalms 119 I Want To Follow You (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 169-176 in the Passion Translation. Today, we'll look at the question: “Who or What am I following after?” As our hearts search our soul for the answer, we will look at the Key of Worship as our life’s pursuit Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. I want to take a moment to encourage you. I don’t know if you’ve been in the thick of spiritual warfare lately, but around the lake here in Granbury it has been amped up. Last week my prayer group and I took the time to stand and pray with other prayer groups around our nation and in other countries. We have been praying together a few years and asking God to move in our personal lives, our families, our city, county, region, state and nation as well as throughout the entire world. As we did, things began to happen and even though we experienced resistance in the spiritual realms there was breakthrough. My friend, Deb DeArmand just released a new quick-read devotional packed with humor and practical wisdom called Bumper Sticker Be-Attitudes over at Amazon.com. And even though this sounds like some kind of shameless promotion, I wanted to share something she posted on Facebook: “It’s never too late to finish, and it’s always too early to quit.” This happens to be a chapter title in her book. As I think about this encouragement I’m drawn to a particular Scripture. Galatians 6:9 in The Passion Translation reads this way: “And don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!” Don’t give up! Yes, the battle in this season may be hard, but victory and breakthrough are on the other side. Just like the tiny seed that is birthed beneath the hard earth. It take a lot of stick to it and determination to breakthrough - but once you do there is light and life -- especially opportunities to grow in abundance and bear much fruit. So stay at it, friends. The other side of the story - the harvest is worth the price you pay. And be sure to pick up Deb’s book over at Amazon.com and leave a review once you’ve read it. You can click the link in this post for more information about her book! Now--- For our final reading in Psalm 119 in “The Revival Series.” I have to say I am grateful to be at the end of this journey with you today. WHY? You may be asking. Well, remember at the beginning way back in May - 28 Episodes ago, I began reading in Psalm 119:1… I told you that I felt God has encouraged me to read Psalm 119 back in 2014 but each time I tried I couldn’t get past the first 20 verses? Yes. Well, that struggle WAS VERY REAL. Amen? I didn’t see myself as the person who was happy to keep God’s commands, and His Word. Not that I ddin’t try to be obedient, and remain in His word daily. Not that at all… But, because I didn’t see myself as a person of integrity. I know. This may be news to you… But, friends. I”ve lived most of my life with an impoverished spirit hanging on me like an old coat. Anytime success or a move in God’s direction got me excited, there the enemy would be trying to discourage me by reminding me of not only the horrible past I had lived, but also the struggle with strongholds and temptation to sin I face daily. I believed deep in my heart I’d never change completely until I got to Heaven and saw Jesus. In truth, I was trying to change myself not trusting God to do it… So in 2016 when in prayer I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me and ask me why I had not read Psalm 119 as the Lord had put on my heart to do… I responded, “Because I cannot find myself in it.” Then is when I felt like Jesus pulled my face up in His hands and said, “Beloved, you aren’t supposed to read Scripture to find yourself… Your supposed to read Scripture to find Me.” That’s a life-changing truth right there, my friends. A life changing truth. Maybe you need to hear that for yourself today. God’s Word - the fullest expression of Himself to us - is Jesus. The primary way He reveals Himself to us in this season is through the Scriptures, but Holy Spirit is the great Revelator. He guides us into all truth. And He will teach us to hear and respond to the Shepherd’s voice if we will only give ourselves to the process. Surrender is a position of obedience and victory in God’s Kingdom. Let’s surrender one more time to read our last 8 verses of Psalm 119. This week we are going to be reading from Psalm 119:169-176 in the Passion Translation - so grab your favorite Bible translation to read from and let’s get ready to read by reviewing what we covered last time. Review In our last episode, we read verses 161-168 as we continued to discover keys to revival. As we read, we considered the question: “What Do I Have My Heart Set On?" And as we walked through each verse we picked up another Revival Key that comes from remaining devoted to God’s Word. That key is a longing and a hunger for more of Him through His Word. That desire to go deep into God’s Word leads us to discover both His love and His power in a way that compels us to change and live only for Him. As we read through verses 169-176 today, I want you to ask yourself, “Who or What am I following after?” As our hearts search our soul for the answer, we will look at the Key of Worship as our life’s pursuit This Week’s Reading So Now Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You, Your Son and the Holy Spirit this morning as we read Your words of life together. Impart the truth of who You are to our hearts, minds, souls and bodies today - we ask for Holy Spirit revelation to open our eyes to the way You see, open our ears to hear Your majestic voice, and open our hearts to know Your heart in intimacy and truth. I thank you that when we believe in Christ, we are hidden in Him and His blessings. Let our heart’s rend themselves before you today in a sacrifice of praise as we give our lives to worship you - the only one who is worthy of all praise! Remind us of these truths as we read today and make them real for us! I ask these things in Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN. The heading for today’s reading is, “I Want To Follow You” Verse 169: Lord, listen to my prayer. It’s like a sacrifice I bring to you; I must have more revelation of your word! Do you hear that? Our prayers and longing for God are a sacrifice that praises and glorifies Him as God. It keeps us dependent upon the Holy Spirit’s revelation as we seek to know Him through His Word. My heart is tender to the glory of God in this hour. My morning has been full of distractions - people requesting time with me for coaching, sharing and declaring His truth in our lives. I’ve also been praying with my prayer sisters and receiving revelation for a loved one as I’ve reviewed what God has taught us through the last six months of our lives together. And then, the posts about the horrible massacre of the families from LeBaron, Mexico. I’ve seen the reports, and I personally know family members here in the states who broke away from their lifestyle. But, if in our religious piety as Christians we can have no compassion for people who were murdered for the simple fact that they existed. If we cannot pray for the people of Mexico in this hour who are tormented, tortured and terrorized by the drug-lords and cartels. Then who is the God we are serving? I don’t have to agree with their lifestyle to grieve for their loss. I don’t have to know them to love them from His perspective. Jesus died on the cross for both those murdered in Mexico yesterday and for the drug-lords and cartel members, and the corrupt government who has allowed this to go on unabated for decades. God’s arm is not too short to save, but His people seem to have hardened hearts when it comes to their desire for justice. May His mercy endure and His goodness be made known to those who grieve today. May He put His protective hand on the citizens of Mexico in this hour and all who make their home there. May His loving-kindness and tender mercy bring repentance and deliverance for both the people and the oppressors and may those who pray for peace and safety find it in Him today. In Jesus’ name, amen. Verse 170: Take my words to heart when I ask you, Lord; rescue me, just like you promised! Micah 6:8 commends us that God has shown us how to live our lives in surrender to Him. My memory reflects it this way, “Do justice (in our own hearts), love mercy (toward other people) and walk in humility with oug God.” So often, our heart cry to God is for mercy for ourselves, we do love mercy for ourselves. And we also cry out for justice toward those we deem wrong, hurtful or criminal. And in so doing, I believe we grieve the heart of God as He was so willing to lay His life down for us to be free, but we cannot cross that line of sacrifice and give up our own rights and prideful judgments to minister His love and mercy to those who offend us the most. It’s no wonder we find Him absent in the midst of tragedy when our hearts will not bend to sacrifice for Him in our praise. Verse 171: I offer you my joyous praise for all that you’ve taught me. When the worship music plays at church, when the circumstances are overwhelming your heart, when people are hurting you and fear consumes you - Where Do You Find Your Heart Focused? The only way to live in joyous praise for all He has taught you is to make every moment of your life an act of worship. If the music at church, the actions of others, the circumstances or pain of your life and fear are consuming your focus - if you aren’t focused on who God is, what He has promised you and the way He has delivered you over and over again - then you will not be able to offer Him your joyous praise. Joy is a gift from God - happiness, is fleeting and temporary, but the state of being the blessed of God defies all circumstances determined only by the condition of our heart before Him. Will we bow and bend to His will or be driven by the wanton fear that compels us to forsake His perfect love? Verse 172:Your wonderful words will become my song of worship, for everything you’ve commanded is perfect and true. My favorite worship song right now might surprise you… It’s Kanye West’s title song from the album “Jesus is King.” This song is the exclamation point on a beautiful, resounding chorus of words that tells the story of one who was lost and became found by God. Of The Son who is worthy of celebrating, and the way a surrendered life to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords brings life to even those that society calls crazy, vain and unworthy. I know Scripture, and the words of worship I hear on the lips of Kanye West are the highest praise for a worthy King. Verse 173: Place your hands of strength and favor upon me, for I’ve made my choice to follow your ways. When God’s strength comes to you, His favor rests upon you - the key is to choose. God has given us the ability to choose who and what we worship and pursue in life. When we make Him our life’s pursuit, His strength empowers us and His favor carries us into places that would never be open to us without Him. The most obvious gates that open to us, the gates of Heaven and living in His eternal presence beyond our life on earth. And that favor alone is worth everything - He is worthy of surrender, worship and the highest praise. Verse 174: I wait for your deliverance, O Lord, for your words thrill me like nothing else! A heart focused on the promises of God, having experienced His life-giving presence and the fulfillment of His promises will wait patiently for His deliverance and timing as we remain steadfast in our worship of Him. Verse 175: Invigorate my life so that I can praise you even more, and may your truth be my strength! A heart bent on worshipping God seeks revival for one purpose - To praise God even more. To seek truth at all costs. To be strengthened and enraptured by the joy of the Lord which is our strength. Verse 176: I’ll never forget what you’ve taught me, Lord, but when I wander off and lose my way, come after me, for I am your beloved! Knowing God shouldn’t just change the way we think or act, it should change the way we worship. We will rest in His unfailing love when we remember that the final Key to Revival is a life surrendered in daily worship to the most high and majestic God of the Universe who is our only source of life, hope and redemption. Amen? I’m about to read you the keys we’ve discovered through Psalm 119 these last six months. If you’d like a PDF copy of the Keys to Revival from Psalm 119 please email michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com and put “Subscribe” in the subject line! Everyone who subscribes to Blooming Inspired Network this week will receive a printable PDF of the promises of God and Keys to Revival found in Psalm 119. Let’s take a look back… In Episode 122, we read Psalm 119:1-8! The subtitle for this passage was “The Way to Happiness” where we found the KEY TO REVIVAL: Obedience. This key leads to a life of joy and integrity that is found in God through focusing on His Scriptures and His Son, Jesus, who is His Word. Key Verse: I will give my thanks to you from a heart of love and truth. And every time I learn more of your righteous judgments,I will be faithful to all that your word reveals—so don’t ever give up on me! - Psalm 119:7-8 TPT In Episode 123, we read Psalm 119:9-16! The subtitle for this passage was “True Joy” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Meditation. Focusing our hearts and minds on Scripture which leads us to treasure God’s Word, leading us to experience more of God’s true joy and purity in our hearts. Key Verse:I consider your prophecies to be my greatest treasure,and I memorize them and write them on my heart to keep me from committing sin’s treason against you.- Psalm 119:11 TPT In Episode 124, we read Psalm 119:17-24! The subtitle for this passage was “The Abundant Life” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: A Humble & Teachable Heart. When we remain humble and teachable, focusing our hearts and minds on Scripture, it leads us to treasure God’s Word in our hearts. Key Verse: Your commandments are my counselors; your word is my light and delight! - Psalm 119:24 TPT In Episode 125, we read Psalm 119:25-32! The subtitle for this passage was “Revived By The Word” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Relying on God’s Strength. When we grow weary and are overcome with discouragement or fatigue, God’s Word brings strength to our hearts, mind and physical being - reviving us to press up and into who God is to discover who we are. Key Verse: I will run after you with delight in my heart, for you will make me obedient to your instructions. - Psalm 119:32 TPT In Episode 126, we read Psalm 119:33-40! The subtitle for this passage was “Understanding God’s Word” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Revelation Wisdom. Focusing our hearts and minds on the revelation wisdom of God through His Word is a key that leads us to passionate obedience as God transforms our hearts and minds to obey His command. As we pursue passionate obedience, His Word delights and protects our hearts from idolatry and deception. Key Verse: See how I long with cravings for more of your ways? Let your righteousness revive my spirit! - Psalm 119:40 TPT In Episode 130, we read Psalm 119:41-48! The subtitle for this passage was “Trusting the Lord” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Trusting God. As we lean into who God is revealed to be in Scripture, we learn to trust Him as we receive His grace, love and comfort, affirming His promises as truth that is safe to obey. Our longings turn to His righteousness that revives our spirit! Key Verse: I long for more revelation of your truth, for I love the light of your word as I meditate on your decrees.- Psalm 119:48 TPT In Episode 131, we read Psalm 119:49-56! The subtitle for this passage was “My Comfort” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: God’s Comfort. Experiencing God’s comfort leads us to treasure the promises of His Word and gives us a desire to know Him with a devoted heart. Key Verse: Your revelation-light is eternal; I’m encouraged every time I think about your truth! - Psalm 119:52 TPT In Episode 132, we read Psalm 119:57-64! The subtitle for this passage was “My Heart’s Devotion” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Devotion to God. As we realize God’s comfort and set our hearts on Him through His Word and obedience, we realize our utter dependence on Him to live our lives according to His will as He cares for us. Key Verse: Give me more revelation of your ways, for I see your love and tender care everywhere.- Psalm 119:64 TPT In Episode 133, we read Psalm 119:65-72! The subtitle for this passage was “My True Treasure” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: God’s Goodness & Kindness. As we rest our hearts in God’s goodness and loving kindness it leads us to understand God is our safe place and refuge as we experience the power and beauty of His Word. Key Verse: Everything you do is beautiful, flowing from your goodness; teach me the power of your wonderful words!- Psalm 119:68 TPT In Episode 134, we read Psalm 119:73-80! The subtitle for this passage was “Growing Through God’s Word” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Maturing In Scripture. As we come to understand God’s character, nature and promises through His Word, alongside walking in obedience to all of who He is, we are delivered of both pride and shame. With pride and shame defeated in our lives - God restores honor that unlocks passion and purpose in every area of our lives. Out of His Abundance and Truth our wholehearted pursuit become to fulfill God’s every desire. Key Verse: Make me passionate and wholehearted to fulfill your every wish, so that I’ll never have to be ashamed of myself.- Psalm 119:80 TPT In Episode 135, we read Psalm 119:81-88! The subtitle for this passage was “Deliver Me” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Deliverance As we mature by growth in God’s Word, we become delivered by that same word as our hearts are renewed by His tender love which leads us to an obedience from our hearts in gratitude and love toward a God who proves Himself worthy. Key Verse: Revive me with your tender love and spare my life by your kindness, and I will continue to obey you.- Psalm 119:88 TPT In Episode 136, we read Psalm 119:89-96! The subtitle for this passage was “Faith In God’s Word” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Revelation Truth As we realize God’s revelation truth in our life, our faith in Him grows, rooting His words deeply in our hearts. These roots displace the lies of the enemy that keep us from realizing His Freedom. Key Verse: I’ve learned that there is nothing perfect in this imperfect world except your words, for they bring such fantastic freedom into my life!- Psalm 119:96 TPT In Episode 137, we read Psalm 119:97-104! The subtitle for this passage was “I Love God’s Word” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: God’s Wisdom As we fall in love with God’s Word, through the revelation of Scripture, we are filled with His Wisdom. As we discover His Wisdom in our hearts, we begin to see not only ourselves, but others and the world around us by His revelation-light. His wisdom is the revelation-light by which our spiritual eyes see, our spiritual ears hear and our spiritual hearts understand. Key Verse: I refuse to turn away from difficult truths, for you yourself have taught me to love your words.- Psalm 119:102 TPT In Episode 138, we read Psalm 119:105-112! The subtitle for this passage was “Truth’s Shining Light” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Gratitude As God’s revelation-light informs our understanding with His Wisdom,our hearts turn to Him in gratitude and joy, His Spirit’s refreshing becomes our standard which leads us to continually partner with God in obedience to His Word and Commands - realizing freedom that leads us to our life’s rest and righteousness found only in Jesus Christ. Key Verse: Everything you speak to me is like joyous treasure, filling my life with gladness. - Psalm 119:111 TPT In Episode 139, we read Psalm 119:113-120! The subtitle for this passage was “Trust & Obey” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Living From His Presence As we learn to live in the freedom of gratitude that produces joy, refreshing and leads us to rest and righteousness in Christ, we find our obedience comes continually from a heart that obeys and trust God completely. This heartfelt obedience and humility it requires bows us low in reverence for God’s holiness and righteousness when we live from his presence. The New Testament reveals that Jesus has clothed us in a robe of His Righteousness - His wrap-around presence keeps our hearts obedient to His Word. Key Verse: You’re my place of quiet retreat, and your wrap-around presence becomes my shield as I wrap myself in your word! - Psalm 119:114 TPT In Episode 142, we read Psalm 119:121-128! The subtitle for this passage was “I Will Follow You” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Intimacy As we come into this place of living from His presence, in obedience to all that Scripture reveals Him to be, realizing we are His gives our hearts the desire to experience and encounter His tender love more and more. As we encounter His presence and His love we grow in revelation understanding our hearts long to follow Him in all His wonderful ways. Key Verse: Let me feel your tender love, for I am yours. Give me more understanding of your wonderful ways.. - Psalm 119:124 TPT In Episode 143, we read Psalm 119:129-136! The subtitle for this passage was “I Long To Obey You” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Sin’s Grief As we come into this place of living from His presence, in obedience to all that Scripture reveals Him to be, we begin to look around and see the state of our fellow man and the decaying world culture that surrounds us giving us a grief from God’s heart over sin and its consequences. We understand His justice comes through loving-kindness and tender mercy - offering salvation to those who most grievously offend. Our grief compels us to follow God’s heart to intercede for God’s breakthrough, salvation and mercy in the world and lives around us. We desire for His Kingdom to Come and Will Be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Key Verse: When I witness the rebellious breaking your laws, it makes me weep uncontrollably! - Psalm 119:136 TPT In Episode 144, we read Psalm 119:137-143! The subtitle for this passage was “God’s Word is Truth” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Freedom As we discover the freedom that comes from God’s word that burns like fire in our bones, a furious passion for His truth and His freedom rises in us. Just like the disciples who encountered the resurrected Christ on the Damascus road, we recognize His presence and His power when our hearts burn within us as His words are spoken over us, through us and from the Scriptures. Key Verse: All your promises glow with fire; that’s why I’m a lover of your word. - Psalm 119:140 TPT In Episode 145, we read Psalm 119:144-151! The subtitle for this passage was “Save Me, O God” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Surrender As God’s words burn like fire in our bones, stirring a passionate fire within our hearts for His presence and His word, we realize our utter dependence on God as our source - our source of life, our source of existence, our source of salvation and our source of victorious eternal life. Only He can save us and redeem us which leads us to surrender to His lordship and His love, asking Him to weave Himself into the very fiber of our being as we find ourselves in Him. Key Verse: Before the day dawns, I’ll be crying out for help and wrapping your words into my life.- Psalm 119:147 TPT In Episode 146, we read Psalm 119:152-160! The subtitle for this passage was “Breathe Life Into Me Again” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Heart Cry As God’s words blaze themselves into the very fiber of our being, revival comes to our hearts. We cry out to Him in trial and affliction, and perseverance, strength and power reinforce us as Holy Spirit breathes life into our soul and spirit once again. This is a key to personal and corporate revival. Key Verse: Lord, see how much I truly love your instructions. So in your tender kindness, breathe life into me again. 119:159 TPT In Episode 147, we read Psalm 119:161-168! The subtitle for this passage was “Devoted to God’s Word” and we discovered the KEY TO REVIVAL: Hunger For More As we realize His strength and the power of revival in our life, we long for more of Him - His presence, His salvation, His deliverance, His truth, His righteousness, His victory - in our lives. This causes us to hunger and thirst for His righteousness. A hunger and thirst that is most fulfilled when we give ourselves wholeheartedly to His Word. Key Verse: My love for your ways is indescribable; in my innermost being I want to follow them perfectly! - Psalm 119:167 TPT Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! We began our The Gospels: Verse-By-Verse Bible Study in October. We will resume this Saturday, in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live at 10 am (Central Time). That’s right - This season our study is found in the book of Luke. We’ll pick up with Chapter 3 on Saturday morning at 10am (CT). You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on Apple and on Google Podcasts. Again, I would like to ask you partner with us. We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Be sure to TUNE IN! BIPN’s Accidental Hope Podcast airs on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. central time. Each week Jennifer Eikenhorst brings hope-filled messages and interviews related to overcoming accidents and traumas we face in life. You don’t want to miss her inspiring podcast this week. And now, I want to remind you as I always do: Blooming where you're planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs on Tuesdays at 11 am central time. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. Psalm 119:169-176 The Passion Translation (TPT) I Want to Follow You 169 Lord, listen to my prayer. It’s like a sacrifice I bring to you; I must have more revelation of your word! 170 Take my words to heart when I ask you, Lord; rescue me, just like you promised! 171 I offer you my joyous praise for all that you’ve taught me. 172 Your wonderful words will become my song of worship, for everything you’ve commanded is perfect and true. 173 Place your hands of strength and favor upon me, for I’ve made my choice to follow your ways. 174 I wait for your deliverance, O Lord, for your words thrill me like nothing else! 175 Invigorate my life so that I can praise you even more, and may your truth be my strength! 176 I’ll never forget what you’ve taught me, Lord, but when I wander off and lose my way, come after me, for I am your beloved! The Passion Translation (TPT) The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC. Used by permission. All rights reserved. thePassionTranslation.com

god jesus christ amazon trust lord earth apple bible mexico kingdom truth christians happiness holy spirit worship strength kings pray universe kanye west psalm scripture keys llc fall in love kindness comfort tx focusing revival psalms galatians surrender new testament trusting scriptures google podcasts goodness amen faith in god beloved devotion lords verse his word obey copyright knowing god devoted remind o lord his son his kingdom damascus his spirit o god abundant life commands in jesus my heart experiencing god father god blooming understanding god true joy shining light podcast community lebaron passion translation revelator your son impart granbury invigorate deliver me inspired podcast will be done jennifer eikenhorst i will follow you i love god michelle bentham

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 147: Psalm 119 Devoted to God's Word (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 161-68 in the Passion Translation. Today, we'll look at the question: “What Do I Have My Heart Set On?" As we read, we'll discover the key of longing or hunger for more. A longing or hunger and desire to go deep into God’s Word leads us to discover both His love and His power in a way that compels you to change and live only for Him. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. It’s been a while since I’ve shared a new episode in our Revival Series. God has been impressing upon me that next year is going to require stewardship of rest and the health of my body. I’ve taken a few weeks to get my mind and heart in a place of rest, and now I’m working on getting health to my bones. I’ll be wrapping up our Revival Series as we conclude our reading of Psalm 119 next week. I have a few things stirring in my heart around recent events related to women in ministry that I will be bringing to you in the coming weeks. I also plan to feature some of my favorite podcasters’ shows in November and December, including an interview I did with Jayme Hull, an author and speaker who is passionate about face to face mentoring with Millenials. Be looking for that show to air in two weeks. This week we are going to be reading from Psalm 119:161-168 in the Passion Translation - so go ahead and grab your Bible and let’s get ready to read by reviewing what we covered last time. Review In our last episode, we read verses 153-160 as we continued to discover keys to revival. In our last reading, we discovered the Key of God’s Loving-Kindness, that when we cry out to Him in our weariness and the difficulties we face as we serve Him, that He will breathe life into us again! Isn’t that the heart of revival? As we read through verses 161-168 today, I want you to ask yourself, “What Do I Have My Heart Set On?” Are you devoted to God’s Word, meaning you read the Scriptures and try to do what they say… Or, Are you devoted to God’s Son, trusting His promises as revealed to you in the Scriptures and living out of your relationship with Him. Jesus is the final and fullest expression of who God is to us. When we say God’s Word these days we often think of a book, but when Scripture refers to God’s Word… It is often talking about Jesus. This Week’s Reading So Now Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You, Your Son and the Holy Spirit this morning as we read Your words of life together. Impart the truth of who You are to our hearts, minds, souls and bodies today - we ask for Holy Spirit revelation to open our eyes to the way You see, open our ears to hear Your majestic voice, and open our hearts to know Your heart in intimacy and truth. I thank you that when we believe in Christ, we are hidden in Him and His blessings. Remind us of these truths as we read today and make them real for us! I ask these things in Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN. The heading for today’s reading is, “Devoted to God’s Word” Verse 161: The powerful elite have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart trembles in awe because of your miracle-words. When you read the Scriptures seeking God’s heart… Does your heart tremble in awe at the miraculous way God’s Spirit and His Truth speak to you? When the persecution of a friend or spiritual leader in your church comes how do you respond? You see, the powerful elite are not God, whether they are of the government in a legal sense or of the governing body of your church. Scripture commends us to submit to godly leadership based in Biblical principles, but spiritual abuse comes from the person - not from God. It has become a slippery slope in recent years, all this painful reality being exposed in #MeToo and #ChurchToo, I have my own #MeToo story that has nothing to do with the church, but that doesn’t mean I’ve not been spiritually abused. You see for women in, especially evangelical, church settings,it is considered Biblical to introduce a woman to “her place” while giving a man a title and paycheck worthy of a pastor and giving a woman the title of director and a paycheck that is only a small percentage of what they offer the man. Not to mention what happens to a pastor’s wife if he should die while in the pastorate. Many times it means not only a loss of love and comfort, but a loss of income, insurance and even the home if the pastor’s family was afforded a parsonage. And the church leaders, often men, will come and say we can help you a few months but then - figure it out. You may not see this as persecution, oh, but it is. It is spiritual abuse and spiritual abuse is a form of persecution without cause. Yet, as we see the Psalmist in this passage, crying out to God in the season of persecution we see his heart turn to God’s miracle words which cause his heart to tremble in awe before the Lord. I think of the end of the book of Luke when the two disciples realize they are talking to Jesus they reflect, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He talked with us along the road…” I want to ask you when life closes in and the season is dark, do you turn to the Scriptures and find Jesus speaking to you, causing the awe and tremble of a heart burning within you to devote yourself to Him no matter what you face? Verse 162: Your promises are the source of my bubbling joy; the revelation of your word thrills me When was the last time you reflected on the promises of God in Scripture and they gave you JOY? Scripture tells us joy is the promised reward for those who suffer grief and loss, and even in persecution there is a loss of expectation and a grief over missed opportunities or lost relationships. But, God’s promises bring us bubbling over joy - joy that becomes strength as we immerse ourselves in His word and allow it to thrill and delight us - even when we face devastating circumstances. Verse 163: I despise every lie and hate every falsehood, for I am passionate about keeping your precepts. Jesus said that Satan is the Father of Lies. Meaning all falsehood and deception comes from Satan, himself, and if you believe and live by lies then you are agreeing and aligning yourself with the enemy of God. An enemy that God says over and over again that He hates. He hates lies and falsehood because they damage relationships and hurt people. He hates lies because He, Himself, is Truth - all truth comes from him. Committing ourselves to His precepts breaks any alignment with lies and deception, and removes the enemy’s power to work in our lives and destroy us. Paul writes in the book of Romans that Satan veils the eyes of those who are perishing so they may not see the truth. And, yet the good news is that the Truth of God, the Scriptures and who He is, will uproot and destroy the lies of Satan if we focus on it. Replacing the lies life has taught me - whether by persecution, experience, the enemy’s whispers to me in my weakness, or that I’ve told so myself - with God’s eternal and unchanging truth sets me free from not only the enemy’s hold on my life, but also sets me free to be fully who He designed and paid a price for me to be. When His truth becomes my passion I can say like the traditional hymn, “Though none go with me. Still, I will follow. No turning back.” Verse 164: I stop to praise you seven times a day, all because your ways are perfect! This verse just makes me giddy… The Psalmist mentions praising God seven times a day - every time I eat something, when I wake and when I lay down to sleep - my heart rejoices in the Lord. But also, because it says all God’s ways are perfect. Did you know that? All God’s ways are perfect! And that number 7, it is the perfect number of creative completion as the Lord created the earth in 6 days and rested on the 7th. When my heart rests perfectly in Him, my life is full of peace and full of praise for the one who made it so. Verse 165: There is such a great peace and well-being that comes to the lovers of your word, and they will never be offended. A few years ago, I heard a teacher talking about living life “UNOFFENDED.” I hit pause on that word as he explained he lived by the law of love and grace and chose not to get offended by people and circumstances. And here is this word - 1) that affirms my conclusion from the last verse and 2) affirms this word about living unoffended. You see, if the Bible truly is God’s mind revealed to man, and we become transformed by taking on the mind of Christ in our lives - then the result loving God’s Word (Jesus) by reading the Scriptures will not only allow us to realize God’s peace, which passes our ability to understand, but also to overcome offense and the wounds that life offers us along the path home. Jesus withstood great persecution, accusation and pain -- They killed Him. And yet He forgave, He laid His life down for the very ones who called for the government leaders to end it. This is the life unoffended, this the life of a transformed heart - and it comes first from loving Jesus and then by living according to His words. Verse 166: Lord, I’m longing for more of your salvation, for I want to do what pleases you. As one whose lived a lot of my life squandering my resources and my time in wild living, then in just really unhealthy relationships, thought and behavior patterns I realize that the Lord’s salvation is my only hope - ever - and His salvation sanctifies, purifies and transforms me from the inside out so that my life becomes a pleasing sacrifice laid out before Him, one drawn up in wells of obedience born of faith and trust in the One who saved me. Verse167: My love for your ways is indescribable; in my innermost being I want to follow them perfectly! Once again the Psalmist confirms my conclusion from the last verse we read. That when I long for more of God’s salvation in my life it stirs a love and passion for me that is beyond description. Have you ever had an encounter with God you found hard to put into words? I have. I can’t explain exactly what happened but all I know is that after the encounter I WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. It felt like some part of the old me had been removed and a new part had been given in its place. A fresh new part. This is what I believe it means to have a new heart and a new mind. When the innermost part of your being wants to follow God perfectly. This is a Key to Revival - a longing or hunger for more. A desire to go deep into God’s Word, and know both His love and His power in a way that compels you to change and live only for Him. Verse 168: I will keep your instructions and follow your counsel; all my ways are an open book before you. I remember a time in my life when I first began to pursue Scripture and God’s will in my life. I had been saved at age 12, meaning I knew my destination after life on earth was Heaven because Jesus was my savior who paid the price for my sins, but I did not know Him as Lord quite yet. I believe this is what Paul means when he says that people are saved as ones escaping flames. They get the benefit of heaven, but no transformation in life on earth. I would study Scripture for hours.. I would wrestle with His words and my actions. I would lay in the floor weeping in repentance. I would cry out for more, longing to know Him in intimacy and friendship. But, there was that whole life between salvation and when I began to pursue Him… Some 18 years… Where I had locked up my skeletons in a padlocked closet in my mind and didn’t want to expose them to anyone, even God. Have you ever thought you were keeping something from God by not confessing it to Him? Honey, He already knows. I had to lay my life out like an open book before Him and trust Him with all the bad choices I made alongside the good ones. And the truth is… He redeems it all for His glory. Both my human good (filthy rags) and my human bad (sin) - God redeems them and exchanges them for a crown of life that bring Him glory. Let’s do as Psalm 5 exhorts us, lay our lives out before Him every single morning and let His fire fall on our hearts, consuming what doesn’t look like Him and refining the parts that do. Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! We began our The Gospels: Verse-By-Verse Bible Study in October. We will resume this Saturday, in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live at 10 am (Central Time). That’s right - This season our study is found in the book of Luke. We read the first 80 verses in October and will pick up in Chapter Two next week. You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on Apple and on Google Podcasts. Again, I would like to ask you partner with us. We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! And don’t Tune In Wednesdays! Accidental Hope Podcast airs on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. central time. Each week Jennifer Eikenhorst brings hope-filled messages and interviews related to overcoming accidents and traumas we face in life. You don’t want to miss her inspiring podcast this week. And now, I want to remind you as I always do: Blooming where you're planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs on Tuesdays at 11 am central time. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. Psalm 119:161-168 The Passion Translation (TPT) Devoted to God’s Word 161 The powerful elite have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart trembles in awe because of your miracle-words. 162 Your promises are the source of my bubbling joy; the revelation of your word thrills me like one who has discovered hidden treasure. 163 I despise every lie and hate every falsehood, for I am passionate about keeping your precepts. 164 I stop to praise you seven times a day, all because your ways are perfect! 165 There is such a great peace and well-being that comes to the lovers of your word, and they will never be offended. 166 Lord, I’m longing for more of your salvation, for I want to do what pleases you. 167 My love for your ways is indescribable; in my innermost being I want to follow them perfectly! 168 I will keep your instructions and follow your counsel; all my ways are an open book before you. The Passion Translation (TPT) The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC. Used by permission. All rights reserved. thePassionTranslation.com

god jesus christ father lord apple bible spirit truth holy spirit pray romans satan lies psalm scripture meaning biblical llc tx revival metoo scriptures google podcasts amen verse god's word copyright millenials replacing devoted remind committing psalm 119 psalmist loving kindness father god women in ministry blooming podcast community all god passion translation his truth your son impart churchtoo granbury inspired podcast word it jennifer eikenhorst jayme hull him some michelle bentham

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 147: Psalm 119 Devoted to God's Word (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 161-68 in the Passion Translation. Today, we'll look at the question: “What Do I Have My Heart Set On?" As we read, we'll discover the key of longing or hunger for more. A longing or hunger and desire to go deep into God’s Word leads us to discover both His love and His power in a way that compels you to change and live only for Him. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. It’s been a while since I’ve shared a new episode in our Revival Series. God has been impressing upon me that next year is going to require stewardship of rest and the health of my body. I’ve taken a few weeks to get my mind and heart in a place of rest, and now I’m working on getting health to my bones. I’ll be wrapping up our Revival Series as we conclude our reading of Psalm 119 next week. I have a few things stirring in my heart around recent events related to women in ministry that I will be bringing to you in the coming weeks. I also plan to feature some of my favorite podcasters’ shows in November and December, including an interview I did with Jayme Hull, an author and speaker who is passionate about face to face mentoring with Millenials. Be looking for that show to air in two weeks. This week we are going to be reading from Psalm 119:161-168 in the Passion Translation - so go ahead and grab your Bible and let’s get ready to read by reviewing what we covered last time. Review In our last episode, we read verses 153-160 as we continued to discover keys to revival. In our last reading, we discovered the Key of God’s Loving-Kindness, that when we cry out to Him in our weariness and the difficulties we face as we serve Him, that He will breathe life into us again! Isn’t that the heart of revival? As we read through verses 161-168 today, I want you to ask yourself, “What Do I Have My Heart Set On?” Are you devoted to God’s Word, meaning you read the Scriptures and try to do what they say… Or, Are you devoted to God’s Son, trusting His promises as revealed to you in the Scriptures and living out of your relationship with Him. Jesus is the final and fullest expression of who God is to us. When we say God’s Word these days we often think of a book, but when Scripture refers to God’s Word… It is often talking about Jesus. This Week’s Reading So Now Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You, Your Son and the Holy Spirit this morning as we read Your words of life together. Impart the truth of who You are to our hearts, minds, souls and bodies today - we ask for Holy Spirit revelation to open our eyes to the way You see, open our ears to hear Your majestic voice, and open our hearts to know Your heart in intimacy and truth. I thank you that when we believe in Christ, we are hidden in Him and His blessings. Remind us of these truths as we read today and make them real for us! I ask these things in Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN. The heading for today’s reading is, “Devoted to God’s Word” Verse 161: The powerful elite have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart trembles in awe because of your miracle-words. When you read the Scriptures seeking God’s heart… Does your heart tremble in awe at the miraculous way God’s Spirit and His Truth speak to you? When the persecution of a friend or spiritual leader in your church comes how do you respond? You see, the powerful elite are not God, whether they are of the government in a legal sense or of the governing body of your church. Scripture commends us to submit to godly leadership based in Biblical principles, but spiritual abuse comes from the person - not from God. It has become a slippery slope in recent years, all this painful reality being exposed in #MeToo and #ChurchToo, I have my own #MeToo story that has nothing to do with the church, but that doesn’t mean I’ve not been spiritually abused. You see for women in, especially evangelical, church settings,it is considered Biblical to introduce a woman to “her place” while giving a man a title and paycheck worthy of a pastor and giving a woman the title of director and a paycheck that is only a small percentage of what they offer the man. Not to mention what happens to a pastor’s wife if he should die while in the pastorate. Many times it means not only a loss of love and comfort, but a loss of income, insurance and even the home if the pastor’s family was afforded a parsonage. And the church leaders, often men, will come and say we can help you a few months but then - figure it out. You may not see this as persecution, oh, but it is. It is spiritual abuse and spiritual abuse is a form of persecution without cause. Yet, as we see the Psalmist in this passage, crying out to God in the season of persecution we see his heart turn to God’s miracle words which cause his heart to tremble in awe before the Lord. I think of the end of the book of Luke when the two disciples realize they are talking to Jesus they reflect, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He talked with us along the road…” I want to ask you when life closes in and the season is dark, do you turn to the Scriptures and find Jesus speaking to you, causing the awe and tremble of a heart burning within you to devote yourself to Him no matter what you face? Verse 162: Your promises are the source of my bubbling joy; the revelation of your word thrills me When was the last time you reflected on the promises of God in Scripture and they gave you JOY? Scripture tells us joy is the promised reward for those who suffer grief and loss, and even in persecution there is a loss of expectation and a grief over missed opportunities or lost relationships. But, God’s promises bring us bubbling over joy - joy that becomes strength as we immerse ourselves in His word and allow it to thrill and delight us - even when we face devastating circumstances. Verse 163: I despise every lie and hate every falsehood, for I am passionate about keeping your precepts. Jesus said that Satan is the Father of Lies. Meaning all falsehood and deception comes from Satan, himself, and if you believe and live by lies then you are agreeing and aligning yourself with the enemy of God. An enemy that God says over and over again that He hates. He hates lies and falsehood because they damage relationships and hurt people. He hates lies because He, Himself, is Truth - all truth comes from him. Committing ourselves to His precepts breaks any alignment with lies and deception, and removes the enemy’s power to work in our lives and destroy us. Paul writes in the book of Romans that Satan veils the eyes of those who are perishing so they may not see the truth. And, yet the good news is that the Truth of God, the Scriptures and who He is, will uproot and destroy the lies of Satan if we focus on it. Replacing the lies life has taught me - whether by persecution, experience, the enemy’s whispers to me in my weakness, or that I’ve told so myself - with God’s eternal and unchanging truth sets me free from not only the enemy’s hold on my life, but also sets me free to be fully who He designed and paid a price for me to be. When His truth becomes my passion I can say like the traditional hymn, “Though none go with me. Still, I will follow. No turning back.” Verse 164: I stop to praise you seven times a day, all because your ways are perfect! This verse just makes me giddy… The Psalmist mentions praising God seven times a day - every time I eat something, when I wake and when I lay down to sleep - my heart rejoices in the Lord. But also, because it says all God’s ways are perfect. Did you know that? All God’s ways are perfect! And that number 7, it is the perfect number of creative completion as the Lord created the earth in 6 days and rested on the 7th. When my heart rests perfectly in Him, my life is full of peace and full of praise for the one who made it so. Verse 165: There is such a great peace and well-being that comes to the lovers of your word, and they will never be offended. A few years ago, I heard a teacher talking about living life “UNOFFENDED.” I hit pause on that word as he explained he lived by the law of love and grace and chose not to get offended by people and circumstances. And here is this word - 1) that affirms my conclusion from the last verse and 2) affirms this word about living unoffended. You see, if the Bible truly is God’s mind revealed to man, and we become transformed by taking on the mind of Christ in our lives - then the result loving God’s Word (Jesus) by reading the Scriptures will not only allow us to realize God’s peace, which passes our ability to understand, but also to overcome offense and the wounds that life offers us along the path home. Jesus withstood great persecution, accusation and pain -- They killed Him. And yet He forgave, He laid His life down for the very ones who called for the government leaders to end it. This is the life unoffended, this the life of a transformed heart - and it comes first from loving Jesus and then by living according to His words. Verse 166: Lord, I’m longing for more of your salvation, for I want to do what pleases you. As one whose lived a lot of my life squandering my resources and my time in wild living, then in just really unhealthy relationships, thought and behavior patterns I realize that the Lord’s salvation is my only hope - ever - and His salvation sanctifies, purifies and transforms me from the inside out so that my life becomes a pleasing sacrifice laid out before Him, one drawn up in wells of obedience born of faith and trust in the One who saved me. Verse167: My love for your ways is indescribable; in my innermost being I want to follow them perfectly! Once again the Psalmist confirms my conclusion from the last verse we read. That when I long for more of God’s salvation in my life it stirs a love and passion for me that is beyond description. Have you ever had an encounter with God you found hard to put into words? I have. I can’t explain exactly what happened but all I know is that after the encounter I WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. It felt like some part of the old me had been removed and a new part had been given in its place. A fresh new part. This is what I believe it means to have a new heart and a new mind. When the innermost part of your being wants to follow God perfectly. This is a Key to Revival - a longing or hunger for more. A desire to go deep into God’s Word, and know both His love and His power in a way that compels you to change and live only for Him. Verse 168: I will keep your instructions and follow your counsel; all my ways are an open book before you. I remember a time in my life when I first began to pursue Scripture and God’s will in my life. I had been saved at age 12, meaning I knew my destination after life on earth was Heaven because Jesus was my savior who paid the price for my sins, but I did not know Him as Lord quite yet. I believe this is what Paul means when he says that people are saved as ones escaping flames. They get the benefit of heaven, but no transformation in life on earth. I would study Scripture for hours.. I would wrestle with His words and my actions. I would lay in the floor weeping in repentance. I would cry out for more, longing to know Him in intimacy and friendship. But, there was that whole life between salvation and when I began to pursue Him… Some 18 years… Where I had locked up my skeletons in a padlocked closet in my mind and didn’t want to expose them to anyone, even God. Have you ever thought you were keeping something from God by not confessing it to Him? Honey, He already knows. I had to lay my life out like an open book before Him and trust Him with all the bad choices I made alongside the good ones. And the truth is… He redeems it all for His glory. Both my human good (filthy rags) and my human bad (sin) - God redeems them and exchanges them for a crown of life that bring Him glory. Let’s do as Psalm 5 exhorts us, lay our lives out before Him every single morning and let His fire fall on our hearts, consuming what doesn’t look like Him and refining the parts that do. Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! We began our The Gospels: Verse-By-Verse Bible Study in October. We will resume this Saturday, in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live at 10 am (Central Time). That’s right - This season our study is found in the book of Luke. We read the first 80 verses in October and will pick up in Chapter Two next week. You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on Apple and on Google Podcasts. Again, I would like to ask you partner with us. We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! And don’t Tune In Wednesdays! Accidental Hope Podcast airs on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. central time. Each week Jennifer Eikenhorst brings hope-filled messages and interviews related to overcoming accidents and traumas we face in life. You don’t want to miss her inspiring podcast this week. And now, I want to remind you as I always do: Blooming where you're planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs on Tuesdays at 11 am central time. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. Psalm 119:161-168 The Passion Translation (TPT) Devoted to God’s Word 161 The powerful elite have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart trembles in awe because of your miracle-words. 162 Your promises are the source of my bubbling joy; the revelation of your word thrills me like one who has discovered hidden treasure. 163 I despise every lie and hate every falsehood, for I am passionate about keeping your precepts. 164 I stop to praise you seven times a day, all because your ways are perfect! 165 There is such a great peace and well-being that comes to the lovers of your word, and they will never be offended. 166 Lord, I’m longing for more of your salvation, for I want to do what pleases you. 167 My love for your ways is indescribable; in my innermost being I want to follow them perfectly! 168 I will keep your instructions and follow your counsel; all my ways are an open book before you. The Passion Translation (TPT) The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC. Used by permission. All rights reserved. thePassionTranslation.com

god jesus christ father lord apple bible spirit truth holy spirit pray romans satan lies psalm scripture meaning biblical llc tx revival metoo scriptures google podcasts amen verse god's word copyright millenials replacing devoted remind committing psalm 119 psalmist loving kindness father god women in ministry blooming podcast community all god passion translation his truth your son impart churchtoo granbury inspired podcast word it jennifer eikenhorst jayme hull him some michelle bentham

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 146: Psalm 119 Breath Life Into Me Again (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2019

Sound Recording Copyright ℗ 2019 Michelle Bentham, Blooming Inspired Podcast. All Rights Reserved. Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 153-160 in the Passion Translation. Today, we'll look at the question: "When I feel weary, persecution is consuming me and I think that life is escaping me… Do I ask God to breathe His life into me again?' As we do we'll discover the key of crying out to God in seasons of trial and persecution asking Him to breath life into us again. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. I have been encountering the Lord’s goodness in my reality these last few days - to say I am overwhelmed by His presence is an understatement. As we read about those keys of utter dependence and surrender last week - I had no idea God would give me a tangible experience of this reality in my own life just a few days later. It reminds me that we are called to live by faith, with a full expectancy that the God who promised is faithful to fulfill and complete His promises to us, through us and for us -- and make us the fulfillment of His promises to the world around us. Amen? This week we are going to be reading from Psalm 119:153-160 in the Passion Translation - so go ahead and grab your Bible and let’s get ready to read by reviewing what we covered last week. Review In our last episode, we read verses 145-152 as we continued to discover keys to revival. As we read, we saw God as our refuge and rescue, crying out to Him to save us. In it we found two primary keys of walking in Utter Dependence - dependence on hearing God’s voice spoken to us through both the Scriptures and by revelation of His Holy Spirit being critical to experiencing revival. In the same way we also discovered the Key of Surrender, in this case, it means to surrender our right to be right and my need to justify myself is also a key to surrender. Learning that when we sacrifice our need to be right on behalf of others we look like Jesus. As we concluded we acknowledged that the truths of God are established forever - His revelation, His promises and His Kingdom are all established forever. Every plan of God is revealed and established by His Son Jesus Christ. This Week’s Reading So Now Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You, Your Son and the Holy Spirit this morning as we read Your word together. Impart truth to our hearts, minds, souls and bodies today - we ask for Holy Spirit revelation to open our eyes to the way You see, open our ears to hear Your majestic voice, and open our hearts to know Your heart in intimacy and truth. I thank you that when we believe in Christ, we are hidden in Him and His blessings. Remind us of these truths as we read today and make them real for us! I ask these things in Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN. The heading for today’s reading is, “Breathe Life Into Me Again” As we work our way through scripture today, I want you to consider this question: When I feel weary, persecution is consuming me and I think that life is escaping me… Do I ask God to breathe His life into me again? Verse 153: Look upon all my misery and come be my hero to rescue me, for I will never forget what you’ve revealed to me. As I consider this verse, I am reminded of this weekend. I had a powerful encounter with God at a writing retreat I attended this weekend. During worship He invaded my heart and wrecked me in the best way. My heart was tender, the tears were flowing and my pen was writing a psalm of praise and surrender to God. An hour or so later, I was hurrying to gather my things and get on the road to go home. I made a few stops for lunch and gas. As I was filling my car with I remembered my front floorboard was littered with trash and decided to open the door to throw it out. As I opened the door, I locked the door back with the key remote thinking I didn’t want anyone entering from the other side to take my purse or phone. As I gathered the items I wanted to discard, my hands got full and I dropped my keys in the seat so as not to drop them in the trash. When I stepped away from the door - it closed. YEP! And just like that I locked my keys in the car. My husband is 40 minutes away at home. I’ve not got my phone or my keys, no insurance information or Onstar number (though Onstar would hardly work since I haven’t turned it on since I bought the car). I was stuck. I panicked for a moment before thinking, I’ll just use the phone in the store to call my husband - easy peasy. As I waited in line to talk to the clerk behind the counter, I looked to the door and there stood one of my Writing Sisters from the retreat. She had missed her turn and stopped in at the gas station to get a drink before getting back on course again. I used her phone to call my husband and he was on his way. I bought water and a pack of gum and realized… I have my phone on my arm. An Apple Watch. So I sent my husband a text telling him to text or call me when he got there because I could use my watch. However, to use my watch, I needed to be close to my phone so I stepped out and stood by the car. When my husband arrived I thanked him for rescuing me. Our relationship with God can be a lot like that moment when I realized I locked my keys in the car. For a minute I felt helpless and uncertain of how to even ask for help. But, then… God sent my sister to help me reach my husband and then I realized I could’ve called him myself if I’d only remembered that I had a way to communicate with him directly. When times of trouble come, it can be hard to remember that God is our ultimate hero and rescuer. That we need only cry out to Him, surrender our hearts to Him in our circumstances and watch Him send miracles to rescue us as we have need. I was so profoundly reminded of how much God loves me as he sent people who love me to my rescue on Sunday. Verse 154: Take my side and defend me in these sufferings; redeem me and revive me, just like you promised you would. Seasons of trial and suffering can do one of two things. Either we will press into God, as the psalmist is doing, resting in His promises and trusting God to defend and redeem us and our circumstances, bringing life to us again and again as He revives us in the trying seasons. OR, we can let our hearts questions God in the suffering, feeling every bit a victim of our circumstances and feel hopeless to change them. God sent His Son to die for us, and His Holy Spirit to empower us so that we don’t have to be victimized by our circumstances and the godless cultures we live in - rather, we can stand on His promises and seek His help to overcome the difficulties and trials we suffer in our lives. Verse 155: The wicked are so far from salvation, for they could not care less about your message of truth. Here the psalmist contrasts his own careful consideration of God’s word and promises with the attitude of those who don’t know or believe in God. They do not care about God’s word, or being obedient to Him. They don’t know how to claim and stand on God’s promises of truth when trouble comes. We must remember to be set apart from the world we live in, and cry out as the psalmist will demonstrate rather than resign ourselves to the hurtful season of injustice that swirl all around us. Verse 156: Your tender mercies are what I need, O God; give me back my life again through the revelation of your judgments. When trouble comes, even troubles I have earned, God’s mercies are what I need. I need His mercies when I offend Him, and when others offend me -- I need His mercies all the more so I can offer them to others. Only through God does my soul and my spirit find the life it needs. Only through the revelation of His truth and justice does my suffering find meaning. He is all I need. Verse 157: I have so many enemies who persecute me, yet I won’t swerve from following your ways. Sometimes when the persecutors come, and the assaults are many -- it can feel confusing and become a distraction. It can make me afraid to pursue God because it feels more real than He is to me. It can even make me doubt His goodness and His promises unless, I commit myself to stay the course with Him no matter what comes at me to throw me off track. No matter how many times the adversary seeks to destroy me or discourage me -- I will not forget to follow after Jesus. Being His disciple is the only way for me… Verse 158: I grieve when I see how the faithless ones live, for they just walk away from your promises. 14 years ago my son passed away. I ended up attending a support group for bereaved parents offered through a local church. A few of the parents attending did not believe in God. They found it difficult to find hope after such a devastating loss and continually expressed a need for justice for the child who had passed away. They expressed a difficulty to forgive the people they felt responsible for the loss they had suffered and they often found a way to blame God in their misery. It hurt my heart deeply to see their pain and hopelessness on full display. The futile ways they worked to ensure that the person paid and so their child’s life could have meaning. They tried to assuage their grief by raising funds for research or campaigning for legislative changes, only to return after the events feeling more empty, more angry and hurt than before. Nothing filled the void for them. They had no hope. (As an aside, I’m not saying that non-profit formations, fundraisers for such causes and legislative advocacy are in themselves meaningless. I’m saying without God they will not fill the void left in the grief of a loss and love so deep.) It creates an exhausting cycle of trying to redeem the loss yourself and feeling hopeless when nothing takes the pain away. But, God promises that if we turn to Him - even if we don’t know Him when our circumstances change… That His promises are true for all who will call upon His name. Cry out to Him today. Verse159: God, you are near me always, so close to me; every one of your commands reveals truth. In those moments of utter despair, when you feel defeated and beat down. Remember God is near you, draw near to Him, He is so close - waiting for you to cry out to Him in your need. Remember His words, the ones He’s written on your heart, the promises of Scripture that will carry you through to the place of truth and freedom - life in abundance once again. Verse 160: Lord, see how much I truly love your instructions. So in your tender kindness, breathe life into me again. Here, we see a key - that when we love God’s instructions, expressed to us through His Holy Spirit and the Scriptures, we will realize His tender heart for us - the loving-kindness of a good father and a merciful and gracious Savior who brings life to us again and again until we enter into our Heavenly home. Cry out to Him in your need and watch Him revive you with His life giving Spirit in every sort of need. Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! We began our The Gospels: Verse-By-Verse Bible Study this past Saturday. We will resume on October 12th in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live at 10 am (Central Time). That’s right - This season our study is found in the book of Luke. We read the first 80 verses last weekend and will pick up in Chapter Two next week. You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired and checking out the events listed on our page! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on Apple and on Google Podcasts. Again, I would like to ask you partner with us. We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Tune In Wednesdays! Accidental Hope Podcast airs on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. central time. Each week Jennifer Eikenhorst brings hope-filled messages and interviews related to overcoming accidents and traumas we face in life. You don’t want to miss her inspiring podcast this week. And now, I want to remind you as I always do: Blooming where you're planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 am central time. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. Psalm 119:153-160 The Passion Translation (TPT) Breathe Life into Me Again 153 Look upon all my misery and come be my hero to rescue me, for I will never forget what you’ve revealed to me. 154 Take my side and defend me in these sufferings; redeem me and revive me, just like you promised you would. 155 The wicked are so far from salvation, for they could not care less about your message of truth. 156 Your tender mercies are what I need, O God; give me back my life again through the revelation of your judgments. 157 I have so many enemies who persecute me, yet I won’t swerve from following your ways. 158 I grieve when I see how the faithless ones live, for they just walk away from your promises. 159 Lord, see how much I truly love your instructions. So in your tender kindness, breathe life into me again. 160 The sum total of all your words adds up to absolute truth, and every one of your righteous decrees is everlasting. The Passion Translation (TPT) The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC. Used by permission. All rights reserved. thePassionTranslation.com

god jesus christ learning lord apple bible spirit holy spirit pray psalm scripture llc savior tx revival surrender breath scriptures google podcasts amen verse copyright apple watches cry remind his son his kingdom o god psalm 119 father god blooming his holy spirit remember god podcast community his son jesus christ passion translation your son onstar impart granbury inspired podcast jennifer eikenhorst utter dependence michelle bentham

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 146: Psalm 119 Breath Life Into Me Again (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2019

Sound Recording Copyright ℗ 2019 Michelle Bentham, Blooming Inspired Podcast. All Rights Reserved. Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 153-160 in the Passion Translation. Today, we'll look at the question: "When I feel weary, persecution is consuming me and I think that life is escaping me… Do I ask God to breathe His life into me again?' As we do we'll discover the key of crying out to God in seasons of trial and persecution asking Him to breath life into us again. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. I have been encountering the Lord’s goodness in my reality these last few days - to say I am overwhelmed by His presence is an understatement. As we read about those keys of utter dependence and surrender last week - I had no idea God would give me a tangible experience of this reality in my own life just a few days later. It reminds me that we are called to live by faith, with a full expectancy that the God who promised is faithful to fulfill and complete His promises to us, through us and for us -- and make us the fulfillment of His promises to the world around us. Amen? This week we are going to be reading from Psalm 119:153-160 in the Passion Translation - so go ahead and grab your Bible and let’s get ready to read by reviewing what we covered last week. Review In our last episode, we read verses 145-152 as we continued to discover keys to revival. As we read, we saw God as our refuge and rescue, crying out to Him to save us. In it we found two primary keys of walking in Utter Dependence - dependence on hearing God’s voice spoken to us through both the Scriptures and by revelation of His Holy Spirit being critical to experiencing revival. In the same way we also discovered the Key of Surrender, in this case, it means to surrender our right to be right and my need to justify myself is also a key to surrender. Learning that when we sacrifice our need to be right on behalf of others we look like Jesus. As we concluded we acknowledged that the truths of God are established forever - His revelation, His promises and His Kingdom are all established forever. Every plan of God is revealed and established by His Son Jesus Christ. This Week’s Reading So Now Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You, Your Son and the Holy Spirit this morning as we read Your word together. Impart truth to our hearts, minds, souls and bodies today - we ask for Holy Spirit revelation to open our eyes to the way You see, open our ears to hear Your majestic voice, and open our hearts to know Your heart in intimacy and truth. I thank you that when we believe in Christ, we are hidden in Him and His blessings. Remind us of these truths as we read today and make them real for us! I ask these things in Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN. The heading for today’s reading is, “Breathe Life Into Me Again” As we work our way through scripture today, I want you to consider this question: When I feel weary, persecution is consuming me and I think that life is escaping me… Do I ask God to breathe His life into me again? Verse 153: Look upon all my misery and come be my hero to rescue me, for I will never forget what you’ve revealed to me. As I consider this verse, I am reminded of this weekend. I had a powerful encounter with God at a writing retreat I attended this weekend. During worship He invaded my heart and wrecked me in the best way. My heart was tender, the tears were flowing and my pen was writing a psalm of praise and surrender to God. An hour or so later, I was hurrying to gather my things and get on the road to go home. I made a few stops for lunch and gas. As I was filling my car with I remembered my front floorboard was littered with trash and decided to open the door to throw it out. As I opened the door, I locked the door back with the key remote thinking I didn’t want anyone entering from the other side to take my purse or phone. As I gathered the items I wanted to discard, my hands got full and I dropped my keys in the seat so as not to drop them in the trash. When I stepped away from the door - it closed. YEP! And just like that I locked my keys in the car. My husband is 40 minutes away at home. I’ve not got my phone or my keys, no insurance information or Onstar number (though Onstar would hardly work since I haven’t turned it on since I bought the car). I was stuck. I panicked for a moment before thinking, I’ll just use the phone in the store to call my husband - easy peasy. As I waited in line to talk to the clerk behind the counter, I looked to the door and there stood one of my Writing Sisters from the retreat. She had missed her turn and stopped in at the gas station to get a drink before getting back on course again. I used her phone to call my husband and he was on his way. I bought water and a pack of gum and realized… I have my phone on my arm. An Apple Watch. So I sent my husband a text telling him to text or call me when he got there because I could use my watch. However, to use my watch, I needed to be close to my phone so I stepped out and stood by the car. When my husband arrived I thanked him for rescuing me. Our relationship with God can be a lot like that moment when I realized I locked my keys in the car. For a minute I felt helpless and uncertain of how to even ask for help. But, then… God sent my sister to help me reach my husband and then I realized I could’ve called him myself if I’d only remembered that I had a way to communicate with him directly. When times of trouble come, it can be hard to remember that God is our ultimate hero and rescuer. That we need only cry out to Him, surrender our hearts to Him in our circumstances and watch Him send miracles to rescue us as we have need. I was so profoundly reminded of how much God loves me as he sent people who love me to my rescue on Sunday. Verse 154: Take my side and defend me in these sufferings; redeem me and revive me, just like you promised you would. Seasons of trial and suffering can do one of two things. Either we will press into God, as the psalmist is doing, resting in His promises and trusting God to defend and redeem us and our circumstances, bringing life to us again and again as He revives us in the trying seasons. OR, we can let our hearts questions God in the suffering, feeling every bit a victim of our circumstances and feel hopeless to change them. God sent His Son to die for us, and His Holy Spirit to empower us so that we don’t have to be victimized by our circumstances and the godless cultures we live in - rather, we can stand on His promises and seek His help to overcome the difficulties and trials we suffer in our lives. Verse 155: The wicked are so far from salvation, for they could not care less about your message of truth. Here the psalmist contrasts his own careful consideration of God’s word and promises with the attitude of those who don’t know or believe in God. They do not care about God’s word, or being obedient to Him. They don’t know how to claim and stand on God’s promises of truth when trouble comes. We must remember to be set apart from the world we live in, and cry out as the psalmist will demonstrate rather than resign ourselves to the hurtful season of injustice that swirl all around us. Verse 156: Your tender mercies are what I need, O God; give me back my life again through the revelation of your judgments. When trouble comes, even troubles I have earned, God’s mercies are what I need. I need His mercies when I offend Him, and when others offend me -- I need His mercies all the more so I can offer them to others. Only through God does my soul and my spirit find the life it needs. Only through the revelation of His truth and justice does my suffering find meaning. He is all I need. Verse 157: I have so many enemies who persecute me, yet I won’t swerve from following your ways. Sometimes when the persecutors come, and the assaults are many -- it can feel confusing and become a distraction. It can make me afraid to pursue God because it feels more real than He is to me. It can even make me doubt His goodness and His promises unless, I commit myself to stay the course with Him no matter what comes at me to throw me off track. No matter how many times the adversary seeks to destroy me or discourage me -- I will not forget to follow after Jesus. Being His disciple is the only way for me… Verse 158: I grieve when I see how the faithless ones live, for they just walk away from your promises. 14 years ago my son passed away. I ended up attending a support group for bereaved parents offered through a local church. A few of the parents attending did not believe in God. They found it difficult to find hope after such a devastating loss and continually expressed a need for justice for the child who had passed away. They expressed a difficulty to forgive the people they felt responsible for the loss they had suffered and they often found a way to blame God in their misery. It hurt my heart deeply to see their pain and hopelessness on full display. The futile ways they worked to ensure that the person paid and so their child’s life could have meaning. They tried to assuage their grief by raising funds for research or campaigning for legislative changes, only to return after the events feeling more empty, more angry and hurt than before. Nothing filled the void for them. They had no hope. (As an aside, I’m not saying that non-profit formations, fundraisers for such causes and legislative advocacy are in themselves meaningless. I’m saying without God they will not fill the void left in the grief of a loss and love so deep.) It creates an exhausting cycle of trying to redeem the loss yourself and feeling hopeless when nothing takes the pain away. But, God promises that if we turn to Him - even if we don’t know Him when our circumstances change… That His promises are true for all who will call upon His name. Cry out to Him today. Verse159: God, you are near me always, so close to me; every one of your commands reveals truth. In those moments of utter despair, when you feel defeated and beat down. Remember God is near you, draw near to Him, He is so close - waiting for you to cry out to Him in your need. Remember His words, the ones He’s written on your heart, the promises of Scripture that will carry you through to the place of truth and freedom - life in abundance once again. Verse 160: Lord, see how much I truly love your instructions. So in your tender kindness, breathe life into me again. Here, we see a key - that when we love God’s instructions, expressed to us through His Holy Spirit and the Scriptures, we will realize His tender heart for us - the loving-kindness of a good father and a merciful and gracious Savior who brings life to us again and again until we enter into our Heavenly home. Cry out to Him in your need and watch Him revive you with His life giving Spirit in every sort of need. Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! We began our The Gospels: Verse-By-Verse Bible Study this past Saturday. We will resume on October 12th in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live at 10 am (Central Time). That’s right - This season our study is found in the book of Luke. We read the first 80 verses last weekend and will pick up in Chapter Two next week. You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired and checking out the events listed on our page! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on Apple and on Google Podcasts. Again, I would like to ask you partner with us. We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Tune In Wednesdays! Accidental Hope Podcast airs on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. central time. Each week Jennifer Eikenhorst brings hope-filled messages and interviews related to overcoming accidents and traumas we face in life. You don’t want to miss her inspiring podcast this week. And now, I want to remind you as I always do: Blooming where you're planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 am central time. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. Psalm 119:153-160 The Passion Translation (TPT) Breathe Life into Me Again 153 Look upon all my misery and come be my hero to rescue me, for I will never forget what you’ve revealed to me. 154 Take my side and defend me in these sufferings; redeem me and revive me, just like you promised you would. 155 The wicked are so far from salvation, for they could not care less about your message of truth. 156 Your tender mercies are what I need, O God; give me back my life again through the revelation of your judgments. 157 I have so many enemies who persecute me, yet I won’t swerve from following your ways. 158 I grieve when I see how the faithless ones live, for they just walk away from your promises. 159 Lord, see how much I truly love your instructions. So in your tender kindness, breathe life into me again. 160 The sum total of all your words adds up to absolute truth, and every one of your righteous decrees is everlasting. The Passion Translation (TPT) The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC. Used by permission. All rights reserved. thePassionTranslation.com

god jesus christ learning lord apple bible spirit holy spirit pray psalm scripture llc savior tx revival surrender breath scriptures google podcasts amen verse copyright apple watches cry remind his son his kingdom o god psalm 119 father god blooming his holy spirit remember god podcast community his son jesus christ passion translation your son onstar impart granbury inspired podcast jennifer eikenhorst utter dependence michelle bentham

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 145: Save Me, God (Psalm 119 - Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 145-152 in the Passion Translation. Today, we'll look at the question: "Who or What do I turn to in difficult circumstances?" As we read, we'll discover the key of utter dependence on God and surrender to Him as our source in every moment of our lives as a key to revival, not only for us - but as we engage with the world around us as well! Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. We announced last week on our Facebook Page that we would begin sharing this podcast once a week on Tuesdays at 11 am (CT). We’ll replay the episode on Thursday mornings in case you didn’t catch it on Tuesday - AND, we also have Bible study airing on Facebook Live each week at 10 am (CT) at facebook.com/bloominginpsired. So you will still have the opportunity to #GetBloomingInspired each week through the podcast and Bible study. Our next session of Bible study will be on Saturday, October 12th --- If you haven’t already liked the Blooming Inspired FB page go ahead and do so today! That way you’ll get notified and see our posts in your regular feed. I had an early appointment this morning that ran longer than I intended and so we’re running a bit late getting online today. We’ll be reading from the Passion Translation in Psalm 119. So go ahead and grab your favorite translation of the Bible and turn to Psalm 119: 145-152 as I recap what we read last time. Review In our last episode, we read verses 137-144 as we continued to discover keys to revival. As we read, we acknowledged the truth of God's Word, and how it leads our hearts to burn with furious passion for the Lord. When we understand His word, we understand not only His righteousness but the faithfulness of His promises. These promises are TRUTH to set us free. This Week’s Reading So Now Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would impart truth to our heart, mind and soul today - would you open our eyes to see your revelation, open our ears to hear your voice, and open our hearts to know you more? I thank you that when we believe in Christ, we are hidden in Him and His blessings. Remind us of these truths as we read today! I ask these things in Jesus’ Name, AMEN. The heading for today’s reading is, “Save Me, God” As we work our way through scripture today, I want you to consider this question: To who or what do I turn when troubles come? Verse 145: Answer my passionate prayer, O Lord, and I’ll obey everything you say. The psalmist almost seems to be bargaining with God - “if You’ll answer my prayer, I’ll obey you…” But, that is not what they write. Instead we see two connected statements… Answer my passionate prayer, O Lord, and I’ll obey everything you say. The psalmist is asking for God to answer his prayer so he’ll know what to do… Dependent upon God speaking to him for his next step. Do we live this way? Utterly dependent on our relationship with God -- what we read in Scripture AND the way we sense Him responding to our prayers. Are we committed to cry out to Him in every circumstance and obey what we sense He is leading us to do? It is powerful to consider how the psalmist is reaffirming his commitment to obey God over and over again throughout this lengthy psalm - which leads me to a conclusion. The key to revival is both walking in dependence on God’s words given to us in Scripture and by revelation of the Holy Spirit. That to awaken our hearts to His truth we must know the Scriptures and then receive revelation from the Holy Spirit about how to live, and move, and find our being in Him. He alone can protect, guide and reveal Himself to us in every circumstance we face. We must be willing to cry out to Him, wait for His response and respond as He directs us. Utter dependence is a key to revival. Verse 146: Save me, God, and I’ll follow your every instruction. Again, we see the psalmist in utter need. Dependent upon the salvation of God -- his heart cry is if you will show me your salvation I will do it. I will do what you instruct me to do. As we approach God through the Scriptures and prayer, I’m reminded that my heart must remain teachable. When my spiritual eyes and ears are tuned to the voice of God and His instructions - only then will I know the true depth of His redemption and salvation in my life. I cannot rely only on what I’ve known about God - but rather come to Him crying out each day, in every situation and receive His instruction as both truth and necessity in every moment of my life. Verse 147:Before the day dawns, I’ll be crying out for help and wrapping your words into my life. What a beautiful picture of dependency on God. Early in the morning, before the sun even comes up -- I’ll be crying out for your assistance as I wrap your words into my life. The deepest desire of our heart should not only be to depend on God and be saved by Him, but to have a heart to Know Him the way we are Known By Him. To have His words that express not only His will, but His very being to us - to be woven into the fiber of who we are. To be written upon our hearts as only He can write them. Wrapping our lives in His words, and His truth. Hiding ourselves in Him. Verse 148: I lie awake every night pondering your promises to me. Letting His promises resonate deep within our hearts. That His word would resound so loudly that it would rob us of our sleep the way a young maiden rehearses the words of her lover as she lies on her pillow at night. Pondering, meditating on and dreaming of the promises of God and His truth in my life. Verse 149: Lord, listen to my heart’s cry, for I know your love is real for me; breathe life into me again by the revelation of your justice. When we know the reality of God who is LOVE for us, then we begin to understand that His justice is not that of vengeance - taking recompense for what has offended Him. But rather, His justice, born of love, lays down its life to save those who offend Him. What would our heart’s cry sound like if we knew the love of God for those who offend us? If our justice sacrificed itself on behalf of others… What would that look like? I believe sacrificing my right to be right, and surrendering my need to be justified is a key to revival. It changes my heart to see from God’s perspective those that would offend me the most and step forth in truth to reveal His heart for them. Verse 150: Here they come—these lawless rebels are coming near, but they are all so far away from your laws. Honestly, we can recognize the lawlessness in others, we can also avoid meeting them and ministering to them because they seem like a lost cause. But, Jesus didn’t render them lost causes. He came to save them, to correct them, to free them from the bondage of both sin and religious piety that was empty and valueless in the eyes of God. Can I pray for the sinner, the lawless ones, the way I pray for the saints I live my life with day in and day out? Can I dig for the gold of God’s treasure in them rather than call them out for who they are being or what they have done? How will we reach them if we do not love them as we find them - in their lawlessness. It’s not saying that evil is good, but saying I believe God placed His goodness inside of every life He created and it is my job to lead them out of darkness and into the light of His truth so they may discover it for themselves. Isn’t this what love looks like? Verse151: God, you are near me always, so close to me; every one of your commands reveals truth. If God is always near me, so close to me that His truth is continually revealed to me, then what do I have to fear? If Christ lives within me, if the powerful Spirit of God lives inside of me and has baptized me in His Power and His Truth - then why do I fear when the world around me rages and people seem to seek to harm me? Why don’t we, as the Body, believe and walk in His authority and live as if the victory is ours for the taking, that people’s lives will change when they encounter the God whom we profess? Why do we try to manufacture gimmicks and device schemes to get people to church when the Holy Spirit Himself wins people to Jesus Christ when He is lifted up? What if our next marketing plan for the local church was to be like Jesus everywhere we go, and make disciples in the streets and the marketplaces because the word dwells so richly in us that God’s goodness splashes out on everyone we mee? His goodness and His promises do not come to me for my benefit alone - they come so I may be a benefit to others. Verse 152: I’ve known all along how true and unchanging is every word you speak, established forever! The truths of God are established forever - His revelation, His promises and His Kingdom are all established forever. Every plan of God is revealed and established by His Son Jesus Christ. So why wouldn’t we cry out to Him in our need expecting Him to respond with favor, goodness and blessing toward His beloved Children? Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have for today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you subscribe to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! We began our The Gospels: Verse-By-Verse Bible Study this past Saturday. We will resume on October 12th in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live at 10 am (Central Time). That’s right - This season our study is found in the book of Luke. We read the first 80 verses last weekend and will pick up in Chapter Two next week. You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired and checking out the events listed on our page! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on Apple and on Google Podcasts. Would you partner with us? We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Tune In Wednesdays! Accidental Hope Podcast airs on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. central time. Each week Jennifer Eikenhorst brings hope-filled messages and interviews related to overcoming accidents and traumas we face in life. You don’t want to miss her final of a three part interview series with Tina Boyd as they talk about how Faith Moves You Forward this week! And now, I want to remind you as I always do: Blooming where you're planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 am central time. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and its network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page.

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 145: Save Me, God (Psalm 119 - Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 145-152 in the Passion Translation. Today, we'll look at the question: "Who or What do I turn to in difficult circumstances?" As we read, we'll discover the key of utter dependence on God and surrender to Him as our source in every moment of our lives as a key to revival, not only for us - but as we engage with the world around us as well! Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. We announced last week on our Facebook Page that we would begin sharing this podcast once a week on Tuesdays at 11 am (CT). We’ll replay the episode on Thursday mornings in case you didn’t catch it on Tuesday - AND, we also have Bible study airing on Facebook Live each week at 10 am (CT) at facebook.com/bloominginpsired. So you will still have the opportunity to #GetBloomingInspired each week through the podcast and Bible study. Our next session of Bible study will be on Saturday, October 12th --- If you haven’t already liked the Blooming Inspired FB page go ahead and do so today! That way you’ll get notified and see our posts in your regular feed. I had an early appointment this morning that ran longer than I intended and so we’re running a bit late getting online today. We’ll be reading from the Passion Translation in Psalm 119. So go ahead and grab your favorite translation of the Bible and turn to Psalm 119: 145-152 as I recap what we read last time. Review In our last episode, we read verses 137-144 as we continued to discover keys to revival. As we read, we acknowledged the truth of God's Word, and how it leads our hearts to burn with furious passion for the Lord. When we understand His word, we understand not only His righteousness but the faithfulness of His promises. These promises are TRUTH to set us free. This Week’s Reading So Now Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would impart truth to our heart, mind and soul today - would you open our eyes to see your revelation, open our ears to hear your voice, and open our hearts to know you more? I thank you that when we believe in Christ, we are hidden in Him and His blessings. Remind us of these truths as we read today! I ask these things in Jesus’ Name, AMEN. The heading for today’s reading is, “Save Me, God” As we work our way through scripture today, I want you to consider this question: To who or what do I turn when troubles come? Verse 145: Answer my passionate prayer, O Lord, and I’ll obey everything you say. The psalmist almost seems to be bargaining with God - “if You’ll answer my prayer, I’ll obey you…” But, that is not what they write. Instead we see two connected statements… Answer my passionate prayer, O Lord, and I’ll obey everything you say. The psalmist is asking for God to answer his prayer so he’ll know what to do… Dependent upon God speaking to him for his next step. Do we live this way? Utterly dependent on our relationship with God -- what we read in Scripture AND the way we sense Him responding to our prayers. Are we committed to cry out to Him in every circumstance and obey what we sense He is leading us to do? It is powerful to consider how the psalmist is reaffirming his commitment to obey God over and over again throughout this lengthy psalm - which leads me to a conclusion. The key to revival is both walking in dependence on God’s words given to us in Scripture and by revelation of the Holy Spirit. That to awaken our hearts to His truth we must know the Scriptures and then receive revelation from the Holy Spirit about how to live, and move, and find our being in Him. He alone can protect, guide and reveal Himself to us in every circumstance we face. We must be willing to cry out to Him, wait for His response and respond as He directs us. Utter dependence is a key to revival. Verse 146: Save me, God, and I’ll follow your every instruction. Again, we see the psalmist in utter need. Dependent upon the salvation of God -- his heart cry is if you will show me your salvation I will do it. I will do what you instruct me to do. As we approach God through the Scriptures and prayer, I’m reminded that my heart must remain teachable. When my spiritual eyes and ears are tuned to the voice of God and His instructions - only then will I know the true depth of His redemption and salvation in my life. I cannot rely only on what I’ve known about God - but rather come to Him crying out each day, in every situation and receive His instruction as both truth and necessity in every moment of my life. Verse 147:Before the day dawns, I’ll be crying out for help and wrapping your words into my life. What a beautiful picture of dependency on God. Early in the morning, before the sun even comes up -- I’ll be crying out for your assistance as I wrap your words into my life. The deepest desire of our heart should not only be to depend on God and be saved by Him, but to have a heart to Know Him the way we are Known By Him. To have His words that express not only His will, but His very being to us - to be woven into the fiber of who we are. To be written upon our hearts as only He can write them. Wrapping our lives in His words, and His truth. Hiding ourselves in Him. Verse 148: I lie awake every night pondering your promises to me. Letting His promises resonate deep within our hearts. That His word would resound so loudly that it would rob us of our sleep the way a young maiden rehearses the words of her lover as she lies on her pillow at night. Pondering, meditating on and dreaming of the promises of God and His truth in my life. Verse 149: Lord, listen to my heart’s cry, for I know your love is real for me; breathe life into me again by the revelation of your justice. When we know the reality of God who is LOVE for us, then we begin to understand that His justice is not that of vengeance - taking recompense for what has offended Him. But rather, His justice, born of love, lays down its life to save those who offend Him. What would our heart’s cry sound like if we knew the love of God for those who offend us? If our justice sacrificed itself on behalf of others… What would that look like? I believe sacrificing my right to be right, and surrendering my need to be justified is a key to revival. It changes my heart to see from God’s perspective those that would offend me the most and step forth in truth to reveal His heart for them. Verse 150: Here they come—these lawless rebels are coming near, but they are all so far away from your laws. Honestly, we can recognize the lawlessness in others, we can also avoid meeting them and ministering to them because they seem like a lost cause. But, Jesus didn’t render them lost causes. He came to save them, to correct them, to free them from the bondage of both sin and religious piety that was empty and valueless in the eyes of God. Can I pray for the sinner, the lawless ones, the way I pray for the saints I live my life with day in and day out? Can I dig for the gold of God’s treasure in them rather than call them out for who they are being or what they have done? How will we reach them if we do not love them as we find them - in their lawlessness. It’s not saying that evil is good, but saying I believe God placed His goodness inside of every life He created and it is my job to lead them out of darkness and into the light of His truth so they may discover it for themselves. Isn’t this what love looks like? Verse151: God, you are near me always, so close to me; every one of your commands reveals truth. If God is always near me, so close to me that His truth is continually revealed to me, then what do I have to fear? If Christ lives within me, if the powerful Spirit of God lives inside of me and has baptized me in His Power and His Truth - then why do I fear when the world around me rages and people seem to seek to harm me? Why don’t we, as the Body, believe and walk in His authority and live as if the victory is ours for the taking, that people’s lives will change when they encounter the God whom we profess? Why do we try to manufacture gimmicks and device schemes to get people to church when the Holy Spirit Himself wins people to Jesus Christ when He is lifted up? What if our next marketing plan for the local church was to be like Jesus everywhere we go, and make disciples in the streets and the marketplaces because the word dwells so richly in us that God’s goodness splashes out on everyone we mee? His goodness and His promises do not come to me for my benefit alone - they come so I may be a benefit to others. Verse 152: I’ve known all along how true and unchanging is every word you speak, established forever! The truths of God are established forever - His revelation, His promises and His Kingdom are all established forever. Every plan of God is revealed and established by His Son Jesus Christ. So why wouldn’t we cry out to Him in our need expecting Him to respond with favor, goodness and blessing toward His beloved Children? Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have for today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you subscribe to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! We began our The Gospels: Verse-By-Verse Bible Study this past Saturday. We will resume on October 12th in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live at 10 am (Central Time). That’s right - This season our study is found in the book of Luke. We read the first 80 verses last weekend and will pick up in Chapter Two next week. You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired and checking out the events listed on our page! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on Apple and on Google Podcasts. Would you partner with us? We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Tune In Wednesdays! Accidental Hope Podcast airs on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. central time. Each week Jennifer Eikenhorst brings hope-filled messages and interviews related to overcoming accidents and traumas we face in life. You don’t want to miss her final of a three part interview series with Tina Boyd as they talk about how Faith Moves You Forward this week! And now, I want to remind you as I always do: Blooming where you're planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 am central time. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and its network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page.

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 143: Psalm 119 I Long to Obey You (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 129-136 in the Passion Translation. Today, as we continue to discover how the keys of living from intimacy and following God in obedience as our passionate pursuit and souls longing leads us to crave His presence and grieve over sin. When we come into a right understanding of Who God is as we pursue Him through His Word – the keys of presence and obedience bring us into understanding the justice of His heart toward a lost and dying world. Show Transcript: Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. I’m always excited to jump on the podcast with you each week. I’ve been on a social media and podcast break for the last month while traveling and am ready to get back in touch and into Psalm 119. Before I do, I wanted to share a little about the last few weeks of my life and a few changes that will be coming soon to Blooming Inspired Network.. First, I want to say as I’ve spent time away I’ve missed “seeing you” on Facebook and interacting with you there. Still, part of the reason I’m needing to make changes centers on the book God has been stirring in my heart for 14 years now. In August I attended the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association Conference in Nashville, TN. This event inspired me to get serious about my book project and developed some definite goals for the next few months. I was able to spend time with my writing friends from North Texas while making new friends the few days we were there. It’s been an amazing time in my life and encourages me to take steps of faith like never before. If you don’t know, writing a book is labor intensive and time consuming. So, I may not be able to interact with you as often on Facebook, but I’ll be bringing you content that will still encourage and inspire you to go deeper with God in your life. After I returned home from the writer’s conference, I w laundry and headed out again. This time for a retreat for ministry leaders in Telluride, CO. The theme of the Retreat was rest and and… BOY, Did I Need It. The scenic beauty surrounded us on every side. I was incredibly blessed. I took my calendar and my laptop hoping to do some planning and writing while away. But, instead… I heard the Lord whisper, “Just enjoy my creation with me.” I laid in bed late at night and looked up at the diamond-like stars glistening in a black sky just beyond the windows of my bedroom. I fell asleep to the peaceful sound of a creek running behind the house where we stayed. I woke up early and took in the first rays of light coming over the mountains to our east without ever leaving my bed. I marvelled at those mountainous landscapes that surrounded us. And, I enjoyed the 100s of birds, most of them Hummingbirds, that lived in the Douglas Fir Trees around the retreat house. Until… The third day. The plumbing backed up in the electrical closet downstairs. We were moved up the mountain from Telluride to the Mountain Village Lodge where we spent our last two nights in an even more beautiful setting with less oxygen. I just have to say I’m grateful for the Gondolas and shuttles in that area that helped us get around. Several other women journeyed with us on the retreat that week and we quickly became heart friends. I miss them already, but they reminded me why Blooming Inspired Network exists - we’re here for you! Now… Here’s the fun part - we’re going to allow you to submit content for the page! Did you read a Scripture or quote that really moves you? Do you have a word from God that you want to share? GREAT! Simply DM the content to the Blooming Inspired Page, and we’ll look for an opportunity to get it posted. Here are a few guidelines: Our content is by women for women, looking forward to empowering your voice and pen! Not that doesn’t mean we don’t value the voices and offerings of men - we do! But this is a place for wildflowers to bloom. So bring on the women who are wildflowers waiting to sing! [Please note: Not every quote that gets submitted will fit our scope and needs at Blooming Inspired Network - but we’ll be sure to let you know if your content is selected and when it will post.] Content for Quote or Scripture Graphics: Must include the original author or Scripture Reference AND Translation in the message. We’ll ask for it if it is not included. TIP: Ask yourself, “How will this equip and empower women to walk in their role and reign in God’s Kingdom?” Then send us your thoughts along with the quote. We’ll include your note and tag you in the post. :) Other Content: 1) It must be encouraging. 2) It must inspire action. 3) It must be biblically sound. 4) Be sure to respond to the comments if your content is posted. We’ll tag you in the post… :) Do you have a testimony or Podcast idea? Listen for an opportunity to join the fun at the end of today’s show! If you want to go deeper with the Wildflowers at Blooming Inspired Network be sure to join our Wildflower Women Relaunch on Facebook! We’d love to connect and enjoy the encouragement of community with each of you. Are you a writer? Be sure to DM or fill out the contact page at the website. We’d love to get a sample from you as we’re starting a blog soon! We need writers! :) With that said, in addition to our weekly podcasts - Blooming Inspired Network will post on Facebook 2-3 times a week. Looking at a Monday, Wednesday & Friday. The more you engage with our content the more we’ll bring to you there. We’ll also be posting to Instagram, Twitter and A NEW! Pinterest account we’ll be opening this week. We’d love to pin your work. Be sure to connect with us and let us know what you’re up to. But enough about this social stuff… Let’s get to our show. Review In our last episode of the Revival Series we read verses 121-127 and saw the way God’s tender love leads us into not only His righteousness but, when we choose to submit to God in obedience, it also leads us to beautiful intimacy with Him. Today we continue that theme as we look at what it means when our longings are to obey God. This Week’s Reading This week we’re returning to our reading in verses 128-136. We’re reading from the Passion Translation, but go ahead and grab your Bible and turn to the Psalm so you can follow along, I’ll pray to open our discussion today. Father God, I ask that you would open our eyes to see your revelation, open our ears to hear your voice, and open our hearts to know you more. Protect us from the plans of your adversary and keep us from harm. I ask these things in Jesus’ Name, AMEN. The heading for today’s reading is, “I Long to Obey You.” As we read today, I want you to consider this question: “Do I Long To OBEY God?” Let’s begin: Verse 129: Your marvelous words are living miracles; no wonder I long to obey everything you say. Did you catch that? There is a link to seeing God’s living miracles and obedience. Not just obedience for the sake of obedience… But, there is a sense of an obedience that HANGS on every word God has spoken to us. How does God speak personally to us: Through His Word - Jesus, through the Scriptures, and through the revelation that the Holy Spirit brings to us when we walk closely with Him. When you read the Scriptures or sense God speaking to you through the Holy Spirit, do you feel compelled to respond in some way? This is where I think obedience becomes a key. My friend, Tracy, says often - Obedience is the Love Language of the Holy Spirit. And, I agree. If we never do what we read about in Scripture how will we ever know the Greater Works that Jesus said we who come after would do? Obedience is more than doing the right thing because God said so, obedience is an expression of both faith and love toward God. An expectant faith, that knows God will respond - keeping the promises of His Word - when we obey Him. Verse 130: Break open your word within me until revelation-light shines out! Those with open hearts are given insight into your plans. Before you ever experience a breakthrough in your circumstances, God’s word - the Scriptures must break open within you - flooding your being with the revelation light of Christ. Only then will we see and understand the plans God speaks of in Jeremiah 29:11, plans that the NKJV calls THOUGHTS. I recently heard Jesse Beebe speak at a conference and she said, “Did you know God has one destiny for your life, but many plans?” That’s right. God doesn’t just have 1 PLAN for your life - He has many plans that all lead to the one destiny He created and designed you to fulfill in your lifetime. It is through His Scriptures that these plans first break open to us, and as we follow Him through each revelation in obedience to His call… We find our hearts open and we discover the insights and wisdom of His truth in every area of our lives. Verse 131: I open my mouth and inhale the word of God because I crave the revelation of your commands. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we read that the Scriptures are “God-Breathed.” Picture the words of God being inhaled into your body like life-giving oxygen, bringing both light and life to the thoughts and intentions of your heart, soul and body. What would our lives look like if we craved God’s Word like our bodies crave oxygen to breathe. The other evening I was working with my husband cleaning out closets and rooms in our house. My allergies have been bothering me lately and I’ve had a little trouble breathing at times. As I bent over to pick something up I found myself unable to catch my breath. I tried to find my inhaler but couldn’t seem to get it. Without oxygen, all I could do was sit on the side of my bed - feeling my lungs burn with their need for oxygen and pray that my husband would realize I needed his help. Eventually he came along and found my inhaler. I took a couple of puffs and began to feel my airway open and my lungs fill with the oxygen my body needs to live. This is the picture this scripture paints - that our souls hunger for God’s word and crave the revelation of His truth. Our lives depend on it… Verse 132: Turn your heart to me, Lord, and show me your grace like you do to every one of your godly lovers. Have you ever been reading scripture and your heart became convicted about something in your life that perhaps you’d never considered sin before that moment? In Isaiah 6, we see the prophet standing before God’s throne as God displayed His glory to Isaiah. The Lord was looking for a man to send as a prophet to Israel, and in the presence of God’s glory all Isaiah could say was “Woe to me, I am undone because I am a sinful man of unclean lips.” (Isaiah 6:5 my paraprase) This picture of our human hearts, and its inclination toward evil, being undone before a Holy God is what it means to truly FEAR the Lord. To revere Him, and His majesty. To humble and prostrate ourselves before Him as we behold the beauty of His splendor beyond our ability to conceive. A revelation of God’s glory creates a desire for His heart be turned to us as He extends His grace in our lives. As He does, as we behold His glory and His grace in our lives, our souls respond in obedience to Him because we love Him recognizing it was He Who first loved us. This is the relationship that God desires for us - that our obedience would lead us to the deeper revelations of intimacy with His heart. Verse 133: Prepare before me a path filled with your promises, and don’t allow even one sin to have dominion over me. We see now how God’s Word, intimacy and obedience lead to purpose. If we are going to fulfill our God-given purpose in life we must know God intimately through His word and respond to it in obedience as the Holy Spirit prompts us to move. If Jesus is God’s Word, and all of God’s promises are Yes And Amen in Jesus - then knowing scripture- being deeply connected to Him through it will lead us down a path filled with His promises. And the more we focus on Him through the Scriptures the more we will realize that transformation that we are called to as we renew our minds in His Word. Verse 134: Rescue me from the oppression of ungodly men so that I can keep all your precepts. As we behold God through His Word, and seek to obey Him - the natural inclination of our hearts will be to experience His protection as we seek to keep His word. God longs for us to ask for His protection - that we would not be oppressed by the ungodly or be distracted from His will in our lives by the ever-darkening world around us. The key is to cry out to Him both in repentance and seeking His refuge in our lives. Verse135: Smile on me, your loving servant.[a] Instruct me on what is right in your eyes. (Footnotes form TPT: Psalm 119:135 [a] Or “Cause your face to shine on me.”) That phrase “Smile on me” here is more literally translated, “Cause Your Face To Shine On Me…” What does that mean… Cause Your face to shine on me? As I asked the Lord about that this morning I felt like He reminded me of Moses. When Moses went up on the mountain and encountered the Lord his face blazed with the Glory of God. So much so that the people of Israel covered his face with a veil because they could not bear to look upon it. I’m reminded that we become like what we behold - God told Moses He spoke to him as a friend. I believe when the Face of God shines on us - we are face to face with Him. Beholding Him and His glory gets on us. We are marked by His presence and people cannot help but see it on us. And because of this, our deep desire is to do what is right in His sight. Not only are we marked by Him when His face shines on us, but we begin to look and act like Him as a result. Verse 136: When I witness the rebellious breaking your laws, it makes me weep uncontrollably! A number of years ago I joined a governmental prayer group during election season. I found myself praying Joel 2 during that season. As I did I received a revelation about what it means to weep between the altar and the door. Before that time, I would glance past that moment to the part where the Lord restores what had been lost and stolen from us in a double portion way. But, as I prayed these scriptures over the election I found myself seeing a different picture. A picture of the priests of God (in Christ, we are believer-priests) walking to the door and seeing the plight of the world around them. The condition of their fellow man, and returning to the altar weeping in their prayers for His redemption. Those days of prayer and that election marked me in immeasurable ways. I like to tell people I’m the grace girl. I sincerely do not believe there is any circumstance, any person, beyond the redemption of God. His arm is not too short… But, sometimes my faith to believe is woefully limited. Limited by what I can see, taste, touch, feel and smell. Seriously… Don’t tell me I’m the only one. Recently I attended a large church who has security teams in place to help keep both the congregants and the staff at the church safe. In the world we live in, this is not an unreasonable position. During the service the leaders make time for the congregants to interact with and greet one another before the weekly message begins. A young man was going around and greeting people, speaking to them. He must have been loud or disturbing to some because a few minutes later the security team came in and took him out. He did not return to the service. Now, I do not know the exact circumstances of what took place, but when the church is an unwelcoming place for people then it becomes a problem. Rather than shut people out - we should create places for them to connect that facilitate the safety of others but also take into consideration the needs of the individual who may be seen as “unacceptable.” The church cannot be a police state - if it becomes such we will look more like the pharisees than Jesus in every way. I’ve worked on staff in churches, and written position papers on marriage as well as run background checks on folks who desired to serve in ministry. I’ve had to report sex offenders and watched pastors lovingly and discerningly develop ministry plans that allowed the offenders to attend church while caring for those around them and creating safe parameters to allow for interaction. When I think of the way the rebellious around me make me grieve these days. It’s not the world - the ones outside God’s house and family - that bring me to tears but those who have seemingly forgotten who we are and Who we represent to the lost and dying world around us. Father God, as I read today, my heart grieves at a church that protests sinners rather than loving them, that exiles the unlovely and the broken rather than embraces them and I grieve that after all these years of knowing you - at times - even my heart still does not look like yours. Change our hearts God, make us crave the breakthrough of your revelation and truth in our hearts and minds like air to breathe, give me more faith in your Spirit’s ability to transform sinners into saints, than in the human spirit’s ability to wreak havoc and devise evil. Make my heart like yours. I desire your words like the air I breathe and I desire to obey you more than anything else in my life. Bring me to your heart by your Word, O God. And bring the world to yourself as you do. IN Jesus’ Name, Amen. Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have for today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you subscribe to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. As you may know, our Redeemed Rebel Podcast aired its last show for this season yesterday. While Michele will still be popping in from time to time as a guest host on this show or showing up as a guest on our other shows -- she will not be regularly featured through the Redeemed Rebel Podcast for the foreseeable future. Be sure to catch her last episode and connect with her this week at facebook.com/redeemedrebelunveiled. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! Since I’ve been off social media the last few weeks I’ve failed to get the word out… BUT, events are going up this week and we’ll begin in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live THIS SATURDAY, September 21st at 10:00 am. That’s right - we’re going to be starting our show a little earlier in the morning, but we’ll be bringing you an hour of Bible study each week as we read through THE GOSPELS - Verse By Verse. This season our study will be the 24 chapters of the book of Luke. You can learn more by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired and checking out the events or by visiting bloominginspirednetwork.com If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on Apple and on Google Podcasts. We are also available on the Podcoin App. By The Way, Podcoin is a great app! They pay you “podcoins” for listening to any podcast that's listed on their app. All of the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network’s podcasts are listed there. We’re working on keeping our shows as “Bonus Shows” on the app. That means if you download the app and create your account with our referral code, “Blooming” you’ll get 300 “podcoins” just for signing up, AND when we’re a bonus app you get extra podcoins just for listening!! You can use your podcoins to buy gift cards or make donations to charitable organizations. That’s a WIN-WIN, don’t you think? So if you're interested in subscribing Podcoin is a great way to get our podcast and you get the extra benefit of earning gifts while you're listening. Would you partner with us? We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Tune In Wednesdays! Accidental Hope Podcast airs on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. central time. Each week Jennifer Eikenhorst brings hope-filled messages and interviews related to overcoming accidents and traumas we face in life. You don’t want to miss her final of a three part interview series with Tina Boyd as they talk about how Faith Moves You Forward this week! And now, I want to remind you as I always do: Blooming where you're planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 am central time. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page.

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 143: Psalm 119 I Long to Obey You (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 129-136 in the Passion Translation. Today, as we continue to discover how the keys of living from intimacy and following God in obedience as our passionate pursuit and souls longing leads us to crave His presence and grieve over sin. When we come into a right understanding of Who God is as we pursue Him through His Word – the keys of presence and obedience bring us into understanding the justice of His heart toward a lost and dying world. Show Transcript: Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. I’m always excited to jump on the podcast with you each week. I’ve been on a social media and podcast break for the last month while traveling and am ready to get back in touch and into Psalm 119. Before I do, I wanted to share a little about the last few weeks of my life and a few changes that will be coming soon to Blooming Inspired Network.. First, I want to say as I’ve spent time away I’ve missed “seeing you” on Facebook and interacting with you there. Still, part of the reason I’m needing to make changes centers on the book God has been stirring in my heart for 14 years now. In August I attended the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association Conference in Nashville, TN. This event inspired me to get serious about my book project and developed some definite goals for the next few months. I was able to spend time with my writing friends from North Texas while making new friends the few days we were there. It’s been an amazing time in my life and encourages me to take steps of faith like never before. If you don’t know, writing a book is labor intensive and time consuming. So, I may not be able to interact with you as often on Facebook, but I’ll be bringing you content that will still encourage and inspire you to go deeper with God in your life. After I returned home from the writer’s conference, I w laundry and headed out again. This time for a retreat for ministry leaders in Telluride, CO. The theme of the Retreat was rest and and… BOY, Did I Need It. The scenic beauty surrounded us on every side. I was incredibly blessed. I took my calendar and my laptop hoping to do some planning and writing while away. But, instead… I heard the Lord whisper, “Just enjoy my creation with me.” I laid in bed late at night and looked up at the diamond-like stars glistening in a black sky just beyond the windows of my bedroom. I fell asleep to the peaceful sound of a creek running behind the house where we stayed. I woke up early and took in the first rays of light coming over the mountains to our east without ever leaving my bed. I marvelled at those mountainous landscapes that surrounded us. And, I enjoyed the 100s of birds, most of them Hummingbirds, that lived in the Douglas Fir Trees around the retreat house. Until… The third day. The plumbing backed up in the electrical closet downstairs. We were moved up the mountain from Telluride to the Mountain Village Lodge where we spent our last two nights in an even more beautiful setting with less oxygen. I just have to say I’m grateful for the Gondolas and shuttles in that area that helped us get around. Several other women journeyed with us on the retreat that week and we quickly became heart friends. I miss them already, but they reminded me why Blooming Inspired Network exists - we’re here for you! Now… Here’s the fun part - we’re going to allow you to submit content for the page! Did you read a Scripture or quote that really moves you? Do you have a word from God that you want to share? GREAT! Simply DM the content to the Blooming Inspired Page, and we’ll look for an opportunity to get it posted. Here are a few guidelines: Our content is by women for women, looking forward to empowering your voice and pen! Not that doesn’t mean we don’t value the voices and offerings of men - we do! But this is a place for wildflowers to bloom. So bring on the women who are wildflowers waiting to sing! [Please note: Not every quote that gets submitted will fit our scope and needs at Blooming Inspired Network - but we’ll be sure to let you know if your content is selected and when it will post.] Content for Quote or Scripture Graphics: Must include the original author or Scripture Reference AND Translation in the message. We’ll ask for it if it is not included. TIP: Ask yourself, “How will this equip and empower women to walk in their role and reign in God’s Kingdom?” Then send us your thoughts along with the quote. We’ll include your note and tag you in the post. :) Other Content: 1) It must be encouraging. 2) It must inspire action. 3) It must be biblically sound. 4) Be sure to respond to the comments if your content is posted. We’ll tag you in the post… :) Do you have a testimony or Podcast idea? Listen for an opportunity to join the fun at the end of today’s show! If you want to go deeper with the Wildflowers at Blooming Inspired Network be sure to join our Wildflower Women Relaunch on Facebook! We’d love to connect and enjoy the encouragement of community with each of you. Are you a writer? Be sure to DM or fill out the contact page at the website. We’d love to get a sample from you as we’re starting a blog soon! We need writers! :) With that said, in addition to our weekly podcasts - Blooming Inspired Network will post on Facebook 2-3 times a week. Looking at a Monday, Wednesday & Friday. The more you engage with our content the more we’ll bring to you there. We’ll also be posting to Instagram, Twitter and A NEW! Pinterest account we’ll be opening this week. We’d love to pin your work. Be sure to connect with us and let us know what you’re up to. But enough about this social stuff… Let’s get to our show. Review In our last episode of the Revival Series we read verses 121-127 and saw the way God’s tender love leads us into not only His righteousness but, when we choose to submit to God in obedience, it also leads us to beautiful intimacy with Him. Today we continue that theme as we look at what it means when our longings are to obey God. This Week’s Reading This week we’re returning to our reading in verses 128-136. We’re reading from the Passion Translation, but go ahead and grab your Bible and turn to the Psalm so you can follow along, I’ll pray to open our discussion today. Father God, I ask that you would open our eyes to see your revelation, open our ears to hear your voice, and open our hearts to know you more. Protect us from the plans of your adversary and keep us from harm. I ask these things in Jesus’ Name, AMEN. The heading for today’s reading is, “I Long to Obey You.” As we read today, I want you to consider this question: “Do I Long To OBEY God?” Let’s begin: Verse 129: Your marvelous words are living miracles; no wonder I long to obey everything you say. Did you catch that? There is a link to seeing God’s living miracles and obedience. Not just obedience for the sake of obedience… But, there is a sense of an obedience that HANGS on every word God has spoken to us. How does God speak personally to us: Through His Word - Jesus, through the Scriptures, and through the revelation that the Holy Spirit brings to us when we walk closely with Him. When you read the Scriptures or sense God speaking to you through the Holy Spirit, do you feel compelled to respond in some way? This is where I think obedience becomes a key. My friend, Tracy, says often - Obedience is the Love Language of the Holy Spirit. And, I agree. If we never do what we read about in Scripture how will we ever know the Greater Works that Jesus said we who come after would do? Obedience is more than doing the right thing because God said so, obedience is an expression of both faith and love toward God. An expectant faith, that knows God will respond - keeping the promises of His Word - when we obey Him. Verse 130: Break open your word within me until revelation-light shines out! Those with open hearts are given insight into your plans. Before you ever experience a breakthrough in your circumstances, God’s word - the Scriptures must break open within you - flooding your being with the revelation light of Christ. Only then will we see and understand the plans God speaks of in Jeremiah 29:11, plans that the NKJV calls THOUGHTS. I recently heard Jesse Beebe speak at a conference and she said, “Did you know God has one destiny for your life, but many plans?” That’s right. God doesn’t just have 1 PLAN for your life - He has many plans that all lead to the one destiny He created and designed you to fulfill in your lifetime. It is through His Scriptures that these plans first break open to us, and as we follow Him through each revelation in obedience to His call… We find our hearts open and we discover the insights and wisdom of His truth in every area of our lives. Verse 131: I open my mouth and inhale the word of God because I crave the revelation of your commands. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we read that the Scriptures are “God-Breathed.” Picture the words of God being inhaled into your body like life-giving oxygen, bringing both light and life to the thoughts and intentions of your heart, soul and body. What would our lives look like if we craved God’s Word like our bodies crave oxygen to breathe. The other evening I was working with my husband cleaning out closets and rooms in our house. My allergies have been bothering me lately and I’ve had a little trouble breathing at times. As I bent over to pick something up I found myself unable to catch my breath. I tried to find my inhaler but couldn’t seem to get it. Without oxygen, all I could do was sit on the side of my bed - feeling my lungs burn with their need for oxygen and pray that my husband would realize I needed his help. Eventually he came along and found my inhaler. I took a couple of puffs and began to feel my airway open and my lungs fill with the oxygen my body needs to live. This is the picture this scripture paints - that our souls hunger for God’s word and crave the revelation of His truth. Our lives depend on it… Verse 132: Turn your heart to me, Lord, and show me your grace like you do to every one of your godly lovers. Have you ever been reading scripture and your heart became convicted about something in your life that perhaps you’d never considered sin before that moment? In Isaiah 6, we see the prophet standing before God’s throne as God displayed His glory to Isaiah. The Lord was looking for a man to send as a prophet to Israel, and in the presence of God’s glory all Isaiah could say was “Woe to me, I am undone because I am a sinful man of unclean lips.” (Isaiah 6:5 my paraprase) This picture of our human hearts, and its inclination toward evil, being undone before a Holy God is what it means to truly FEAR the Lord. To revere Him, and His majesty. To humble and prostrate ourselves before Him as we behold the beauty of His splendor beyond our ability to conceive. A revelation of God’s glory creates a desire for His heart be turned to us as He extends His grace in our lives. As He does, as we behold His glory and His grace in our lives, our souls respond in obedience to Him because we love Him recognizing it was He Who first loved us. This is the relationship that God desires for us - that our obedience would lead us to the deeper revelations of intimacy with His heart. Verse 133: Prepare before me a path filled with your promises, and don’t allow even one sin to have dominion over me. We see now how God’s Word, intimacy and obedience lead to purpose. If we are going to fulfill our God-given purpose in life we must know God intimately through His word and respond to it in obedience as the Holy Spirit prompts us to move. If Jesus is God’s Word, and all of God’s promises are Yes And Amen in Jesus - then knowing scripture- being deeply connected to Him through it will lead us down a path filled with His promises. And the more we focus on Him through the Scriptures the more we will realize that transformation that we are called to as we renew our minds in His Word. Verse 134: Rescue me from the oppression of ungodly men so that I can keep all your precepts. As we behold God through His Word, and seek to obey Him - the natural inclination of our hearts will be to experience His protection as we seek to keep His word. God longs for us to ask for His protection - that we would not be oppressed by the ungodly or be distracted from His will in our lives by the ever-darkening world around us. The key is to cry out to Him both in repentance and seeking His refuge in our lives. Verse135: Smile on me, your loving servant.[a] Instruct me on what is right in your eyes. (Footnotes form TPT: Psalm 119:135 [a] Or “Cause your face to shine on me.”) That phrase “Smile on me” here is more literally translated, “Cause Your Face To Shine On Me…” What does that mean… Cause Your face to shine on me? As I asked the Lord about that this morning I felt like He reminded me of Moses. When Moses went up on the mountain and encountered the Lord his face blazed with the Glory of God. So much so that the people of Israel covered his face with a veil because they could not bear to look upon it. I’m reminded that we become like what we behold - God told Moses He spoke to him as a friend. I believe when the Face of God shines on us - we are face to face with Him. Beholding Him and His glory gets on us. We are marked by His presence and people cannot help but see it on us. And because of this, our deep desire is to do what is right in His sight. Not only are we marked by Him when His face shines on us, but we begin to look and act like Him as a result. Verse 136: When I witness the rebellious breaking your laws, it makes me weep uncontrollably! A number of years ago I joined a governmental prayer group during election season. I found myself praying Joel 2 during that season. As I did I received a revelation about what it means to weep between the altar and the door. Before that time, I would glance past that moment to the part where the Lord restores what had been lost and stolen from us in a double portion way. But, as I prayed these scriptures over the election I found myself seeing a different picture. A picture of the priests of God (in Christ, we are believer-priests) walking to the door and seeing the plight of the world around them. The condition of their fellow man, and returning to the altar weeping in their prayers for His redemption. Those days of prayer and that election marked me in immeasurable ways. I like to tell people I’m the grace girl. I sincerely do not believe there is any circumstance, any person, beyond the redemption of God. His arm is not too short… But, sometimes my faith to believe is woefully limited. Limited by what I can see, taste, touch, feel and smell. Seriously… Don’t tell me I’m the only one. Recently I attended a large church who has security teams in place to help keep both the congregants and the staff at the church safe. In the world we live in, this is not an unreasonable position. During the service the leaders make time for the congregants to interact with and greet one another before the weekly message begins. A young man was going around and greeting people, speaking to them. He must have been loud or disturbing to some because a few minutes later the security team came in and took him out. He did not return to the service. Now, I do not know the exact circumstances of what took place, but when the church is an unwelcoming place for people then it becomes a problem. Rather than shut people out - we should create places for them to connect that facilitate the safety of others but also take into consideration the needs of the individual who may be seen as “unacceptable.” The church cannot be a police state - if it becomes such we will look more like the pharisees than Jesus in every way. I’ve worked on staff in churches, and written position papers on marriage as well as run background checks on folks who desired to serve in ministry. I’ve had to report sex offenders and watched pastors lovingly and discerningly develop ministry plans that allowed the offenders to attend church while caring for those around them and creating safe parameters to allow for interaction. When I think of the way the rebellious around me make me grieve these days. It’s not the world - the ones outside God’s house and family - that bring me to tears but those who have seemingly forgotten who we are and Who we represent to the lost and dying world around us. Father God, as I read today, my heart grieves at a church that protests sinners rather than loving them, that exiles the unlovely and the broken rather than embraces them and I grieve that after all these years of knowing you - at times - even my heart still does not look like yours. Change our hearts God, make us crave the breakthrough of your revelation and truth in our hearts and minds like air to breathe, give me more faith in your Spirit’s ability to transform sinners into saints, than in the human spirit’s ability to wreak havoc and devise evil. Make my heart like yours. I desire your words like the air I breathe and I desire to obey you more than anything else in my life. Bring me to your heart by your Word, O God. And bring the world to yourself as you do. IN Jesus’ Name, Amen. Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have for today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you subscribe to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. As you may know, our Redeemed Rebel Podcast aired its last show for this season yesterday. While Michele will still be popping in from time to time as a guest host on this show or showing up as a guest on our other shows -- she will not be regularly featured through the Redeemed Rebel Podcast for the foreseeable future. Be sure to catch her last episode and connect with her this week at facebook.com/redeemedrebelunveiled. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! Since I’ve been off social media the last few weeks I’ve failed to get the word out… BUT, events are going up this week and we’ll begin in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live THIS SATURDAY, September 21st at 10:00 am. That’s right - we’re going to be starting our show a little earlier in the morning, but we’ll be bringing you an hour of Bible study each week as we read through THE GOSPELS - Verse By Verse. This season our study will be the 24 chapters of the book of Luke. You can learn more by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired and checking out the events or by visiting bloominginspirednetwork.com If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on Apple and on Google Podcasts. We are also available on the Podcoin App. By The Way, Podcoin is a great app! They pay you “podcoins” for listening to any podcast that's listed on their app. All of the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network’s podcasts are listed there. We’re working on keeping our shows as “Bonus Shows” on the app. That means if you download the app and create your account with our referral code, “Blooming” you’ll get 300 “podcoins” just for signing up, AND when we’re a bonus app you get extra podcoins just for listening!! You can use your podcoins to buy gift cards or make donations to charitable organizations. That’s a WIN-WIN, don’t you think? So if you're interested in subscribing Podcoin is a great way to get our podcast and you get the extra benefit of earning gifts while you're listening. Would you partner with us? We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Tune In Wednesdays! Accidental Hope Podcast airs on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. central time. Each week Jennifer Eikenhorst brings hope-filled messages and interviews related to overcoming accidents and traumas we face in life. You don’t want to miss her final of a three part interview series with Tina Boyd as they talk about how Faith Moves You Forward this week! And now, I want to remind you as I always do: Blooming where you're planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 am central time. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page.

Accidental Hope Podcast | S1 Episode 22: Christ in You w/ Michelle Bentham

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2019 28:16

In this episode, Jennifer interviews Michelle Bentham, founder of Blooming Inspired Network and host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Today, they talk about how Michelle began to realize that personality tests like the DISC or Enneagram assessments and Strengths Finders don't really define who she is, but rather help her to become more self-aware. The most important thing to realize is that we are unique in how we were created but who we are is more about discovering who Jesus is and how He wants to express Himself through us. Christ in YOU is the hope of glory! More about Michelle: Michelle loves Jesus! As a wife, mother, daughter, friend and ministry leader - Michelle seeks to connect people to God's heart through creative expression. She is passionate about seeing women walk in their role and reign in God's Kingdom. As a prophetic artist she paints pictures that resonate with the hearts and minds of women as she expresses God's word and her prayers through visual images. As an Executive Coach she uses creativity and intuition to help individuals take well-thought out steps of action toward their desired goals -- helping them reach their unlimited potential. She recently joined The John Maxwell Team as a certified Speaker, Trainer, Teacher & Coach. When she is not changing the world through ministry, art or coaching, she is at home with her husband, #TheFisherman, on the lake in Granbury, TX. Want to support the show? Like, share, subscribe, follow, or leave a review! We have also launched a Patreon for those wanting to contribute with a gift, find more information at Patreon/accidental-hope or our www.accidentalhope.com. Thanks again!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/accidentalhope)

god jesus christ coach kingdom speaker teacher tx trainers enneagram disc accidental executive coach john maxwell team hope podcast granbury michelle michelle strengthsfinders michelle bentham

Accidental Hope Podcast | Episode 22: Christ in You (w/ Michelle Bentham_

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2019

In this episode, Jennifer interviews Michelle Bentham, founder of Blooming Inspired Network and host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Today, they talk about how Michelle began to realize that personality tests like the DISC or Enneagram assessments and Strengths Finders don't really define who she is, but rather help her to become more self-aware. The most important thing to realize is that we are unique in how we were created but who we are is more about discovering who Jesus is and how He wants to express Himself through us. Christ in YOU is the hope of glory! More about Michelle: Michelle loves Jesus! As a wife, mother, daughter, friend and ministry leader - Michelle seeks to connect people to God's heart through creative expression. She is passionate about seeing women walk in their role and reign in God's Kingdom. As a prophetic artist she paints pictures that resonate with the hearts and minds of women as she expresses God's word and her prayers through visual images. As an Executive Coach she uses creativity and intuition to help individuals take well-thought out steps of action toward their desired goals -- helping them reach their unlimited potential. She recently joined The John Maxwell Team as a certified Speaker, Trainer, Teacher & Coach. When she is not changing the world through ministry, art or coaching, she is at home with her husband, #TheFisherman, on the lake in Granbury, TX.

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Accidental Hope Podcast | Episode 21 - When Art Speaks (w/ Michelle Bentham)

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2019

In this episode, Jennifer interviews Michelle Bentham, founder of Blooming Inspired Network and host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Today, they talk about how Michelle's inspired art encourages and builds up others along life's road. It's a great testimony! More about Michelle: Michelle loves Jesus! As a wife, mother, daughter, friend and ministry leader - Michelle seeks to connect people to God's heart through creative expression. She is passionate about seeing women walk in their role and reign in God's Kingdom. As a prophetic artist she paints pictures that resonate with the hearts and minds of women as she expresses God's word and her prayers through visual images. As an Executive Coach she uses creativity and intuition to help individuals take well-thought out steps of action toward their desired goals -- helping them reach their unlimited potential. She recently joined The John Maxwell Team as a certified Speaker, Trainer, Teacher & Coach. When she is not changing the world through ministry, art or coaching, she is at home with her husband, #TheFisherman, on the lake in Granbury, TX.

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Accidental Hope Podcast | Episode 21 - When Art Speaks (w/ Michelle Bentham)

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2019

In this episode, Jennifer interviews Michelle Bentham, founder of Blooming Inspired Network and host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Today, they talk about how Michelle's inspired art encourages and builds up others along life's road. It's a great testimony! More about Michelle: Michelle loves Jesus! As a wife, mother, daughter, friend and ministry leader - Michelle seeks to connect people to God's heart through creative expression. She is passionate about seeing women walk in their role and reign in God's Kingdom. As a prophetic artist she paints pictures that resonate with the hearts and minds of women as she expresses God's word and her prayers through visual images. As an Executive Coach she uses creativity and intuition to help individuals take well-thought out steps of action toward their desired goals -- helping them reach their unlimited potential. She recently joined The John Maxwell Team as a certified Speaker, Trainer, Teacher & Coach. When she is not changing the world through ministry, art or coaching, she is at home with her husband, #TheFisherman, on the lake in Granbury, TX.

god jesus christ coach speaker teacher tx trainers accidental executive coach god's kingdom john maxwell team hope podcast granbury michelle michelle michelle bentham

Accidental Hope Podcast | Episode 22: Christ in You (w/ Michelle Bentham_

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2019

In this episode, Jennifer interviews Michelle Bentham, founder of Blooming Inspired Network and host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Today, they talk about how Michelle began to realize that personality tests like the DISC or Enneagram assessments and Strengths Finders don't really define who she is, but rather help her to become more self-aware. The most important thing to realize is that we are unique in how we were created but who we are is more about discovering who Jesus is and how He wants to express Himself through us. Christ in YOU is the hope of glory! More about Michelle: Michelle loves Jesus! As a wife, mother, daughter, friend and ministry leader - Michelle seeks to connect people to God's heart through creative expression. She is passionate about seeing women walk in their role and reign in God's Kingdom. As a prophetic artist she paints pictures that resonate with the hearts and minds of women as she expresses God's word and her prayers through visual images. As an Executive Coach she uses creativity and intuition to help individuals take well-thought out steps of action toward their desired goals -- helping them reach their unlimited potential. She recently joined The John Maxwell Team as a certified Speaker, Trainer, Teacher & Coach. When she is not changing the world through ministry, art or coaching, she is at home with her husband, #TheFisherman, on the lake in Granbury, TX.

god jesus christ coach speaker teacher tx trainers enneagram disc accidental executive coach god's kingdom john maxwell team hope podcast granbury michelle michelle strengthsfinders michelle bentham

Accidental Hope Podcast | S1 Episode 21 - When Art Speaks w/ Michelle Bentham

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2019 22:38

In this episode, Jennifer interviews Michelle Bentham, founder of Blooming Inspired Network and host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Today, they talk about how Michelle's inspired art encourages and builds up others along life's road. It's a great testimony! More about Michelle:Michelle loves Jesus! As a wife, mother, daughter, friend and ministry leader - Michelle seeks to connect people to God's heart through creative expression. She is passionate about seeing women walk in their role and reign in God's Kingdom. As a prophetic artist she paints pictures that resonate with the hearts and minds of women as she expresses God's word and her prayers through visual images. As an Executive Coach she uses creativity and intuition to help individuals take well-thought out steps of action toward their desired goals -- helping them reach their unlimited potential. She recently joined The John Maxwell Team as a certified Speaker, Trainer, Teacher & Coach. When she is not changing the world through ministry, art or coaching, she is at home with her husband, #TheFisherman, on the lake in Granbury, TX.Want to support the show? Like, share, subscribe, follow, or leave a review! We have also launched a Patreon for those wanting to contribute with a gift, find more information at Patreon/accidental-hope or our www.accidentalhope.com. Thanks again!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/accidentalhope)

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Accidental Hope Podcast | Episode 20: The Art of Bible Journaling (w/ Michelle Bentham)

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2019

In this episode, Jennifer interviews Michelle Bentham, founder of Blooming Inspired Network and host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Today, they talk about how Michelle began to journal notes on the pages of her Bible and how it encourages and transforms her in the process. More about Michelle: Michelle loves Jesus! As a wife, mother, daughter, friend and ministry leader - Michelle seeks to connect people to God's heart through creative expression. She is passionate about seeing women walk in their role and reign in God's Kingdom. As a prophetic artist she paints pictures that resonate with the hearts and minds of women as she expresses God's word and her prayers through visual images. As an Executive Coach she uses creativity and intuition to help individuals take well-thought out steps of action toward their desired goals -- helping them reach their unlimited potential. She recently joined The John Maxwell Team as a certified Speaker, Trainer, Teacher & Coach. When she is not changing the world through ministry, art or coaching, she is at home with her husband, #TheFisherman, on the lake in Granbury, TX.

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Accidental Hope Podcast | Episode 20: The Art of Bible Journaling (w/ Michelle Bentham)

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2019

In this episode, Jennifer interviews Michelle Bentham, founder of Blooming Inspired Network and host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Today, they talk about how Michelle began to journal notes on the pages of her Bible and how it encourages and transforms her in the process. More about Michelle: Michelle loves Jesus! As a wife, mother, daughter, friend and ministry leader - Michelle seeks to connect people to God's heart through creative expression. She is passionate about seeing women walk in their role and reign in God's Kingdom. As a prophetic artist she paints pictures that resonate with the hearts and minds of women as she expresses God's word and her prayers through visual images. As an Executive Coach she uses creativity and intuition to help individuals take well-thought out steps of action toward their desired goals -- helping them reach their unlimited potential. She recently joined The John Maxwell Team as a certified Speaker, Trainer, Teacher & Coach. When she is not changing the world through ministry, art or coaching, she is at home with her husband, #TheFisherman, on the lake in Granbury, TX.

god jesus christ bible coach speaker teacher tx trainers accidental executive coach god's kingdom john maxwell team hope podcast granbury michelle michelle bible journaling michelle bentham

Accidental Hope Podcast | S1 Episode 20: The Art of Bible Journaling w/ Michelle Bentham

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2019 25:57

In this episode, Jennifer interviews Michelle Bentham, founder of Blooming Inspired Network and host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Today, they talk about how Michelle began to journal notes on the pages of her Bible and how it encourages and transforms her in the process.More about Michelle:Michelle loves Jesus! As a wife, mother, daughter, friend and ministry leader - Michelle seeks to connect people to God's heart through creative expression. She is passionate about seeing women walk in their role and reign in God's Kingdom. As a prophetic artist she paints pictures that resonate with the hearts and minds of women as she expresses God's word and her prayers through visual images. As an Executive Coach she uses creativity and intuition to help individuals take well-thought out steps of action toward their desired goals -- helping them reach their unlimited potential. She recently joined The John Maxwell Team as a certified Speaker, Trainer, Teacher & Coach. When she is not changing the world through ministry, art or coaching, she is at home with her husband, #TheFisherman, on the lake in Granbury, TX.Want to support the show? Like, share, subscribe, follow, or leave a review! We have also launched a Patreon for those wanting to contribute with a gift, find more information at Patreon/accidental-hope or our www.accidentalhope.com. Thanks again!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/accidentalhope)

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Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 142: Psalm 119 I Will Follow You (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 121-128 in the Passion Translation. Today, as we discover the keys of living from intimacy and following God in obedience as our passionate pursuit and souls longing. When we come into a right understanding of Who God is as we pursue Him through His Word - the keys of presence and bring us into an obedience that is born of love and intimacy rather than obligation. Show Transcript: Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. I’m always excited to be jumping on the podcast with you each week. This week we’re returning to our Revival Series and Psalm 119 beginning in verse 121. Go ahead and grab your Bible and turn to the Psalm as I pray to open our discussion today. Father God, I ask that you would open our eyes to see your revelation, open our ears to hear your voice, and open our hearts to know you more. Protect us from the plans of your adversary and keep us from harm. I ask these things in Jesus’ Name, AMEN. Psalm 119:121-128 The Passion Translation (TPT) The heading over this passage is I Will Follow Your Ways You know the image I chose for today’s podcast is an image of a man and woman dancing. That’s right, a man and a woman dancing. Because when a woman or a bride even chooses to dance with her groom she chooses to follow Him. This is exactly what we see a picture of - this beautiful submission that is reflected in the dance of a woman giving herself in obedience to her husband. A Bride giving herself to her Bridegroom. We, the church, surrendering ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the Sovereignty of Father God in obedience. Today’s Reading Verse 121: Don’t leave me to the mercies of those who hate me, for I live to do what is just and fair. How many of us pray for God to let us get away with SIN? Not many? But, don’t we often find ourselves sinning anyway, making a mess of things and go back to God trying to bargain our way out of the consequences. “God, if you’ll just get me out of this mess, I’ll never do this again.” I believe, especially after salvation many of us desire in heartsto do what is right before God. So, why don’t we always do what is right before God, and end up crying out in desperation for His rescue? Sin Brings Consequences This reminds me of something that my daddy used to tell me as a kid. He would say, “Sugar, if you screw up and do something wrong just come and talk to me about it. I’ll go easier on you if you just tell me what happened than if you go around and hide it hoping I won’t find out.” God’s Grace & Mercy Cleanses Us From Sin and Unrighteousness I feel like God says this to us in 1 John 1:9 - if you belong to me you won’t go on sinning, but instead you’ll confess your sins and know I’m faithful and just to forgive them and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. If your sins involve consequences in the real world, you bet you’ll have to deal with them. But God in His grace and mercy will give you the help you need to get through it if you will take it to Him and trust Him to help you work through the mess. Yes, even when you’ve earned it. That’s called mercy. God’s Promises Also Free Us From Oppression Verse 122: Let me hear your promise of blessing over my life, breaking me free from the proud oppressors. When we feel oppressed by people and the world around us all we have to do is look to God. Reminding ourselves, focusing on His promises will help us to overcome - breaking free from - the way the world around us seeks to bind us up. You notice he wants to be broken free from the proud oppressors but a lot of times that oppression is happening in our mind. Our actions are a result of what is happening in our mind - the way we think. So in order for our response to change, our thinking has to change. And God’s promises should always change the way we think. A Lovesick Lover Verse 123: As a lovesick lover, I yearn for more of your salvation and for your virtuous promises. As we’ve walked through the previous verses of Psalm 119, we see this progression from seeking God, to knowing God, to walking in intimacy with God. That is what I see in this verse - as a lovesick lover, I yearn for more of your salvation and your virtuous promises.- Think about it! Does your heart yearn for more of God’s salvation and the virtues of His promises to become a reality in your life? When we belong to God, walking in a depth of intimacy with Him, we not only want to please Him, we want to understand and receive from Him as well. Tender Love & Understanding Verse 124: Let me feel your tender love, for I am yours. Give me more understanding of your wonderful ways. His tender love will lead us into understanding. We will marvel at the wonder of who He is as well as what He does. Have you ever stopped and considered all the wonderful things about God. If we flip over to Psalm 139, the Psalmist enumerates them this way, “How wonderful are your ways? I know that full well.” Are you full up on the wonder of who God is, not just what He does for us? How Wonderful Are You God… Help us to know that full well! Known By Revelation Verse 125: I need more revelation from your word to know more about you, for I’m in love with you! It is in this place of intimacy, birthed from revelation through the Word of God (Jesus) and the scriptures that cause us to pour ourselves out in love for Him, the way He has poured out His tender love upon us. There is this idea in knowing that can mean to either know by experience or to know by information. We must never settled in the place of simply knowing about God - information, but rather we should seek to KNOW God personally by a first person experience of who He is. Breakthrough is My Heart Cry! Verse 126: Lord, the time has come for you to break through, for evil men keep breaking your laws. Do you hear the heart crying out for breakthrough? Weary of the fight and the pain that comes with a broken world... Meet us in the midst of this chaos God and deliver us -- all of us -- all those you long to call by your Name, and bring us to your goodness and your heart. We’re longing for, waiting on your breakthrough to come. Truth is Our Treasure Verse 127: Truly, your message of truth means more to me than a vault filled with the purest gold. When we value God, His truth and His presence in our lives more than we value anything else, even gold and earthly treasures, we will find ourselves positioned for more of who He is. His Truth is Right & Beautiful Verse 128: Every word you speak, every truth revealed, is always right and beautiful to me, for I hate what is phony or false. As we conclude today we see this love journey with God leads us not only to intimacy but a deep longing in our hearts to be obedient to God, His Word & Truth and to the promptings of His Holy Spirit which brings power and revelation to our lives. That’s all the time I have for today. As we close I’d like to tell you about my new adventure as a member of The John Maxwell Team. I’ve recently enrolled in their certification program and I’m walking through the process of getting certified as a Speaker, Teacher, Trainer and Coach through their platform. In July I completed their Maxwell Method Certification for the DISC personality/behavioral Assessment. If you contact me during the month of August to purchase the DISC assessment and book a follow up coaching session to review the report, I’ll give you a $50 discount off the recommended price. That’s RIGHT! I’ll help you walk through your report and plan next steps, the report is $50 with a session fee of $197.00. IF YOU CONTACT ME BEFORE AUGUST 31, 2019 to order your report and schedule your session you can get both the report and the session for $197.00. To take advantage of this offer, just email michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com and put Maxwell Method DISC Report in the Subject Line. Let me know you want to take advantage of my August Special and we’ll get you started. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the Accidental Hope Podcast with Jennifer Eikenhorst. She is our Hope Ambassador around this wildflower garden, passionate about helping others seek hope and build community after experiencing an accidental loss or trauma. Check her out right here at the bloominginspirednetwork.com or on Facebook @accidentalhope, again that’s facebook.com/accidentalhope And now I want to remind you as I always do, Blooming where you’re planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams so live your lives blooming alive.

god jesus christ lord bible coach truth speaker teacher psalm protect revival trainers sugar amen sovereignty his word disc weary know god lordship psalm 119 psalmist bridegroom reminding father god blooming jesus name his holy spirit john maxwell team passion translation subject line inspired podcast august special sin not jennifer eikenhorst michelle bentham

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 142: Psalm 119 I Will Follow You (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 121-128 in the Passion Translation. Today, as we discover the keys of living from intimacy and following God in obedience as our passionate pursuit and souls longing. When we come into a right understanding of Who God is as we pursue Him through His Word - the keys of presence and bring us into an obedience that is born of love and intimacy rather than obligation. Show Transcript: Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. I’m always excited to be jumping on the podcast with you each week. This week we’re returning to our Revival Series and Psalm 119 beginning in verse 121. Go ahead and grab your Bible and turn to the Psalm as I pray to open our discussion today. Father God, I ask that you would open our eyes to see your revelation, open our ears to hear your voice, and open our hearts to know you more. Protect us from the plans of your adversary and keep us from harm. I ask these things in Jesus’ Name, AMEN. Psalm 119:121-128 The Passion Translation (TPT) The heading over this passage is I Will Follow Your Ways You know the image I chose for today’s podcast is an image of a man and woman dancing. That’s right, a man and a woman dancing. Because when a woman or a bride even chooses to dance with her groom she chooses to follow Him. This is exactly what we see a picture of - this beautiful submission that is reflected in the dance of a woman giving herself in obedience to her husband. A Bride giving herself to her Bridegroom. We, the church, surrendering ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the Sovereignty of Father God in obedience. Today’s Reading Verse 121: Don’t leave me to the mercies of those who hate me, for I live to do what is just and fair. How many of us pray for God to let us get away with SIN? Not many? But, don’t we often find ourselves sinning anyway, making a mess of things and go back to God trying to bargain our way out of the consequences. “God, if you’ll just get me out of this mess, I’ll never do this again.” I believe, especially after salvation many of us desire in heartsto do what is right before God. So, why don’t we always do what is right before God, and end up crying out in desperation for His rescue? Sin Brings Consequences This reminds me of something that my daddy used to tell me as a kid. He would say, “Sugar, if you screw up and do something wrong just come and talk to me about it. I’ll go easier on you if you just tell me what happened than if you go around and hide it hoping I won’t find out.” God’s Grace & Mercy Cleanses Us From Sin and Unrighteousness I feel like God says this to us in 1 John 1:9 - if you belong to me you won’t go on sinning, but instead you’ll confess your sins and know I’m faithful and just to forgive them and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. If your sins involve consequences in the real world, you bet you’ll have to deal with them. But God in His grace and mercy will give you the help you need to get through it if you will take it to Him and trust Him to help you work through the mess. Yes, even when you’ve earned it. That’s called mercy. God’s Promises Also Free Us From Oppression Verse 122: Let me hear your promise of blessing over my life, breaking me free from the proud oppressors. When we feel oppressed by people and the world around us all we have to do is look to God. Reminding ourselves, focusing on His promises will help us to overcome - breaking free from - the way the world around us seeks to bind us up. You notice he wants to be broken free from the proud oppressors but a lot of times that oppression is happening in our mind. Our actions are a result of what is happening in our mind - the way we think. So in order for our response to change, our thinking has to change. And God’s promises should always change the way we think. A Lovesick Lover Verse 123: As a lovesick lover, I yearn for more of your salvation and for your virtuous promises. As we’ve walked through the previous verses of Psalm 119, we see this progression from seeking God, to knowing God, to walking in intimacy with God. That is what I see in this verse - as a lovesick lover, I yearn for more of your salvation and your virtuous promises.- Think about it! Does your heart yearn for more of God’s salvation and the virtues of His promises to become a reality in your life? When we belong to God, walking in a depth of intimacy with Him, we not only want to please Him, we want to understand and receive from Him as well. Tender Love & Understanding Verse 124: Let me feel your tender love, for I am yours. Give me more understanding of your wonderful ways. His tender love will lead us into understanding. We will marvel at the wonder of who He is as well as what He does. Have you ever stopped and considered all the wonderful things about God. If we flip over to Psalm 139, the Psalmist enumerates them this way, “How wonderful are your ways? I know that full well.” Are you full up on the wonder of who God is, not just what He does for us? How Wonderful Are You God… Help us to know that full well! Known By Revelation Verse 125: I need more revelation from your word to know more about you, for I’m in love with you! It is in this place of intimacy, birthed from revelation through the Word of God (Jesus) and the scriptures that cause us to pour ourselves out in love for Him, the way He has poured out His tender love upon us. There is this idea in knowing that can mean to either know by experience or to know by information. We must never settled in the place of simply knowing about God - information, but rather we should seek to KNOW God personally by a first person experience of who He is. Breakthrough is My Heart Cry! Verse 126: Lord, the time has come for you to break through, for evil men keep breaking your laws. Do you hear the heart crying out for breakthrough? Weary of the fight and the pain that comes with a broken world... Meet us in the midst of this chaos God and deliver us -- all of us -- all those you long to call by your Name, and bring us to your goodness and your heart. We’re longing for, waiting on your breakthrough to come. Truth is Our Treasure Verse 127: Truly, your message of truth means more to me than a vault filled with the purest gold. When we value God, His truth and His presence in our lives more than we value anything else, even gold and earthly treasures, we will find ourselves positioned for more of who He is. His Truth is Right & Beautiful Verse 128: Every word you speak, every truth revealed, is always right and beautiful to me, for I hate what is phony or false. As we conclude today we see this love journey with God leads us not only to intimacy but a deep longing in our hearts to be obedient to God, His Word & Truth and to the promptings of His Holy Spirit which brings power and revelation to our lives. That’s all the time I have for today. As we close I’d like to tell you about my new adventure as a member of The John Maxwell Team. I’ve recently enrolled in their certification program and I’m walking through the process of getting certified as a Speaker, Teacher, Trainer and Coach through their platform. In July I completed their Maxwell Method Certification for the DISC personality/behavioral Assessment. If you contact me during the month of August to purchase the DISC assessment and book a follow up coaching session to review the report, I’ll give you a $50 discount off the recommended price. That’s RIGHT! I’ll help you walk through your report and plan next steps, the report is $50 with a session fee of $197.00. IF YOU CONTACT ME BEFORE AUGUST 31, 2019 to order your report and schedule your session you can get both the report and the session for $197.00. To take advantage of this offer, just email michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com and put Maxwell Method DISC Report in the Subject Line. Let me know you want to take advantage of my August Special and we’ll get you started. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the Accidental Hope Podcast with Jennifer Eikenhorst. She is our Hope Ambassador around this wildflower garden, passionate about helping others seek hope and build community after experiencing an accidental loss or trauma. Check her out right here at the bloominginspirednetwork.com or on Facebook @accidentalhope, again that’s facebook.com/accidentalhope And now I want to remind you as I always do, Blooming where you’re planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams so live your lives blooming alive.

god jesus christ lord bible coach truth speaker teacher psalm protect revival trainers sugar amen sovereignty his word disc weary know god lordship psalm 119 psalmist bridegroom reminding father god blooming jesus name his holy spirit john maxwell team passion translation subject line inspired podcast august special sin not jennifer eikenhorst michelle bentham

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 139 - Psalm 119 Trust & Obey (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 113-120 in the Passion Translation. Today, as we discover the keys of living from presence and trusting God in our passionate pursuit toward obedience from the heart. When we come into a right understanding of Who God is as we pursue Him through His Word - the keys of trust and living from His presence bring us into a place of reverence for His Holiness and Righteousness. Show Transcript: Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives blooming alive. Good morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Introduction We're continuing to read from Psalm 119 with our Revival Series. We are reading in The Passion Translation today, beginning in verse 113. Let’s take a moment to go back and review what we talked about last Thursday. Review First, we uncovered the keys of gratitude, joy and being refreshed, we also began to see how obedience brings us to a place of freedom in Christ. Then we learned that stepping out by faith, trusting God’s revelation-light, helps us to walk a path that will lead to obedience, joy, rest and righteousness which brings us right into today’s topic. Today’s Reading Before I get to that, I want to share a brief story from last week with you. My husband is an anytime-anykind of sports fan and more than two decades ago he spent time working with a sheet metal company that helped with the building of what is now Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX. If that sounds familiar to you, it should because it is where our home team, The Texas Rangers, have played major league baseball, since the early 90s. My husband remembers fondly working on a portion of the center field Coca-Cola visual screen board and watching the first games played in the stadium from that lofty perch. A couple of weeks ago I called into a radio station and won tickets to last Wednesday night’s game. There are only 29 home games left in the regular season and that 29th game will be the last at Globe Life Park if the Rangers don’t make the playoffs. Though the Rangers were handily defeated by the Arizona Diamondbacks last week, we enjoyed the atmosphere and the cool breeze blowing through the stadium even on a very hot Texas summer day. As the night wore on and each time Elvis Andrus, veteran Short Stop, came to the plate to bat they played his intro song… “The Baby Shark Song” If you have kids or grandkids you may be familiar with this song. Elvis picked it actually to honor his own child each time he comes up to bat… You may recognize it… Little kids singing, Baby Shark! Doot-Doo-Ta-Doo-Doo-Doo… Baby Shark… And off to our right in a neighboring section is a middle aged man standing up and doing the Baby Shark dance. Every. Single. Time. The next day, I was moving through my day and found myself singing, “Baby Shark!...” Yep. It was a catchy little tune of very few words. Which brings me to today’s reading. The heading over this Psalm 119:113-120 is “Trust & Obey!” I don’t know about you, but as soon as I read those words my mind began to sing the chorus of an old hymnal standard: [Singing] “Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.” Anybody else have that response to hearing those words. I even looked up the lyrics to read through them and there is no doubt in my mind that though those words do not officially appear in the text of this reading… They totally apply and that song must have been inspired by Psalm 119. As I sang the song and considered the lyrics, I began to consider that word Trust in the Hebrew. The definitions I’m about to share came from The Complete Word Study Dictionary (OT) (Copyright © 2003 by AMG Publishers. Database © 2007 WORDsearch Corp.) I found that in the KJV of the Bible, the word trust appears 163 times (134 OT, 29 NT). So let’s take a look at a few Hebrew words and their context to better understand this idea of trust from a Biblical perspective. Taking a Detour Put a marker in your Bible at Psalm 119 and turn over to Judges 11:20: Judges 11:20 (NKJV) “But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together, encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.” In this verse, the Hebrew word translated TRUST is Strong’s H539ʾāman which is defined as “be firm, to build up, to support, to nurture, to establish.” It carries the idea of “providing stability and confidence.” This same word is translated BELIEVE in Deuteronomy 9:23: Deuteronomy 9:23: (NKJV) “Likewise, when the Lord sent you from Kadesh Barnea, saying, ‘Go up and possess the land which I have given you,’ then you rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God, and you did not believe Him nor obey His voice.” In the Hebrew, there is this intrinsic connection between belief and trust, without belief we will not trust God, and if we don’t trust God our obedience will not please Him. I want to establish this up front today because I believe God is going to highlight these truths for us in detail as we complete our reading today. The next Hebrew Word that is translated trust can be found in Psalm 2:12: Psalm 2:12 NKJV “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” In this verse the Hebrew word is H2620 ḥāsāh. This word is defined as, “take refuge, literally seeking a tree’s shade… Of Yahweh (God), He is a shield providing refuge, and refuge is sought under His wings.” A safe place, a place of refuge and shelter where one can be secure and certain they will not be harmed. God is your safe place, a hiding place of refuge for you when the enemy and the world presses in. To trust Him is to seek shelter from Him, and find our residence in His presence. The next Hebrew Word that is translated trust can be found in Psalm 4:5: Psalm 4:5 NKJV “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.” This word is the Hebrew word H982 bāṭaḥ. It is defined as “to trust, to be confident in, expressed as feelings of safety and security that is felt when one can rely on someone or something. Also to be confident, secure and without fear.” Love Casts Out Fear In the book of 1 John, we read that God is Love. It is not just a feeling, it’s who He is. Not just a character trait, but in fact, you cannot know God unless you first know His Love. And in Chapter 4 we read that His perfect love casts out fear. God is perfect love, agapeo, in the Greek. A love that moves beyond mere expression and lives within us, becomes our being. When we trust in Him, believe in Him - we must also know Him as love. And in that love - there is no fear. Let’s look at a couple of other verses that carry special meaning to me where trust is translated from the Hebrew word, bāṭaḥ: Proverbs 3:5 NKJV “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;” This verse resonates so loudly with me, especially in light of the definition which is to be confident in, with feelings of safety and security when one can rely on someone or something. If you listened to this podcast for any length of time you’ve heard me talk about losing my oldest child. As the 14th anniversary of his passing will be upon us in the next month, I feel it is an appropriate time to share how God used this verse to comfort my son in a dark season of his life, just a few months before his death, and then turned my heart to it again and again as I grieved His passing. Trusting the Lord Trusting God took on a whole new meaning when I began to walk out the days following my worst confessed fear: The death of my child. I had to trust Him for my next breath, that He would take care of my family when I wasn’t even able to think or feel anything but the most unimaginable pain. I had to trust God’s goodness and love, choosing to lean not to my own understanding because there was no way I could reconcile that a Good God would allow my family to suffer such a painful reality apart from faith in His truth and His promises. A few months before Justin passed away, he became angry as we had grown used to in our house. He often expressed his anger in a fit of rage that would come to blows with my husband or I, or he would destroy our property. That day he went outside, bent a golf club into a pretzel and then kicked a huge dent into the side of my car. My husband, his step-father, called the police as we’d been advised to do by our leaders at church. My son was handcuffed in my front yard and hauled off to the county jail. And, the one thing Scott and I had agreed on when they left was that we would not provide the bail to get him out of jail. A Promise To Keep We’d been thwarting consequences as things escalated in his life that year before and it was time for Justin to face the reality of his choices. He spent seven days in jail before striking a plea deal with the county prosecutor to come home on probation. While in jail, Justin met with the chaplain who gave him a Bible. The day he returned home he came in and thanked me for sending him letters with Scripture in them and encouraging him to seek spiritual counsel from the chaplain when we spoke on the phone. He asked me for my Bible. I handed him my favorite book and sat across the room. I watched as my son who struggled to read turned easily to the passage. Used his finger to find the exact scripture on the page and then read it aloud to me without missing a word. Proverbs 3:5-6 became his life verse. I had no idea, in that moment, how it would minister to me and carry me in the days following his death. A Birthday Blessing A few years later, I gave each member of our family a special gift. A framed birthday blessing with a Scripture that contained their birthday month and year. I also included their name meaning and a personal note of encouragement based on the information in the scripture and name definition. As the year closed, I thought to myself, I probably should do one of those for Justin. I began to look up verses of Scripture with the verse reference 3:11 since his birthday was March 11th. As I did, I didn’t really find anything that resonated until one day I sat praying as I usually did when the girls were at school and Scott was at work. I stood to clean house and a small card I had framed with Proverbs 3:5-6 printed on it caught my eye. I walked over and read the familiar words. Tears filled my eye and it was like my eyes were drawn to the numbers in the reference. It felt as if God whispered a sweet word in my ear, Justin already had a birthday blessing - God gave it to Him. Proverbs 3:5+6 is 11. In that moment, I could feel my Poppa God holding me as I wept bittersweet tears of both grief and joy mingled in the same moment. Each time God brought me to a place of revelation in that season. A small piece of healing took root in my heart as I learned to trust Him more. Which leads me to this next verse: Psalm 52:8 HCSB “But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house the Lord;I trust in God’s faithful love forever and ever.” (My memory) This verse became life to me the year following the Birthday Blessings. My husband and I went into a rough season in our marriage. It was truly a storm of life that could have destroyed us. But, God. We were walking out our healing in marriage when Scott took an opportunity to work out of town. I was completely uncertain about the idea of him working several states away from home while we were overcoming trust issues in our relationship. I agreed to him going out of town on one condition, if I needed him to return home that he would - no questions asked. He agreed and left on a warm fall day to work out of town for several months. You Don’t Trust Me That weekend I was preparing to go to church when I felt like God tapped me on the shoulder and said, “You don’t trust Me.” By this time in my life, I knew a prompting from the Lord when it landed on me. I stopped what I was doing and argued a bit. “Of course I trust you. I know almost every verse in the Bible about trusting you.” And as quickly as I quipped those words out loud to Him in response, I heard. “No you don’t. If you trusted Me, you wouldn’t worry about people.” Those next few months were filled with index cards covered in Scriptures about trusting God. Psalm 52:8 became a life verse for me. I wanted to know how to trust God in a certain sort of way. Not just from my head - knowing His promises and believing the were true. But, from my heart even when my circumstances couldn’t see Him --- that my heart would know and trust Him. Today, I can boldly say I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of MY GOD; I trust in His unfailing love forever and ever! Psalm 119 Now let’s get to today’s reading, why don’t we, and see how all this comes together? Turn back to Psalm 119:113 and let’s begin. Verse 113: I despise those who can’t keep commitments, for I passionately love your revelation-light! Have you ever found yourself in a place where you didn’t feel like you could trust anyone around you? Brokenness brought on by betrayal can be a very lonely place. A time when we have to passionately pursue God and His Light of Truth, Jesus, as our safe place of refuge. Verse 114-115:You’re my place of quiet retreat, and your wrap-around presence becomes my shield as I wrap myself in your word! Go away! Leave me, all you workers of wickedness, for you can’t stop me from following every command of my God. Unless we are willing to seek refuge in God during those seasons when people wound or betray us - we will find ourselves like a ship lost in a sea of wickedness. But, when we trust in God, and obey His commands. Seeking Him as our hiding place and living from His very presence in our daily lives. The world will not seem so tempting a place and we will not be snared by the enemy’s schemes. Nothing will be able to stop us from obeying God’s Word - not even the reality of pain could stop us from offering mercy and grace to those who hurt us. Verse 116-117: Lord, strengthen my inner being by the promises of your word so that I may live faithful and unashamed for you. Lift me up and I will be safe. (do you hear that trust?) Empower me to live every moment in the light of your ways. Do you see how the Keys of Trusting in Who God is, and Living from His Presence will bring us to a place of confident obedience as we walk in trust, living from beneath the shelter of His wings? When we live from confidence and belief in God’s Word, trusting His presence we will walk empowered by His grace and love to live every moment of our lives in obedience to who He is. His perfect love will not only cast out fear, but it will cover all shame as we live faithfully before Him. From Foolishness to Holy Fear… Verse 118-119: Lord, you reject those who reject your laws, for they fool no one but themselves! The wicked are thrown away, discarded and valueless.That’s why I will keep loving all of your laws! These two verses feel like the psalmist is reminding himself that he would be foolish to choose to disobey God - no matter how significant the temporary gain or pleasure might seem. He is committing himself to walk in God’s ways and to find the true value of life - that is only found in a deeply intimate relationship with God. He finds that loving God through His Word keeps Him from straying into foolish disobedience to God. In coaching one of the things we focus on is helping our clients seek self-awareness. Not self-focus, but self-awareness. To be aware of what they are doing, who they are being. and what they may need to learn in order to move forward in their lives. I feel like this is what God is highlighting for me in this passage of verses. That a key to understanding, growing and living from His presence is this idea of understanding exactly what is at stake when I do and when I don’t -- that this key is Awareness. The more we become aware of how we are showing up in our lives and the lives of others alongside, awareness of His presence in our lives and how we respond to His Presence becomes a pathway to not only freedom, but living from the awareness of His holiness… That righteousness of God we could never hope to attain - no matter how moral or right we feel - unless, we come into intimacy and revelation of the person of Jesus who takes away our sin and offers us His robe of righteousness in exchange. Obedience Pursues Holiness Verse 120: My body trembles in holy awe of you, leaving me speechless,for I’m frightened of your righteous judgments. As we conclude today, I am reminded of the awe-inspiring moment Isaiah had before the throne of God when he cried out, “Woe to me for I am a man of unclean lips…” And God’s generous response was to purify Isaiah from that unrighteousness so that He could be a prophet to the nation of Israel and foretell the coming Messiah who would indeed put an end to our sin and suffering apart from God. (See Isaiah 6) I don’t know about you--- But I want to live this way! When we come into the revelation-light of God’s truth and His Word. When the person of Jesus Christ, His Father in Heaven and the Holy Spirit who dwells inside of us become more real to us than the world around us - we cannot help but want to live from their presence in our lives. To pursue their holiness, their truth and their transforming power in our lives. We will begin to abide in their presence and holiness and the imputed righteousness of Christ! His righteousness will empower us to walk in victory through obedience every step of the way. When Revelation brings Revival, it will transform us with Righteousness and that should RE-FORM the way the think, live, act and respond to both God and the world around us. It’s a lofty challenge but a promising one, when we walk in light, truth and victory we find the words of Christ are true, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.” (See Matthew 5) What is it you are hungering and thirsting for today? And, by extension how is God filling you in this season? Lord, God, we ask you to empower us to live our lives aware of Your presence and Your Holiness in our lives. That as we seek You, we would hunger and thirst after righteousness, trusting and believing that Your promise is that we will be filled by You as we do. I pray these things in Jesus’ Name, Amen. I’d love to hear from you. Visit us on Facebook: @bloominginspired and drop a comment on this podcast post or send us a direct message. You can also visit our website BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and learn more about how we equip and empower women to walk in their role and reign in God’s Kingdom. You can fill out our contact form there on the website and let us know what’s resonating, or share any questions we might be able to answer for you about the podcast or ministry of Blooming Inspired Network. A few weeks ago I shared about an upcoming online Prophetic Conference I would be doing in August with Michele Turman, and wanted to let you know that we have had to postpone that event due to scheduling conflicts that have arisen, but we are looking for a new date and will let you know when we reschedule and how you can register and join us in seeking to hear God’s voice through the prophetic gift of the Holy Spirit. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for our next episode of Accidental Hope Podcast with Jennifer Eikenhorst. She is our Ambassador of Hope who continually seeks hope and builds community from a faith perspective with those who have suffered loss through accidents or trauma. Her show airs right here on the Blooming Inspired Podcast network at 2pm (CT). You can find more about Jennifer and her show at facebook.com/accidentalhope Close Again, we’d love to connect with you through our website and social media. Be sure to like, share and subscribe to our website and social media posts. You can find us at facebook.com/bloominginspired, on instagram @bloominginspired and on Twitter @bloominspirenet as well as by subscribing to our website: BloomingInspiredNetowrk.com. That’s all the time we have for today, please join us for Accidental Hope tomorrow and our next episode of Blooming Inspired Podcast each Tuesday and Thursday at 11am (CT)! And remember, Blooming Where You’re Planted Is The First Step To Living Your Wildest Dreams, So Live Your Life Blooming Alive!

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 139 - Psalm 119 Trust & Obey (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 113-120 in the Passion Translation. Today, as we discover the keys of living from presence and trusting God in our passionate pursuit toward obedience from the heart. When we come into a right understanding of Who God is as we pursue Him through His Word - the keys of trust and living from His presence bring us into a place of reverence for His Holiness and Righteousness. Show Transcript: Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives blooming alive. Good morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Introduction We're continuing to read from Psalm 119 with our Revival Series. We are reading in The Passion Translation today, beginning in verse 113. Let’s take a moment to go back and review what we talked about last Thursday. Review First, we uncovered the keys of gratitude, joy and being refreshed, we also began to see how obedience brings us to a place of freedom in Christ. Then we learned that stepping out by faith, trusting God’s revelation-light, helps us to walk a path that will lead to obedience, joy, rest and righteousness which brings us right into today’s topic. Today’s Reading Before I get to that, I want to share a brief story from last week with you. My husband is an anytime-anykind of sports fan and more than two decades ago he spent time working with a sheet metal company that helped with the building of what is now Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX. If that sounds familiar to you, it should because it is where our home team, The Texas Rangers, have played major league baseball, since the early 90s. My husband remembers fondly working on a portion of the center field Coca-Cola visual screen board and watching the first games played in the stadium from that lofty perch. A couple of weeks ago I called into a radio station and won tickets to last Wednesday night’s game. There are only 29 home games left in the regular season and that 29th game will be the last at Globe Life Park if the Rangers don’t make the playoffs. Though the Rangers were handily defeated by the Arizona Diamondbacks last week, we enjoyed the atmosphere and the cool breeze blowing through the stadium even on a very hot Texas summer day. As the night wore on and each time Elvis Andrus, veteran Short Stop, came to the plate to bat they played his intro song… “The Baby Shark Song” If you have kids or grandkids you may be familiar with this song. Elvis picked it actually to honor his own child each time he comes up to bat… You may recognize it… Little kids singing, Baby Shark! Doot-Doo-Ta-Doo-Doo-Doo… Baby Shark… And off to our right in a neighboring section is a middle aged man standing up and doing the Baby Shark dance. Every. Single. Time. The next day, I was moving through my day and found myself singing, “Baby Shark!...” Yep. It was a catchy little tune of very few words. Which brings me to today’s reading. The heading over this Psalm 119:113-120 is “Trust & Obey!” I don’t know about you, but as soon as I read those words my mind began to sing the chorus of an old hymnal standard: [Singing] “Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.” Anybody else have that response to hearing those words. I even looked up the lyrics to read through them and there is no doubt in my mind that though those words do not officially appear in the text of this reading… They totally apply and that song must have been inspired by Psalm 119. As I sang the song and considered the lyrics, I began to consider that word Trust in the Hebrew. The definitions I’m about to share came from The Complete Word Study Dictionary (OT) (Copyright © 2003 by AMG Publishers. Database © 2007 WORDsearch Corp.) I found that in the KJV of the Bible, the word trust appears 163 times (134 OT, 29 NT). So let’s take a look at a few Hebrew words and their context to better understand this idea of trust from a Biblical perspective. Taking a Detour Put a marker in your Bible at Psalm 119 and turn over to Judges 11:20: Judges 11:20 (NKJV) “But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together, encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.” In this verse, the Hebrew word translated TRUST is Strong’s H539ʾāman which is defined as “be firm, to build up, to support, to nurture, to establish.” It carries the idea of “providing stability and confidence.” This same word is translated BELIEVE in Deuteronomy 9:23: Deuteronomy 9:23: (NKJV) “Likewise, when the Lord sent you from Kadesh Barnea, saying, ‘Go up and possess the land which I have given you,’ then you rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God, and you did not believe Him nor obey His voice.” In the Hebrew, there is this intrinsic connection between belief and trust, without belief we will not trust God, and if we don’t trust God our obedience will not please Him. I want to establish this up front today because I believe God is going to highlight these truths for us in detail as we complete our reading today. The next Hebrew Word that is translated trust can be found in Psalm 2:12: Psalm 2:12 NKJV “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” In this verse the Hebrew word is H2620 ḥāsāh. This word is defined as, “take refuge, literally seeking a tree’s shade… Of Yahweh (God), He is a shield providing refuge, and refuge is sought under His wings.” A safe place, a place of refuge and shelter where one can be secure and certain they will not be harmed. God is your safe place, a hiding place of refuge for you when the enemy and the world presses in. To trust Him is to seek shelter from Him, and find our residence in His presence. The next Hebrew Word that is translated trust can be found in Psalm 4:5: Psalm 4:5 NKJV “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.” This word is the Hebrew word H982 bāṭaḥ. It is defined as “to trust, to be confident in, expressed as feelings of safety and security that is felt when one can rely on someone or something. Also to be confident, secure and without fear.” Love Casts Out Fear In the book of 1 John, we read that God is Love. It is not just a feeling, it’s who He is. Not just a character trait, but in fact, you cannot know God unless you first know His Love. And in Chapter 4 we read that His perfect love casts out fear. God is perfect love, agapeo, in the Greek. A love that moves beyond mere expression and lives within us, becomes our being. When we trust in Him, believe in Him - we must also know Him as love. And in that love - there is no fear. Let’s look at a couple of other verses that carry special meaning to me where trust is translated from the Hebrew word, bāṭaḥ: Proverbs 3:5 NKJV “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;” This verse resonates so loudly with me, especially in light of the definition which is to be confident in, with feelings of safety and security when one can rely on someone or something. If you listened to this podcast for any length of time you’ve heard me talk about losing my oldest child. As the 14th anniversary of his passing will be upon us in the next month, I feel it is an appropriate time to share how God used this verse to comfort my son in a dark season of his life, just a few months before his death, and then turned my heart to it again and again as I grieved His passing. Trusting the Lord Trusting God took on a whole new meaning when I began to walk out the days following my worst confessed fear: The death of my child. I had to trust Him for my next breath, that He would take care of my family when I wasn’t even able to think or feel anything but the most unimaginable pain. I had to trust God’s goodness and love, choosing to lean not to my own understanding because there was no way I could reconcile that a Good God would allow my family to suffer such a painful reality apart from faith in His truth and His promises. A few months before Justin passed away, he became angry as we had grown used to in our house. He often expressed his anger in a fit of rage that would come to blows with my husband or I, or he would destroy our property. That day he went outside, bent a golf club into a pretzel and then kicked a huge dent into the side of my car. My husband, his step-father, called the police as we’d been advised to do by our leaders at church. My son was handcuffed in my front yard and hauled off to the county jail. And, the one thing Scott and I had agreed on when they left was that we would not provide the bail to get him out of jail. A Promise To Keep We’d been thwarting consequences as things escalated in his life that year before and it was time for Justin to face the reality of his choices. He spent seven days in jail before striking a plea deal with the county prosecutor to come home on probation. While in jail, Justin met with the chaplain who gave him a Bible. The day he returned home he came in and thanked me for sending him letters with Scripture in them and encouraging him to seek spiritual counsel from the chaplain when we spoke on the phone. He asked me for my Bible. I handed him my favorite book and sat across the room. I watched as my son who struggled to read turned easily to the passage. Used his finger to find the exact scripture on the page and then read it aloud to me without missing a word. Proverbs 3:5-6 became his life verse. I had no idea, in that moment, how it would minister to me and carry me in the days following his death. A Birthday Blessing A few years later, I gave each member of our family a special gift. A framed birthday blessing with a Scripture that contained their birthday month and year. I also included their name meaning and a personal note of encouragement based on the information in the scripture and name definition. As the year closed, I thought to myself, I probably should do one of those for Justin. I began to look up verses of Scripture with the verse reference 3:11 since his birthday was March 11th. As I did, I didn’t really find anything that resonated until one day I sat praying as I usually did when the girls were at school and Scott was at work. I stood to clean house and a small card I had framed with Proverbs 3:5-6 printed on it caught my eye. I walked over and read the familiar words. Tears filled my eye and it was like my eyes were drawn to the numbers in the reference. It felt as if God whispered a sweet word in my ear, Justin already had a birthday blessing - God gave it to Him. Proverbs 3:5+6 is 11. In that moment, I could feel my Poppa God holding me as I wept bittersweet tears of both grief and joy mingled in the same moment. Each time God brought me to a place of revelation in that season. A small piece of healing took root in my heart as I learned to trust Him more. Which leads me to this next verse: Psalm 52:8 HCSB “But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house the Lord;I trust in God’s faithful love forever and ever.” (My memory) This verse became life to me the year following the Birthday Blessings. My husband and I went into a rough season in our marriage. It was truly a storm of life that could have destroyed us. But, God. We were walking out our healing in marriage when Scott took an opportunity to work out of town. I was completely uncertain about the idea of him working several states away from home while we were overcoming trust issues in our relationship. I agreed to him going out of town on one condition, if I needed him to return home that he would - no questions asked. He agreed and left on a warm fall day to work out of town for several months. You Don’t Trust Me That weekend I was preparing to go to church when I felt like God tapped me on the shoulder and said, “You don’t trust Me.” By this time in my life, I knew a prompting from the Lord when it landed on me. I stopped what I was doing and argued a bit. “Of course I trust you. I know almost every verse in the Bible about trusting you.” And as quickly as I quipped those words out loud to Him in response, I heard. “No you don’t. If you trusted Me, you wouldn’t worry about people.” Those next few months were filled with index cards covered in Scriptures about trusting God. Psalm 52:8 became a life verse for me. I wanted to know how to trust God in a certain sort of way. Not just from my head - knowing His promises and believing the were true. But, from my heart even when my circumstances couldn’t see Him --- that my heart would know and trust Him. Today, I can boldly say I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of MY GOD; I trust in His unfailing love forever and ever! Psalm 119 Now let’s get to today’s reading, why don’t we, and see how all this comes together? Turn back to Psalm 119:113 and let’s begin. Verse 113: I despise those who can’t keep commitments, for I passionately love your revelation-light! Have you ever found yourself in a place where you didn’t feel like you could trust anyone around you? Brokenness brought on by betrayal can be a very lonely place. A time when we have to passionately pursue God and His Light of Truth, Jesus, as our safe place of refuge. Verse 114-115:You’re my place of quiet retreat, and your wrap-around presence becomes my shield as I wrap myself in your word! Go away! Leave me, all you workers of wickedness, for you can’t stop me from following every command of my God. Unless we are willing to seek refuge in God during those seasons when people wound or betray us - we will find ourselves like a ship lost in a sea of wickedness. But, when we trust in God, and obey His commands. Seeking Him as our hiding place and living from His very presence in our daily lives. The world will not seem so tempting a place and we will not be snared by the enemy’s schemes. Nothing will be able to stop us from obeying God’s Word - not even the reality of pain could stop us from offering mercy and grace to those who hurt us. Verse 116-117: Lord, strengthen my inner being by the promises of your word so that I may live faithful and unashamed for you. Lift me up and I will be safe. (do you hear that trust?) Empower me to live every moment in the light of your ways. Do you see how the Keys of Trusting in Who God is, and Living from His Presence will bring us to a place of confident obedience as we walk in trust, living from beneath the shelter of His wings? When we live from confidence and belief in God’s Word, trusting His presence we will walk empowered by His grace and love to live every moment of our lives in obedience to who He is. His perfect love will not only cast out fear, but it will cover all shame as we live faithfully before Him. From Foolishness to Holy Fear… Verse 118-119: Lord, you reject those who reject your laws, for they fool no one but themselves! The wicked are thrown away, discarded and valueless.That’s why I will keep loving all of your laws! These two verses feel like the psalmist is reminding himself that he would be foolish to choose to disobey God - no matter how significant the temporary gain or pleasure might seem. He is committing himself to walk in God’s ways and to find the true value of life - that is only found in a deeply intimate relationship with God. He finds that loving God through His Word keeps Him from straying into foolish disobedience to God. In coaching one of the things we focus on is helping our clients seek self-awareness. Not self-focus, but self-awareness. To be aware of what they are doing, who they are being. and what they may need to learn in order to move forward in their lives. I feel like this is what God is highlighting for me in this passage of verses. That a key to understanding, growing and living from His presence is this idea of understanding exactly what is at stake when I do and when I don’t -- that this key is Awareness. The more we become aware of how we are showing up in our lives and the lives of others alongside, awareness of His presence in our lives and how we respond to His Presence becomes a pathway to not only freedom, but living from the awareness of His holiness… That righteousness of God we could never hope to attain - no matter how moral or right we feel - unless, we come into intimacy and revelation of the person of Jesus who takes away our sin and offers us His robe of righteousness in exchange. Obedience Pursues Holiness Verse 120: My body trembles in holy awe of you, leaving me speechless,for I’m frightened of your righteous judgments. As we conclude today, I am reminded of the awe-inspiring moment Isaiah had before the throne of God when he cried out, “Woe to me for I am a man of unclean lips…” And God’s generous response was to purify Isaiah from that unrighteousness so that He could be a prophet to the nation of Israel and foretell the coming Messiah who would indeed put an end to our sin and suffering apart from God. (See Isaiah 6) I don’t know about you--- But I want to live this way! When we come into the revelation-light of God’s truth and His Word. When the person of Jesus Christ, His Father in Heaven and the Holy Spirit who dwells inside of us become more real to us than the world around us - we cannot help but want to live from their presence in our lives. To pursue their holiness, their truth and their transforming power in our lives. We will begin to abide in their presence and holiness and the imputed righteousness of Christ! His righteousness will empower us to walk in victory through obedience every step of the way. When Revelation brings Revival, it will transform us with Righteousness and that should RE-FORM the way the think, live, act and respond to both God and the world around us. It’s a lofty challenge but a promising one, when we walk in light, truth and victory we find the words of Christ are true, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.” (See Matthew 5) What is it you are hungering and thirsting for today? And, by extension how is God filling you in this season? Lord, God, we ask you to empower us to live our lives aware of Your presence and Your Holiness in our lives. That as we seek You, we would hunger and thirst after righteousness, trusting and believing that Your promise is that we will be filled by You as we do. I pray these things in Jesus’ Name, Amen. I’d love to hear from you. Visit us on Facebook: @bloominginspired and drop a comment on this podcast post or send us a direct message. You can also visit our website BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and learn more about how we equip and empower women to walk in their role and reign in God’s Kingdom. You can fill out our contact form there on the website and let us know what’s resonating, or share any questions we might be able to answer for you about the podcast or ministry of Blooming Inspired Network. A few weeks ago I shared about an upcoming online Prophetic Conference I would be doing in August with Michele Turman, and wanted to let you know that we have had to postpone that event due to scheduling conflicts that have arisen, but we are looking for a new date and will let you know when we reschedule and how you can register and join us in seeking to hear God’s voice through the prophetic gift of the Holy Spirit. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for our next episode of Accidental Hope Podcast with Jennifer Eikenhorst. She is our Ambassador of Hope who continually seeks hope and builds community from a faith perspective with those who have suffered loss through accidents or trauma. Her show airs right here on the Blooming Inspired Podcast network at 2pm (CT). You can find more about Jennifer and her show at facebook.com/accidentalhope Close Again, we’d love to connect with you through our website and social media. Be sure to like, share and subscribe to our website and social media posts. You can find us at facebook.com/bloominginspired, on instagram @bloominginspired and on Twitter @bloominspirenet as well as by subscribing to our website: BloomingInspiredNetowrk.com. That’s all the time we have for today, please join us for Accidental Hope tomorrow and our next episode of Blooming Inspired Podcast each Tuesday and Thursday at 11am (CT)! And remember, Blooming Where You’re Planted Is The First Step To Living Your Wildest Dreams, So Live Your Life Blooming Alive!

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 138: Truth's Shining Light (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 105-112 in the Passion Translation. Today, as we discover the keys of gratitude, joy and being refreshed, we also see how they partner with obedience to bring about freedom. As we step out by faith, trusting God’s revelation-light, we find ourselves walking a path that will lead into obedience, joy, rest and righteousness. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives blooming alive. Greeting Good morning this is Michelle Bentham. I’m the host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. I took a break on Tuesday this week and offered you a special encore presentation of last Thursday’s podcast. But today we are diving right back where we left off last week. We’ve been reading through Psalms 119 looking for keys to revival as we work through the verses. Before we get started, let’s pray: “Lord God, we come humbly today and ask you to give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know you more. Lord, we ask you to speak now as your servants are listening - send Holy Spirit to give us revelation truth and light to mark the path ahead of us today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” Review Last week we focused on placing our faith in God’s word and finding that our hearts love and treasure His Word.That faith in God leads to freedom, and loving His Word leads us to an uncompromising desire to be both obedient to His Word and to face the difficult truths in His word. Our keys from the last reading are wisdom and understanding that come from God’s Word. Today’s Reading Today we are going to be reading Psalm 119:105-112. Grab your Bible, a pen and if you desire - your favorite journal to take some notes as we get ready to jump into this section of scripture. I’m reading from the Passion Translation today. The heading over this section is “Truth’s Shining Light.” We’ve read in the previous verses that God’s revelation-light brings us to walk in His ways, to face difficult truths, and find obedience to His Word. Let’s see what God wants to share with us today. Something Familiar Before I get to today’s reading, I want to acknowledge the familiar words that can be found in many of the other translations of Psalm 119:105-106, from the NIV. “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.” Catch this… God’s word is a lamp for my feet and a light to my path. The key to following God, being obedient to Him, and as the psalmist confesses, keeping His righteous laws -- is the shining light of His Truth - His Word. Remember this from John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.” He also said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” (See John 8:32) Freedom & Obedience How many of us in our lives would say that freedom and obedience walk hand in hand.Today’s key of truth partnered with the key of obedience will lead us to freedom. Not the kind of freedom that casts off restraint, but the kind of freedom that compels us to bow low, follow closely and seek to Know Him - Jesus, the Truth of God, His Living Word. Personal Testimony I remember being a teenager, convinced I knew it all, and especially knew better than my parents who were old-fashioned and simply did not understand this modern world we lived in. Unlike James Dean, I was a Rebel With A Cause. I wanted to be free. In my mind, freedom was the ability to choose WHATEVER I wanted to do. I could not wait to be out from under their authority so I could find my own way, choose what I wanted and cast off the restraint of their rules in my life. Can I tell you that led me to some very difficult years in a prodigal season that led me to be an unwed mother, following that up with marrying a very broken and abusive man? We had two more children by the time I was 21 and then I divorced him. After my divorce we lived in poverty on welfare assistance from the state. I gave myself to wild living (mostly by way of alcohol and honky tonks) and some of my choices landed me in jail - not once, but a few times. All I can say is that the mercy of God met me in the middle of my mess -- and many of the messes I created learning to walk out of the broken patterns of my past. In my late 20s I began to seek God, to hunger for a relationship with Him again the way I had when I was saved at age 12. His Truth Changed My Life By the time I was 30 I was searching the Scriptures doing regular Bible study and seeking truth. It would be several more years before I would sincerely begin to walk out that truth and discover God’s unending love and powerful truth as a reality in my life. It’s been a long road from their to here. But, in that journey I have found the more I allow the Holy Spirit to guide and restrain me through God’s Word, the more obedient my heart becomes and the more I realize obedience to God’s Word in my heart and my life --- the more free I become. Truth’s Shining Light Now, let’s read from the Passion Translation and see what additional insights we can gather from this passage of Scripture: Verse 105-106: “Truth’s Shining light guides me in my choices and decisions; the revelation of your word makes my path clear. To live my life by your righteous commitment.” Just Enough Light The Hebrew language often paints a picture for the reader or hearer. I feel like the picture for this passage is that picture we find in the NIV: a picture of God’s light, like a lamp in our hand… or, if you will, our hearts... shining the light of truth into a dark world around you. A lamp shines in darkness, illuminating the immediate area surrounding us. The picture from Psalm 119:105 is just enough light to take the next step. It doesn’t show us all the things that could be seen in the darkness. It lights the path that God wants us to take. Giving us a clear direction. If we are willing to follow God through the truth of His revelation-light in our lives, our choices and decisions will honor that light as we choose to live our lives by His righteous commitment. Take the Next Step Often times I think we get off track because we do not feel God is guiding or directing us - when in fact, our hearts are not obedient because we do not see the bigger picture. It’s like standing in the mall and looking at their map to find a store. You have to get your bearings to find that STAR with the words, You Are Here emblazoned in red. I’m a big picture kind of kid, the details often don’t matter to me as much as knowing where we’re going and plotting the best way to get there. I’ve often mused that life would be so much easier if God would just give us the road map so I know where we’re headed. Not Just A Road Trip As I am sharing this with you, a picture of the television show “The Amazing Race” pops into my head. If you aren’t familiar with it, coupled contestants from various place are selected to run the amazing race. At the beginning of each episode the audience is given a preview of what the contestants must do to get to the next Pit Stop for that leg of the race. The contestants have no clue where they are going - they are just following the instructions, completing the task outlined in the series of clues they receive, and then trying to run the best race to arrive at the Pit Stop first. We’ll be back in a minute or two as we share something exciting with you! [Podcoin Promo - information included in the close] Not Exactly Your Average Road Trip It’s not like a road trip where you ask Siri or Google to get you directions and then you follow their directions to get to where you are going. The contestants are compelled to not only find the clues, but follow them precisely - even in countries where they do not speak or understand the language. They are dependent on the information provided at each detour, roadblock and clue that is provided or else they won’t complete that leg of the journey and finish the race. They also are provided resources to get the transportation needed to make the journey, and sometimes have to do unpleasant and difficult assignments to complete the race. But, you know… Many of us use our map apps to help us get where we are going the fastest route with the fewest delays, detours or obstacles to overcome. As a matter of fact, we’ll set our map and then in the midst of driving realize a better way and turn off the directed path - then our maps start recalculating and giving us instructions to get us back on track and headed to our destination. But, the thing is --- we pick the route we want to take and then deviate from that path. Requiring the system to update and reroute us to get us to our destination in a timely manner. Finish Your Race The truth is, many of us are off track simply because we thought we knew a better way and went our own direction instead of following God. Walking closely with God through His Word is where you will find Him best. As you incline your heart to His Word - His Holy Spirit will Shine the Light of Jesus and give you clear direction and the assignments needed to run your race well. The question is… Will you partner with Him through the Key of Obedience? Trusting Him to give you just the light you need for the next step, or are you asking for a bigger picture? Overwhelmed Verse 107: “I’m bruised and broken, overwhelmed by it all; breath life into me again by your living word.” Life really has a way of beating us down. I often get pacing and run hard after following Jesus. But, the drawback is I get weary, and need to rest. One of the keys for today’s reading is to be refreshed when you are weary. A Yoke of Rest In Matthew 11, Jesus tells His followers that when they feel weighted down by life and are wearied by its burdens, to come and exchange these heavy burdens for his yoke of rest - which is easy and light. Jesus wants to carry your load for you. You don’t have to go it alone. But, in order to make the exchange you have to learn to pause, surrender and receive His gift of rest. Offering Thanks Verse108-109: “Lord, receive my grateful thanks and teach me more of how to please you. Even though my life hangs in the balance, I’ll keep following what you’ve taught me, no matter what.” The next key we find is thanksgiving - a heart turned in gratitude before God, expressing thanks, seeks to please Him. It takes faith to thank God in a hard season. When my son passed away nearly 14 years ago - I read that sweet verse in Thessalonians where it says to “Give thanks in every circumstance.” Thankful In… Not Thankful For Learning to thank God in unpleasant or painful circumstances will lead us to depend on Him in those seasons. It will tune our hearts to see Him moving in our lives and answering our prayers as we pray them -- because we are relying on Him, looking for His goodness in the midst of our pain and trevail, we have the opportunity to find Him faithful and respond by faith to Him, which pleases Him. And when we find His goodness, and the faith to follow Him no matter what we experience the depths of His love for us as we continually seek to follow Him. A response of obedience that is born of love, is an act of worship. Freedom Comes Through Obedience Verse 110: “The ungodly have done their best to throw me off track, but I’ll not deviate from what you’ve told me to do.” When I submit to God allowing Him to guide my path as I follow in obedience. Even when the distractions and assignments from the enemy come at me - I’ll not be sent off course. I’ll be steadfast in my determination to follow God, and do what He has told me to do. Freedom comes through obedience, and when freedom comes so does JOY in the obedience! Joy In Obedience Verse 111-112: Everything you speak to me is like joyous treasure, filling my life with gladness. I have determined in my heart to obey whatever you say, fully and forever!” When we begin to realize the freedom of obedience in our lives, His words become joyous treasure that we receive in gladness. It sets our hearts in determination to realize FULLY His plan and purpose for our lives as we seek to do whatever He says - to live fully until we reach eternity. Father God, we thank you for Jesus, your revelation-light, in a dark and dying world. We thank you for Holy Spirit who guides, reminds, and convicts us of your word and your truth. We ask Lord to make our hearts and our steps true to you, to increase our faith and to walk boldly knowing your word gives us the strength, rest and refreshing we need to do everything you have said over our lives! In Jesus’ Name, Amen. What’s Your Take? What are you thinking as we close out the message today? I’d love for you to share your insights with me. You can find me at facebook.com/bloominginspired and share your thoughts in the comments or send me a direct message. We’ve also got a contact form on the website: bloominginspirednetwork.com just click the Let’s Connect link at the top of the page. Ways to Listen Want more of Blooming Inspired Podcast - or maybe you’d like to learn more about Blooming Inspired Network - be sure to like us on Facebook. We’re also on Twitter: @bloominspirenet and Instagram: @bloominginspired. We’d love to see you on our pages - if you stop by be sure to leave us a comment and let us know you’re tuning in. I want to remind you that our podcast is available through your favorite subscription services like Apple Podcasts (Formerly iTunes) or Google Play. You can also find us on the Podcoin App as we shared in this podcast. Podcoin is the app that pays you to listen to our podcasts - and really any podcast you find on their app. You can use your podcoins to purchase gift cards or make donations to charitable organizations. It’s a win-win if you ask me… So check out the Podcoin App today and use our referral code: BLOOMING to get 300 podcoins when you create your account! Closing Thank you for tuning in to today’s podcast. Don’t forget to tune in on Mondays at 4pm (CT) to catch Michele Turman, our resident Redeemed Rebel, Gold Digger and Hope Dealer, as she shares The Redeemed Rebel Podcast each week. You’ll also not want to miss next week’s Accidental Hope Podcast at 2pm (CT) right here on Blooming Inspired Network. I will be the featured guest joining Jennifer Eikenhorst, our Hope Ambassador, talking about Bible Journaling and Creative Journaling as a way to find hope and healing in difficult circumstances. You don’t want to miss it! Be sure to take a moment to like us on social media. If you love our show and it’s been a blessing to you would you help us get the word out by sharing it with your friends and family on social media. We’re praying for you often and want you to know you are important to our show and our ministry - we could not do this without you! And now… I want to remind you as I always do. Blooming where you’re planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive!

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 138: Truth's Shining Light (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 105-112 in the Passion Translation. Today, as we discover the keys of gratitude, joy and being refreshed, we also see how they partner with obedience to bring about freedom. As we step out by faith, trusting God’s revelation-light, we find ourselves walking a path that will lead into obedience, joy, rest and righteousness. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives blooming alive. Greeting Good morning this is Michelle Bentham. I’m the host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. I took a break on Tuesday this week and offered you a special encore presentation of last Thursday’s podcast. But today we are diving right back where we left off last week. We’ve been reading through Psalms 119 looking for keys to revival as we work through the verses. Before we get started, let’s pray: “Lord God, we come humbly today and ask you to give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know you more. Lord, we ask you to speak now as your servants are listening - send Holy Spirit to give us revelation truth and light to mark the path ahead of us today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” Review Last week we focused on placing our faith in God’s word and finding that our hearts love and treasure His Word.That faith in God leads to freedom, and loving His Word leads us to an uncompromising desire to be both obedient to His Word and to face the difficult truths in His word. Our keys from the last reading are wisdom and understanding that come from God’s Word. Today’s Reading Today we are going to be reading Psalm 119:105-112. Grab your Bible, a pen and if you desire - your favorite journal to take some notes as we get ready to jump into this section of scripture. I’m reading from the Passion Translation today. The heading over this section is “Truth’s Shining Light.” We’ve read in the previous verses that God’s revelation-light brings us to walk in His ways, to face difficult truths, and find obedience to His Word. Let’s see what God wants to share with us today. Something Familiar Before I get to today’s reading, I want to acknowledge the familiar words that can be found in many of the other translations of Psalm 119:105-106, from the NIV. “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.” Catch this… God’s word is a lamp for my feet and a light to my path. The key to following God, being obedient to Him, and as the psalmist confesses, keeping His righteous laws -- is the shining light of His Truth - His Word. Remember this from John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.” He also said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” (See John 8:32) Freedom & Obedience How many of us in our lives would say that freedom and obedience walk hand in hand.Today’s key of truth partnered with the key of obedience will lead us to freedom. Not the kind of freedom that casts off restraint, but the kind of freedom that compels us to bow low, follow closely and seek to Know Him - Jesus, the Truth of God, His Living Word. Personal Testimony I remember being a teenager, convinced I knew it all, and especially knew better than my parents who were old-fashioned and simply did not understand this modern world we lived in. Unlike James Dean, I was a Rebel With A Cause. I wanted to be free. In my mind, freedom was the ability to choose WHATEVER I wanted to do. I could not wait to be out from under their authority so I could find my own way, choose what I wanted and cast off the restraint of their rules in my life. Can I tell you that led me to some very difficult years in a prodigal season that led me to be an unwed mother, following that up with marrying a very broken and abusive man? We had two more children by the time I was 21 and then I divorced him. After my divorce we lived in poverty on welfare assistance from the state. I gave myself to wild living (mostly by way of alcohol and honky tonks) and some of my choices landed me in jail - not once, but a few times. All I can say is that the mercy of God met me in the middle of my mess -- and many of the messes I created learning to walk out of the broken patterns of my past. In my late 20s I began to seek God, to hunger for a relationship with Him again the way I had when I was saved at age 12. His Truth Changed My Life By the time I was 30 I was searching the Scriptures doing regular Bible study and seeking truth. It would be several more years before I would sincerely begin to walk out that truth and discover God’s unending love and powerful truth as a reality in my life. It’s been a long road from their to here. But, in that journey I have found the more I allow the Holy Spirit to guide and restrain me through God’s Word, the more obedient my heart becomes and the more I realize obedience to God’s Word in my heart and my life --- the more free I become. Truth’s Shining Light Now, let’s read from the Passion Translation and see what additional insights we can gather from this passage of Scripture: Verse 105-106: “Truth’s Shining light guides me in my choices and decisions; the revelation of your word makes my path clear. To live my life by your righteous commitment.” Just Enough Light The Hebrew language often paints a picture for the reader or hearer. I feel like the picture for this passage is that picture we find in the NIV: a picture of God’s light, like a lamp in our hand… or, if you will, our hearts... shining the light of truth into a dark world around you. A lamp shines in darkness, illuminating the immediate area surrounding us. The picture from Psalm 119:105 is just enough light to take the next step. It doesn’t show us all the things that could be seen in the darkness. It lights the path that God wants us to take. Giving us a clear direction. If we are willing to follow God through the truth of His revelation-light in our lives, our choices and decisions will honor that light as we choose to live our lives by His righteous commitment. Take the Next Step Often times I think we get off track because we do not feel God is guiding or directing us - when in fact, our hearts are not obedient because we do not see the bigger picture. It’s like standing in the mall and looking at their map to find a store. You have to get your bearings to find that STAR with the words, You Are Here emblazoned in red. I’m a big picture kind of kid, the details often don’t matter to me as much as knowing where we’re going and plotting the best way to get there. I’ve often mused that life would be so much easier if God would just give us the road map so I know where we’re headed. Not Just A Road Trip As I am sharing this with you, a picture of the television show “The Amazing Race” pops into my head. If you aren’t familiar with it, coupled contestants from various place are selected to run the amazing race. At the beginning of each episode the audience is given a preview of what the contestants must do to get to the next Pit Stop for that leg of the race. The contestants have no clue where they are going - they are just following the instructions, completing the task outlined in the series of clues they receive, and then trying to run the best race to arrive at the Pit Stop first. We’ll be back in a minute or two as we share something exciting with you! [Podcoin Promo - information included in the close] Not Exactly Your Average Road Trip It’s not like a road trip where you ask Siri or Google to get you directions and then you follow their directions to get to where you are going. The contestants are compelled to not only find the clues, but follow them precisely - even in countries where they do not speak or understand the language. They are dependent on the information provided at each detour, roadblock and clue that is provided or else they won’t complete that leg of the journey and finish the race. They also are provided resources to get the transportation needed to make the journey, and sometimes have to do unpleasant and difficult assignments to complete the race. But, you know… Many of us use our map apps to help us get where we are going the fastest route with the fewest delays, detours or obstacles to overcome. As a matter of fact, we’ll set our map and then in the midst of driving realize a better way and turn off the directed path - then our maps start recalculating and giving us instructions to get us back on track and headed to our destination. But, the thing is --- we pick the route we want to take and then deviate from that path. Requiring the system to update and reroute us to get us to our destination in a timely manner. Finish Your Race The truth is, many of us are off track simply because we thought we knew a better way and went our own direction instead of following God. Walking closely with God through His Word is where you will find Him best. As you incline your heart to His Word - His Holy Spirit will Shine the Light of Jesus and give you clear direction and the assignments needed to run your race well. The question is… Will you partner with Him through the Key of Obedience? Trusting Him to give you just the light you need for the next step, or are you asking for a bigger picture? Overwhelmed Verse 107: “I’m bruised and broken, overwhelmed by it all; breath life into me again by your living word.” Life really has a way of beating us down. I often get pacing and run hard after following Jesus. But, the drawback is I get weary, and need to rest. One of the keys for today’s reading is to be refreshed when you are weary. A Yoke of Rest In Matthew 11, Jesus tells His followers that when they feel weighted down by life and are wearied by its burdens, to come and exchange these heavy burdens for his yoke of rest - which is easy and light. Jesus wants to carry your load for you. You don’t have to go it alone. But, in order to make the exchange you have to learn to pause, surrender and receive His gift of rest. Offering Thanks Verse108-109: “Lord, receive my grateful thanks and teach me more of how to please you. Even though my life hangs in the balance, I’ll keep following what you’ve taught me, no matter what.” The next key we find is thanksgiving - a heart turned in gratitude before God, expressing thanks, seeks to please Him. It takes faith to thank God in a hard season. When my son passed away nearly 14 years ago - I read that sweet verse in Thessalonians where it says to “Give thanks in every circumstance.” Thankful In… Not Thankful For Learning to thank God in unpleasant or painful circumstances will lead us to depend on Him in those seasons. It will tune our hearts to see Him moving in our lives and answering our prayers as we pray them -- because we are relying on Him, looking for His goodness in the midst of our pain and trevail, we have the opportunity to find Him faithful and respond by faith to Him, which pleases Him. And when we find His goodness, and the faith to follow Him no matter what we experience the depths of His love for us as we continually seek to follow Him. A response of obedience that is born of love, is an act of worship. Freedom Comes Through Obedience Verse 110: “The ungodly have done their best to throw me off track, but I’ll not deviate from what you’ve told me to do.” When I submit to God allowing Him to guide my path as I follow in obedience. Even when the distractions and assignments from the enemy come at me - I’ll not be sent off course. I’ll be steadfast in my determination to follow God, and do what He has told me to do. Freedom comes through obedience, and when freedom comes so does JOY in the obedience! Joy In Obedience Verse 111-112: Everything you speak to me is like joyous treasure, filling my life with gladness. I have determined in my heart to obey whatever you say, fully and forever!” When we begin to realize the freedom of obedience in our lives, His words become joyous treasure that we receive in gladness. It sets our hearts in determination to realize FULLY His plan and purpose for our lives as we seek to do whatever He says - to live fully until we reach eternity. Father God, we thank you for Jesus, your revelation-light, in a dark and dying world. We thank you for Holy Spirit who guides, reminds, and convicts us of your word and your truth. We ask Lord to make our hearts and our steps true to you, to increase our faith and to walk boldly knowing your word gives us the strength, rest and refreshing we need to do everything you have said over our lives! In Jesus’ Name, Amen. What’s Your Take? What are you thinking as we close out the message today? I’d love for you to share your insights with me. You can find me at facebook.com/bloominginspired and share your thoughts in the comments or send me a direct message. We’ve also got a contact form on the website: bloominginspirednetwork.com just click the Let’s Connect link at the top of the page. Ways to Listen Want more of Blooming Inspired Podcast - or maybe you’d like to learn more about Blooming Inspired Network - be sure to like us on Facebook. We’re also on Twitter: @bloominspirenet and Instagram: @bloominginspired. We’d love to see you on our pages - if you stop by be sure to leave us a comment and let us know you’re tuning in. I want to remind you that our podcast is available through your favorite subscription services like Apple Podcasts (Formerly iTunes) or Google Play. You can also find us on the Podcoin App as we shared in this podcast. Podcoin is the app that pays you to listen to our podcasts - and really any podcast you find on their app. You can use your podcoins to purchase gift cards or make donations to charitable organizations. It’s a win-win if you ask me… So check out the Podcoin App today and use our referral code: BLOOMING to get 300 podcoins when you create your account! Closing Thank you for tuning in to today’s podcast. Don’t forget to tune in on Mondays at 4pm (CT) to catch Michele Turman, our resident Redeemed Rebel, Gold Digger and Hope Dealer, as she shares The Redeemed Rebel Podcast each week. You’ll also not want to miss next week’s Accidental Hope Podcast at 2pm (CT) right here on Blooming Inspired Network. I will be the featured guest joining Jennifer Eikenhorst, our Hope Ambassador, talking about Bible Journaling and Creative Journaling as a way to find hope and healing in difficult circumstances. You don’t want to miss it! Be sure to take a moment to like us on social media. If you love our show and it’s been a blessing to you would you help us get the word out by sharing it with your friends and family on social media. We’re praying for you often and want you to know you are important to our show and our ministry - we could not do this without you! And now… I want to remind you as I always do. Blooming where you’re planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive!

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 137: Psalm 119 - I Love God's Word (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 97-104 in the Passion Translation. Today, as we discover the keys of wisdom and understanding. As we look into the mirror of God’s revelation-light, we find the ability to face the hard truths and refuse to bend our morals, while at the same time loving others and sacrificing ourselves that they may be saved from the dark world around us. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Sometimes I think I should say “I’m Hostess with the Mostest” when I introduce myself as a podcast host, but alas… That is my vain attempt at being funny for the week! Seriously, we are in Psalm 119 teaching our Revival Series of messages. God has been showing us amazing things as we read through this very long, but very powerful chapter focusing our hearts on God’s Word. Last time we examined the powerful keys of faith and revelation as we read. Today we’ll be reading verses 97-104 in the Passion Translation - so take a minute, grab your Bible -- in your favorite version -- a journal and a pen before we dive in. Testimony While you do that, I’d like to share a bit of testimony. I’ve had some amazing things happening in the last few months and want to update you on some of it. As many of you know, I’ve been podcasting with Blooming Inspired Network since June 2018. Those first few months were brutal. I suffered from allergy attacks, and strange polyps on my eardrums. I mean… The allergy shots and medicine nearly put me under. In the past, I would have thrown in the towel with all that adversity. If I am really honest, I almost did. But God God reminded me, over and over again, of His faithfulness in those quiet moments last summer. He made provision and moved me in new directions. I look back and see His hand firmly on me in those days when all I could do was lay out on the couch praying for recovery. In September, I am not sure what changed other than I DECIDED to get up. I wasn’t going to let all the fatigue and malaise in my life keep me from God’s purpose. In reality, God really answered my prayer. He revived me with a sense of purpose and truth. I began podcasting again about the middle of that month. Word for the Year As the fall days led into winter, I grew excited as I did interviews and invited other women to join me in the podcasting adventure. I began to focus on 2019 and felt God say this was a year to be Released. I set my heart on that word and planned a prophetic retreat during the first month of the year. God met me in my plans and brought three women to the retreat. My coaching business was loping along with a couple of clients, and I had an opportunity to perform as a worship painter at a women’s conference in South Texas in February. My heart waited expectantly as the whisper of release continued to roll though my mind. Many times I’ve felt like I missed God, and landed off the track of His plan. Then a phone call or text message would come - an invitation to a lunch appointment with a friend, and the ball would start rolling again. By the end of February I had a clear plan for the year. Yielded The first quarter found me living Yielded. Fasting in surrender waiting on the Lord. Unleashed The second quarter should unleash me. Bound by limiting beliefs about my creative nature, and living in organized chaos making room for those beautifully spontaneous expressions. I flew through life by the seat of my pants. No plan - failing to plan - and by extension failing to accomplish much. I sensed that looming thought of floating through the recesses of my mind and wanted to squelch it - so I turned to an old favorite. A Sonic Route 44 Coca Cola, and a new favorite would deliver just the right effect - a 16 oz. Butterfinger Blast with extra Butterfinger, add Snickers. Ya’ll - it cost me $8 a pop to drown my sense of failure. And, well… It only added to it when I stepped on the scales and discovered 10 extra pounds had been added to my already rotund frame. Something needed to change. And quick… Mid-Year Reset At the beginning of May, after another long bout of Malaise from March to April - I was ready for a reset. God began to talk to me about a Mid-Year Reset and I began to sense that June is critical to the season. God wanted me to have a plan, to track my progress and make changes in my life. I researched planning systems and looked at things I’d used in the past. A Just Right Plan Nothing seemed to fit. Story of my life - if you will - always the square peg trying to shove herself in the round whole. Except… God inspired me to build my own system. Incorporating the visual thinking strategies I’d learned through my down times with a bullet journal style, I spent those days creating documents for printing on my computer and learning the system I created through May and June. God began to unlock things for me as the second quarter came to a close. I traveled to attend events throughout the month of June, adding new coaching clients to a full schedule. I’ve had more time for extended family and my husband. And I’m learning to arrive on time! Which is a bit of a lark for anyone who knows me. I mean I arrived early for church a few weeks ago and my husband said, “Wow! My wife just walked through the doors and the previous service isn’t even out yet.” That’s a wake up call! Advance As June barrelled to a close, I began to look ahead to the third quarter. Marking out my goals and plans in my new system. Managing details and dailies in the middle. When the next to last Sunday of the month, my pastor taught a message. Packed in the middle of his word to the church about “going for it” - Pastor Jeremy used the word Advance. Advance. That is my third quarter word. I felt like God was saying Go. For. It. Launch I pressed on… Relaunching the Wildflower Women group and beginning to try new things with my podcasts that I felt I did not have time to do before. And though I still struggle a bit, and find myself on the learning curve. I feel balanced and less stressed. Reflecting Since September, I’ve been regularly airing my podcasts with only an occasional replay. We celebrated one year of Blooming Inspired Podcast at the beginning of June. I’ve also added over 4,000 downloads to my podcast in the last month. That compared to the first year coming in at just over 9,000. I’ve also coached two new podcast hosts on the network and added their shows to our weekly line up. I’m adding new coaching clients to my business and starting to regain health and energy in my life again. Plus… I have a few dreams for the future I want to explore. Last Weekend Over the weekend a friend championed me and made a way for me to join The John Maxwell Team. Another bucket list item crossed off my list. There is work to do, a plan to make, but there is also opportunity and anticipation. God is doing a new thing in my life and I am grateful. God did all this almost while I wasn’t paying close attention. And, as we read through these keys to revival in Psalm 119 I find that God is showing me how over the last three years He’s brought me through these keys to discover not only His heart and plan for my life - but to find He is reviving and fulfilling dreams and passions I thought had long since passed. Don’t Give Up! I share this testimony not to pat myself on the back or boast about the favor of God on my life. Instead, I’m hoping you’ll be encouraged not to give up on your own dreams and passions. That you see if God’s glory can be revealed through simple steps of obedience in my life - what can He do in yours? Stay the course, friends. Win the race. Watch Him Work Miracles For You. Today’s Reading Now, let’s dive into today’s reading! Psalm 119 from the Passion Translation. The heading over today’s Scriptures: “I Love The Word Of God” Verses 97-98: “Oh how I love and treasure the revelation of your word; throughout the day I fill my heart with its light. By considering your commands I have an edge over my enemies, for I take seriously everything you say.” God is Fun! A few weeks ago I helped a former co-worker lead a retreat she planned for her friends. During the first session I was teaching from Scripture about prophetic words. In the midst of sharing the group heard me exclaim in a spontaneous moment of joy, “I love God! He is so much fun!!!” I hadn’t planned to say it, and forgot all about those words until the next evening. A woman on the retreat wrote me a note of encouragement that said, “You had me when you said, ‘God is fun!’ Because I’d never heard anyone say that before.” Treasures In God’s Word I’ve had many occasions since those early days of walking out my adult faith in God’s Word to exclaim how much I love God’s Word, and “mining for treasure” in the pages of Scripture. I spent hours of days upon days in 2008 writing out long blog posts featuring the Hebrew Names of God in Scripture. Digging deep and committing myself to word study, I found golden nuggets of truth again and again. I also found a passion for teaching in those wonder-filled days. Read It Fresh A few years ago I sensed God challenging me to read the Gospels as if I didn’t know anything about Jesus or the Scriptures. To set aside everything I thought I knew or had been taught and consider what I would believe if I only had the Scriptures to inform my faith. What I thought would take me a few months has taken me on a six year Journey of discovering my Savior through the Scriptures and learning to love Him in a new way. Teaching from Revelation After a few years I began a podcast sharing the insights I gathered as I read through the Gospels. Then, two years ago I launched a verse-by-verse study of the Gospels through Blooming Inspired Network based on the way God led me through my readings. Each time I teach a Bible study session, I find myself teaching from the revelation I receive as we read rather than some preconceived idea I had before I joined God at the table of His Word. It has truly changed my life and taken on such depth of meaning for me. I’m often deeply touched and overwhelmed by His goodness as we partake of the Scriptures with eyes to see Him, ears to hear Him and a heart to know Him more. He never fails to show up! And I love Him all the more as we move through His precious words. More Understanding Verse 99-100: “You have given me more understanding than those who teach me, for I’ve absorbed your eye-opening revelation. You have graced me with more insight than the old sages because I have not failed to walk in the light of your ways.” Isn't that what I was just talking about? He has given me more understanding than those who have taught me about his word for I have absorbed -- I have allowed his eye-opening revelations, the revelations of the Holy Spirit, that I get while I'm reading scripture to become a part of who I am. As I do, I find his grace and wisdom as I gain more and more insight. People tell me all the time that I walk in wisdom - I hardly believe it. Still, I choose to walk in the light of His ways, the light of that wisdom and revelation that He brings to me in scripture. The Key of Wisdom Today, I believe what we're discovering is the key of wisdom in His word. Let's read on: verses 101, “I refuse to bend my morals when Temptation was before me so that I could be obedient to your word.” Have you ever found yourself in the midst of struggle? I mean, real struggle trying to find your moral compass as you read God's Word, and realize there are adjustments that need to be made. Earlier, I told you the story about going to Sonic and getting that 44 oz. Coke and that 16 oz. ice cream to allay my feelings of failure. I will not deliver you a second time… The truth is, in 2016 some friends of mine and I went to a healing school out in California, and before we went, I had been asking God, “What do You want me to ask for?” I felt like He said I needed to ask him to be delivered of my desire for Coca-Cola. I didn't call it an addiction because I've come to the conclusion that I didn't drink that Coke because I needed it... Because I was going to detox if I didn't have it. I drink that Coke simply because I wanted it. I wanted it, now there may have been an emotional attachment quality to my issue, but I simply wanted that Coke. I asked God to deliver me of my desire for that beverage. On the way to the airport that day I had stopped to buy a large, 32 oz. Sonic Coca-Cola. Not my usual 44 oz. but 32. I swigged that sugar and caffeine through the red straw all the way to the airport. Once we arrived, we went to the Curbside Check-in at Dallas Love Field. As I'm walking up to the line, I dropped that cup of soda in the trash and we proceeded to my flight. While waiting for our plane, we bought something to eat but I didn't get a Coke. I chose to drink water instead. That whole week I didn't drink one Coke. I ordered lemonade and water. There were no detox side effects - no fatigue, headache or irritability. It was amazing! We returned home I still had not had a Coke until weeks later. When I finally did try a sip, I offered it to my husband and said, “Here, you drink this. I don’t think I want it anymore.” That’s when I remembered how I asked God to make it taste bad in my mouth, and He did! Months later, life got busy and stressful. We went out to eat one night, I tried a Coke. After all, one is not bad. I didn't really want another one, but a few weeks later I got another one. Eventually I stopped in at Sonic on my way home, and before you know it I'm back in my routine. My car runs on autopilot right into Sonic to get a Coke. After a few days of repeating the behavior, I sensed the Lord saying, “I won't deliver you with the of this a second time.” In other words: it's not going to be easy to give this up again and He is right! The Good I Ought To Do I'm in the struggle right now. You know, the apostle, James, wrote “Those who know the good they ought to do and do not do it, to them it becomes sin.” That's pretty powerful. Right? Except, we read the scripture that says “ refuse to bend my morals when temptation was before me so that I could become obedient to your word.” And I have to ask…. Do I? I’m moving back to center on this. A little bit of pleasure in something that is so toxic for me is not worth forsaking the work of God in my life. Sometimes, I just need to say, “I repent!” Verse 102, “I refuse to turn from difficult truth for you yourself have taught me to love your words.” And now, it seems I’ve come full circle. Remember when we started reading Psalm 119 a few weeks ago, I shared about a time when God first put it on my heart to read this chapter of scripture. I also shared that I quit reading it because I couldn't see myself in the words I read. That’s difficult truth to bear yourself up in… But as we began this reading in Psalm 119 I came back to it the encouragement I feel I heard from the Lord again and again and again. You aren’t supposed to find yourself in Scripture - You’re supposed to find Me. Earlier this year as I studied revival history and landed in Psalm 119, I heard the Lord say that when I read scripture I may not find myself in it because I am supposed to find Him. How many of us are reading scripture to know God? When we read to find Him, to know Him, we deepen our relationship with Him. If we aren’t careful we’ll find ourselves reading it for a list of do's and don'ts, wills and won’ts, and wander far from God. The big question I have to ask myself each time I read scripture is this: Am I looking at it and measuring myself by scripture, or by other people’s convictions about Scripture… Or am I looking reading and seeing how scripture can transform me into a Christ-like disciple? When His Truth is your truth I believe that's what this means when we look into the mirror of scripture we find our moral compass. If we won't turn away from it or ignore it, we will find the difficult truths that teach us to love His Words! Did you know difficult truth can teach you to love God's word because once you receive it it's yours? When you receive God’s word and let it transform you - His truth becomes your truth. verses 103 and 104. “How sweet your living promises are to me; sweeter than honey is your revelation-light. For your truth is the source of my understanding, not the falsehoods of those who don't know you which I despise.” Listen to that! “How sweet are your living promises to me; sweeter than honey is your revelation-light.” Can you taste of scripture and see that the Lord is good? Can you search his Truth for Revelation and Light? Can you find that truth as your source of understanding and refuse to partner with deception and falsehood... refuse to look to those who do not even know Him? Don’t Despise People - Despise what Sin Does To People I don't have to despise people to despise what falsehood, deception and not knowing God does to a person. I can despise the work of the enemy without despising people! We have to guard our hearts against turning hard toward people because of the darkness of our culture and the world around us. I have been repenting a lot lately of judgments I make against people based on my own convictions. I love God’s Word. I value life and truth. But, I have to remember - as John Bradford said, watching people from his community being taken to the scaffold for execution, “There but for the grace of God go I.” It would only be a short time later that he made that same journey for execution. Conclusion God so loved people that He sacrificed Himself to save them. What are we, as recipients of this lavish grace, willing to sacrifice of ourselves to love people the way He loves them? Leaving off until next week… I think that's where I want to leave you today. I’ll be back next Tuesday and pick up reading in psalm 119 verse 105. I want to encourage you to have a great weekend. Spend some time reading this for yourself, make some notes in a journal -- or if you're like me write it down in the margins of your Bible right where you're reading it. Allow God’s heart to minister to your heart. A Prayer For You Father God, I thank you for Your word today! I thank You for Your truth that sets us free. I ask, Lord God, that we would know this truth, let it go deep in our hearts. That this truth would reflect back to us where our morals don't agree with Your truth. I pray we would adjust our morals to Your truth, not try to bend them so that we can participate in the things that tempt us; but rather, we would be obedient to Your word. I pray that you're living promises would be sweet to us. Sweet like honey, and they would show us Your revelation-light. That your truth would always be the source -- a door standing open to us, inviting us in. It is in Jesus’ name I pray, amen. Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have for today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you subscribe to it? We're on iTunes where on Google Play Music and podcast we are also available on the Podcoin App. By The Way, Podcoin is a great app! They pay you “podcoins” for every 10 minutes that you listen to any podcast that's listed on their app. All of the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network’s podcasts are listed there. We’re working on keeping our shows as “Bonus Shows” on the app. That means if you download the app and create your account with our referral code, “Blooming” you’ll get 300 “podcoins” just for signing up! You can use your podcoins to buy gift cards or make donations to charitable organizations. That’s a WIN-WIN, don’t you think? So if you're interested in subscribing Podcoin is a great way to get our podcast and you get the extra benefit of earning gifts while you're listening. We would love for you to also share this on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Don’t Forget Don’t forget! We have two additional shows the Redeemed Rebel Podcast which airs Monday at 4 p.m. (CT) and Accidental Hope Podcast that airs on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. (CT). With that said, I want to remind you as I always do: Blooming where you're planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive!

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 137: Psalm 119 - I Love God's Word (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 97-104 in the Passion Translation. Today, as we discover the keys of wisdom and understanding. As we look into the mirror of God’s revelation-light, we find the ability to face the hard truths and refuse to bend our morals, while at the same time loving others and sacrificing ourselves that they may be saved from the dark world around us. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Sometimes I think I should say “I’m Hostess with the Mostest” when I introduce myself as a podcast host, but alas… That is my vain attempt at being funny for the week! Seriously, we are in Psalm 119 teaching our Revival Series of messages. God has been showing us amazing things as we read through this very long, but very powerful chapter focusing our hearts on God’s Word. Last time we examined the powerful keys of faith and revelation as we read. Today we’ll be reading verses 97-104 in the Passion Translation - so take a minute, grab your Bible -- in your favorite version -- a journal and a pen before we dive in. Testimony While you do that, I’d like to share a bit of testimony. I’ve had some amazing things happening in the last few months and want to update you on some of it. As many of you know, I’ve been podcasting with Blooming Inspired Network since June 2018. Those first few months were brutal. I suffered from allergy attacks, and strange polyps on my eardrums. I mean… The allergy shots and medicine nearly put me under. In the past, I would have thrown in the towel with all that adversity. If I am really honest, I almost did. But God God reminded me, over and over again, of His faithfulness in those quiet moments last summer. He made provision and moved me in new directions. I look back and see His hand firmly on me in those days when all I could do was lay out on the couch praying for recovery. In September, I am not sure what changed other than I DECIDED to get up. I wasn’t going to let all the fatigue and malaise in my life keep me from God’s purpose. In reality, God really answered my prayer. He revived me with a sense of purpose and truth. I began podcasting again about the middle of that month. Word for the Year As the fall days led into winter, I grew excited as I did interviews and invited other women to join me in the podcasting adventure. I began to focus on 2019 and felt God say this was a year to be Released. I set my heart on that word and planned a prophetic retreat during the first month of the year. God met me in my plans and brought three women to the retreat. My coaching business was loping along with a couple of clients, and I had an opportunity to perform as a worship painter at a women’s conference in South Texas in February. My heart waited expectantly as the whisper of release continued to roll though my mind. Many times I’ve felt like I missed God, and landed off the track of His plan. Then a phone call or text message would come - an invitation to a lunch appointment with a friend, and the ball would start rolling again. By the end of February I had a clear plan for the year. Yielded The first quarter found me living Yielded. Fasting in surrender waiting on the Lord. Unleashed The second quarter should unleash me. Bound by limiting beliefs about my creative nature, and living in organized chaos making room for those beautifully spontaneous expressions. I flew through life by the seat of my pants. No plan - failing to plan - and by extension failing to accomplish much. I sensed that looming thought of floating through the recesses of my mind and wanted to squelch it - so I turned to an old favorite. A Sonic Route 44 Coca Cola, and a new favorite would deliver just the right effect - a 16 oz. Butterfinger Blast with extra Butterfinger, add Snickers. Ya’ll - it cost me $8 a pop to drown my sense of failure. And, well… It only added to it when I stepped on the scales and discovered 10 extra pounds had been added to my already rotund frame. Something needed to change. And quick… Mid-Year Reset At the beginning of May, after another long bout of Malaise from March to April - I was ready for a reset. God began to talk to me about a Mid-Year Reset and I began to sense that June is critical to the season. God wanted me to have a plan, to track my progress and make changes in my life. I researched planning systems and looked at things I’d used in the past. A Just Right Plan Nothing seemed to fit. Story of my life - if you will - always the square peg trying to shove herself in the round whole. Except… God inspired me to build my own system. Incorporating the visual thinking strategies I’d learned through my down times with a bullet journal style, I spent those days creating documents for printing on my computer and learning the system I created through May and June. God began to unlock things for me as the second quarter came to a close. I traveled to attend events throughout the month of June, adding new coaching clients to a full schedule. I’ve had more time for extended family and my husband. And I’m learning to arrive on time! Which is a bit of a lark for anyone who knows me. I mean I arrived early for church a few weeks ago and my husband said, “Wow! My wife just walked through the doors and the previous service isn’t even out yet.” That’s a wake up call! Advance As June barrelled to a close, I began to look ahead to the third quarter. Marking out my goals and plans in my new system. Managing details and dailies in the middle. When the next to last Sunday of the month, my pastor taught a message. Packed in the middle of his word to the church about “going for it” - Pastor Jeremy used the word Advance. Advance. That is my third quarter word. I felt like God was saying Go. For. It. Launch I pressed on… Relaunching the Wildflower Women group and beginning to try new things with my podcasts that I felt I did not have time to do before. And though I still struggle a bit, and find myself on the learning curve. I feel balanced and less stressed. Reflecting Since September, I’ve been regularly airing my podcasts with only an occasional replay. We celebrated one year of Blooming Inspired Podcast at the beginning of June. I’ve also added over 4,000 downloads to my podcast in the last month. That compared to the first year coming in at just over 9,000. I’ve also coached two new podcast hosts on the network and added their shows to our weekly line up. I’m adding new coaching clients to my business and starting to regain health and energy in my life again. Plus… I have a few dreams for the future I want to explore. Last Weekend Over the weekend a friend championed me and made a way for me to join The John Maxwell Team. Another bucket list item crossed off my list. There is work to do, a plan to make, but there is also opportunity and anticipation. God is doing a new thing in my life and I am grateful. God did all this almost while I wasn’t paying close attention. And, as we read through these keys to revival in Psalm 119 I find that God is showing me how over the last three years He’s brought me through these keys to discover not only His heart and plan for my life - but to find He is reviving and fulfilling dreams and passions I thought had long since passed. Don’t Give Up! I share this testimony not to pat myself on the back or boast about the favor of God on my life. Instead, I’m hoping you’ll be encouraged not to give up on your own dreams and passions. That you see if God’s glory can be revealed through simple steps of obedience in my life - what can He do in yours? Stay the course, friends. Win the race. Watch Him Work Miracles For You. Today’s Reading Now, let’s dive into today’s reading! Psalm 119 from the Passion Translation. The heading over today’s Scriptures: “I Love The Word Of God” Verses 97-98: “Oh how I love and treasure the revelation of your word; throughout the day I fill my heart with its light. By considering your commands I have an edge over my enemies, for I take seriously everything you say.” God is Fun! A few weeks ago I helped a former co-worker lead a retreat she planned for her friends. During the first session I was teaching from Scripture about prophetic words. In the midst of sharing the group heard me exclaim in a spontaneous moment of joy, “I love God! He is so much fun!!!” I hadn’t planned to say it, and forgot all about those words until the next evening. A woman on the retreat wrote me a note of encouragement that said, “You had me when you said, ‘God is fun!’ Because I’d never heard anyone say that before.” Treasures In God’s Word I’ve had many occasions since those early days of walking out my adult faith in God’s Word to exclaim how much I love God’s Word, and “mining for treasure” in the pages of Scripture. I spent hours of days upon days in 2008 writing out long blog posts featuring the Hebrew Names of God in Scripture. Digging deep and committing myself to word study, I found golden nuggets of truth again and again. I also found a passion for teaching in those wonder-filled days. Read It Fresh A few years ago I sensed God challenging me to read the Gospels as if I didn’t know anything about Jesus or the Scriptures. To set aside everything I thought I knew or had been taught and consider what I would believe if I only had the Scriptures to inform my faith. What I thought would take me a few months has taken me on a six year Journey of discovering my Savior through the Scriptures and learning to love Him in a new way. Teaching from Revelation After a few years I began a podcast sharing the insights I gathered as I read through the Gospels. Then, two years ago I launched a verse-by-verse study of the Gospels through Blooming Inspired Network based on the way God led me through my readings. Each time I teach a Bible study session, I find myself teaching from the revelation I receive as we read rather than some preconceived idea I had before I joined God at the table of His Word. It has truly changed my life and taken on such depth of meaning for me. I’m often deeply touched and overwhelmed by His goodness as we partake of the Scriptures with eyes to see Him, ears to hear Him and a heart to know Him more. He never fails to show up! And I love Him all the more as we move through His precious words. More Understanding Verse 99-100: “You have given me more understanding than those who teach me, for I’ve absorbed your eye-opening revelation. You have graced me with more insight than the old sages because I have not failed to walk in the light of your ways.” Isn't that what I was just talking about? He has given me more understanding than those who have taught me about his word for I have absorbed -- I have allowed his eye-opening revelations, the revelations of the Holy Spirit, that I get while I'm reading scripture to become a part of who I am. As I do, I find his grace and wisdom as I gain more and more insight. People tell me all the time that I walk in wisdom - I hardly believe it. Still, I choose to walk in the light of His ways, the light of that wisdom and revelation that He brings to me in scripture. The Key of Wisdom Today, I believe what we're discovering is the key of wisdom in His word. Let's read on: verses 101, “I refuse to bend my morals when Temptation was before me so that I could be obedient to your word.” Have you ever found yourself in the midst of struggle? I mean, real struggle trying to find your moral compass as you read God's Word, and realize there are adjustments that need to be made. Earlier, I told you the story about going to Sonic and getting that 44 oz. Coke and that 16 oz. ice cream to allay my feelings of failure. I will not deliver you a second time… The truth is, in 2016 some friends of mine and I went to a healing school out in California, and before we went, I had been asking God, “What do You want me to ask for?” I felt like He said I needed to ask him to be delivered of my desire for Coca-Cola. I didn't call it an addiction because I've come to the conclusion that I didn't drink that Coke because I needed it... Because I was going to detox if I didn't have it. I drink that Coke simply because I wanted it. I wanted it, now there may have been an emotional attachment quality to my issue, but I simply wanted that Coke. I asked God to deliver me of my desire for that beverage. On the way to the airport that day I had stopped to buy a large, 32 oz. Sonic Coca-Cola. Not my usual 44 oz. but 32. I swigged that sugar and caffeine through the red straw all the way to the airport. Once we arrived, we went to the Curbside Check-in at Dallas Love Field. As I'm walking up to the line, I dropped that cup of soda in the trash and we proceeded to my flight. While waiting for our plane, we bought something to eat but I didn't get a Coke. I chose to drink water instead. That whole week I didn't drink one Coke. I ordered lemonade and water. There were no detox side effects - no fatigue, headache or irritability. It was amazing! We returned home I still had not had a Coke until weeks later. When I finally did try a sip, I offered it to my husband and said, “Here, you drink this. I don’t think I want it anymore.” That’s when I remembered how I asked God to make it taste bad in my mouth, and He did! Months later, life got busy and stressful. We went out to eat one night, I tried a Coke. After all, one is not bad. I didn't really want another one, but a few weeks later I got another one. Eventually I stopped in at Sonic on my way home, and before you know it I'm back in my routine. My car runs on autopilot right into Sonic to get a Coke. After a few days of repeating the behavior, I sensed the Lord saying, “I won't deliver you with the of this a second time.” In other words: it's not going to be easy to give this up again and He is right! The Good I Ought To Do I'm in the struggle right now. You know, the apostle, James, wrote “Those who know the good they ought to do and do not do it, to them it becomes sin.” That's pretty powerful. Right? Except, we read the scripture that says “ refuse to bend my morals when temptation was before me so that I could become obedient to your word.” And I have to ask…. Do I? I’m moving back to center on this. A little bit of pleasure in something that is so toxic for me is not worth forsaking the work of God in my life. Sometimes, I just need to say, “I repent!” Verse 102, “I refuse to turn from difficult truth for you yourself have taught me to love your words.” And now, it seems I’ve come full circle. Remember when we started reading Psalm 119 a few weeks ago, I shared about a time when God first put it on my heart to read this chapter of scripture. I also shared that I quit reading it because I couldn't see myself in the words I read. That’s difficult truth to bear yourself up in… But as we began this reading in Psalm 119 I came back to it the encouragement I feel I heard from the Lord again and again and again. You aren’t supposed to find yourself in Scripture - You’re supposed to find Me. Earlier this year as I studied revival history and landed in Psalm 119, I heard the Lord say that when I read scripture I may not find myself in it because I am supposed to find Him. How many of us are reading scripture to know God? When we read to find Him, to know Him, we deepen our relationship with Him. If we aren’t careful we’ll find ourselves reading it for a list of do's and don'ts, wills and won’ts, and wander far from God. The big question I have to ask myself each time I read scripture is this: Am I looking at it and measuring myself by scripture, or by other people’s convictions about Scripture… Or am I looking reading and seeing how scripture can transform me into a Christ-like disciple? When His Truth is your truth I believe that's what this means when we look into the mirror of scripture we find our moral compass. If we won't turn away from it or ignore it, we will find the difficult truths that teach us to love His Words! Did you know difficult truth can teach you to love God's word because once you receive it it's yours? When you receive God’s word and let it transform you - His truth becomes your truth. verses 103 and 104. “How sweet your living promises are to me; sweeter than honey is your revelation-light. For your truth is the source of my understanding, not the falsehoods of those who don't know you which I despise.” Listen to that! “How sweet are your living promises to me; sweeter than honey is your revelation-light.” Can you taste of scripture and see that the Lord is good? Can you search his Truth for Revelation and Light? Can you find that truth as your source of understanding and refuse to partner with deception and falsehood... refuse to look to those who do not even know Him? Don’t Despise People - Despise what Sin Does To People I don't have to despise people to despise what falsehood, deception and not knowing God does to a person. I can despise the work of the enemy without despising people! We have to guard our hearts against turning hard toward people because of the darkness of our culture and the world around us. I have been repenting a lot lately of judgments I make against people based on my own convictions. I love God’s Word. I value life and truth. But, I have to remember - as John Bradford said, watching people from his community being taken to the scaffold for execution, “There but for the grace of God go I.” It would only be a short time later that he made that same journey for execution. Conclusion God so loved people that He sacrificed Himself to save them. What are we, as recipients of this lavish grace, willing to sacrifice of ourselves to love people the way He loves them? Leaving off until next week… I think that's where I want to leave you today. I’ll be back next Tuesday and pick up reading in psalm 119 verse 105. I want to encourage you to have a great weekend. Spend some time reading this for yourself, make some notes in a journal -- or if you're like me write it down in the margins of your Bible right where you're reading it. Allow God’s heart to minister to your heart. A Prayer For You Father God, I thank you for Your word today! I thank You for Your truth that sets us free. I ask, Lord God, that we would know this truth, let it go deep in our hearts. That this truth would reflect back to us where our morals don't agree with Your truth. I pray we would adjust our morals to Your truth, not try to bend them so that we can participate in the things that tempt us; but rather, we would be obedient to Your word. I pray that you're living promises would be sweet to us. Sweet like honey, and they would show us Your revelation-light. That your truth would always be the source -- a door standing open to us, inviting us in. It is in Jesus’ name I pray, amen. Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have for today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you subscribe to it? We're on iTunes where on Google Play Music and podcast we are also available on the Podcoin App. By The Way, Podcoin is a great app! They pay you “podcoins” for every 10 minutes that you listen to any podcast that's listed on their app. All of the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network’s podcasts are listed there. We’re working on keeping our shows as “Bonus Shows” on the app. That means if you download the app and create your account with our referral code, “Blooming” you’ll get 300 “podcoins” just for signing up! You can use your podcoins to buy gift cards or make donations to charitable organizations. That’s a WIN-WIN, don’t you think? So if you're interested in subscribing Podcoin is a great way to get our podcast and you get the extra benefit of earning gifts while you're listening. We would love for you to also share this on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Don’t Forget Don’t forget! We have two additional shows the Redeemed Rebel Podcast which airs Monday at 4 p.m. (CT) and Accidental Hope Podcast that airs on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. (CT). With that said, I want to remind you as I always do: Blooming where you're planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive!

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 136: Psalm 119 Faith In God's Word (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 89-96 in the Passion Translation. Today, we discover the keys of faith and revelation. Seeking to place our faith in God, through His Word - both the Holy Scriptures and Jesus Christ--the expressed person of God, leads us to surrender to His truth and revelation. As His truth and revelation penetrates our hearts, faith is rooted deep within us. Show Transcript: Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives blooming alive. Good morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Introduction This week we are digging back into Psalm 119. We're going to be reading from Psalm 119 beginning in verse 89 today, but before we do that I want to go back and review what we talked about last week. Review We focused on allowing our hearts to be planted deep in God's word and being delivered by it. Remember we're looking for keys to revival… Keys To Revival… and so I want to remind you that allowing our hearts to grow in the deep in the things of God and allowing those things that are being penetrated in our heart by God's word to deliver us from our afflictions, and the persecutions in this life, as well as the choices and the consequences for those choices we make that results in sin. We also discovered humility as a key, and we've discovered specifically that humility is a key that opposes pride. In like manner honor comes as a key to overcome shame. Today’s Reading Today, we'll examine how faith in God's word will help us stand firm in his truth in our relationship with him as we seek to live the overcoming life. You see, I believe that the overcoming life is a part of the truth and the promise of Revival. Before we get started I'd like to just pray: Lord God I just ask that you would invade our hearts with not only Your Word, but with the Holy Spirit. That Holy Spirit would activate and penetrate our hearts with the Living Word of God and bring forth revelation truth to us today. I asked Lord for eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know You more. In Jesus’ name, amen. Faith in God’s Word Today, the heading over the eight verses we’re going to read is “Faith In God's Word.” Beginning in verse 89: “Standing firm in the heavens and fastened to eternity is the word of God…” I want you to hear that because in John 1, and throughout the New Testament we see this picture of the manifestation of the word of God being fully made known through Jesus Christ, Himself. That when the Word became flesh, we saw then exactly who Jesus is, and it says here that that Word of God Is standing firm in the heavens fastened to eternity. You see, our faith is not in -- just in -- the words that are written in the book we call the Bible, but our faith is in the One Who is the full manifestation of God himself, Jesus Christ. Creation Testifies that God Exists Verse 90: “Your faithfulness flows from one generation to the next; all that you created sits firmly in place to testify of you.” Did you know that our creation -- that this atmosphere -- this created world that we are living in, our very beings, testify that God exists? They testify to who He is. They testify to who Jesus is, who the Father is, who the Holy Spirit is! That if we would tune our hearts to know Him, every created thing on this earth would testify of Him. Everything God Created Serves Him Verse 91: “By Your decree everything stands at attention, for all that You have made serves you.” Do you understand this that everything that is made by God serves God? Now, look around you --what in our world is not made by God? You can say, well God didn't build my house or God didn't make my car. God didn't put the furniture together that’s in my house. I want to point you to the books of the New Testament in Hebrews and Colossians, we can read the everything on this earth was created and sustained by the power of His Word. There's an interesting development in science that rather affirms this to be true. They have found that one of the smallest parts of matter is what they call a quark. Tiny Vibrating Sound Waves A quark is simply a tiny vibrating sound wave. Just think about this -- when you speak the reason we can understand what you're saying is because we can hear it with our ears. Our ears take those sound waves and process them into language and music and things we can understand by hearing. Correct? In the same manner thousands and thousands and thousands of little vibrating quarks actually are put together and they create matter. This is exciting! That means that the chair that I'm sitting on is nothing more than thousands and thousands and thousands, maybe even millions, of small vibrating sound waves that becomes something that I can sit on. That I can grab hold of... I can see with my eyes and feel with my hands and my body. If we go back to Genesis Chapter One, it says that when God created all of the things on the earth He did one simple thing: He spoke and it came into existence. Maybe God didn't physically build your furniture, your house, or your car or the many things that we we use today in our daily life. Yet, He created the human being that developed the idea that actually completed the work that built your house, built your car, built the furniture and created the things that we use on a daily basis. All of this creation all of this intelligent design, as it has come to be called, it simply declares that God exists. It's a good word! And, if it is created by God, therefore it serves God. Power to Overcome Verse 92: “Because your words are my deepest delight, I didn't give up when all else was lost.” Do you get this? When God's word is our deepest delight, it gives us persevering, enduring power to not give up even when we can't see the victory even when everything feels lost. God’s Transforming Revelations Verse 93: “I can never forget the profound Revelations you've taught me, for they have kept me alive more than once.” Now here's that word revelation and I prayed for that, right? I prayed for revelations as we read today, but I want to highlight to you: revelation is different than information. Revelation is different than information. In Romans 12 we read, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind and then you will be able to test and approve what God's good, pleasing and perfect will is.” (vv.1-2, my paraphrase) Revelation is different than information. More than mere human knowledge, revelation is divine spiritual wisdom and knowledge that comes to us with transforming power through the impartation of the Holy Spirit. Revelation is when the Word of God comes alive to us whether through prayer, through our experiences with people or through our encounters with Scripture -- the one thing that will create the encounter is the power and presence of God’s Holy Spirit in us. Revelation is the key to transformation, and transformation - the key to overcoming through God’s Word. Revelation leads us to Surrender Verse 94: “Lord, I’m all yours, and you are my Savior; I have sought to live my life pleasing to you.” When God's revelation comes to us we realize the power of His work in our lives. Not just that work unto salvation, meaning out of hell and into heaven. But rather, if we go back to that very first verse we read today, where it says that “Standing firm in the heavens and fastened to Eternity, is the word of God…” If we go back to that, then we realize, the more we get a revelation of who Jesus is as the Word of God through the scriptures, through the impartation of the Holy Spirit - the more we surrender to Him as our Lord. The more we desire to be obedient to him, not because we're obligated to Him, but because the profound reality of His love has taken root in our lives. Then, all we want to do is respond in obedience to Him seeking to live our lives to please Him. Hebrews chapter 11 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. That is why it is key that we understand that revelation is part of building faith in our lives. You see, Paul also writes that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (see Romans 10:17). Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God Revelation is integral to us realizing the impartation of faith from the Holy Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit that draws us to Christ. It's the Holy Spirit that testifies to us of Christ. It's the Holy Spirit that teaches us about Christ. It's the Holy Spirit that reminds us. It's the Holy Spirit that empowers us to minister according to His will. Do you understand what I'm saying? Faith is a key that unlocks revival because it creates disciples that look like Jesus, that live lives pleasing to him This brings us to our conclusion, verses 95-96:”Even though evil men wait in ambush to kill me, I will set my heart before you to understand more of your ways. I’ve learned that there is nothing perfect in this imperfect world expect your words, for they bring such fantastic freedom into my life!” We place our faith in God, through His Word - both the Holy Scriptures and Jesus Christ - the expressed person of God. we learn to surrender to His truth and revelation as it penetrates our hearts, allowing faith to take root deeply in our hearts. When our lives are vitally empowered by the revelation and presence of the Holy Spirit - even when our circumstances are anything but hopeful. When others persecute and seek to destroy us, we will live with our hearts set on Him, set before Him, understanding that the imperfections of this world will not consume us if we live in the perfection of His Living Word. This key brings us to Freedom and victory in our lives! Conclusion Well, that is all the time we have for today. Be sure to download the Podcoin app and subscribe to this podcast there. They pay you one podcoin every 10 minutes you listen, and more if you catch us as a bonus podcast (one week left for that)! You can redeem podcoins for gift cards to your favorite businesses or you can make donations to charities. It’s a win-win for us all! So download the app and subscribe to Blooming Inspired Podcast today! Our Wildflower Women ReLaunch is also well under way with 11 women joining our group in the last week! That’s very exciting! We’re beginning to build relationships and explore the reason God calls us wildflowers as He has brought us together to dot the surrounding landscapes with His Beautiful Glory! If you’d like to join us for Wildflower Women & the Relaunch, then hop over to our Facebook Page, facebook.com/groups/wildflowerwomenrelaunch and request to join the group! Be sure to also take some time to like us on facebook.com/bloominginspired to stay up to date and in the know about all things @BloomingInspired. Don’t Forget! Don’t forget to check out these shows also airing on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network: Redeemed Rebel Podcast featuring our very own redeemed rebel, hope dealer and gold digger: Michele Turman each Monday at 4pm (CT) and Accidental Hope Podcast featuring our ambassador of hope, Jennifer Eikenhorst each Wednesday at 2pm (CT)! All of our shows are available on iTunes, Google Play and the Podcoin App - so subscribe and listen today! Closing Remarks As I close the show today, I want to share a little about my coaching business and opportunities with you. This is Michelle Bentham, and in case you didn’t know, in addition to being an ordained minister and the founder of Blooming Inspired Network, I am also a Certified Executive Coach. This week, I have a huge praise as a friend of mine has helped me become a part of The John Maxwell Team. I’m very excited about this opportunity and what it will add to my Executive Coaching practice that has been in full swing for the last year. If you are looking for personal or professional development in any area of your life, including areas of ministry, I’d love to offer you a free coaching consultation to sit down and share what coaching is, and explore the values it might add to your life. Monthly coaching packages that fit any lifestyle and budget are currently available. To set up your free consultation please email: michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com I also offer a unique opportunity for Podcast development through coaching where I will walk you through the steps of developing your show concept, how to produce your podcast from recording to editing and airing your show on our Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We will then work together to promote your show and expand the place of your influence. I’d love to partner with you as you seek to live your life Blooming Inspired! For more information about the podcast network and podcasting opportunities visit bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. Remember: Blooming Where You’re Planted is the First Step to Living Your Wildest Dreams, So Live Your Lives Blooming Alive!

Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 136: Psalm 119 Faith In God's Word (Revival Series)

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2019

Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 89-96 in the Passion Translation. Today, we discover the keys of faith and revelation. Seeking to place our faith in God, through His Word - both the Holy Scriptures and Jesus Christ--the expressed person of God, leads us to surrender to His truth and revelation. As His truth and revelation penetrates our hearts, faith is rooted deep within us. Show Transcript: Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives blooming alive. Good morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. Introduction This week we are digging back into Psalm 119. We're going to be reading from Psalm 119 beginning in verse 89 today, but before we do that I want to go back and review what we talked about last week. Review We focused on allowing our hearts to be planted deep in God's word and being delivered by it. Remember we're looking for keys to revival… Keys To Revival… and so I want to remind you that allowing our hearts to grow in the deep in the things of God and allowing those things that are being penetrated in our heart by God's word to deliver us from our afflictions, and the persecutions in this life, as well as the choices and the consequences for those choices we make that results in sin. We also discovered humility as a key, and we've discovered specifically that humility is a key that opposes pride. In like manner honor comes as a key to overcome shame. Today’s Reading Today, we'll examine how faith in God's word will help us stand firm in his truth in our relationship with him as we seek to live the overcoming life. You see, I believe that the overcoming life is a part of the truth and the promise of Revival. Before we get started I'd like to just pray: Lord God I just ask that you would invade our hearts with not only Your Word, but with the Holy Spirit. That Holy Spirit would activate and penetrate our hearts with the Living Word of God and bring forth revelation truth to us today. I asked Lord for eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to know You more. In Jesus’ name, amen. Faith in God’s Word Today, the heading over the eight verses we’re going to read is “Faith In God's Word.” Beginning in verse 89: “Standing firm in the heavens and fastened to eternity is the word of God…” I want you to hear that because in John 1, and throughout the New Testament we see this picture of the manifestation of the word of God being fully made known through Jesus Christ, Himself. That when the Word became flesh, we saw then exactly who Jesus is, and it says here that that Word of God Is standing firm in the heavens fastened to eternity. You see, our faith is not in -- just in -- the words that are written in the book we call the Bible, but our faith is in the One Who is the full manifestation of God himself, Jesus Christ. Creation Testifies that God Exists Verse 90: “Your faithfulness flows from one generation to the next; all that you created sits firmly in place to testify of you.” Did you know that our creation -- that this atmosphere -- this created world that we are living in, our very beings, testify that God exists? They testify to who He is. They testify to who Jesus is, who the Father is, who the Holy Spirit is! That if we would tune our hearts to know Him, every created thing on this earth would testify of Him. Everything God Created Serves Him Verse 91: “By Your decree everything stands at attention, for all that You have made serves you.” Do you understand this that everything that is made by God serves God? Now, look around you --what in our world is not made by God? You can say, well God didn't build my house or God didn't make my car. God didn't put the furniture together that’s in my house. I want to point you to the books of the New Testament in Hebrews and Colossians, we can read the everything on this earth was created and sustained by the power of His Word. There's an interesting development in science that rather affirms this to be true. They have found that one of the smallest parts of matter is what they call a quark. Tiny Vibrating Sound Waves A quark is simply a tiny vibrating sound wave. Just think about this -- when you speak the reason we can understand what you're saying is because we can hear it with our ears. Our ears take those sound waves and process them into language and music and things we can understand by hearing. Correct? In the same manner thousands and thousands and thousands of little vibrating quarks actually are put together and they create matter. This is exciting! That means that the chair that I'm sitting on is nothing more than thousands and thousands and thousands, maybe even millions, of small vibrating sound waves that becomes something that I can sit on. That I can grab hold of... I can see with my eyes and feel with my hands and my body. If we go back to Genesis Chapter One, it says that when God created all of the things on the earth He did one simple thing: He spoke and it came into existence. Maybe God didn't physically build your furniture, your house, or your car or the many things that we we use today in our daily life. Yet, He created the human being that developed the idea that actually completed the work that built your house, built your car, built the furniture and created the things that we use on a daily basis. All of this creation all of this intelligent design, as it has come to be called, it simply declares that God exists. It's a good word! And, if it is created by God, therefore it serves God. Power to Overcome Verse 92: “Because your words are my deepest delight, I didn't give up when all else was lost.” Do you get this? When God's word is our deepest delight, it gives us persevering, enduring power to not give up even when we can't see the victory even when everything feels lost. God’s Transforming Revelations Verse 93: “I can never forget the profound Revelations you've taught me, for they have kept me alive more than once.” Now here's that word revelation and I prayed for that, right? I prayed for revelations as we read today, but I want to highlight to you: revelation is different than information. Revelation is different than information. In Romans 12 we read, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind and then you will be able to test and approve what God's good, pleasing and perfect will is.” (vv.1-2, my paraphrase) Revelation is different than information. More than mere human knowledge, revelation is divine spiritual wisdom and knowledge that comes to us with transforming power through the impartation of the Holy Spirit. Revelation is when the Word of God comes alive to us whether through prayer, through our experiences with people or through our encounters with Scripture -- the one thing that will create the encounter is the power and presence of God’s Holy Spirit in us. Revelation is the key to transformation, and transformation - the key to overcoming through God’s Word. Revelation leads us to Surrender Verse 94: “Lord, I’m all yours, and you are my Savior; I have sought to live my life pleasing to you.” When God's revelation comes to us we realize the power of His work in our lives. Not just that work unto salvation, meaning out of hell and into heaven. But rather, if we go back to that very first verse we read today, where it says that “Standing firm in the heavens and fastened to Eternity, is the word of God…” If we go back to that, then we realize, the more we get a revelation of who Jesus is as the Word of God through the scriptures, through the impartation of the Holy Spirit - the more we surrender to Him as our Lord. The more we desire to be obedient to him, not because we're obligated to Him, but because the profound reality of His love has taken root in our lives. Then, all we want to do is respond in obedience to Him seeking to live our lives to please Him. Hebrews chapter 11 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. That is why it is key that we understand that revelation is part of building faith in our lives. You see, Paul also writes that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (see Romans 10:17). Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God Revelation is integral to us realizing the impartation of faith from the Holy Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit that draws us to Christ. It's the Holy Spirit that testifies to us of Christ. It's the Holy Spirit that teaches us about Christ. It's the Holy Spirit that reminds us. It's the Holy Spirit that empowers us to minister according to His will. Do you understand what I'm saying? Faith is a key that unlocks revival because it creates disciples that look like Jesus, that live lives pleasing to him This brings us to our conclusion, verses 95-96:”Even though evil men wait in ambush to kill me, I will set my heart before you to understand more of your ways. I’ve learned that there is nothing perfect in this imperfect world expect your words, for they bring such fantastic freedom into my life!” We place our faith in God, through His Word - both the Holy Scriptures and Jesus Christ - the expressed person of God. we learn to surrender to His truth and revelation as it penetrates our hearts, allowing faith to take root deeply in our hearts. When our lives are vitally empowered by the revelation and presence of the Holy Spirit - even when our circumstances are anything but hopeful. When others persecute and seek to destroy us, we will live with our hearts set on Him, set before Him, understanding that the imperfections of this world will not consume us if we live in the perfection of His Living Word. This key brings us to Freedom and victory in our lives! Conclusion Well, that is all the time we have for today. Be sure to download the Podcoin app and subscribe to this podcast there. They pay you one podcoin every 10 minutes you listen, and more if you catch us as a bonus podcast (one week left for that)! You can redeem podcoins for gift cards to your favorite businesses or you can make donations to charities. It’s a win-win for us all! So download the app and subscribe to Blooming Inspired Podcast today! Our Wildflower Women ReLaunch is also well under way with 11 women joining our group in the last week! That’s very exciting! We’re beginning to build relationships and explore the reason God calls us wildflowers as He has brought us together to dot the surrounding landscapes with His Beautiful Glory! If you’d like to join us for Wildflower Women & the Relaunch, then hop over to our Facebook Page, facebook.com/groups/wildflowerwomenrelaunch and request to join the group! Be sure to also take some time to like us on facebook.com/bloominginspired to stay up to date and in the know about all things @BloomingInspired. Don’t Forget! Don’t forget to check out these shows also airing on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network: Redeemed Rebel Podcast featuring our very own redeemed rebel, hope dealer and gold digger: Michele Turman each Monday at 4pm (CT) and Accidental Hope Podcast featuring our ambassador of hope, Jennifer Eikenhorst each Wednesday at 2pm (CT)! All of our shows are available on iTunes, Google Play and the Podcoin App - so subscribe and listen today! Closing Remarks As I close the show today, I want to share a little about my coaching business and opportunities with you. This is Michelle Bentham, and in case you didn’t know, in addition to being an ordained minister and the founder of Blooming Inspired Network, I am also a Certified Executive Coach. This week, I have a huge praise as a friend of mine has helped me become a part of The John Maxwell Team. I’m very excited about this opportunity and what it will add to my Executive Coaching practice that has been in full swing for the last year. If you are looking for personal or professional development in any area of your life, including areas of ministry, I’d love to offer you a free coaching consultation to sit down and share what coaching is, and explore the values it might add to your life. Monthly coaching packages that fit any lifestyle and budget are currently available. To set up your free consultation please email: michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com I also offer a unique opportunity for Podcast development through coaching where I will walk you through the steps of developing your show concept, how to produce your podcast from recording to editing and airing your show on our Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We will then work together to promote your show and expand the place of your influence. I’d love to partner with you as you seek to live your life Blooming Inspired! For more information about the podcast network and podcasting opportunities visit bloominginspirednetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. Remember: Blooming Where You’re Planted is the First Step to Living Your Wildest Dreams, So Live Your Lives Blooming Alive!

Redeemed Rebel: Episode 11 Michelle Bentham (Part 4)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2019

Michele Turman concludes the conversation with Michelle Bentham, Founder of Blooming Inspired Network.

founders rebel redeemed michelle bentham

Redeemed Rebel Podcast | episode 10 Interview Michelle Bentham (3)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2019

Michele Turman continues the conversation with Michelle Bentham, Founder of Blooming Inspired Network.

founders redeemed rebel podcast michelle bentham

Redeemed Rebel Podcast | Episode 9 Live Blooming Alive

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2019

Michele Turman continues the conversation with Blooming Inspired Network Founder, Michelle Bentham.

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Redeemed Rebel Podcast | Episode 8: Live Blooming Alive - Michelle Bentham (1)

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2019

Michele Turman interviews Blooming Inspired Network's found, Michelle Bentham, in part 1 of a multipart interview today.

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Blooming Inpsired Podcast | Episode 8: Luke 12 Encounter the Holy Spirit

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2018

Michelle Bentham reads through Luke 12 talking about the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in her life and experience based on the text.

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Blooming Inpsired Podcast | Episode 8: Luke 12 Encounter the Holy Spirit

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2018

Michelle Bentham reads through Luke 12 talking about the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in her life and experience based on the text.

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Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 7: Harriet Tubman

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2018

Michelle Bentham shares how Harriet Tubman's choices and life inspire her to lead out from where she is in her life today!

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Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 7: Harriet Tubman

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2018

Michelle Bentham shares how Harriet Tubman's choices and life inspire her to lead out from where she is in her life today!

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Blooming Inspired Podcast | Episode 7: Harriet Tubman