God Is with Us
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May 30, 2010 |
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 "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:7-9)
Today sins and evils are rampant in the world, and many people are at a loss without knowing where to go. But if we have the Word of God in our hearts, we can discern between the truth and untruths, and if we pray without ceasing, we can receive the strength to overcome the world. If we faithfully accomplish the kingdom of God, God will be with us all the time and let our life overflow with His grace and blessing. What should we do to receive the blessing of God's being with us?
First of all, we should not have the 'change of mind' in us.
God hates too much changing of mind. The typical attribute of the flesh is "changing of mind." Many people change with the passing of time. They change when the situation or environment changes. When your mind changes like this, this is the 'changing of mind' which is an attribute of the flesh. You should be aware that the cause of this changing of the mind is not from an external cause. It is actually a cause that is found inside you. 'Changing of mind' proves that you don't have discernment by truth to that extent. In other words, you are not truthful. Such people frequently change their mind for the purpose of seeking personal benefit according to the fleshly thoughts.
For example, someone made a contract, but then later he was given an offer which might benefit him more greatly. However, if you have the attribute of the changeable mind, you will constantly have conflicts in your heart. Chances are that you may change your mind seeking for better and greater benefit.
By the way, "changing of mind" is not always as evident as in these cases. You should check yourself to see just how faithfully you keep the more trivial matters which you made a resolution to do. The things that you underestimated thinking, 'It doesn't matter that much,' actually become the nutrients that help the attribute of 'changing of mind' to grow up inside your heart.
In accomplishing sanctification, it is truly important not to have the changing of mind. For example, suppose you lose fullness and become disheartened when you find any form of evil in you. However, you should rejoice and give thanks instead of losing your strength and becoming disheartened. As they undergo such processes without changing of mind, they can quickly abstain from every form of evil and yield the fruit of sanctification. Therefore, the more quickly you get rid of the attribute of changing of mind, the sooner you can find evil in you and change into the spirit.
Secondly, you should meditate on the Word of God day and night, and put it into your heart.
Proverbs 4:20-21 says, "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart." Just as written in John 1:1, to always have the word near you and put it in your heart is to have God near you and put Him in your heart. If you love God, you ought to have His word near you and put it in your heart. And you should cultivate the word into the spirit.
Suppose you love someone but an unavoidable situation caused you to be set quite far apart from her. You cannot see her face to face, and you cannot even hear her voice directly. One day, you received a letter along with her picture. You will probably look at her picture whenever possible, and read the letter again and again. Her picture may be even worn out because you take a look at it countless times. Your love will not cool down or change just because you are far apart, but your love for her will rather become deeper and greater.
The same is with the word of God. Since the word is God Himself, those who truly love God and try to have Him close to them will treasure every word of God. They will put what they hear in their heart, and try hard to live by the word. Likewise, those who come near God and love God through the word will be loved by God and meet God as written in Proverbs 8:17. If you don't change your mind, but always have the word near you, meditate on it, pray for it, and live by it, God will be with you. And the evidences that God is with you will surely be found.
What Is the Blessing of God's being with Us?
God is the Creator who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them, and He is the Almighty God who governs the history of mankind, and their life and death, fortune and misfortune. As such God is with you, how can the evidences not follow you?
There is the difference between the expressions God 'is with you', and God 'walks with you'. The fact that God 'walks with you' means that there is a higher level of fellowship between the individual and God.
God wants to be with His children all the time; moreover, if you accomplish the heart of the spirit and enter the level of becoming His true child, He will walk with you. He will protect you in your everyday life, hold you, and lead you. Just as parents hold their child's hand, God will walk with you and work for you. As God is with you, and furthermore, walks with you, amazing fruit of change in your life will be found.
Suppose that an owner of a big and rich enterprise walks with you and provides you with everything you ever need. You can have whatever you want, and you will be lacking nothing financially. Now, God can solve not only financial matters, but any sort of problems, and moreover He can give any kind of answer to your heart's desire.
Therefore, the fact is that those who walk with God will be followed by countless evidences such as the blessing of having their spirit and soul prosper, the blessing of health, the blessing of finance, the blessing of family evangelization, the blessing of becoming a noble man who commands honor, authority, and the blessing of being loved.
For additional information or to read the message's text in its entirety, please visit Manmin Central Church on the web at www. manmin. org, select the "English" menu, and click on "Words of Life."
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