Walking In The Confidence Of God's Calling

(this article was written by Brandon Cox)

Gideon is one of my favorite Bible heroes. In my wife’s Bible class curriculum, he’s known as “G. I. Deon!” I especially love the way he’s introduced…
The way Gideon sees himself: Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.~Judges 6:11
His further questioning of God’s choice of him shows us a heart of humility and self-abasement. There was a lack of courage throughout all the land, and Gideon demonstrated this widespread fear. Everybody lived the part of the oppressed. But look at the way God sees Gideon (and announces accordingly): And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor! ~ Judges 6:12

I wrote in the margin of my Bible next to this verse, “God calls ‘em like HE sees ‘em!” We see God doing this throughout Scripture – God assigning names and titles to people who really don’t seem to fit the part because He sees what they can and will become. While the rest of the world labels us according to external factors, God labels us according to the heart.

God calls Gideon to be the leader of the people of Israel in a revolt against the oppression of the Midianites. Gideon’s initial reaction could be summarized like this…

• Who me?
• Who, YOU? (Judges 6:13)
• Are you sure? (Judges 6:17-24)
• Are you really, really sure? (Judges 6:36-40)

In other words, Gideon seemed to have little or no confidence whatsoever. Sound familiar? Modern Christianity has been hit with a plague of self-pity and pseudo-humility, which is really pride masquerading as humility. I know that confidence is sometimes a struggle for me. But the source of Gideon’s confidence is the source of my confidence as well… God’s calling!
There are plenty of times when I haven’t felt up to the tasks of preaching and leading a church as Pastor, but I believe I’m in my position because of God’s calling, so when I need to speak on His behalf, or when I need to make some tough and possibly controversial decision, or even when I’m at the side of a family in deep pain with few words to offer, I can stand strong in the confidence of God’s calling!
What do some of history’s greatest leaders have in common? People like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Paul, and Jesus Himself? To each one God had said “I’m with you, now go!”
Now, there are five calls in the life of every Christian (two which pertain to every member of the human race)…

We are called to salvation.

For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
~ 2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV

This is everybody. The witness of God in nature and via His Word offer a universal call to salvation to anyone who will respond.

We are called to holiness.

For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
~1 Thessalonians 4:7 NKJV

Believers are called to live a holy life in Christ.

We are called to service.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
~ Romans 11:29 NKJV

We are not saved to sit, but to serve. God has something in mind for every believer to be doing for His purpose and glory.

We are called to mission.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
~Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV

You may not feel like much, but God is all-powerful. You may not feel worthy, but God calls you worthy. You may not feel ready, but God will equip you. Go! And go in the confidence that God has called, assigned, equipped, and enabled You and in the confidence that He will remain with You as you go!

"When The Chips Are Down"

When you’re going through tough times, trials and tribulations, it’s time to be a team player! Many times God would want you to “bite the bullet” for the team and endure some pain, to see the ultimate victory in your church, family, community. Read this true account below of courage, team-spirit, and the blessing of unity and sacrifice ....ITS GONNA BLOW YOUR SOCKS OFF!!! Live all-out for Jesus and your buddies!!!!!

In the 1976 Olympics the twenty-six year old Japanese gymnast Shun Fujimoto showed courage and a team-spirit that is still unmatched. He broke his right knee on the floor apparatus, in fact, his kneecap and his patella was fractured, an injury that under ordinary circumstances would have immediately ended his participation in the Olympic Games. Fujimoto decided he would tell no one, not even his coach. Fujimoto knew that without his participation Japan had no chance for a team gold medal and he therefore told no one of his injury. Facing his fears he courageously stepped up to the rings apparatus, needing a 9.5 score to secure a Gold medal for the Japanese team over the Russians. He performed a near-flawless routine hitting every element and with very few even minor visible errors and deductions. Then, as if holding their breath, everyone watching for the dismount, which he would have to stick perfectly to secure the team
gold medal for Japan. But how could a gymnast with broken kneecap possibly withstand the pain, the strain and the impact of a world class dismount from the eight foot high rings? Fujimoto somersaulted through the air and completed his brilliant routine and, to the amazement of everyone, sticking his landing and never moving an inch, in spite of the excruciating pain from the impact, which caused further injury dislocating the broken kneecap and tearing ligaments in his leg. Gritting his teeth and holding his landing position without a waver, Fujimoto willed himself into the traditional stick-finish pose. Cheers erupted both for his heroic performance of courage and the Olympic gold medal Fujimoto and his teammates earned. The judges awarded him a 9.7 – the highest score he had ever recorded on the rings. His score on the rings was not only a personal best, but it allowed Japan to edge out Russia in the closest team win in Olympic gymnastic history.

We will never forget the tremendous courage, dedication and self-discipline shown by male
gymnast Shun Fujimoto. The heroic story of male gymnast Shun Fujimoto is incredible in every respect. Toughness defines athletes, just as skill and talent do. Some, by their deeds and their demeanors, become the toughest of them all. If you don’t have mental toughness, you are never going to perform to your full physical potential. From time to time there are athletes who give us
a brand new perspective on what that potential might be. Eternal respect is perpetuated for those who compete in the face of overwhelming odds and real pain and danger.

Read the full story here http://gymnasticszone.com/the-worlds-toughest-gymnast

Satan's plan for MEN......

Satan debriefing his troops in the corridors of hell..........

"All men must be neutralised. Let us create wars between countries so that men will be killed in the name of patriotism. Men must lose their identity. Keep them so busy with work, careers and hobbies so that they won't have time spend with their wives and children. Yes, yes and this will create distance between them and their families. Wives must feel neglected and children must be forced to spend all their time with their mothers so that they hardly experience their father. Fathers must NOT have time for their wives. Keep them busy, very, very busy. Make them feel like they MUST get a big home and drive expensive cars. Make the men very competitive so that wealth becomes an obsession. Make mothers feel like they are running their families because dad is never at home. Make the fathers so busy that they never get time to go to school parents meetings. They must never play with their children. Create distance between mothers, fathers and children. Make TV to be a 'baby-sitter' for children.



Create as many distractions as possible. Lots of TV, lots of sports, bars, pubs, brothels. Make them feel that watching TV is relaxing. Then they won't spend quality time with their family. Put sexual movies on TV so that they will compare it to their wife and feel dissatisfied with her. Make them feel that their wife is not attractive enough. Flood husband's minds with lots of images of pretty women, preferably half naked. Husbands MUST feel that their wives are not attractive! Divorce, divorce, I want divorce to be easy. Make governments bring laws in that make divorce very, very easy. Marriages must break up! We must not allow them to understand true covenant.



Keep fathers busy over weekends with all their hobbies. Make men feel like Sunday is their day to relax at home so that they never get to church meetings. Yes, yes and make them feel like they don't need to be a part of a church, but that they can just read their Bible occasionally and pray at home. Make them feel that this is enough, more than enough. They must NEVER realise their potential. They must never realise that they need other men to speak into their lives. Keep them isolated and independent, especially on Sundays. If they go to a church meeting, we might just lose them!



They must never realise that they were created in God's image and likeness. From an early age, confuse them about who they really are. Make them feel like they only need their mothers. Yes, yes we must break down their masculinity. From birth, make their birthday parties full of mothers, only mothers and children. Fathers must not be at their birthday parties at all. Make them feel dependant on their mothers, not their fathers. Confuse the boys with lots of soft presents, teddy bears and make mothers over-protect their sons. Boys must only be exposed to mothers and their sisters so that they lose their masculinity. Let them only play with their mother and sister, not their father. Even up to their 20's, make these sons feel totally lost without their mothers. Make them stay at home for as long as possible so that they never learn to be independent men. When they are teenagers, make them rebellious towards their fathers. Let them blame their fathers for the mess they're in. Make the fathers helpless and powerless. Make these teenagers violent. Cause these boys to take sex, drugs and alcohol. I want sexual freedom in these teenagers. Make them feel like they are ready for sex. I want fornication, fornication. This will confuse them in marriage one day. I want sexual trauma and strongholds. Make them addicted to this cool feeling, let them believe this is how to be cool and have friends. They must feel that their fathers don't understand them, because they never spent time together, and they don't know each other, at all. Make them angry towards their fathers.



If some of these men start going to church, then we must do everything to get them out! Create competition. Lots of competition between the men. Make them feel that they are not cool enough to belong. Make them feel left out. Make them compare themselves to other richer, wealthier men. Make these men commit adultery with other women in church. I want pornography in church. These men must feel like they don't need to confess this to anyone. Pornography must be everywhere and easy to get. Make it free.



In church, make them feel that they must be the main leader. Cause them to feel insignificant and unimportant if they are not. I want men to fight for position in church. They must not submit. Tell them that being an ordinary follower of this Jesus is just never good enough. Create unforgiveness in the church. Make men hard towards others in the church, especially other men. Make them look down at each other. Make them believe that they can just be in church on a Sunday and never trust anybody with their personal lives. I want pew-warmers. They must only go to church on a Sunday. They must look religious. They must not share their lives with others. I want them to be very, very private. Make them close-up. They must never even share their lives with their wife.



They must NOT trust the leaders in a church! Especially the elders. If they trust their elders, we will lose them! They must never trust any leaders. I want men to be lazy and back-footed. Squash that adventurous spirit. They must never initiate and lead. I want them on the back foot, sitting in their seats, doing nothing, saying nothing. Make them weak. I want men who worship their Jesus half-heartedly, no raising hands, no loud singing, especially no dancing, they must be too proud. Their children must never see them prasing this Jesus. NEVER. Make them question the Holy Spirit. Make them doubt God. Make them leave churches for no reason. Make them offended with as many people as possible. Make them question everything that the leaders do and say! Everything! I want weak leaders in churches. Especially the men. Make them compromise. Make them question the Bible. That book is too powerful. Make them argue about the truths in that book.



When men fail, I want them to feel like failures. They must NEVER recover. They must never get up again! These men must become weaker and weaker. Cause their wives to criticize their husbands. Cause them to be question their husbands. I don't want sex between them. Sex is too powerful in a marriage. I want husbands to manipulate one another with sex. I want rebellious wives. They must be very, very strong. I want wives to rise up, more and more. I want husbands to hand over the leadership to their wives. This must be subtle, over years this must happen, not too suddenly. I want wives to undermine their husbands, especially in front of their children. Children MUST lose respect for their fathers. And children must side with their mothers. I want fathers to lose their temper. I want anger and rage. I want arguments and fights. I want disunity and division in marriages. Make husbands and wives to argue over petty little things. I want unhappy husbands and wives. I want unhappy, discontented, frustrated men.



I want their finances to suffer. And they must turn to alcohol for comfort. Isolate them and keep all their friends busy. They must feel unloved. They must suffer financial pressure. I want them NEVER to pray to this Jesus for help. I want them to blame their God for their troubles.



Now GET TO WORK!!!

FASTING - a great way to start 2011

biblical PRAYER and fasting

You have decided to take the next step in your spiritual walk through the life-changing principal of fasting. Seek the Lord in prayer and let your decisions about your fast come from Him. Ask the Lord to show you areas to target during your time of fasting and prayer. Start with a clear goal and make a commitment to stick to your fast. Be ready to grow in your walk as you seek the Lord through the Biblical principles of prayer and fasting. Remember, "He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him!" (Hebrews 11:6)

Fasting BASICS

Simply put, fasting is refraining from food for a period of time for spiritual reasons, including
seeking God, yielding to His leading and guiding and listening to His voice.

Biblical fasting takes a lot of discipline and strength—strength which you can only receive from God. Your private discipline will bring you rewards in Heaven,

says Matthew 6.

Why should I fast?

1. Are you in need of healing or a miracle?

2. Do you need the tender touch of God in your life?

3. Is there a dream inside you that only He can make possible?

4. Are you in need of a fresh encounter with Him?

5. Do you desire a deeper, more intimate and powerful relationship with the Lord?

6. Are you ready to have heightened sensitivity to the desires of God?

7. Do you need to break away from bondages that have been holding you hostage?

8. Is there a friend or loved one that needs Salvation?

9. Do you desire to know God's will for your life?

10. Jesus fasted (for 40 days), setting an example to us followers.

11. Jesus encourages fasting, if done with the correct heart, attitude and motive.

I encourage you to target your prayers during the fast. A great promise, from the book of Isaiah 58, proclaims that the chosen fast will "undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free." We are living in tough economic times and we know that so many people are under a financial burden. As you fast and pray, believe that your burdens will be lifted and that blessings will be released into your life! Seek the Lord in prayer and let your decisions about your biblical fasting come from Him. Ask the Lord to show you areas to target during your time of fasting and prayer.

Biblical Fasting

1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in
authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
honesty."

ROMANS 12:1"I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service."

MATTHEW 6:33"But seek ye first the kingdom
of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto
you."

ISAIAH 58:6"[Is] not this the fast that I
have chosen to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to
let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?"

Biblical accounts

• Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights, twice back-to-back, without food or water; the first, immediately before he received the tablets on the mountain with God. And the second, after coming down, seeing the Israelites practicing idolatry, and breaking the tablets in anger. (Deuteronomy 9:7-21)
• King David fasted when the son of his adulterous union with Bathsheba was struck sick by God, in punishment for the adultery and for David's murder of Bathsheba's husband, Uriah the Hittite. Nevertheless, the son died, upon which David broke his fast (2 Samuel 12:15-25).
• King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast throughout Judah for victory over the Moabites and Ammonites who were attacking them (2 Chronicles 20:3).
• The prophet Joel called for a fast to avert the judgment of God. (Joel 1:14,2:12, 15)
• The people of Nineveh, in response to Jonah's prophecy, fasted to avert the judgment of God (Jonah 3:7).
• The Jews of Persia, following Mordechai's example, fasted because of the genocidal decree of Haman. Queen Esther declared a three-day fast for all the Jews prior to risking her life in visiting King Ahasuerus uninvited (Esther 4).
• Saul, later Paul, did not eat or drink anything for three days after he converted on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9:9)
• Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights while in the desert, being tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread and eat them, among other temptations. (Matthew 4:2, Luke 4:2).
• The prophetess Anna, who proclaimed the baby Jesus to be the Messiah, prayed and fasted regularly in the Temple (Luke 2:37).
• There are indications in the New Testament as well as from the Didache that members of an Early Christian Church fasted regularly.
• Cornelius fasted for 4 days (Acts 10:30)
• Jesus teaches on the outward appearance and demeanor of a fasting person (Matthew 6:16). It is also an assumed action of the believer (see: "And when you pray..." Matthew 6:5 - "When you fast..." Matthew 6:16)
• David used fasting as an act of humbling his soul (Psalm 35:13).
• The church in Antioch were worshipping the Lord and fasting when the Holy Spirit told them to send Barnabas and Saul for work (Acts 13:2).
• Paul and Barnabus appointed elders with prayer and fasting (Acts 14:23).
• Paul commanded couples to fast and pray against temptation for incontinency (1
  Corinthians 7:5)
  

Biblical
tEAching

• The prophet Isaiah chastised the Israelites in Isaiah 58 for the unrighteous methods and motives of their fasting. He clarified some of the best reasons for fasting and listed both physical and spiritual benefits that would result (Isaiah 58:3-13).
• Jesus warned his followers against fasting only to make others admire them. He provided practical steps on how to fast in private. (Matthew 6:16–18).
• The Pharisees and John's disciples in Jesus' time fasted regularly and asked Jesus why his disciples did not. Jesus answered them using a parable (Matthew 9:14-15, Mark 2:18-20, Luke 5:33-39, see also Mark 2).
• In some manuscripts Jesus ascribes the Disciples' inability to cast out spirits to a lack of prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). (These, however, are later manuscripts and the words "and fasting" are omitted from many modern translations.)
  

Types of
fasting

Full Fast Drink only liquids (you establish the number of days).
Daniel Fast Eat no meat, no sweets and no bread. Drink water and juice. Eat fruits and vegetables.

3-Day Fast This fast can be a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food.

Partial Fast A partial fast is from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm or from sun up to sundown. You can select from three types of fasting —a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food.

As you prayerfully decide on the length and type of fast, remember to offer God your
best sacrifice.

Scripture References for Fasting:

Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 9:14-15, Luke 18:9-14

Relation to Prayer and Reading of the Word:

1 Samuel 1:6-8, 17-18, Nehemiah 1:4, Daniel 9:3, 20, Joel 2:12, Luke 2:37, Acts 10:30, Acts 13:2


Corporate Fasting:

1Samuel 7:5-6, Ezra 8:21-23, Nehemiah 9:1-3, Joel 2:15-16, Jonah 3:5-10, Acts 27:33-37

Remember that it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds
with a blessing (Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 14:12, 1 Corinthians 8:8).

tips for fasting

How to Begin

Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you need direction, healing, restoration of marriage or family issues? Are you facing financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pray daily and read the Bible.


Preparing Spiritually

Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all
who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3-4). Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and
reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you (Romans 12:1-2).


Deciding What to Fast

The type of fasting you choose is up to you. You could go on a full fast in which you only drink liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel, who abstained from sweets and meats, and the only liquid he drank was water. Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study.

Deciding How Long

You may fast as long as you like. Most can easily fast from one to three days, but you may feel the grace to go longer, even as much as 21 to 40 days. Use wisdom and pray for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.

What to Expect

Whenyou fast your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability during withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. And naturally, you will have hunger pains. Limit your activity and exercise moderately. Take time to rest. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus' example when you fast. Spend time listening to praise and worship. Pray as often as you can throughout the day. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind set on seeking God's face.

How to End

Don't overeat when the time comes to end your fast. Begin eating solid food
gradually; eat small portions or snacks.

some encouragement

Fasting is a principle that God intended for everyone to be able to enjoy. It's not a punishment; it's a privilege! By making fasting a way of life, you can get closer to God and grow in your spiritual walk like never before. Fasting is one of the most powerful weapons God has given us for our daily lives. Through fasting, you can experience a release from the bondage of sin ... restoration in your relationships ... financial blessings ... spiritual renewal ... supernatural healing and so much more!

"I beseech you therefore; brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1).

Another reward of fasting has to do with your future. God has given you a vision, a divine dream for your life. When you fast, you open up the blessings and opportunities He has provided for you to pursue that dream. As you fast, pray for God's direction and guidance. Focus your faith on your dream and God will show you how you can turn your vision into a reality. Begin pursuing your divine dream today and make the rewards of fasting part of your lifestyle.

I want to encourage you to target your prayers during the fast. The Bible instructs us to continually pray. "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Another great promise, from the book of Isaiah 58, proclaims that the chosen fast will "undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free." I’m believing that your burdens will be lifted and that blessings will be released into your life!

Enjoy it.

(portions taken from Jentzen Franklin, The Fasting Movement, Wikipedia and other personal sources and studies )

Jesus se Pretpark

For anyone who knows me, you will be aware that I have been struggling with decisions around work recently. It has been a hard last couple of weeks.

Two Sunday nights ago, a picture was shared during worship time by a member of our congregation at City Bowl. It was a picture of a swing which was being held down by cobwebs. The encouragement to us was that the Holy Spirit wanted to come and blow these cobwebs away, releasing the swing. Jesus was standing behind the swing and would begin to push it so that it would swing higher and higher. God wanted to restore our freedom and joy in that moment. The picture was very real to me, but the burdens of the week (my cobwebs?) seemed more overriding at the time. So, I left the church building still feeling weary. Sad hey?

The next night (Monday evening), I was sitting chatting to God, crying out to Him and asking to hear His voice of clarity on work matters. Then the picture that was shared from the night before came to mind. I felt led to pray the picture over my situation and my life, to really take hold of it. As I did, I felt the Holy Spirit come into my room. I have been a Christian since I was three years old (that's a story for another time for those who can't believe that one can be a Christian from that young) and up to now, I have never laughed in the Spirit. That is...until Monday night. Not even a minute after praying this prayer about Jesus coming to swing me into freedom and new-found joy, I started to giggle...and giggle...and laugh uncontrollably and hysterically for several minutes. The happy tears were rolling down my cheeks, my cat was frightened by her mommy going ballistic and the neighbours from the apartment downstairs got up to shut their windows to block out my guffaws. This made me laugh even more! What a party the Holy Spirit and I had. After ward, I went to bed feeling a physical and spiritual difference.

The outcome of that week was that God gave me clarity re my work situation, but a more far-reaching impact , was this important lesson for me: That when words of prophecy and knowledge are shared corporately, I need to take hold of them, really take hold of them for my life personally. And in my private space, I need to pray those encouragements over my life, maybe even more than once.

So I praise God for His faithfulness in all things, for the joy of the Holy Spirit and for guiding me upwards and onwards in His ways!