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Greetings from Reverend Karen and the Embrace the Fire Ministry team. We are praying blessings upon you and we are believing for your good health and healing in your families.
If we are passionate and enthusiastic about our relationship with the Lord, then the world best lookout, because there may be no holding us back! If this is the case, then move out as the Holy Spirit directs you. Keep your dream or vision in motion. Use strategy and function in the art of planning, become engaged and begin to organize your operations. Nothing will happen unless you make a move into the direction the Lord speaks to you about. The Holy Spirit will impart to you strategy. He will give you a plan that will unfold systematically. His plan is always designed to help you achieve your calling, as He directs your steps. Dear Ones, a house is not built over night. When an architect's plan is spread out on the table it is carefully studied over and over until it is completely understood. After he understands the schematics, then the beginning stages of getting things in order become a priority, and that doesn't happen over night either. If others are a part of building the house then communication is the first rule of thumb; otherwise there will be confusion of every sort. With understanding, communication, and talent, the building process begins, and the end result should be a solid structure that will withstand the elements of time. Good works should always spring from the principle of love that will promote moral principles, and will bring Glory to the Father. Good works will always reveal the word of God in you, and be rewarded by grace, which is not measured or rewarded because of our inherent character and talents, no indeed! But it is measured only by our obedience and the ability to wait for His timing. If we are anxious and rambunctious it could mean we are lacking in restraint or discipline, and it could mean we are out of order and stepping ahead, instead of trusting and moving out according to His timetable. And when that happens, our work will not withstand the elements of time, which will test of what sort it is. I'm reminded of the story "The Three Little Pigs": The wolf huffed and puffed and blew down the houses built of straw and sticks, and ate those two pigs! But he couldn't blow down the house of brick! Even the chimney held up, and when that big bad wolf climbed down into it to get inside of the house, that was the end of him! God's plan is the best plan and His plan will withstand the test of time!
Matthew 7:24-25 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.
Even though you may be sent by God, even though your works withstand the fire and turns out to be pure and anointed, remember, it may not always be smooth sailing. You can know beyond a doubt the Lord has asked you to do something, but the inner structure or the operation of your work's existence, may not function as you perceived it would. So it is not wise to expect applause or assume you've got it all together. It can also be a mistake to perceive there is a conspiracy lingering in the shadows because things didn't go as planned. Not so, Dear ones, it may not be
necessarily so.
Acts 20:22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. NIV
The Lord called Paul to Ephesus and he was faithful to do the things the Lord called him to do. He was constant and steadfast as he preached faith and repentance wherever he went. Yet, the Holy Spirit warned Paul of prison and hardships. But he resolved within himself that nothing would change his mind. Nothing would sway him from obeying the Lord. The Lord gave him a ministry and he finished it with joy, regardless of all the opposition he definitely faced. Preaching the gospel for the benefit of grand expectations is preposterous! Tickling the ears and gaining confidence of the listeners through impressive stories and prestige is not preaching the true gospel! The Holy Spirit sends us and warns us. There isn't always a silver-lined road we will walk on. No, we will face hardship, and as we are in the ministry we will undergo gossip, mockery, and persecution as we fulfill God's calling. We will be rejected, misunderstood and treated as outcasts. But for the joy! It was for the joy that was set before him. Paul was not moved by the afflictions he encountered. Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. KJV Although the word "joy" was added in this verse by the translators and isn't in the original text. Jesus said in John 17: 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. NIV. Just as Jesus, Paul was in it for the joy of bringing Glory to the Father, not his own glory!
2 Tim 4: 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. NIV
Even though our works won't save us, how can we say we know the King of Glory and sit idly by? In knowing Him we are compelled, we are bound through the Holy Spirit to move out and to speak out, and to fulfill God's calling in our lives, at any cost. And as we obey regardless of the opposition we will face, in spite of it all, as we operate in His perfect will, we will then experience joy unspeakable full of Glory! Just as Jesus and Paul, they were satisfied and content knowing their joy was complete, by bringing Glory to the Father! This is joy and fulfillment.
1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: KJV In the Greek this word joy means gladness, exceeding joy, calm, and fulness in joy. In the dictionary this word, joy, means: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Have you ever experienced feelings of great pleasure and happiness in your relationship with Christ Jesus? O it is wonderful! Are you enthusiastic, unwound and ready to fulfill your calling, regardless of the oppositions that await you? Remember when you come into contact with the Cyclops of opposition whose one focus is to take you out, God has a plan to get you through, so that you will operate and demonstrate the joy of knowing that all the Glory belongs to the Lord! Remember this: "I am a chosen Spiritual Giant who operates in faith, and nothing can stop me now!"
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