REVELATION 4 TRANSFORMATION

“Insatiable desires consume worldly residents but kingdom residents resemble eternal priorities.”
Antonio Lightbourn

Have you ever had a strong longing for something or someone? Is it so intense that you can’t stop thinking about it or them? Does it consume every part of your day? It can start from the moment you wake up. It lasts until you go to sleep. Heck, you even dream about it. Well, let me just start off by saying that we all are guilty of this. Today, I want to show you that not all the desires of your heart glorify God. Instead, they can be distractions that deviate you from the plan God has for your life.

1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

This is a verse I really appreciate. When I read it, I felt like the Holy Spirit really speaks to me, on a deep level. The verse reminds me to place my focus on things that matter. God, family, the poor the widows the orphans and the people who cant fight for themselves.

Growing up we didn’t have much, we lived in a roach infested apartment that was burglarized many times. Some days we didn’t have power. We had to take cold showers. My grandmother stretched one can of corned beef to feed 6 people. Christmas and birthdays we often dreaded because we knew Santa wasn’t visiting us. Things weren’t always this bad but most of the time they weren’t good. This instilled in me a strong urge to obtain things. I wanted what would make my life easier. I also wanted things that would make it enjoyable. I longed for relationships that would make me feel important and whole. You say the lack of these bred a deep hunger and need. I wanted things that would make me feel fulfilled but left me feeling empty, lost, and angry.

I remember having these desires from the age of about 7 years. I’m now 36. have out grown some ungodly desires so of these desires for material or physical gratification still haunt me. I have developed a more dedicated devotional and prayer time. The holy spirit has revealed to me that no matter what I achieve, the craving for more will be unquenchable. So, why not pursue a place where my efforts and treasures don’t perish?

Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

Our main focus should be on wanting to know God more. We need to understand what He wants to do through us for His kingdom. We need to realize that, although earthly treasures can bring pleasure, excitement, and even gratification, it won’t last long.

call to action:

I encourage you to take some time. Write out your ungodly desires. Put them in the boxing ring with the word of God. Invest in the kingdom of God. Be a vessel of unification to Christ. Understand that when you work the way God has intended, he will fulfill you. He will do so in ways you never thought possible. Leave a legacy that you can reap a treasure from in heaven. We will not see the fruits of all our obedience to God on earth. Still, remember our reward is in heaven. Let’s develop a heavenly kingdom’s retirement plan. We should fix our eyes and hearts on an imperishable kingdom.

Prayer 

Dear Heavenly Father, we love you. We thank you for the opportunity that you have given us. We can seek you every single day. Help us to place you first in our lives, above all things that consume our time and energy. Help us to understand. More time spent seeking you will develop a better relationship with you. We will grow far quicker with you than we can on our own. Lord, help us to have discipline and self control to fight temptation.
In Jesus name amen!

Ever wonder why it seems like your prayers aren’t being answered? Maybe you’re experiencing unwanted circumstances that don’t seem to be changing for the better. Over time, I’ve learned that some behaviors and thought patterns hinder the release of our blessings. These behaviors and thought patterns have blocked breakthroughs in my life. I want to share some of this rotten fruit that has caused delayed answers in my life. You can avoid these.

Let’s jump in !

Disobedience – John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

God requires us to be obedient to him. This obedience allows him to move through us and protect us. It also enables him to lead us according to his vision and purpose for our lives. We often want to know everything before we take steps of faith. Fear or a selfish outcome causes us to hesitate. As a result, we end up hindering ourselves.

Deliberate sin- Hebrews 10:26-31 

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

 We are all sinners fallen short of the  Purpose God intended for us . Sin is all equal and has been judged the same. Yet, we all know the things we deliberately do. We know it is a sin against God. When we do those things, we grieve the Holy Spirit. We put up a wall between us and God because we choose to engage in the fruit of the flesh. We do this instead of the transforming fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Instant gratification / over indulgence –

 The Bible says that  gratifying the flesh and its sinful  pleasures will destroy us and drag us away.  We run to things that gives us temporary relief but long term destruction. If we work through the valleys of life, we grow by enduring the painful, uncomfortable, and difficult seasons of suffering. By seeking and depending on God, He promises growth. We will become stronger and more qualified for the kingdom of God. 

Oppose the flesh + read the word of God + apply self control = walk in the fruit of spirit.

Dear Heavenly Father, there are many things that crowd my mind and tempt me to sin against you. When things get hard, God, I want to face my reality. I want to cling to you and your word. Lord give me your strength to stand against the demonic forces that rise up against me. Lord your word says that when I am weak you are strong in me. Lord I’m asking you to help me remember that I’m stronger with you. Thank you for your faithfulness and your sacrifice, Lord. I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus, son of the living God.

Amen.