WHAT I WANT Part 1

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, {23} Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

If we are to walk in the Spirit it will take a decision of whether we want to be what God wants us to be or whether we want to let our fleshly desires direct us. I just want to share some thoughts about what I want.

Part 1

I WANT TO BE MORE LOVING:
Help me to love those who need loving the most.
Help me to love those who do not love me.
Help me to love unconditionally.

I WANT TO BE MORE JOYFUL:
TO FIND JOY IN THE SIMPLE THINGS.
TO PROJECT THAT JOY IN SUCH A WAY THAT OTHERS WILL ALSO BE JOYFUL.

I WANT TO ENJOY MORE PEACE:
BY THINKING MORE ON THE SPIRITUAL AND LESS ON THE CARNAL
BY TRUSTING GOD MORE EACH DAY AND REALIZING THAT :

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that[love God], to them who are the called according to
purpose.

Please feel free to contact me by email at .shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

HOW TO HAVE SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY 6

TO HAVE SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY PRAY PROPERLY

James 4:2-3 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. (3) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume upon your lusts.

We fail to prosper because we fail to pray. If we really examine our prayer life we will see how little time we really spend in "effectual fervent prayer". One of the things I have noticed when I have read biographies of men who have been greatly blessed and used of God is that they have a very strong and active prayer life.
Sometimes when we do pray we ask amiss. We ask for what we want and what we think we would like instead of seeking what would Glorify God. Even when we pray for someone to be saved or move closer to the Lord sometimes we pray selfishly because we love them or it would make life easier on us. We should pray for these things because God is glorified in these actions. If we seek things for God's Glory instead of our desires we will begin to spiritually prosper.
If we are to have power we must pray for God's direction, God's leadership, and seek God's will in all things.
May you prosper in your spiritual life. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior please invite Him into your heart. If you are saved and not growing ask God to give you a desire to become spiritually strong for His Glory.

HOW TO PROSPER AS A CHRISTIAN II

BUILD ON THE RIGHT FOUNDATION

Mt 16:16-18 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Whatever else we might do in our Christian lives as individuals or as churches we must build on the right foundation. In these verses He is not saying He will build his church upon Peter but upon the fact that Peter just proclaimed, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Psalms 118:21-22 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. {22} The stone the builders refused is become the head of the corner.

One can not possibly prosper spiritually without accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior. A church can not prosper if it is trying to build upon any other foundation. Jesus did not say He would build His church upon programs, fellowships, special meetings or anything that man might put together. He said He would build it upon the gospel. The "Good News" that Jesus is the Christ. He is the way of Salvation and there is no other.

Focus your life on Jesus and build on that relationship with Him and you will experience spiritual prosperity.

PRAYING WITH YOUR MIND MADE UP

PRAYING WITH YOUR MIND MADE UP
Jeremy Burkes

Luke 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

We sometimes go before God to pray with our minds already made up. We might even be seeking God's permissions to do our own will. Sometimes we try to convince God to see things our way.
Many times when we do this God begins to reveal His will to us right in the middle of our prayers and we realize it is completely different from what we want. Like the Pharisee we want to tell God all about ourselves, even what we are going to do.
Someone once said if you want to hear God laugh tell Him all your plans.
Many times we pray and leave out the Holy Spirit. We forget that He is the one that guides us through our prayers.
When you pray allow the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers and Jesus will take them before our Heavenly Father.

NO DISCRIMINATION

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
I like this verse. It means that God does not discriminate.
God does not look upon a persons status in life. He doesn't care what we look like or how smart we are. The color of our hair or skin doesn't make a difference. It is not necessary to be rich or popular.
God looks upon us and sees our need. He provides for that need according to His riches in glory through Jesus Christ.
There have been times in my life I have had strong feelings of inferiority. I have often overcompensated by being a loud mouth and a show off. I thought that everyone else suspected that I was inferior so I would try to impress them in some way. If they didn't think I was inferior to begin with my rash behavior might have made them think so.
I guess what I really wanted was to be accepted, to be loved, to be cherished.
When I begin to feel inferior now I try to remember. God loves me. He loves me with a perfect love and He loves me in spite of everything else. That makes me feel pretty good knowing that the Creator of the Universe is interested in me as an individual.

Grumbling or Grateful?

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name." Psalm 100:4

One day, there was a preacher on a train. He saw a well-dressed man and magnificently dressed woman with expensive jewelry. This woman was complaining about everything -- the train ride, the weather, the news, the food, the service. The preacher decided to engage this couple in a conversation. He asked the man what kind of business he was in and the man told him. Then he asked, "And what does your wife do?" The man replied, "Oh, she's in the manufacturing business. She manufactures her own unhappiness." You know, there are a lot of people like that today. They manufacture their own misery because they fail to be grateful. Only Christ can turn our lives around and stir up a grateful heart within us. Go through the alphabet and thank the Lord for something beginning with each letter and choose to be grateful. (copied)

KNOWING THE MASTER

Isaiah 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
Sometimes we forget Who we belong to and who cares for us.
There was a band of theives that had been raiding villages and killing and stealing from the people. Soldiers had learned of a planned raid on one particular village and they were waiting when the bandits came. They surprised the theives and killed some of them and chased the rest of them off. They had tried many times in vain to find where their hideout was but the captain of the soldiers knew his Bible and from it he devised a plan.
They had captured the horses of the theives that had been killed and they kept them up for several days without feed. When they released them they lead the soldiers straight to their masters hideout because they were hungry and were looking in their usual place for feed.
If even the animals know who it is that provides for them shouldn't we acknowledge God as our Lord and return to Him for the spiritual nourishment we need for our souls?

SIMPLE REQUIREMENTS

Micah 6:8 He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

I just can't seem to get everything done. There seem to be so many demands on my time and everyone seems to want something from me that I can't deliver. I never seem to get caught up to where I can concentrate on the important things.
Do these thoughts sound familiar. We all have seem to let the world and those around us demand so much of us and use so much of our time. Actually God's requirements are very simple and are the things that ought to guide our actions.
Do justly. That is do what is right, fair, and honorable. That really is not something so out of the ordinary for most people that would be reading this devotional in the first place.
Love mercy. Remember it is not justice that we crave. Justice gives us what we deserve. It is mercy that we need and mercy forgives us in spite of everything as we should show mercy to others.
Walk Humbly with God. How else can we stand before Him. He is perfect and Holy. He is righteous and full of grace and we are... well, we are us. That should cause us to be humble.

RESCUE THE PERISHING

An artist, seeking to depict on canvas the meaning of evangelism, painted a storm at sea. Black clouds filled the sky. Illuminated by a flash of lightning, a little boat could be seen disintegrating under the pounding of the ocean. Men were struggling in the swirling waters, their anguished faces crying out for help.

The only glimmer of hope appeared in the foreground of the painting, where a large rock protruded out of the water. There, clutching desperately with both hands, was one lone seaman. It was a moving scene. Looking at the painting, one could see in the
tempest a symbol of mankind's hopeless condition. And, true to the Gospel, the only hope of salvation was "the Rock of Ages", a shelter in the time of storm. But as the artist reflected upon his work, he realized that the painting did not accurately portray his subject. So he discarded the canvas, and painted another. It was very similar to the first: the black clouds, the flashing lightning, the angry waters, the little boat crushed by the pounding waves, and the crew vainly struggling in the water.

In the foreground the seaman was clutching the large rock for
salvation. But the artist made one change: the survivor was holding on with only one hand, and with the other hand he was reaching down to pull up a drowning friend. That is the New Testament picture of evangelism--that hand reaching down to rescue the perishing. Until that hand is extended, there is no Gospel--and there is no hope for the world. (Copied)

We should take some of our Christian Hymns seriously. "Rescure the perishing, care for the dying, Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save."

THE WORD IS ALIVE

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Many believe that the Bible is an ancient book and it is out of date. They believe that it is just words that mean nothing special. If they would read it and search it they would find it is just what this scripture says it is.
It is alive and powerful. It is never outdated. It even tells of things that have not happened yet, but believe me, they will. It has the power to change the lives of those who search it for truth. In it you can find the Way to Heaven. You can find the Truth about your sin and salvation through Jesus Christ. You can find the path of Life eternal in Him and Him alone.
It works like a mirror, revealing you to yourself. It works like a beacon guiding you toward God.
No, it is not outdated. It is not obsolete. It is alive and powerful and it has the answers to what man needs in the world today.

BE COURAGEOUS

Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

Sometimes we mistake courage for not being afraid. Actually not being afraid is not courage, it can be insanity. There er thou goest.are many things we should be afraid of and not to be afraid of them is just not normal.
Courage is going ahead and doing what needs to be done in spite of our fear. We know that it takes courage to charge ahead in the heat of battle. We know it takes courage to tackle some great task. What we fail to recognize sometimes is that it takes courage every day to do the little things we are afraid of.
It takes courage to speak in public. Fear of speaking in front of people has kept lots of people from teaching a Sunday School class or giving their testimony. Remember that many of the people who are speaking to crowds(including preachers) are also afraid, the just do it anyway in spite of their fear.
It takes courage to do something new or something out of the ordinary. It takes courage to do the little things we are afraid of. When you are afraid to make that phone call, to invite that friend to church, to say something about the Lord, remember courage is not about not being afraid. It is about doing the right thing in spite of your fear.

WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE

Romans 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
If the only reason God saved us was so that we could go to heaven then it stands to reason that He would have taken us on the moment we were saved. This scripture lets me know that we are left behind for a purpose.
He has given us the gift of life and then when we accept Him we have a purpose in that life. That purpose is to Glorify Him.
We glorify Him by our obedience. Our obedience should come out of thankfulness and out of love for Him. It should please all of us to know that God wants us here, and He wants us living for Him.
When we think of things this way it should make us more optomistic to face each day. "This is the day that the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

SIN IS EVERYWHERE

By Jeremy Burkes
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

When someone says sin it can make us think of many different things. Sin is telling a lie. Sin is watching a bad movie. Sin is overeating. Sometimes our actions and activities are sinful. When we are at the workplace or with friends we must understand that our actions speak louder than words. When someone tells an unclean joke or is talking about a sinful movie, how we respond can tell a lot about our relationship with God.
When we sin we are a lot like Adam. When God walked in the Garden of Eden, Adam hid himself from God. When we have sinned sometimes we try to hide ourselves from God when God wants us to come to Him in prayer.
There is a song in our hymn book entitled "Just As I Am". This tells us exactly how we should come before the Lord. We need to go before the Lord just as we are, sinners. Paul said, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
You can approach God today just as you are. Another song says, "Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there."
Whatever you are dealing with, if it is sin, or if you have other burdens take it to the Lord.

WHO AM I?

Exodus 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

It is not hard for me to understand Moses' doubts when God spoke to him from that burning bush and told him to go to Pharaoh and and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. What a task. For over 400 years the children of Israel had dwelt in Egypt and had become enslaved to the Egyptians. What an overwhelming task to be given. Who am I indeed?
Moses was in exile from Egypt himself. He was tending sheep on the back side of Midian.
We often feel the same way when God calls us to some great task. Who am I? What special credentials and qualifications do I have? What special gifts and talents could I possible have that would qualify me to do the work God calls me to do? Who am I?
Remember it does not matter who I am or who you are. The important thing is who He is. He is Almighty God, Mighty Father, Creator and Sustainer of all creation.It doesn't matter who we are as long as we understand who He is. He always qualifies those He calls.

How Frail We Are

Psalm 39:4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

I guess you might think this is kind of a gloomy thought. One usually doesn't want to think of their end. We usually want to live like we will never die.
The truth is that everyone of us is here only temporarily. We don't have any idea when the end will come. I think it is good to realize that it will come some day. It helps us understand just how frail we are.
As I grow older and encounter more health problems I become more aware of how frail I am and even know that I have always been frail.
What I take comfort and great joy in is knowing that there is something better awaiting me. One day I will leave this old decaying body and I will have a new and perfect one. One day I will leave this world behind and I will live in a new and perfect place.
Knowing how frail I am doesn't bother me much when I realize how strong and powerful Jesus is and that He has promised that someday I will be like Him.

GROWING UP

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I [spake as a child], I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Some people get older but they never seem to grow up. They still have the characteristics of a child.
A child likes to play. Many are playing at making a marriage and a home. Many are playing church instead of really getting involved.
Children are naturally selfish. They have to be taught that the world doesn't revolve around them. It is what I want. Some throw a fit if they don't get their way. It seems that we have developed into the greatest crop of babies any nation has ever known.
Childishness is characterized by self pity. You hear things like, "No one likes me". "They don't include me in on things". "They like him better than me".
Children fail to recognize they have obligations and responsibilities. The church is everyones responsibility and you have an obligation to minister to others. The obligation of carrying out the great commission falls on us all.
Childishness is also indicated by a lack of gratitude. Most children never say thank you to their mothers for clean clothes and food. They never say thank you to their parents for working and providing for them.
When I look at these things it kind of makes me feel like I might act childish sometimes. Maybe we all need to put away some childish things.

NOW AND LATER

Psalm 73:24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Our life from day to day is merely a journey for those who believe in eternal life through Jesus Christ. Just like any other journey it has its twists and turns and detours and sometimes even hazards. There are obstacles in our way and bumps along the road.
Even with the bumps and twists and turns though, life is a magnificent journey. It is made so much better by two things. One is the fact that God's counsel is available through His Word and His Spirit to guide us along the way. The other is knowing that He is waiting to receive us to Glory at the end of the Journey.
No matter how interesting your trip is, there is nothing that can compare with reaching the destination.I know the Way because Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life."

TELL THEM

Mark 5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

An Ant's Example A man once laid a piece of chocolate candy on a table. Then, picking up an ant, he put it near the delicious bon-bon. He was surprised to see it take a single bite and then hurry off to inform the rest of the colony. Soon the little creature returned, followed by a long train of other ants who enjoyed the treat with him. Many Christians who have tasted that the Lord is good can learn a lesson from that little insect. Having found God's rich supply of grace, they ought to spread the glad tidings to others.(COPIED)

God has been so good to us it is a shame that we fail to share those blessings with others. A person does not have to be a Bible scholar or a great speaker to tell others about Jesus. All we have to do is share how God's grace has enriched our lives. I guess that is much easier to do when we are thankful for all He has done for us.

ONE MORE NIGHT WITH THE FROGS

Exodus 8:9-10 And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only? (10) And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.

Can you imagine the discomfort of living with frogs everywhere. Reach in the cubbard and there is a frog. Look in the closet and there is a frog.
We are all familiar with the Plague of Frogs that God sent to Egypt. When you first look at it it doesn't seem like it would be that bad but when you really think about it, then it seems awful. One thing that has always puzzled me is when Moses asked Pharoah when he wanted to get rid of the frogs Pharoah said "tomorrow". Why didn't he say right now. Why in the world would Pharoah want to spend one more night with the frogs?
It doesn't make anymore sense for us to ask God to remove an obstacle from our life some day. Why not ask Him to remove it right now? So many times we are almost like Pharoah, we are perfectly willing to spend one more night with the Frogs.

GOOD WORDS

Proverbs 15:23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

It is amazing how much joy you can bring to someone by saying the right thing at the right time. Sometimes just asking someone about a specific trouble they have had or problem will let them know you are concerned and it helps them to bear their burdens.
Sometimes a compliment will bring a smile to someone's face that will make their entire day go better.

The opposite is true also. I encountered a particularly uncooperative public official this week and I was talking to someone in another county who held the same elected office about the situation. He said something that made a lot of sense, "I'm new in this position so I don't know a lot of things but I know it doesn't cost me anything to be nice. That's the easiest part of my job" I thought maybe he should have a seminar to teach that to some of the more experienced people in his position.

We are living in difficult times. People are nervous about the future and the news always seem to be bad. The season is due for a few good words. Let's share them with others and try to help them have a better day.