Deuteronomy 9:1-5 Consuming Fire and Righteousness

“Hear, O Israel: you are to cross over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities great and fortified up to heaven, a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’  Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you.

“Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you. Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Deuteronomy 9:1-5

When my husband read this today, two things jumped out at me.

One was 'he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God.' 

It reminded me that no evil can stand up against my God. I do not need to fear because He goes before me.

Now with that said, we cannot expect God to go before us as this consuming fire if we have not been spending time in His Word, in prayer, in listening and inquiring of Him. God does expect us to seek Him and His wisdom in all things. So if you went running into something just because it was bothering 'you' and you haven't been to church/fellowship, have not been in His Word, you have not been praying according to His Word and you have not been listening to the Spirit but listening to your flesh or the world......or maybe you go to church for show or because it's a habit but you don't do anything with what you are learning, you leave it at the door.......don't be surprised when you feel the 'fire', when you don't see the Lord doing what you think He should.

It is very important that we know our Father, we know His ways and we KNOW that His Word is His protection over us; it is not to harm us.  We want His fire to go before us, He makes the path.

I fought this for a long time. I did not want to change my ways because I felt God was never there for me, especially in my childhood/teen years. The only way I knew God was from people that had 'religion' and from 'men' that abused me. So it was a journey for me to even be able to call God my Father.  

I'm so thankful He is a patient God, wanting none to perish. I'm grateful for those that were praying for me and loving me even at my dirtiest. And I rejoice that I can now call Him my Father and I know His love for me.

I know that as I obey Him when things come up all I have to do is pray, listen and then obey because then -- that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God – will go before me and give me the victory.

The second thing in this passage is - “Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you. Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart..

When the Consuming Fire has gone before you and destroyed the resistance, the evil before you – do NOT take credit for it. Be careful that you don’t say, ‘well I did this and that, yes I heard God but “I” did it. Watch out for pride that says ‘I’m so upright and righteous that all this took place’. NO it is always God and His righteousness that defeats the enemy.  It is because of the wickedness that God moves through them and makes a path for us. He is fulfilling His promises.

So when you know, hear and obey God; you see Him going forward as the Consuming Fire, erasing your debt; healing your body; giving you the money to pay your mortgage; blessing  you on your job; opening doors of opportunity that people said would never happen……..don’t take any credit for it !

Give God all the glory, honor and praise!

(c) Has Breath Publishing LLC                                                                                                     Christena Hammes

Oh The Memories!!

I was going through my stack of VHS tapes and putting the ones of my daughters on DVD's.

It has been a heartwarming experience as I see and remember just how close my girls were.

Anyway I wanted to share some of the songs the church we attended at the time, sang during youth worship. Our daughters, Lena and Amanda Hammes (now married so Lena Stephenson and Amanda Tucker aka Moonda) would be part of the worship team.

Enjoy and worship the Lord!






What are some of your favorites?

My husband and his friend Benjamin Mosier have a CD out now - maybe one of those will be your new favorite??

FAITH HAS A VOICE

blessings

I Want my Behavior to be a Credit to my Father's Name

Ephesians 4:1-2

1)   I am bound to the Lord, He is my Father and I desire to lead a life worthy of the divine calling He has placed on my life. I want my behavior to be a credit to my Father’s Name.

2)   I want to live in humility and not pride (Proverbs  8:13; 11:2; 16:8), so other will know it is by His strength, His blessings, His guidance that things are accomplished in my life. It is by His power that I have victory over the tests that come my way. (I John 5:4; I Corinthians 15:57) I want to be meek, not self-centered. To reach out to my brothers and sisters in Christ and have patience with them because I love them as Christ loves them. (I John 4:16)  We are called to encourage, correct, build one another up, etc. (I Thessalonians 5:11-18)

 

I realize there is only one way I will be able to accomplish all that’s in those 2 verses (it’s Christena’s version by the way). It will require me to be in God’s Word daily, to not just read His Word but to ask Him for wisdom, a revelation of what it means and how to apply it to my life today. To not become so busy that I don’t hear Him when He speaks. He does speak today. I can’t tell you how many times I have followed through and found out it was at the right time for someone to receive a phone call or a card in the mail, a visit, flowers, a hug and sometimes a prayer of protection.

It requires me to take my thoughts captive, to stay focused on today and my future and not keep looking back at my past. When I look back at my past it causes me to stumble (I can’t walk forward while I’m looking behind me—I fall every time!) and to use excuses as to why I sinned. That’s not who I am anymore. I’m a new creation! God has a hope and a future for me and now I have to choose to obey His Word or disobey and face the consequences. I choose to let go of my past and walk in a way that will bring abundant life, a way that will help others.

I’m thankful to God for all He has cleansed me from and for His patience. I need to remember He will do this for everyone – the sleepy Christian who is full of pride and wants a position to honor themselves; the drunk at the local bar; the prostitute on the corner; the spouse that cheated; the liar and the list goes on. GOD LOVES ALL OF HIS CHILDREN AND WANTS NONE TO PERISH. HE STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCKS. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, IT REQUIRES ACTION ON OUR PARTS – FROM THE TIME WE OPEN THE DOOR AND ACCEPT HIM, ALLOWING HIM TO COME IN – TO THE TIME WE GO HOME TO BE WITH HIM FOR ETERNITY. I Timothy 2:3-4; Revelation 3:20)

Again, it points back to knowing His Word, knowing God and that takes time.  So if you are a new Christian, a child of God – don’t be discouraged. Make sure you attend a church that teaches ALL of God’s Word. A church that truly hungers and thirsts to know all there is to know about God and His ways; how we are to live in this world, giving glory, honor and praise to Him.

Get involved in a Bible Study, find others to hang around with that are hungry and thirsty for God. Allow yourself to be corrected and loved on, encouraged and called upon to advance in the Kingdom building. And as you learn to hear the Shepherds voice, you will begin to help others in the correction, loving, encouraging area. We are branches on the Vine, we need each other with all our differences. I believe that is why the greatest commandment is to love one another. Where there is love (not worldly love) it covers a multitude of sins, there is forgiveness and a true desire to see the person set free from bondage's, lies, and pain; a real desire to see the person have victory in their lives.

All this comes from having a relationship not a ‘religion’ with Jesus Christ. If you haven’t accepted the Lord as your Savior yet, close your eyes, bow down OR stand and raise your hands, eyes to heaven and say a prayer (prayer is a conversation with God, don’t make it complicated) Here’s one you can read if you want. Just pour your heart out to Him, for He cares for you!

You can pray --  Father, I come before you and confess my sins, my selfish ways and I’m so tired. Your word in Romans 10:13 says ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’, and I’m calling on you now. Forgive me of my sins and guide me in the way of life, Your life.  I accept you as my Lord and Savior and I desire to understand Your word. Thank You for forgiving me. Thank You that You are true to Your Word and You will guide me and I will know my Shepherds voice. I praise You Father, for Your love and I accept Your forgiveness and Your love.

In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen

Good place to start reading is the book of John.

 I personally believe in baptism – immersion. It is an outward expression of obedience. Jesus was baptized.

Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Titus 3:3-7   whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

And I believe eternal life begins the moment you accept Christ into your life, it’s not ‘fire insurance’. You receive all He promises today, heaven on earth. Why else would he instruct them to pray – ‘your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’.  Matthew 6:10

If you need help in finding a church or just want to tell someone you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, please email lifechurchandtraining@yahoo.com and we will be in touch with you, celebrating with you!