December 29, 2004
ARE YOU AFRAID TO FLY
Last week I challenged each of you to come fly with me? Meaning that the life I live in Christ is like I flying in the air, for I feel so free, the fear of man, religion, traditions of man, and sin no longer have a grip on me, I have totally been set free, and God has sent me here to teach you how to fly. Life is full of challenges for each of us, how we see these challenges will determine if we overcome them or not. You can be below surface, at surface level, or above surface. Depending on where you are at will determine how you see your challenges. In Matthew Chapter 21:21 Jesus describes the challenges we face like mountains.
Mat 21:19-21 When he saw a fig tree by the road, he went up to the tree and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to the tree, "May fruit never grow on you again!" At once the fig tree dried up. The disciples were surprised to see this. They asked, "How did the fig tree dry up so quickly?" Jesus answered them, "I can guarantee this truth: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to the fig tree. You could also say to this mountain, 'Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen.
It is how you see something that will determine how you respond. You can either be below surface looking up, in which it looks bigger than it really is, or you can be at surface level in which it looks the size it should be, or you can be above where it is actually much smaller than it normally would be.
My life is not free from problems but because of where I am in Christ, I have His heavenly perspective, and what was once big problems are very minute in the light of who He is. It is an awesome thing to live above the storms of life. So many Christians live a life without peace, joy, and the favor of God. They keep grounded where they do not have the strength to overcome what they face.
It is in the air that God gives us His power and strength; we see things as He sees them, and it becomes easy to walk in peace and the fullness of joy in the midst of the darkness of this world. God's heavenly blessings are laid up for those who seek them, His blessings are found in heavenly places, those that are bound to this world can never enjoy the goodness of God.
Psalm 31 A David psalm. I run to you, GOD; I run for dear life. Don't let me down! Take me seriously this time!
Get down on my level and listen, and please--no procrastination! Your granite cave a hiding place, your high cliff aerie a place of safety.
You're my cave to hide in, my cliff to climb. Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide.
Free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you.
I've put my life in your hands. You won't drop me, you'll never let me down.
I hate all this silly religion, but you, GOD, I trust.
I'm leaping and singing in the circle of your love; you saw my pain, you disarmed my tormentors,
You didn't leave me in their clutches but gave me room to breathe.
Be kind to me, GOD-- I'm in deep, deep trouble again. I've cried my eyes out; I feel hollow inside.
My life leaks away, groan by groan; my years fade out in sighs. My troubles have worn me out, turned my bones to powder.
To my enemies I'm a monster; I'm ridiculed by the neighbors. My friends are horrified; they cross the street to avoid me.
They want to blot me from memory, forget me like a corpse in a grave, discard me like a broken dish in the trash.
The street-talk gossip has me "criminally insane"! Behind locked doors they plot how to ruin me for good.
Desperate, I throw myself on you: you are my God!
Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands out to get me.
Warm me, your servant, with a smile; save me because you love me.
Don't embarrass me by not showing up; I've given you plenty of notice. Embarrass the wicked, stand them up, leave them stupidly shaking their heads as they drift down to hell.
Gag those loudmouthed liars who heckle me, your follower, with jeers and catcalls.
What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, Ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world.
You hide them safely away from the opposition. As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, you silence the poisonous gossip.
Blessed GOD! His love is the wonder of the world. Trapped by a siege,
I panicked. "Out of sight, out of mind," I said. But you heard me say it, you heard and listened.
Love GOD, all you saints; GOD takes care of all who stay close to him, But he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone.
Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up. Expect GOD to get here soon.
I AM NOT AFRAID TO FLY I AM AFRAID OF NOT FLYING
What is it going to take for you to realize how much you need God and that without Him you are mere nothing.
Why be afraid of man for what can man do to you, the only person to fear is God Himself who has the power of your eternal destiny.
Luk 12:5 Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life--body and soul--in his hands.