Dead men have no rights part 4
Dead men have no rights part 4
Last week in prayer, the Lord asked me what I have hidden in my heart? I very quickly tried to withdraw from the question not wanting to go to that level. Taking up our cross brings about death to the parts of us that cannot be brought under His reign and rule. With this question I had to make myself venerable, not only to the Lord, but to others in my life. I don't like to feel this way! After wrestling with the Lord I came to a point that I had to "tap out" and let the Lord have His way. I really didn't want to face the giant that was in my path, but I had to, there was no other way around. This brings me to the point of being totally transparent before the Lord and others. So consider this.. Dead men tell no tales!
Look at this very closely. We must be completely honest with ourselves and with those around us. Many times we hold things in thinking it would be better or less painful but in reality we must be an open book. We cannot keep things hidden in our heart, and if we are truly dead to this world and only alive to Christ why should we wrap ourselves in dead men's clothes? Look at John 11 and read the story of Lazarus. I will use this to make a point. In verse 38 Jesus said to remove the stone but Mary said Lord it stinks in there! It works the same with hidden things in our heart. We build a grave around our junk refusing to let the light of Christ to shine in. We are like Mary and say but Lord it stinks in there don't take away the stone. Then Jesus prayed to the Father and they removed the stone; then look what happened, Jesus shouted Lazarus to come out and he came out. Then Jesus told them remove his grave clothes. Grave clothes are smelly and they are binding but if wore long enough you get comfortable with them and the smell. If you hold in your sins they get easier to live with, but you become stuck in a place where you cannot move forward because only repentance can set you free. Often we even cover up instead of letting the truth shine forward. When Lazarus took off his grave clothes he became a dead man walking and caused a great stir for the Kingdom of God, so much so in John 12:9-10 they plotted to kill Lazarus as well. Everywhere he went he was a living miracle of the power of God.
We must take off our grave clothes and live open for all to see. Don't let past hurts hold you in you tomb. Many of you have relationships that need mending, many couples need to come clean with each other and go forward with Christ. Don't lie and say its alright when it isn't, come clean and be free. God can heal any wound if its brought to Him with true repentance and far to many of us are walking wounded. We need to be healed and be whole. Sadly, the false teaching of perfect health and prosperity have left many feeling hopeless because they think its their fault they are having trials or they have lost their jobs. Many have given up on there marriage because they don't think there is hope. We must show them that this life is hard and trials come to perfect us in Christ. We can't escape suffering, but we can grow through it and learn to appreciate how good God is to us. In the times we are facing many will flee the false gospels as God exposes them, we must be a light to those looking for truth.
Unless we are free how can God use us. I believe that I have been sent through a lot of sorrow to be able to help set people free and teach them how to so the same. I'm not perfect but I am broken and willing to be used by the Lord. Just today a guy was trying to preach a health and wealth message at our outreach and I thought how sad is this hes telling all these people that he has perfect health and perfect wealth and they have no where to lay there head. Some of these people are new believers an already are wondering whats wrong with them why has God put them here. I'm about to go where we are feeding them lunch and teach a message of Jesus to show them the truth please pray for us here in Galveston.
Remember just because you are in a valley God is still God and waiting to take you to the mountain top. We need the mountain top but remember no fruit grows on the mountain top it grows in the valley, we should praise God for the valley!
If you have an offense hidden in your heart open it up before the Lord so you can move on. I know that this is very hard but it must me done. Don't simply say its OK when its not confess it and let God heal. Also be open when someone does the same to you forgive and move on. God is able to heal any wound and you will be stronger on the other side of your trial. If I can help anyone along this journey please let me know.
Again thanks for your prayers and support and also taking time to read a post card from Patmos,the place of my death.
Darren Smith
Last week in prayer, the Lord asked me what I have hidden in my heart? I very quickly tried to withdraw from the question not wanting to go to that level. Taking up our cross brings about death to the parts of us that cannot be brought under His reign and rule. With this question I had to make myself venerable, not only to the Lord, but to others in my life. I don't like to feel this way! After wrestling with the Lord I came to a point that I had to "tap out" and let the Lord have His way. I really didn't want to face the giant that was in my path, but I had to, there was no other way around. This brings me to the point of being totally transparent before the Lord and others. So consider this.. Dead men tell no tales!
Look at this very closely. We must be completely honest with ourselves and with those around us. Many times we hold things in thinking it would be better or less painful but in reality we must be an open book. We cannot keep things hidden in our heart, and if we are truly dead to this world and only alive to Christ why should we wrap ourselves in dead men's clothes? Look at John 11 and read the story of Lazarus. I will use this to make a point. In verse 38 Jesus said to remove the stone but Mary said Lord it stinks in there! It works the same with hidden things in our heart. We build a grave around our junk refusing to let the light of Christ to shine in. We are like Mary and say but Lord it stinks in there don't take away the stone. Then Jesus prayed to the Father and they removed the stone; then look what happened, Jesus shouted Lazarus to come out and he came out. Then Jesus told them remove his grave clothes. Grave clothes are smelly and they are binding but if wore long enough you get comfortable with them and the smell. If you hold in your sins they get easier to live with, but you become stuck in a place where you cannot move forward because only repentance can set you free. Often we even cover up instead of letting the truth shine forward. When Lazarus took off his grave clothes he became a dead man walking and caused a great stir for the Kingdom of God, so much so in John 12:9-10 they plotted to kill Lazarus as well. Everywhere he went he was a living miracle of the power of God.
We must take off our grave clothes and live open for all to see. Don't let past hurts hold you in you tomb. Many of you have relationships that need mending, many couples need to come clean with each other and go forward with Christ. Don't lie and say its alright when it isn't, come clean and be free. God can heal any wound if its brought to Him with true repentance and far to many of us are walking wounded. We need to be healed and be whole. Sadly, the false teaching of perfect health and prosperity have left many feeling hopeless because they think its their fault they are having trials or they have lost their jobs. Many have given up on there marriage because they don't think there is hope. We must show them that this life is hard and trials come to perfect us in Christ. We can't escape suffering, but we can grow through it and learn to appreciate how good God is to us. In the times we are facing many will flee the false gospels as God exposes them, we must be a light to those looking for truth.
Unless we are free how can God use us. I believe that I have been sent through a lot of sorrow to be able to help set people free and teach them how to so the same. I'm not perfect but I am broken and willing to be used by the Lord. Just today a guy was trying to preach a health and wealth message at our outreach and I thought how sad is this hes telling all these people that he has perfect health and perfect wealth and they have no where to lay there head. Some of these people are new believers an already are wondering whats wrong with them why has God put them here. I'm about to go where we are feeding them lunch and teach a message of Jesus to show them the truth please pray for us here in Galveston.
Remember just because you are in a valley God is still God and waiting to take you to the mountain top. We need the mountain top but remember no fruit grows on the mountain top it grows in the valley, we should praise God for the valley!
If you have an offense hidden in your heart open it up before the Lord so you can move on. I know that this is very hard but it must me done. Don't simply say its OK when its not confess it and let God heal. Also be open when someone does the same to you forgive and move on. God is able to heal any wound and you will be stronger on the other side of your trial. If I can help anyone along this journey please let me know.
Again thanks for your prayers and support and also taking time to read a post card from Patmos,the place of my death.
Darren Smith
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