Justice, Mercy, Humilty

God is looking for humble, merciful followers who stand up for what is right and stand against what is wrong.

He doesn't need our ambition, it just gets in the way of what He needs to make in and from us. Our ambition is nothing but rocks in the clay that the master must remove before He can shape us into something useful and valuable.

He wants us to have hearts that care for others and not only for ourselves - to extend mercy to others who wrong us because we are all corrupted beings prone to sin by default.

He also wants us to be people that call out right and wrong - not people who are compromised by this worlds ideals or the peer pressure of the crowd. Jesus wants us to be people that remove ourselves from evil not join in or enable it.

Jesus said "that if salt has lost its savour then it is as useful as dirt". Jesus wants us to be salt and light in this dark world - not dirt and fog.

Justice, Mercy, Humilty.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8 ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/mic.6.8.ESV

True Strength

In the battles that are waged of unseen worlds between good and evil, our physical strength has no bearing on the outcome. Our reputation held amongst other lowly humans, our lofty stature, our wealth, our health or any other physical quality won't aid the battle at all.

The only factor that turns the tide of battle in the spiritual war between good and evil is our faith and loyalty to the True King, Jesus the Saviour of the World.

It is in simple obedience to what He says in His Word and to us through the Holy Spirit combined with the quiet submission to the reality that He is all powerful, all knowing and that His character will not and cannot ever be changed - that these battles are won.

We do not win the battles. The battle always belongs to the Lord. It is only when we submit to and rely on his impenetrable fortress of strength that we share in the victory as humble soldiers of His Kingdom.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Ephesians 6:10 ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.6.10.ESV

True Wisdom begins with simple obedience to God's ways

To gain and walk in true wisdom, first we must admit that we are nothing more than humble, mortal, corrupted and frail creations of God - desperately in need of His guidance, His provision, and His protection every single day. It is that realisation that we are nothing without God and His amazing mercy and grace.

We must accept that He is God and we are not. This is the true meaning of "fearing the Lord". The word "Lord" simply means "ruler" or the "one who holds power and control". If we are lord of our life then God is not. If we call the shots, then He doesn't. It's as simple and as blunt as that.

There is no halfway. Either God is the Lord of your life - or you are. You can't have two rulers of your life.

If you wish to gain true wisdom, then the very first step is to relinquish your lordship and your own selfish control of your life and completely surrender your identity, destiny and plans to God. It is then and only then that true Wisdom from God is born in your heart.

God promises to guide your life and all that is in it and will never ever fail you.

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord , and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 3:7 ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.3.7.ESV

Crushing Snakes (If God is for us, who can be against us?)

An absolutely awesome song about the True King - Jesus, His power that reigns above all, and how His children can stand against anything because our King stands with us.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31

The righteous are bold as a lion...

Proverbs 28:1 (ESV)

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

The righteous are bold as a lion - not because THEY are strong, rich, powerful, attractive or accepted by many - the righteous are bold as a Lion because they believe in and rely in the Truth of who Jesus is - The True King of all. The Lion of the tribe of Judah against who none can oppose.

They are bold because their righteousness is not their own but comes from their faith in Jesus and His complete work of redemption on the cross and the empty tomb.

They are bold because what and who they rely and build their life on is not from this world of shifting sands but is the rock that is Jesus Christ - which can never be moved, changed or assaulted.

Jesus : the place we can put our trust

Jesus made all things and He upholds all things. The seen and the unseen. He is forever faithful because His character never ever changes. This is why we can put our trust in him 100% and know that He will never betray or abandon us.

Even when things go bad, He promises to never leave our side and will continue to lead any one who seeks him to His perfect peace.

He even has the uncanny ability in his eternal power to make bad things work in our favour and turn them into good.

He's truly that powerful and absolutely worth putting your trust and your life in his hands. After all, who better to trust your existence with than the one who made everything that exists?

"For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

Romans 1:20 ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.20.ESV

Jesus : The answer to this lost and dying world

Humility + God's wisdom makes us effective for His Kingdom

With a humble heart centered on Jesus, a generous helping of God's wisdom, a healthy attitude of godly discernment and good dose of self control we are most effective as messengers of God's message of grace and truth to this lost and dying world.

Our God is a strong God who loves and saves His people

God put it on my heart to read Psalm 46 tonight before going to sleep. After reading it - I understand why...

It's a passage about God's strength, His power, His majesty, His Truth, His Deliverance and our promised future with Him in His Kingdom. The penultimate verse has to be "Be still and know that I AM GOD. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the Earth"

Such a powerful and positive promise that reminds us of Jesus' true identity as the King of all Kings and of our place by His side as the children of God when He returns and ends all wars and brings His powerful peace to this Earth.

It's also such a powerful answer to the evil spirit of fear and anxiety that so often tries to attack us before and while we sleep. This is the answer that needs to be spoken and meditated on when it tries to rob us of God's peace that's promised to His children.

Psalm 46

God Is Our Fortress
To the choirmaster. Of athe Sons of Korah. According to bAlamoth.1 A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in etrouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear fthough the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is ia river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy habitation of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.

6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;

he utters his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,

how he has brought desolations on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

the burns the chariots with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!”

11 The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

#God #Strong #Tower #Peace #Trouble #Depression #Hope #Jesus #Bible #Mark #Jansen #Adelaide #Church #Follower #Truth

JESUS The Hope for the Hopeless by Mark Jansen | Adelaide

#Jesus #Truth #Bible #Hope #Hopeless #Depression #Addiction #Lost #Found #Mark #Jansen #Adelaide #Bible #Peace #Father #Christian #Heaven #Australia #Youtube #Grace #Mercy