God Thinking LXXV - What Happened Along The Way? 3

"In the time of times that we are in, the way that the enemy is working his plan is simply to get you to - not work God’s plan and not operate in God’s timing for your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual development. 

Your enemy will use any and every trick possible to get God’s people to step out of time with God’s plan.

Children have been exposed to things at too early an age.  The natural balance between the body, mind and spirit to receive instruction and preparation for each phase of life - each age, each developmental stage, has been altered by the enemy.  

It’s not just the bad stuff, the violence and gross behaviors that so dominate your television set.  Your children are exposed to adult themes far too early in their development.

They are being subjected to participation without  preparation.

It’s not only children that find themselves out of time with their God ordained developmental growth, It’s teens too.  Teens are exposed to adult materials and adult themes that alter their timely, natural development and accelerate it, and many times their innocence is stolen from them, before they even know what happened.

Adults aren’t exempt from the wiles of the evil one either.

Drugs & alcohol, cigarettes and junk food all speed up the aging process, causing people to age pre-maturely - out of God’s perfect timing.

It’s not just the things that you willingly participate in that can cause you harm or cause you to age prematurely or cause you to be out of sync with God’s plan for your life - There are toxins, pesticides, household poisons, lead-based paints, asbestos, mercury, radon, all of which can play a huge role in your body, emotions, mind and spirit. 

Poor diet over a period of thirty years alters God’s perfect plan for your life and adversely affects your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual growth.

Note: I can hear the clamoring rebellion against such a statement from those who are not yet convinced that their diet plays an important role in their overall development. I've even heard people say it didn't matter at all what they eat, it's all the same.  Wow! under-educated at best, diet plays just as important a role in your spiritual life as going to church.  Would you go to a church that delivered dried up, pre-packaged, slightly tainted, tasteless and sometimes even rotten messages? I hope not, but that is what you are expecting your body to do?  Give it up and get with the program.  You are what you eat.

At each stage of growth there are truths about that stage of growth that pertain to who you are at that time in your development.  Parameters were established by God that accurately reflect God’s will and intention for each stage of growth.

But, the balance of life has been distorted by so many influences.  If it were not for God’s constant intervention in your life, every living soul would live outside of the will of God."

Excerpt from God Thinking LXXV - What Happened Along The Way? by                                  Keith C. Powell Copyright 2015

God Thinking LXXV - What Happened Along The Way? 2

"Along with what God ordained for each developmental stage of growth, God has included special provisions for you to receive, that best fits your personality, our character and our temperament.

If at every developmental stage of growth you were in alignment with what God has ordained for you, then you would be more fulfilled and enjoy more of the joy of the Lord.

But something happened along the way, for you and for me and for everyone else who has ever taken breath in this world.

Along with the continuous blessings that are poured out upon us day in and day out.

Along with giving to us of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Along with all the provision of a generous and gracious, merciful and awesome God - There is a cruel and unforgiving, unholy and relentless enemy that has played a role in the lives of every man, woman and child since the beginning of the creation of mankind.

   

You might not like the way things went down with your ancestors, but you are living in the wake of what those behind you, left for you.

You need God, and you need all that God has available for you.  You need to have access to every promise and blessing that God has designed for you, and you need to apprehend every promise and blessing that God has designed for you. This is a spiritual world and you are in a spiritual war.

Excerpt from God Thinking LXXV - What Happened Along The Way? by                                  Keith C. Powell Copyright 2015

God Thinking LXXV - What Happened Along The Way? 1

Note: Please take time to read the whole verse.  There is no better description of what God knows about your situation than this.

Psalms 139:1-18

1.  O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

 2.  Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

 3.  Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

 4.  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

 5.  Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

 6.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

 7.  Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

 8.  If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

 9.  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

 10.  Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

 11.  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

 12.  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

 13.  For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

 14.  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth

right well.

 15.  My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

 16.  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

 17.  How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

 18.  If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

God knew all about you before you were born, during your stay in the womb, and every stage of development thereafter.

There is a process that all of us go through concerning life’s many developmental stages:

Life’s many facets.

Life’s many periods.

Life’s many seasons.

Life’s many era’s.

At each stage in your physical growth, God is there to take you from one age/stage to another:

From fetus to infant

From infant to toddler

From toddler to child

From child to youth

From youth to preteen

From preteen to teen

From teen to young adult

From young adult to adult

From adult to middle aged

From middle aged to senior

From senior to old aged

God deals with you at each developmental stage of growth.

Then in each developmental stage of growth there is:

Physical growth

Emotional growth

Mental growth

Spiritual growth

  

Just as with physical growth, (emotional growth, mental growth and spiritual growth) has developmental stages.

In each of these developmental stages of growth, God has ordained the perfect plan for your life.  God’s plan includes; supplying all the necessary components for each stage of growth in each area of your life:

In the physical

In the emotional

In the mental

and in the Spiritual      

Note: I know some of you are feeling like this can't be true.  "Why then has everything gone awry? I want to feel good about God. but why should I with all the heartache I have had to endure.  I do not feel like God has supplied all of my needs.  This looks like religious jargon to me."

In order to be in alignment with God’s plan for your life you need to operate within the parameters of what God ordained for each developmental stage of growth in all four areas of your total makeup.  Physical, emotional, mental and spiritual."

Excerpt from God Thinking LXXV - What Happened Along The Way? by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2015

God Thinking LXX1 - Catch The Vision 6

"You could believe what God prophesied to you in scripture about the times you are in.

You could receive the fullness of the blessing that God has prepared for you.

You could receive the promises of God and incorporate them into your daily life.

You could trust God implicitly and rest when things seem awry, because you believe and understand that God operates with full revelation, not only of what happened but of what is going to happen as well.

You could believe what God wrote down for you and live by the principles and precepts that God has ordained.

You could follow Christ.

You could read God’s Word and let it become who you are.

You could pray, expecting that God moves on your behalf, because God sees the end from the beginning and He knows that you don’t.

You could put the mind of Christ on top in your mind, and redistribute the lessor things and push them down and them out altogether, ultimately so that what you think will make you more like God. - not so that you can dethrone God like satan tried to do, but so that you can commune with God.

To commune with God is to offer your free-will to God and receive God’s will in you.

If you are to grow to where God can reach you during the week, during the day, you will have to catch the vision that God has for you."

Excerpt from God Thinking LXXI - Catch The Vision by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2015

God Thinking LXXI - Catch The vision 5

"The events of the old testament times were a foreshadowing of the new covenant, (but not until Jesus was born, lived a righteous/sinless life, died for our sins and rose again from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit), did God enable the efficacy of the new covenant. 

This new covenant is yours, by accepting the free gift of salvation and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Unless you accept by faith, what God is doing, in your life, which is; to make you holy, you could find yourself denying God like those before you.

You could deny God like they did at the time of Noah, through sin and godlessness and break fellowship with God altogether.

You could deny God like the Israelites did by practicing their religious philosophy above God’s Holy Word and miss what God was doing right in their midst.

Or you could receive from God His revelation about our purpose and His plan for your life - (God’s role in your life and your role in God’s plan) and enjoy and partake of what God is doing in your midst.

What is God calling you to do that fits perfectly into God’s plan for your life?

What are you doing to insure that your relationship with God is kept Holy and precious?

Are you pro-active in seeking, finding and doing the will of God?

Have you caught the vision of what God is doing today and made your life plan to fit around it?

Excerpt from God thinking LXXI - Catch The Vision by Keith C. Powell

Copyright 2015

God Thinking LXXI - Catch The vision 4

"I have found that my closest moments with God are moments when I lay aside who I am for who He is in me.

God speaks to me through James when He says, “Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you.”  James 4:8a

It is so true.  God wants us to draw close to Him, and when we are close, it’s easier to hear what God is saying and to see what God is doing.  It’s easier to catch the vision of what God is doing right now..

God isn’t impressed with religious rhetoric.

God isn’t moved by what you know.

God isn’t moved by what you have accumulated.

God isn’t fooled by your acting like something that you are not.

God isn’t forced by your much speaking.

God isn’t moved by your making claims that are not true.

God isn’t impressed by your ability.

God isn’t moved by lip service - you know, saying one thing and doing another.

God isn’t moved by your title, position, level of local or national recognition.

But:

God is moved when you believe God.

God is moved when you trust in His way.

God is moved when you give up something temporal for something eternal.

God is moved when you set aside your timeline to wait on the LORD.

God is moved when you receive His revelation.

God is moved when you talk about His Son with reverence and adoration.

God is moved when you live by faith.

God is moved when you worship Him.

God is moved when you praise Him.

God is moved when you bow the knee to Him.

Just as in the first two thousand years the sins of man were destroyed by the flood. In the second two thousand years the sin of religion was destroyed by the blood.

Jesus established a new covenant with His people, so that at the end next two thousand years....

When is the end of the next two thousand years from when

Christ was on earth?  Right Now. Are you prepared to do what you are called to do in this most important time? In this crucial time in mankind's history you should be fully involved in what God is doing."

Excerpt from God Thinking LXXI - Catch The Vision by Keith C. Powell                                                   Copyright 2015

God Thinking LXXI - Catch The vision 3

"According to the scriptures, it was never expected that unbelievers would recognize the Son of God when the Son of God would come and live among us, but it was expected that God’s own people would recognize Him.

Why am bringing this up?

It has been two thousand years since the apostasy of Israel.

It has been 2,000 years since Jesus set up the Church.

If Jesus were to return today, would He find faith on earth?

Luke 18:8b

“...Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on earth?” 

God knows what He is talking about, because everything that God says, is.

The first two thousand years man sought fulfillment through self indulgence.  They had not caught the vision that God had for them, because they did not believe the Word God gave to them. 

The second two thousand years man sought fulfillment through religion.  They had not caught the vision that God had for them, because they did not believe the Word God gave to them. 

You would think that at the end of 6,000 of human history, we would not only catch the vision, but we would also have learned to believe in and trust what God has to say.

God is about relationship.

God created us and the entire universe to provide:

A place to commune with God

All the provision necessary to keep that relationship healthy

All the inspiration necessary for full revelation for our short stay here on this side of heaven.

All the enlightenment necessary to stimulate even the radical seeker.

All the revelation necessary to provide the believer with continuous growth and spiritual nourishment.

All the impartation necessary for God Thinking."

      Excerpt from God Thinking LXXI Catch The Vision by 

                   Keith C. Powell Copyright 2015

God Thinking LXXI - Catch The vision 2

"God laid the foundation and prepared His people for the coming Messiah, so that when Jesus would come as a little baby - to be born in Bethlehem - His people would come and bow down and show recognition.

There should have been 10,000,000 people ready and prepared for the coming Messiah, and this would have happened if they had believed what God had told them.

But what happened?

God’s people weren’t there.

Just Joseph, Mary, Simeon, Anna the prophetess, Elizabeth and a few sages from afar recognized and celebrated the birth of the Savior.  I know that the shepherds were there, but they were notified by the angels of the birth of Jesus.

In the first two thousand years man had become so far from God that God destroyed them.

Then in the second, two-thousand years - even with perpetual revelation - mankind chose for themselves religion over relationship.

God’s chosen people had devised a system that would sustain them and meet their spiritual needs - apart from the truth (of and in) God’s Word.  They built a religious system that sustained their need for self preservation apart from God’s impartation.

When Jesus, the Son of God, came unto His own - did they receive Him as the Savior of the world?

No, they chose religion over relationship.

The bible says, “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.”  John 1:11

But Jesus, unlike other men, took the reproach of the religious leaders and world leaders and laid down His life for them and for us.

Jesus let them bring upon Him their own unrighteous laws and rules.  The religious leaders used their own laws and rules to accuse and condemn the Son of God.

Over time they had taken:

God’s Holy Word

God’s Holy prophets

God’s Holy place

And God’s Holy Son

First they changed God’s holy Word

2^nd they killed God’s holy prophets

3^rd they defiled God’s holy sanctuary

4^th they killed God’s holy Son      

Mankind had 2,000 years of God as their Shepherd - Jehovah Ra-ah

Mankind had 2,000 years of God as their Healer - Jehovah Rapha

Mankind had 2,000 years of God as their Righteousness - Jehovah Tsidkenu

Mankind had 2,000 years of God as their protection - Jehovah Nissi

Mankind had 2,000 years of God as their provision - Jehovah Jireh

Mankind had 2,000 years of God’s presence - Jehovah

Shammah

Mankind had 2,000 years of God’s sacrificial provision - Jehovah Mekoddishkem

Even with all that revelation mankind developed a system where the form of God substituted for God Himself. 

“He came unto His own but His own received Him not.”

Excerpt from God Thinking LXXI Catch The Vision by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2015

God Thinking LXXI - Catch The vision 1

God Thinking is a series of discussions on how to put on the mind of Christ.  And in so studying the Word of God, we are learning and unlearning, learning truths new to us and unlearning old, stale and non-biblical precepts that have been handed down by religious doctrines of men.

Religion has taken its toll on believing men and women.

Religion has robbed many of a personal relationship with God.  It’s religion that has placed trappings in our way - unhealthy rules and laws of faith that pertain to the perpetuation of the denomination more than of the impartation of revelation.

Why am I bringing this up? 

From creation to Abraham was about two thousand years.  After 1,700 years of God striving with man and their independence and segregation from God, God destroyed all living souls, except for a few that had caught the vision of what God was doing in their time.  Try to hold that thought, a few had caught the vision of what God was trying to do in their time

According to the scriptures, “Where there is no vision, the people perish...”  Proverbs 29:18

Noah’s call to build an ark was unusual and definitely went against mainstream thought at the time.  But as silly as it seemed, Noah built an ark and eight souls were saved.

300 hundred years later God makes a covenant with

Abraham.  During this time God also provides man with revelation of His law’s for mankind.  God also provided His people with universal laws concerning how to live, what to eat, how to give, and how to be in the presence of God.

God set up the outer court, the inner court and the Holy of Holies.

God called out His people and established Israel.  God sent His prophets and they cried out truth upon truth, year after year for more than 1,000 years. 

God revealed in His prophetic Word the outcome of nations, kings, cities and individuals.

God reveals the big picture, and the little picture.  God walks with His children with fire by night and clouds by day.

And a few caught the vision.  A few caught the vision, not because God did not adequately reveal Himself, but as John said in John 3:19..., that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

Excerpt from God Thinking LXXI - Catch The Vision by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2015

God Thinking LXX - The Parable Of The Painting 10

"The next truth that I am going to incorporate into my life so that I will never be defeated, and probably the most important reason we are never going to be defeated.

5.     I will receive from God all that God has to offer.

Matthew 21:22

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

John 1:11-12

V11 “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.

V12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

I will be saved.

I want to receive all that God has for me and now is the time.

I will be filled with all that God has for me.

I will follow the Son of God.

I will receive God into my temple.

I will be empowered by God.

Is God talking to you right now?

I will obey God’s voice.

I will be made righteous.

I will love the brethren.

 I will receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

I will receive the blessings God has for me.

I will receive His power.

I will let God change me.

I will draw nigh (as close as I can get) to God.

I will receive all that God has to offer.

You will never be defeated if you accept (God, the Father) by accepting (God, the Son) as your Savior and follow Him. 

You must be open and honest with God.

If God is tugging on your heart to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? You can enjoy the many blessings that God has provided, (So that you can learn to paint the picture of life that you would like to see).

If you have not asked Jesus to come and make His home with you, you need to.

If you have fallen backward and let down your guard against your real enemy, you need to turn it around.

If you want to apprehend every spark of light that God sends out from His essence, just say YES to what God has to offer.

God is here and knows you. 

God wants you to accept the free gift of salvation that Jesus died for. 

If God is calling you to say yes to Him. 

Come and join with God and celebrate the greatest moment in time. 

If you already saved and in love with the Lord - you need to receive what God is giving. 

Freedom from the past.

Forgiveness for all sins.

Heirs to the kingdom of God.

And some new paint to get started with the rest of your life."

Excerpt from God Thinking LXX The Parable Of The Painting by Keith                                  C. Powell Copyright 2015

God Thinking LXX - The Parable Of The Painting 9

"Before I go to the fifth truth that I am going to incorporate in my life, so that I will never be defeated.

Let’s go back to our parable for just a moment.

·                 You are painting a picture

·                 Life is the canvas

·                God gives you the tools; the palette, the brush, instruction and             an endless supply of paint to work with.

·                 God teaches you how to paint. 

·                 He doesn’t leave you on your own. 

·                 God co-paints with you, but God does not paint the picture.

Many believe that because God is sovereign that you have little to do with your destiny.  But that is just not true.  You have everything to do with your destiny.  Don’t let this moment pass you by.  If you have never submitted to God and joined together with God to fulfill His plan in your life, do it now.  You have no idea if tomorrow will offer you the same perfect moment as today.

  You have everything to do with your destiny.

You can reach that goal.

You can have that vacation.

You can buy that house.

You can see your children come to the Lord, every one.

You can win that tournament.

You can get that new motorcycle.

You can have peace in your heart.

You can build that fitness center.

Just get out the paint, ( God’s tools) and start painting.  Paint over that old picture. 

Have you been waiting for the right time to paint your picture?

Have you been waiting for your spouse to paint your picture?

Have you been waiting for your boss to paint your picture?

Don’t wait.  If you don’t paint it someone else will and when/if someone else does, get out some new paint and share with God what’s on your mind, and let Him show you how to paint it right.

Paint over the marks and mistakes. 

Get some fresh paint and get to work. 

Know you can with God’s help and with God’s tools. 

Begin to paint what you want to see the rest of your life and you will never be defeated."

Excerpt from God Thinking LXX The Parable Of The Painting by Keith                                   C. Powell Copyright 2015

God Thinking LXX - The Parable Of The Painting 8

"The next truth that I am going to incorporate into my life so that I will never be defeated.

4.     I am going to commune with the people of God and share those who are not, the truths that I have learned.

Acts 2:42-47

V42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

V43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

V44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

V45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

V46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

V47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

Ephesians 2:19-22

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

V20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,

Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;

V21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

V22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

ü     I will study the first century Church and find out for myself if there is some credulity to doing it this way.

ü     Others around me are going to take a greater interest in my life because I operate in the knowledge that I have of Christ, and set an example as one who follows Christ.

ü     I am going to find out what I can do to help make the dreams of       others around me come true.

ü     I will make the Church a place where I can share my triumphs and my valleys, knowing that I will be lifted up and not condemned.

ü     I will trust others and believe that they trust me also.

ü     I will share my gifts, talents and skills in a way that will enhance the lives of others.

ü     The Church will be a pleasant place to me where I can be renewed and rejuvenate, inspired and built-up.

ü     The Church will be to me a place of refuge, of comfort and solace.

ü     I will make the Church a place that proves to the world that the very best can always be found in the house of God.

I am going to commune with the people of God and share those who are not, the truths that I have learned.

Excerpt from God Thinking LXX The Parable Of The Painting by Keith                                   C. Powell Copyright 2015

God Thinking LXX - The Parable Of The Painting 7

"The next truth that I am going to incorporate into my life so that I will never be defeated.

3.     I will never play Church again.

Hebrews 5:12

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”

2 Timothy 3:15

“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

ü      I will not accept watered down preaching.

ü    I will not accept middle of the road teaching - relationship     without commitment.

ü     I want to be in God’s presence and will accept nothing less than what God has for me.

ü    I know it should be a joy to go to Church, and when it is no    longer a joy, I promise to go somewhere else.

ü     As a believer I know I am an equal to all in the Church, (the body of Christ), including the ministry leaders and the pastor.

ü     I will read my bible and allow God to teach me the truth.

ü     I will pray and learn how to pray in a way that gets answers and glorifies God.

ü     I will be accountable to others and allow others to be accountable to me.

I will never play Church again.

Excerpt from God Thinking LXX The Parable Of The Painting by Keith                                  C. Powell Copyright 2015