He Will Bring Out What He Has Purposed For Your Life

Posted on by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

Remember WE HAVE a Supernatural Heavenly Father (Job 42:1-2, Jeremiah 32:17, Isaiah 26:4-5, Matthew 23:9, Ephesians 1:19, 4:4-6; Revelation 19:6) who has Supernaturally and miraculously chosen and adopted us (Ephesians 1:5, Galatians 4:5-7, Romans  8:14-19, 9:8; 1 John 3:1), and we are Supernaturally anointed by our Supernatural Heavenly Father and Supernaturally sealed by His Supernatural Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 1 John 2:20) and endued with a Supernatural Power from on High (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8, Romans 8:37, Philippians 4:13 ), and we have been given Supernatural Instructions to live a Supernatural life all laid out for us in a Supernatural Book (Matthew 4:4, Ephesians 6:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12) called The Scriptures also known today as The Holy Bible (Mark 4:12, 9:12; Romans 1:17 ).

*

God is bigger than what we think, and He is great than what we feel.

“…God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.”

1 John 3:20

*

God does NOT think like you, and feelings are fleeting and change continually; Your trials are temporal.  However, God’s truth stands forever and His truth is unchanging.

*

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.”

Isaiah 55:8

*

You are His child; You are sealed with His Holy Spirit.

His Word goes out, and His Word does not come back void.

*

HE IS WORTHY OF ALL GLORY;  Magnify the Lord.  Your responsibility is to wait on Him, to seek Him first and His righteousness, to keep your focus trained on Him, and to do what He has called you to do.  Pick up the Sword of the Spirit, learn to wield the Sword of the Spirit in all areas of your life, speak His Word, and stand on the promises of God.  Move out of the way and let Him fight for you. He will bring about what He has purposed for your life.

Linda Agnes Knowles

If You Go Into Ministry…

Posted on by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

IF YOU GO INTO MINISTRY expecting to make a great amount of wealth, then you do not understand what ministry is. Ministry is about reaching out to the hopeless, speaking for those who have no voice, and reaching the lost and dying by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ so they may inherit eternal life. Ministry is about winning souls for Jesus Christ. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost,” Luke 19:10.

IF YOU GO INTO MINISTRY expecting to make a great amount of wealth, then you have lost the purpose of what ministry is about. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many,” Mark 10:45, Matthew 20:28. We lay down ourselves, our ego, our desires, our will in exchange for picking up our cross, dying to selfishness, and following His Will, giving our lives in service to Him, and going forth to tell others about Jesus Christ and who He is. “He must increase; I must decrease,” John 3:30. “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me,” Luke 9:23. Note the words “Let Him Deny Himself.”

THE WORD “MINISTER” on its own means “servant.” MINISTERING TO (SERVING) OTHERS is a calling.

IF YOU GO INTO MINISTRY JUST SO YOU CAN GET WEALTHY AND MILK PEOPLE DRY, then your ministry is built on the foundation of self and on things that will collapse when the storms come. IF YOUR MINISTRY IS BUILT ON SELF, THE LOVE OF MONEY, EGO, GREED, AND BUILT WITHOUT CHRIST BEING THE FOUNDATION, your ministry will eventually collapse.

“Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head,” Luke 9:58. There isn’t a bible verse that says Jesus lived in mansions while He on earth, and there’s isn’t a bible verse that shows Him demanding payment before or after He ministered to people. There isn’t even a verse that shows Jesus demanding money for His ministry. You will find Jesus preaching repentance and bringing hope to the hopeless, healing the sick, teaching crowds of people, delivering those who were possessed. He is Savior and Lord, and we see Him in the Scriptures as ministering to those who cried out to Him, those who recognized their need for salvation. In those same Scriptures, we see Jesus overturning the table of the money changers for taking advantage of those who were purchasing animals they needed to make sacrifices, “Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers,'” Matthew 21:12-13.

I will end this post with these words from the book of Jude Verses 10 and 11 and 2 Peter 2:11-13, “These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively. Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion,” and “Yet not even angels, though greater in strength and power, dare to bring such slanderous charges against them before the Lord. These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed. The harm they will suffer is the wages of their wickedness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you.”

Linda A. Knowles

Don’t Be Chaff

Posted on by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

“But not the wicked!  They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.  They will be condemned at the time of judgment.  Sinners will have no place among the godly.  For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.” -Psalm 1:4-6 NLT

Are you the chaff or are you the grain?

Chaff is the husk, outer shell of the grain, and it goes through a process of threshing (getting the edible part of the grain loosened, a separating of the valuable kernel of grain from the outer shell) and winnowing (tossing the grain in the air to separate the inedible chaff from the edible grain).  What is the difference between the kernel of grain and the chaff?  The grain is useful and valuable.  However, the chaff is worthless and is of no use to anyone or anything.  The chaff and the grain are tossed in the air, the chaff is very light and is blown in every direction by the slightest wind.  In other words, the chaff has no direction, no substance, and is no good to eat.

Each of us has been designed with purpose and significance.  However, not every person, who has been designed with purpose and significance, will choose to walk in the purpose and step into the destiny that God has for them.  EACH OF US HAS A CHOICE IF WE WILL WALK IN THE PURPOSE GOD HAS DESIGNED US FOR.  We will either choose to be chaff or grain.

As children of God, Christ has chosen us to go and bear fruit as we see in John 15:16 which states, “You didn’t choose me.  I chose you.  I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit…”

How do you know whether you are the chaff (wicked)?“But not the wicked!  They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.” The chaff in this verse are those who are wicked, those who do not follow the ways of God, those who are living for themselves, those who treat what is holy as common, and those who are indifferent to the things of God.  The chaff are those who are “Sinners” and “will have no place among the godly.  For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.”

How do you know if you are the grain (godly)?  If you are the grain, then you do NOT take counsel from those who are the chaff (wicked).  You do NOT entertain mockers or scoffers or those who practice a life of sin (unrepentant life of any sin).  You delight yourself in His instructions and His laws.  You reflect on God and His ways and seek to do what pleases Him day and night.  You walk in obedience because you love Him.  Because you are grain, you are what Psalm 1:3 says, “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

Today is the day to choose because none of us are guaranteed tomorrow:  “CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE.” Being the grain or being the chaff is a matter of spiritual life or death.  Be like Joshua when he said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD “

No one can make the choice for you or me.  Each of us is responsible before God as to how we live whether we live for God or whether we live for self.  All is exposed before the eyes of God.  CHOOSE you this day whom you will serve.

Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing me, for calling me to go forth and bear the fruits of righteousness and holiness. My joy is found only in You, Father, and there is no other place where salvation is found. You, O God, are my Salvation. You alone have the Words of Life, and You are the Fountain of Living Water. Before You, help me to keep my resolve to live uprightly before You and to walk in holiness before You that I may be counted amongst the righteous and be with You for eternity. Because of Your Spoken Word, O Lord, I know I am made clean. Be my Strength, my Portion, and my Song forever. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

My Darkness Turned To Light

Posted on by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

Those who leave God and His ways have abandoned the very God who created them.  King David spoke of meditating on the law of the Lord, that the commands of God were his delight.  He pondered on the law of God all day long.  We are to be careful to keep from making a practice of any sin, whatever sin it may be which would easily entangle us.  When we keep ourselves pure and holy before God and walking uprightly before God,  and obeying His commands, that is evidence of our love for God.  If we love God, we’ll obey Him.

He turns our darkness into light.

When we are putting our faith in God, we are trusting in Him, and we can stand on the promises of God.  God is faithful, and He proves Himself to be true.  God is who He says He is, and God does what He says He will do.  His words are certain, and when His Word goes out, His Word does not come back void.  His Word goes out and accomplishes the purposes it was sent forth to do.  We can depend on His Word, and we can delight in His Word.  Anyone in direct opposition to God will find that God is contrary to them.

“If even then you remain hostile toward me and refuse to obey me, I will inflict disaster on you seven times over for your sins.  I will send wild animals that will rob you of your children and destroy your livestock. Your numbers will dwindle, and your roads will be deserted. And if you fail to learn the lesson and continue your hostility toward me, then I myself will be hostile toward you. I will personally strike you with calamity seven times over for your sins.  I will send armies against you to carry out the curse of the covenant you have broken. When you run to your towns for safety, I will send a plague to destroy you there, and you will be handed over to your enemies,” (Leviticus 26:21-25NLT).

God opposes those who are proud and haughty, but He gives grace to the humble and those who truly delight in Him and His ways.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, You are my Light and my Salvation.  You have turned my darkness to light.  Just as You are a light for me, be the Light for those who are discouraged and fill them with the strength and boldness they need that only comes from You.  I ask that You be my Guide and instruct me in in the way I should go that I might not fall into any trap set by the enemy of my soul.  Grant me the opportunity to be a light for You in this dark world and give me opportunities to serve You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” -Psalm 37:4NLT

  

ARISE AND BE STRONG

Posted on by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

You are a child of the Most High God, and He has created you with purpose.  He has plans He has designed specifically for you.  As you go through this season, ask Him what He has planned for you.  Seek His counsel and His ways.

If the Lord has laid on your heart to do something and if you have been putting it off, then let me encourage you to rise up and do what God has called you to do.  Do whatever task God has told you to do.

What is stopping you from moving forward into the plans God has for you?  May I encourage you to lay whatever is stopping you before God?  Surrender yourself to God and submit to His will.  Let Him do His work in you, and let Him use you for His glory and to further the Kingdom of God.  Let Him use you to be a blessing to others.

Rise up, Child of the Most High God!  This is not the time to sit back!  Wait on God, and as you wait on Him, do His will.  Obey His Word.  Follow through with whatever God is calling you to do and do whatever He has told you to do.


Heavenly Father, You are the Most High God, and You have created me with purpose and significance.  You have called me according to Your purpose that I might go forth and do Your will, to do the tasks You have called me to do.  Lord, I surrender myself to You, asking You to show Your will and Your way that I might walk into the destiny You have specifically designed for me.  Continue to be my Light and my Guide.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Hope Always

Posted on by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles
PROVERBS 28

There is hope for the believer and for the sinner who has just repented and turned from their wicked ways.  Does the Lord reject the wicked?  Yes, He does as show to us in Psalm 1:4-5, “But not the wicked!  They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.  They will be condemned at the time of judgment.  Sinners will have no place among the godly.” For the sinner who responds to the call of God, who is truly remorseful for their transgressions, that comes humbly before God and calls on the name of the Lord, he/she is saved, and that one is now a believer and can have full assurance he/she belongs to God and will have eternal life. “For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved,'” (Romans 10:13NLT).

.
If you want to be more fruitful, then delight yourself in the Lord.  The more you take delight in God, the more you will produce the fruit of the Spirit.  To delight yourself in the Lord is to take joy in the presence of God and taking pleasure in obeying God and walking in His ways.  
.
The purpose of studying and knowing the Word of God is to be able to follow God closely.  When you read His Word and study His Word, you will learn the nature and character of God as well as being able to know the attributes of God.  One cannot know the commands and expectations of God unless they are steadfast in their studying of the Word of God.
.

REFLECTION:  “Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires,” (2 Peter 3:3ESV).  To follow the counsel of the wicked is foolish.  Never join in with scoffers and mockers because, in the end, God will have the last say.  God will not be mocked.  True friends will help you grow closer to God, and they will not hold you back.  Mockers and scoffers do NOT love God, and do NOT care about the things of God and will have their place in Hell.  However, You, Children of the Most High God, have been given eternal life and will be with Your Heavenly Father in Heaven for all eternity.

.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, You are the Giver of Eternal Life, and You, O God, are the God of Salvation.  There is no one who compares to You for You are the Everlasting God, Creator of the Heavens and the Earth.  Thank You for choosing me, for saving me.  Lord, teach me and show me what I need to do to gain eternal life.  Teach me Your commands and how to continually delight myself in You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

.
Linda A. Knowles

“Do not fret over doers of evil; do not envy those who do wrong.  For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.  He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun.  Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; fret not when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm. For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land,” (Psalm 37:1-9BSB)

 

God Does What Is Best

Posted on by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

Ps 32 10

“Accept the way God does things for who can straighten what he made crooked?”

Ecclesiastes 7:13

Accept the way God does things?   “Linda, you can’t be serious.”  Yes, I am serious.  I cannot overlook what the verse says.  “Accept the way God does things.”  The fact is God loves us, and He wants the best for us.  God’s way of doing things is vastly different than ours.  If I could have some things done instantly, they would be done, but I am so glad God did not give me some of the things I wanted immediately;  Some things I’m glad He didn’t give me at all.  We could complain and talk until we’re blue in the face, but that will not make God answer us faster or even get Him to move out of His perfect timing.  God has good things in store for each of His children, and the good things He has for us ARE WORTH waiting for.  Doing things our way can only mess things up.  However, when God works, His work is done in His perfect timing, and everything works out for the good of those who love Him and according to His purpose.

REFLECTION:  “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work God has done from beginning to end,” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  Are you willing to accept God’s ways?  Will you submit to God’s timing and wait for Him to work out everything?  Remember, God is your Heavenly Father and only wants the best for you, and no one is able to stop Divine Providence.  Accept how God does things because His ways are not our ways.  You do not know the future, but God sees what is up ahead of you.  He is the only One Who truly knows your future and what lies ahead.  Consider the work of God and His sovereignty.  God has not forgotten about you, and He is still in control.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, nothing stops Your divine providence.  Your Word goes forth and Your Word will accomplish the purposes for which it was sent.  Your ways, how You work, is something I cannot fathom, but I know everything is working together for my good because I love You and am called according to Your purpose.  Father, I am humbled by Your goodness and Your faithfulness, and though I may not understand how You work everything out, I am trusting and hoping in You for You, O God, are still in control.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,

I will not be disgraced.
Therefore, I have set my face like a stone,
determined to do his will.
And I know that I will not be put to shame.
Isaiah 50:7