Fresh Manna© by Pastor Tim Burt
http://www.freshmanna.org

Exodus 3:14 “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shall you say unto the children of Israel, I AM has sent me unto you.”

People that sincerely desire to change – to become more conformed to the image of Jesus and who desire to live their lives for God in a greater way are people that have the most potential to experience the supernatural and divine nature of God. I know that to people that don’t know God intimately and through His Word the Bible, this can sound a little mystical or spooky, but it’s not. We are to be partakers of God’s Divine Nature meaning that as we seek to become more like Him – reflecting His love to others and bringing His touch through prayer, encouragement from God’s promises, and the good new of Jesus Christ, the more we will see God move in our lives. 2 Peter 1:3-4, “God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may PARTICIPATE IN THE DIVINE NATURE and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

In our desire to change and become more like Jesus, a new and ongoing process will begin. Old sinful patterns in our life that literally held us in slavery will be broken and we will be free from them discovering an entirely new life filled with the joy of having God’s intimate love and touch in our life.

As long as we sincerely seek God’s help in this desire to change, we will see the Holy Spirit move in ways that could fill journal after journal of testimonies of His miracles and faithfulness. His Holy Spirit will speak to us through the Word of God because that is the heritage and God given right we have through Jesus Christ – to hear from and be taught by God’s Spirit. 1 Cor 2:12 “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.”

The devil loves when we are enslaved to sin. He loves to see people become habitual liars. He loves to see people in sexual immorality smitten with sexual disease and trapped in losing relationships through the lust of sex – especially to someone that does not love God. He loves to see people trapped in addictions or habits that waste their time doing nothing profitable instead of using their God given gifts with great dedication, faithfulness, and commitment. Satan loves to see people abuse their finances gambling or spending more than they make so they’ll get into great financial trouble. He loves to inflict people with disease and then get them to believe that it’s God’s will. After all, who is going to fight what they believe is God’s will?

This slavery to sin is what Jesus came to destroy. 1 John 3:8 says “He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

When you decide to make changes, it would be foolish to think that the devil will simply let go without a fight. Temptation is his game and he will bring it on. When we make the decision to change and we seek God for help, we will see God’s help come in some way. His grace- His willingness to bring help will be there. So will Satan’s temptation to continue in that sin. The difference will be this. When God’s grace arrives to help you change -AND YOU WILL SEE IT – the temptations will no longer have the same power. You would and could say no. Habit will try to get you to repeat what you have repeated over and over – but it won’t have the same strength to hold you. It’s at that time, you have to lean on God and acknowledge His help. Thank Him for it and receive it. Learn the power of saying no to Satan and sin.

Finally let me tell you of one more source of strength that I encourage you to practice in your life. In the book of Exodus, chapter 3, God is giving Moses instructions to lead His people from Egypt and slavery into a land He called “the land of milk and honey.” Moses felt woefully inadequate for this job and did his best to get out of it. We read: Exodus 3:13-15 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you’ they won’t believe me. They will ask, ‘Which god are you talking about? What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” God replied, “I Am the One who always is. Just tell them, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’ “God also said, “Tell them, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This will be my name forever; it has always been my name, and it will be used throughout all generations.

What is the message we could take from this? God told Moses, “TELL THEM I Am has sent me to you.” What God was describing Himself as is the God who is always present – not just the God of the past we read about. He then said, “This will be my name forever… to be used throughout all generations.” That is speaking to you and I. God is always present with us to help us, strengthen us, and surely to help us become more like Jesus. In those times of temptation God said, “TELL THEM…” There is power in saying. Say, “God I thank you that you are the God of the present and that you are with me right now. I receive your strength in Jesus name.” Don’t just say it at times of temptation but at every point you need to lean on Him to succeed in making change. You will partake of His divine nature. More later.…

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt
http://www.freshmanna.org

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
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