In first Timothy chapter 6 Paul admonishes his son in the Lord to avoid people that want to argue with God’s word and those who chase after money. He even says to flee these things (verse 11) but to pursue God’s will: “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (KJV). Righteousness is to be in right standing with God; Jesus won this for us by his death and resurrection (2 Cor 5:21) but we have to learn to walk in it. Godliness is to be God like and again, is something we grow in as we study his word and allow the Holy Spirit to change us. Our very walk with God is a walk of faith (Gal 3:11) and the Bible tells us that faith works by love (Gal 5:6) but requires patience (Heb 6:12). The primary way we grow our faith is by studying God’s word (Rom 10:17).

Meekness (also translated gentleness) is an interesting word. Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit as are love and patience (Gal 5:22-23). To be meek is not to be like a mouse but it means to be confident in the power and victory we have in Christ with our emotions and power under control. This is well illustrated in 2 Timothy 2:24-25, where Paul exhorts Timothy not to quarrel but to teach and correct with humility, gentleness and patience.

So, what do we get out of all of this? Well, don’t run after money, be teachable, be humble and run after Jesus every day; aim to be more like him. If we seek him first, all the other God things will be added to us (Matt 6:33). Keep on pursuing Jesus this week.

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 “Break up your fallow ground” (Hosea 10:12). This exhortation was also made by the prophet Jeremiah concerning the lives of God’s people (Jer 4:3). In agriculture, fallow ground is uncultivated land, unbroken and covered with weeds and thorns. The Lord showed me that as a Christian we can have fallow ground in our own lives. As born-again Christians our spirits are new and in fellowship with God (John 3:3-6) but our bodies and souls are not. It is our job to renew our minds (Rom 12:2) and discipline our bodies (1 Cor 9:27) with God’s word and power.

Fallow, or unregenerate areas in our souls or in the things we allow our bodies to do, will limit how God can move in our lives. Carnal Christians, or ones who still operate to a great extent under the dictates of the flesh (soul and body), very much limit God. These are the people who received the seed of God’s word amongst the thorns, in the parable of the sower (Matt 13:3-8). Such people could be Christians, but carnal ones, still very much living in the world and influenced by worldly priorities.

We need to let God plough up the fallow ground in our lives by the word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). We need to ask God to show us areas in our lives that need to change; He will show us and help us to change. Then we can live on Gods level and enjoy the peace, prosperity and fullness he has for us.

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In Genesis 18:14 (KJV) we read: "Is anything too hard or for the Lord?" This is what the Lord said to Abraham when he told him that Sarah would have a baby in her old age. Jeremiah told the Lord: "there is nothing too hard for thee"(Jer 32:17) and in Job 42:2 Job told God: "I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee”.

In Matthew 19:26 we read that with God all things are possible. The Greek word used here for possible is dunatos and it implies that when we try to do things in our own strength nothing much is accomplished but God can do what for us would seem impossible. The Angel Gabriel told Mary, the mother of Christ: “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). Finally, Ephesians. 3:20 reads that God can do: "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think". Do you get the picture? Don’t bang your head against the wall, just give your challenges to God. If you are trusting God for something impossible then allow these verses to encourage you; stand on them - and keep on standing.

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 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Phil 3:10). Paul said that his goal in life was to know Christ and the power of his resurrection. Think what power (the Greek word dunamis) was needed to raise Jesus from the dead (Eph 1:19-20). We get our English word dynamite from the Greek word dunamis.

That same power dwells in us (Rom 8:11), brings life to our mortal bodies, empowers us to be witnesses for him (Acts 1:8) and in fact, makes us like Jesus (2 Cor 3:17-18). Wow and double Wow.

Eph 1:18 also indicates that God’s power (the Greek word kratos) in us is the power of dominion or authority. As born-again believers, we walk in the authority of Jesus over the devil. Jesus took back all power and authority from satan through his (Jesus) death and resurrection (Eph 1:21-22). What a victory we have in Jesus. But Paul also went on to say, in Philippians 3:10, that we must also be willing to fellowship in Christ’s sufferings and death. We have to die to self and live for Christ, no matter how much persecution or difficulty this may bring; are we willing? The benefits are truly amazing.

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 “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain” (Joel 2:1; KJV). The prophet Joel lamented the destruction of Israel’s crops by locusts as a result of God’s judgement for disobedience. Later in His prophesy to Israel Joel brought God’s call for repentance; a call for the people of Israel to turn back to God with all their heart. (Joel 2:12).

I often look sadly at the modern church and think how we need prophets like Joel to sound the alarm. We need to ask ourselves if our churches are salt and light (Matt 5:13-14). Are we impacting our world and turning it right side up? Do we praise and worship our God: “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23)? Do we put God first in our lives (Matt 6:33)? Are signs wonders and miracles part of our regular church experience (Heb 2:4)? Are our churches growing as they did in the early days of the age of grace in which we live (Acts 2:41)? This early experience of the church is described in the book of the Acts of the Apostles; you should read it. Do we have the same zeal for God, his word and his body the church?

How do we get back to the vibrancy and power God desires in his church? Well, maybe as a start, we need to consider God’s admonition given to Israel by Joel (Joel 2:12-13). “Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God.” To rend your heart is to humble yourself and repent of sin. What impact we would see if whole churches got on their knees and sincerely sought God; think about it. Put your programs and man-made approaches aside and humbly seek God. God is waiting.

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.