In The Newness Of May

Renew Your Spirit

May the Lord bless you exponentially in this month of May!  Can you believe it is already May 1?  Spring is upon us.  The earth sprouts all things new as trees turn green and flowers pop up through the soil.  Birds chirp merrily and other little critters scurry about.  It surely is a season of new beginnings.  As you open your windows and clear out the clutter that has accumulated take time to reevaluate your spiritual space as well.  Could it be a time to clean out that which no longer serves your position with God?  Could it be time to not only reassess but also to reestablish afresh who you are in Christ?

A Little History

This week I was reading about King Xerxes (King Ahasuerus in the Hebrew) from the Book of Esther.  Esther became his queen and ultimately interceded to him for the Jews who had remained in Persia after the Babylonian captivity.  One account I read said that King Xerxes was ‘born in the purple.’  Have you ever heard that phrase before?  I had not.  What it refers to is royal family members born during the reign of their parents.  His father was Darius the Great and his mother was Atossa, daughter of Cyrus the Great who freed the Jews from Babylonian captivity.  Thus King Xerxes was ‘born in the purple.’

Know Your Lineage!

From a Kingdom perspective those who are the children of God are children spiritually ‘born in the purple.’  God reigns over all.  Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  Although not ‘born in the purple’ with your natural birth, you certainly are when born again into the Kingdom. It is with this spiritual birth that you are ‘born in the purple’ with royal lineage.   Think about this for a little while.

To walk as a Kingdom person on this earth carries with it great responsibility. Most do not either initially consider the cost or choose to ultimately pay the price in their life to reflect the Kingdom daily.  In the Old Testament as the sons of God saw the daughters of men they began to intermarry.  As these mixed marriages were comprised of people with opposite principles depravity ultimately ensued.

So it is today if you start out Kingdom but slowly compromise with the children of the world.  It can be a very insidious, slow process but over time your reflection of Kingdom is so dulled that no one sees the light anymore.  The only reflection they see is that of the world.  Some begin with much zeal to build into the Kingdom but ultimately are not able to finish the race or keep the faith.

The Degradation Of The World

What degrades your Kingdom walk?  Simply, intermingling with the things of the world and allowing them to become a part of your life will take you far from Kingdom.  Basically it is a heart issue at the very root.  Remember, it is always a heart issue!  If you allow bitterness, anger, resentment, unforgiveness and gossip to remain in your heart and in your words they will damage you and those around you.  Remember that you have much power in your words.  If you continually speak negativity the affect will reverberate.

There is much talk of terrorism these days.  Never forget that terrorism begins in the individual heart.  Check your words this week and see what you speak.  Only you can choose to change your heart and your behavior.  Start with your thoughts and your words.

Other obvious worldly degradations that have seeped into the world of those calling themselves Christian include pornography, addiction with drugs and alcohol and sexual perversions.  For such situations seek the help of a good counselor to get set free.  Make sure that the Holy Spirit is included as the Counselor Jesus sent to His people.

How Is Your Reflection?

The world acts much differently from the way an ambassador of the King should behave.  Do you reflect being ‘born of the purple’ or born of the world?  Sadly, it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell the difference between most Christians and the world.  It should be no surprise as Jesus told us to expect this but it is disheartening to say the least.  It is not easy to be a true disciple of Christ.  There is a great cost to consider.

If you choose to follow Him fully you cannot partially follow the world.  You cannot have one foot in the Kingdom and one foot in the world.  What comes along with this decision to follow Jesus is that you will be taken from people (to include at times family), places and things that once held comfort for you if they are of the world.

Your choice to follow Him means that you will be different, set apart, sanctified going from glory to glory each day.  To choose to fully walk in Kingdom is to step out in a Kingdom mindset, to speak only encouraging  words, to think only empowering thoughts and to let your heart beat only in rhythm with the Kingdom of God as a child of God.  As an ambassador of the King you are here ‘for such a time as this’ to bring the Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven.  Do you reflect being ‘born in the purple’ or born of the world?

It Is Never Too Late!

If you have not yet made the decision to accept Jesus into your heart, do it now.  Do not wait another minute.  Speak to Him from your heart (for it is always a heart issue).  Tell Him you have fallen short in your life.  Sincerely apologize for your sins.  Ask Him to cleanse you and come into your heart and be Lord over your life.  From this moment forward let His Spirit guide you along the narrow road that leads to everlasting life.

Quotes to Ponder This Week

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” ~Jesus, Matthew 24:12

 ^“But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. “ ~Jesus, John 1:12

 ^“Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”  ~Jesus, John 3:5

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?  For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’… In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” ~ Jesus, Luke 14:28-30, 33

^“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” ~Galatians 3:26

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”   ~2 Timothy 4:7

“…the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.”  ~Genesis 6:2

 “You are Lord and You are mighty and You are merciful.  Raise up all who would call upon Your name.  Raise up those that love You and seek You and trust You.  Lord, we need an army of believers that would stand on Your Word above all else.  Raise up warriors, Lord, who will fight on their knees; who will worship You with their whole hearts, Lord.  Lord, call us to battle that we may proclaim the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  Raise them up, Lord.  Raise them up!”  ~Miss Clara, War Room the Movie

Please Join Me in Prayer

Father we thank You that through the blood line of Jesus Christ we are of royal lineage in the spirit.  Equip us and grow us to reflect being ‘born of the purple’ into Your Kingdom.  Grace us daily, minute by minute, to allow Your Holy Spirit to convict us from worldly thoughts, words and actions to be anointed to bring Your Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven.  Quicken us and use us minute by minute to bring others to salvation in this season.  We stand in agreement in the precious name of Jesus Christ.  Amen and amen.

National Day of Prayer

This Thursday is the National Day of Prayer in the United States of America.  Please join others in this nation and around the world who pray for America.  This country was dedicated on April 29, 1607, at Cape Henry on the shores of Virginia by an Anglican priest, Rev. Robert Hunt.  A large wooden cross was planted and he dedicated this country to God.  Further, he proclaimed that, “…from these very shores the Gospel shall go forth to not only this New World, but the entire world.”  In this season of much turmoil may we all join our prayers, humble ourselves, repent and pray that God will hear from heaven and heal our land in Jesus’ name.  Amen and amen.

A Prayer Request

These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk. Fail not in this hour.  #Pray for America. #Revival.  Please join us in prayer:  https://drmicheleburke.org/esthers-warriors-ministry/

We thank You , Father God,  that You keep Your hand on America.  Forgive our sin and heal our land that we will remain One Nation Under God.  May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe. May we arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history. We continue to pray for truth to prevail concerning Benghazi and all issues as we saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America and for all of us who call ourselves American. We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and Amen.

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