Newsletter of Tim Greenwood Ministries
Diminishing The Darkness By Lifting Up the Marvelous Light Of Jesus Christ
September 2017
NOTE: New "Phone-Friendly" Format!
Option: View this as a web page.
Several years ago, at a conference, I was seated down on the first row as pastor Miles Monroe was preaching. Right in the middle of his sermon he looked at me from up on the stage. I didn't think much about it until it happened again a few times. To break the eye contact, I stopped looking at him and just focused on my notes. When I looked up, he had come off the stage and was now preaching while standing in front of me. As I watched him, he moved closer, and then closer still - until the toes of his shoes touched mine.
I'm a Texas boy and I like my space. I don't like to be crowded, so I slid my feet back under my chair. He moved closer until one of his KNEES touched mine! Now, I'm kind of embarrassed to say this, but I got so upset that I remember tensing up and saying to myself, "If this guy makes even one more little move, preacher or not, sermon or not, people or not, I'm going to get up and knock this guy right on his butt!" And, immediately, still preaching, he backed off and went back up onto the stage.
Well, I had just gotten myself back under control and had refocused on listening to him preach, when he just stopped in mid-sentence, pointed at me and said "You. You sir, come up here." As I walked up the steps of the stage, I remember asking God to forgive me for acting like a complete idiot and then found myself on-stage standing in front of Miles Monroe.
He said, "As I was preaching, I saw a narrow shaft of white light come down from the ceiling and fall upon you sir, and it just stayed there. I've never seen anything like it. I came down to see where it was coming from, but just couldn't tell, so then I tried to run my hand through it, but I couldn't quite reach it. I even tried to stick my head in it to see what it felt like, but it suddenly lifted before I could." Then Miles spoke a word over me, saying, "You have a voice and important messages that need to be heard and you need to stop holding back and to start openly saying what needs to be said.
Then he reached out to touch my head, but before he even touched me, my
legs flew right out from under me and I dropped like a rock, landing
right on - MY butt - where I remained stuck to the floor until he left
the stage.
God tells us in Ephesians 3:20, that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
We need to be motivated to think and believe in our heart and act on this, and not be controlled solely by our minds or emotions. The cares of this world or the voices of others can easily enter into our minds and chock the Word of God and His plans from our lives, if we allow them to.
We need to take off any limitations that somehow have been placed on our lives, and allow God to expand what we can do. We need to use our imaginations to dream big. We need to stretch ourselves as God's plan unfolds in our lives in order to keep up with Him.
Instead of listening to these negative, outside voices, we need to continually plant the seeds of God's Word, His encouragement, and His truth into our hearts so we will reap the harvest God has for us. The good ground that the seed is planted in is our hearts. I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and give you a good life, God says. As a man thinks in his heart so is he. It is crucial to quit meditating on the past, negative things, or our financial situations. We must meditate on and speak the Word of God over our lives.
As Jesus is in this world, so are we. Jesus was, and is successful. We must be confessing that we have the mind of Christ, and can do all things through Him. Everyday we must take time to be with God and hear His guidance, and we must learn to be quick to follow His leading.
Throughout your workday just listen for God's prompting as He speaks to you, and be confident that He will equip and train you to accomplish what He asks.
John 10:27 says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." That is talking about you and me, born-again children of God. God usually doesn't speak to most people through a burning bush or a neon-flashing road sign, but usually in a quiet voice within us, or while reading the pages of the Bible.
God speaks to us in so many different ways. Isaiah 26:3 is encouraging to us in saying: Perfect peace have they whose mind is stayed on thee, because they trust in Him.
Obstacles do rear up in our lives because the devil wants to interfere and stop us from being successful. I'm sure you heard over and over again someone repeat the catch phrase, "I'm so busy to do any more," yet never say what they are doing. Don't allow fear to stop you or hold you back from doing anything. (Order our CD or book Conquering Fear and Anxiety at www.tgm.org).
People, as a whole, do not like going where they cannot see, but God works not by sight but by faith. We don't have to fear the unknown, because God knows all.
Don't fear failure. We all make mistakes, but even some of the most successful people today have failed in business once or twice! The Bible encourages us to get up. There's no reason to stay down if we fall or even fail at anything. There may be roadblocks in your way but don't give up, press in, and stand your ground. Jesus bought you the victory (Order our CD on How To Live A Life Of Victory).
God tells us "not to despise small beginnings." Most of us begin small and grow from there. Imagine and visualize your path of life. Make a mental image of what you desire to accomplish. It is so important to see yourself the way God sees you and act on this.
In John 14:12, Jesus tells us "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do. . . ."
I encourage you to take off any limits that have been holding you back from doing these works that Jesus is speaking about. Imagine yourself praying for the sick that they will be immediately healed, and when it happens don't say "Can you believe it!"
No, you have already seen it happen in your mind and in your heart. So whatever you are trying to accomplish in life - take off the limits - because God has great things in store for you.
|
Please Consider Making a Your donation will make a difference. |
Make a
credit card donation with PayPal
|
Co-Editors
Tim Greenwood
Marcia Greenwood
Windows on the Word is published monthly for the edification and pleasure of the partners and friends of Tim Greenwood Ministries (TGM).
If this newsletter, website, or other media published by TGM has been a blessing to you, please consider becoming a regular monthly financial partner with TGM.
Through your financial support, you can share in the rewards for making these and other outreaches of TGM possible.
Every gift large or small is deeply appreciated and is vitally important.
Windows On The Word - PO Box 1904, Arcadia, CA 91077 USA
An outreach of Tim Greenwood Ministries
site.