What is birth in you?

  

What is birth in you?

Written by: Rev. Jewel D. Williams

 

 

            Recently I was a part of an event where I experienced something amazing.  I cannot fully explain it, but I was told it looked as if I was giving birth.  What God later spoke to me was this, “how are you going to treat this birth? Will you treat it like a live birth or a stillborn?”  I took this to mean something special that I wish to share with you.

            There are times when we are asking God to do something for us and we have the great honor of receiving that in an unusual way from God.  We are excited about the initial “birth” and how we felt at that moment.  However, God desires us to do more than get excited about the encounters we have with Him.  We respond in two ways; we either treat what has been birthed in us as a stillborn or as a live birth. 

 If we treat what God has done in us as a stillborn we quickly lose the excitement of the birth and we see what was born in us as dead, which we soon discard.  However, if we treat what God births in us as a live birth, we treat it the way we would a new born baby.  You feed your new born baby.  You love and show affection to this new child.  You want others to share in your joy about your baby.  You do everything you can to supply your baby with what it needs to grow.    There isn’t anything anyone could say to make you lose the joy about your baby.  Even having to change not so pleasant diapers make you think negative about your baby.

            This is how God wants us to look at what He births in each of us.  He wants us to be excited about the things He is bringing from our lives.  He wants us to utilize what is in us to share the joy of this “birth” with those around us, so that they too will see the beauty of this new birth.  He wants us to supply this “birth” with what it needs to grow.  We need to spend time in prayer, reading our word and fellowshipping with God so that what is in us can grow.  And then, just as a child grows and needs meatier substance, so does what is in us need meatier substances. 

            I was also reminded when I read a piece of scripture (Psalm 7:14 ~ whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment), that we have a choice on what is birth from our lives.  We can be used by God to bring birth to healing, deliverance, joy, peace and restoration to lives that are standing in need.  Or we can be used by the devil to birth disillusion and confusion and so much more if we are not willing to be the right kind of vessel.

            I want to encourage each of you today by asking, what is being birth through you?  Have you allowed God complete access to your life so the right seed can be planted in your life?  If so, in due season you will see the birth of that which is planted in your life.  Give that birth your complete attention.  Show it love, nurture it, get excited about it, and don’t let anyone convince you anything is wrong with what was birth in you.

Prayer: Lord you have birth something in your people.  Help us to nurture that which you have brought from our lives.  Help us to feed that which has been born from us so that it can become all you have ordained it to be.  Help us not to treat that which you have born from our lives as a stillborn.  Help us not to discard those gifts and talents in us.  Help us not to allow anything to discourage us from becoming all you have ordained.  Let it be so. Amen.

 

 

 



Distraction

 

Distraction

Isaiah 43:1-5a

 But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. ² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. ³ For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush^[a] and Seba in your stead. ⁴ Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. ⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you;

I recently read this scripture and was encouraged by the promises contained in the verses.  While I understand God was speaking through the prophet Isaiah to the children of Israel, the truth is still vital for believers today.  There are several points I want to mention. 

Point 1 ~ God promises His presence for His children.  In these verses God promises to be with those He loves.  He calls us to step away from the fear of our situations and the things we see around us.  He calls us back to a right relationship with Him. In fact, the verse says God loves His people so much that he will give people in exchange for them.  In other words, God will not allow others to destroy His people.  He will step in and defend them against whatever comes.

Point 2 ~ God promises to see you through your situations.  When we seek God to come to our rescue many, if not all of us, are looking for God to take the problems away.  Yet, these verses state that when we come to the water it will not sweep over us or the fire, it will not burn us.  These scripture reminds us that we will go through some difficulties, but we have the assurance from God that He will keep us from being consumed by our situations and our problems. 

Point 3 ~ God desires us to trust Him.  This point may not be so obvious but I see it in the telling of these verses.  God gives His assurance of His love.  He tells His children not to be afraid.  Fear generally keeps us immobile.  God desires us to be free from fear so that we can have our spiritual mobility.  What is that spiritual mobility?  That is the ability to move in the things of the Spirit.  It calls for us to trust God.  The enemy of our soul desires us to be held by fear (False Evidence Appearing Real).  This fear brings distractions that cause us to focus on the wrong things, instead of this truth that God will keep us no matter where we find ourselves.

As you go through your day, keep in mind that God does not want fear or distractions to keep you from having the spiritual mobility He created for each of us to operate in.  Look at the list below of how the enemy uses distractions and how we can overcome them.

Discouragement – Deuteronomy 3:18
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

 

Irritation - Colossians 1:10-12

¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^[a] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

 

Sin - Psalm 41:3-5

³ The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness. ⁴ I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

 Troubles – John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

 

Rage – Proverbs 29:11
Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.

Accusations - Psalm 38:19-21

¹⁹ Many have become my enemies without cause^[a]; those who hate me without reason are numerous. ²⁰ Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against me, though I seek only to do what is good. ²¹ Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God.

Calamity – 2 Chronicles 20:9
‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’

Trials – James 1:2-4
[ Trials and Temptations ] Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Irate people – Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

  

Overwhelming things - Psalm 65:2-4

² You who answer prayer, to you all people will come. ³ When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave^[a] our transgressions. ⁴ Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

Negative people (accusers) - Psalm 109:19-21

¹⁹ May it be like a cloak wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him. ²⁰ May this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers, to those who speak evil of me. ²¹ But you, Sovereign Lord,
help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.

Prayer: Lord help us when faced with the many distractions that come our way to trust you for our way of escape.  Help us to live your Word in every situations and circumstances.  By your Spirit lead us and guide us. Amen.

Thankful Thursday

 

Join us starting this Thursday, at 7 p.m. CT for Thankful Thursday.  Minister Jewel D. Williams will present encouragement from the Word of God and we will pray for your concerns.  E-mail your concerns to:

williamsinnovativenetwork@gmail.com

 

or you can share them when we are live.

 

 

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/williams-innovative-network---w-i-n - click on the link to join our channel.

Characteristics of the Goad and the Sheep, part 2

 

Characteristics of the Goat and the Sheep

Read Matthew 25:31-46

When Jesus comes back he will separate the sheep from the goat, which will you be?

 

Last month I presented the characteristics of goats and what we can learn from these traits.  This month I want to finish up the study by listing characteristics of sheep to help us see what God desires from His people.

 

SHEEP

• Sheep are “follower-types” of animals. (Matthew 4:19 – God wants us to follow him and he will make us fishermen of men)

 

• Sheep are relational and will link with 4 or 5 sheep while grazing. (Acts 2:42 – God wants us to continue in the work of the Lord and to fellowship one with another)

 

• Sheep are passive animals. (Ephesians 5:21 & James 4:7- God wants us to be submissive to each other as well as to him)

 

• Sheep are highly sensitive to smell and sound.  Their senses are very high. (Hebrew 5:14- God wants our spiritual senses to be high so that we can discern what is good and what is evil.)

 

• Sheep seek touch of other sheep. Sheep also have a great demand to have physical contact with their keeper for survival. (John 15:4 – God wants us to abide in him for without him we are lost.)

 

• Shepherds have contact with their sheep because they are aware of predators that will kill the sheep if they were not present. (Psalm 46:1 – God is our present help in times of trouble. He knows what will kill us and he is there to take care of us)

 

• Sheep generally present few behavioral problems. (Leviticus 11:45 – God wants us to be holy because he is holy)

 

• Breeding for sheep is easy and more successful and there are fewer complications with the breeding process mainly because of their social behavior. (Unity – Ephesians 4:13 – God wants us to dwell in unity because when we do that we bring about “birth” into the family with less complications and with more success.)

 

• Sheep are tough animals where sickness is concerned.  However there are things the shepherd looks for to tell if his animal is sick or well.

 

• If a sheep is healthy it will be evident in its habits.  Such as eating. It will eat and the more it eats, the more eager it will become in eating.  It will be eager to consume and the hunger will increase along with the eagerness. (Jeremiah 15:16 – God wants us to eat his word and the more we eat the more we should want to consume and to be eager to eat.  Our desire to consume God’s word should increase.) This is evidence that we are healthy to the shepherd.

 

• Healthy sheep are active. (1 Corinthians 15:58 – God wants us to be always working for Him.  He wants us active in the work of the kingdom)

 

• Healthy sheep love to climb and seek higher grounds. (1 Corinthians 2:10 – God wants us to grow.  He wants us to love to “climb” to higher grounds to deeper understandings in him.)

 

• Healthy sheep are curious. Yet in their curiosity they do not wonder but will explore their living areas thoroughly so that they have little difficulty locating things. (2 Timothy 2:15-God wants us to study so that we have no difficulty in understanding the word of God)

 

• Shepherds also look for these unhealthy signs in their sheep to help keep them from dying: isolating themselves (Hebrews 10:25 -God does not want us to forsake coming together, he knows this will lead to our death), Not interested in eating (Proverbs 19:15-God doesn’t want us forsaking the studying of his word for he knows we will lose our zeal for him), Lagging or depressed (Psalm 55:22 - God wants us to cast our cares on him, because he knows it is only through him that we can be sustained), Excessive time lying down and reluctant to move about (Proverb 19:15 – God doesn’t want us to be slothful because he knows we will become useless),  Anxiety and restlessness (Jeremiah 6:16 – God will give us the rest from our cares because he knows that we will be destroyed if we do not), Depraved appetites(1 Peter 2:11- God wants our desires to be for the things of God for he knows when we fulfill the desires “the appetites” of the flesh we will die and we war against our own souls).

These are signs that the shepherd looks for to help the sheep be as healthy as possible. (God is that shepherd and he gives us a detailed list of what healthy behavior looks like and we only have to follow to be as healthy as we can).

 

As you examine the difference between the goat and the sheep, seek God's help to exhibit the proper characteristics that is pleasing to Him.

 

Prayer: Lord help us to be like the sheep that seek the hand of the shepherd so that we can exhibit godly behavior.  Help us to be like the Lamb that gave Himself for our sins.  Help us to be like Christ. Amen.

 

Meet The Author

Meet the Author: Rev. Jewel D. Williams, M.R.E. from Jewel Wlliams on Vimeo.

 

 

If you would like to have a chance at winning a free book, join us on FB at Williams Innovative Network (W.I.N.). and enter to win.  You can pick one from any my 4 books.

The Goat Mentality

The Goat Mentality

 

 

 

Read Matthew 25:31-46

I wrote this some time ago, but recently thought about it. I wanted to share it with you. Jesus in scripture talks about separating the sheep from the goats. When Jesus used examples, He used what people were familiar with. What characteristics of a goat show us the things God wants to change? Let's take a look at some of them:

GOATS

• Highly intelligent (1 Corinthians 3:19 – God does not wants us depending on our own understanding for it is foolishness)

• Independent (Proverb 16:18 –God does not want us to be prideful in our own ability because it only leads to our destruction)

• When they are first born they begin to fight with their siblings for their mothers milk (Isaiah 56:11- God does not want us to be greedy, only concerned with filling ourselves)

• The strong survive, if they are weak they are left behind or die (only concerned with self- Hebrew 13:1 - God wants us to think more of others than ourselves)

• Intensely curious and will investigate any thing that piques their interest. Because they are so interested, they are hard to keep confined to their areas. They will jump over fences for example. (Ephesians 4:14- God does not want us chasing after every thing that catches our fancy. He does not want us tossed to and fro.)

• They are aggressive in their behavior (Psalm 37:11 – God wants us to be meek for the meek shall inherit the God)

• They are more adapted to hot weather and not cold. They have to be taken indoors at night times. The are not as adapted to cold weather because of their size weight ability to conserve water limited fat & nature of their coats (They are “fair weather” survivors. They cannot withstand the storms. God wants us to be able to withstand the storms of life. We are able to do this because of our “make up”. He adapts or clothes us to be able to withstand the “cold”.)

• Breeding of goats can be difficult because of the aggressive behavior and confrontational behavior. For example if a male goat and female goat are aggressive towards each other, the male will not mate with her and will keep others from mating with her as well. (Psalm 133:1 – God wants us to dwell together in unity: husbands, wives, children etc.)

Prayer: Lord we ask that you give us the strength to put to death any goat-like characteristics that are in us. Help us to be moldable and usable for your glory. Amen.

Unopened Gifts

 

Matthew 7:10-12 (NIV)

¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

 

I recently heard someone talk about “unopened gifts”.  Both individuals talked about what if there was a room in heaven filled with unopened gifts.  What are these unopened gifts?  In my visual I could see a room larger than several warehouses filled from floor to ceiling with lovely wrapped gifts.

Some of these gifts were large and some where small.  When I drew closer to the gifts on the shelves I saw names on the boxes.  I saw Ashley Smith, Michael Brown, Robert Thompson, Barbara Jones and so many more names.  I saw what was in the gift boxes written next to each of the names.

Some of the gifts were healing, forgiveness, hope, restoration of marriage, restored relationship with children or families.  I saw gifts of preaching, worldwide ministries, pastors, church planters and more.

I wondered why there were so many unopened gifts.  I began to think about what these individuals stated.  What came to mind was what was summed up in Matthew 7:10-12.  God the Father has set aside good gifts for each of His children.  He knows everything you and I need and He has set them aside for us.  The key is in the latter part of verse 11.  It states, “…to those who ask him!” 

The problem is many of us try to handle things on our own and we never go to God and ask Him for what we need, so our gifts go unclaimed.  When we forget to ask, we miss opening God’s perfect gift for those situations and circumstances in our lives.  Either we do not ask Him or we ask amiss, again leaving the gifts opened.  So what happens to those gifts?

I believe those are the unopened gifts waiting on heavenly shelves.  I am reminded of that in scripture where it states, “…for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable” (Roman 11:29).  God has set aside some gifts and blessing with our names on them.  If we do not go and ask Him for them, they sit in this room of unopened gifts.

Now I am not trying to prove biblically a room filled with unopened gifts, I am only asking you to imagine for a moment with me.  What if God has some unopened gifts for you?  What if they are sitting in this room waiting for you to call and ask for them?  If you don’t call they will continue to sit on the shelves.

Today, I am asking God first to forgive me for not coming to Him and asking for all the good gifts He has for me, gifts to help me be a better mother, wife, preacher, and child of God.  Now I am doing as the scripture encourages, I am going to God and asking, “Lord please give to me all the good gifts you have for me.”

I want to end on this note.  I remember several years ago when I was going through something and I asked God for help.  As I was driving in to my parking pad I heard God speak to my spirit.  He said, “I enjoy giving my children good gifts”.  I began to weep as I thought about the fact that God finds pleasure in providing gifts to me.

So today, I want to encourage each of us that God has all the gifts we need.  Let us not allow them to be classified as “unopened gifts.”  Ask God for yours today and watch the windows of heaven open up for you and pour out blessings greater than you or I can even handle.