In order to be strong in The Lord, we must stir ourselves up. Note that I said stir ourselves up. That’s our job not God’s. There are many Christians asking and waiting for God to stir them up but according to the Word we must stir ourselves up.
He paid the price and gave us everything needed to stir ourselves up, but He will not do it for us. It must be our choice. He will teach us how and will strengthen us so that we can stir ourselves up, but it must be our choice to do so.
2nd Timothy 1: 6 – 7 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.(NKJV)
In order to stir ourselves up we must remove the things that hinder us from being stirred up.
As soon as we start to stir ourselves up the Holy Spirit within us joins in with us as we continue to stir ourselves up. He strengthens and refreshes us as we stir.
2nd Timothy 1: 6 – 7 That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. (7) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.(Amplified Classic)
Hebrews 12: 12 – 13 So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and drooping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees, (13)And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction], so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured. (Amplified Classic)
Philippians 2: 13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. (Amplified Classic)
Isaiah 41: 10 Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. (Amplified Classic)
The Living Word must abide in our hearts in order for it to bring forth the manifestation or harvest. The Living Word must abide in the heart or there can be no harvest.
The only way that satan can prevent the Living Word from bringing forth harvest is to get the believer to move away from the Living Word. Satan must prevent the Living Word from abiding in the heart of the believer otherwise The Living Word will come to harvest. He cannot prevent it from bringing forth harvest unless he can deceive the believer into moving away and letting go of the Abiding Living Word.
That is why it is so vital that we understand the Abiding Word and that we Guard Our Hearts above all that we guard.
Proverbs 4: 23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. (Amplified Classic)
If we do not guard our hearts the Living Word will not be able to come to harvest or manifestation. It is our job to guard our hearts not God’s.
Ephesians 6: 10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. (Amplified Classic)
Ephesians 3: 16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. (Amplified Classic)
1st Corinthians 15: 57 – 58 But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.(58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose]. (Amplified Classic)
2nd Corinthians 4: 16 – 18 Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. (17) For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!] (18) Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. (Amplified Classic)
Philippians 4: 12 – 13I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. (13) I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].(Amplified Classic)
2nd Timothy 1: 6 – 7 That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. (7) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.(Amplified Classic)
Jude 20 – 21 But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;(21) Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)–[which will bring you] unto life eternal. (Amplified Classic)
Proverbs 4: 23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. (Amplified Classic)
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