Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
8 29 2024
Why do we think less of ourselves – to our demise?
Are you a high achiever? Have you always had these great plans of being successful? Visions of being an entrepreneur – business owner – land owner?
And if you, in someway, now fit that description… When did that happen? High school – college – how old were you when you came to this successful perception of yourself?
And at the same time, I must ask you, were you in God’s audience at that moment of your enlightenment?
We are studying Gideon in our men’s group every Monday at 7 PM at Grace Family Church
you should join us.
The Lord greeted Gideon as a Mighty Warrior, as he was cowering in the basement hiding. How does this title contrast with Gideon’s perception of himself?
How might this indicate God’s view of us versus our view?
Who do you think YOU ARE in God’s perspective?
Ephesians 2;10 says “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus”. SO… we can do good things he planned for us long ago! It says we are gods masterpiece – mighty warrior. He has created us new in Christ Jesus. We Can do good things he planned for us long ago!
Masterpiece…Mighty Warrior? We are something… crafted – skilled and purposed…More importantly – more impressively, we are created in Christ Jesus for good work.
Good work…does not give us salvation, but they are meant to be a result of salvation.
Honestly, do you see yourself that way? Do you see your children and spouse that way? Do you see your prodigal child that way? Or are you just hoping?
What is your perception? Why do we so quickly default to the basement like Gideon? Surely God you have seen the mundane or even or average existence of my life. And you call me a Masterpiece? A Mighty warrior? Can we get real here? When have I ever been that? My kids are good, but have I ever called them masterpieces or mighty to succeed?
ME? The Question too many ponder is – am I good enough? with the rent, car payment, medical bill, clothes, and repairs,. I’m just trying to eck out some survival! Mighty warrior? How about Mighty Mouse?
I may see myself… now… in my maturity, as fairly successful, but most of my life I have perceived me as – ordinary and in moments… above average. But my perception of me, has realistically not been a Masterpiece or Mighty Warrior. Too many times it’s been I’m not good enough!
And I have never liked that… but I’m being realistic.
Can I ask a hard question? If we feel that way about ourselves – how can we instill something in others, God’s perspective of us, our kids, and his followers as masterpieces and mighty warriors?
What is my problem here? What is my self-perception of God’s church on this matter?
We have this self-perception of the negative. Not good enough – just getting by mentality as an NORMAL! We have become more motivated, more formulated, more conditioned to the lesser…
the negative – the less than… what God says he created us to be
We have allowed ourselves to become so conditioned by Satan and the world’s mediocrity, it has become NORMAL and WE have spoken it into existence over us, our futures, our children and our Christian world.
We believe THAT over Jeremiah 2911 “For I know the plans that I have for you …plans to bless you and prosper you!” We bought into the Lie! We have bought into the deception and made it a part of the fabric of our existence and legacy – by choice.
REALLY I choose this way of scrounging? And just getting by?
I am a realist. I know stuff happened behind our control and although I am calling us out. (You do see I say us). Too many of us did not take the mantle of God’s perspective – of God’s promises… of God’s word of who he called us to be from the beginning!
We did not shout out the faith of our fathers…or grab hold of what wasn’t until it became truth!
Gideon hid. But God sought him out, just like he is seeking you out right now! Gideon too, always questioned success.
But we say, I never felt God call me out or encourage me to press on – where was his comfort?
The voice of God’s Angel may have been your spouse, or friend that you listened to… or practically discarded, or can I ask? Were you reading one of God’s many, encouraging, uplifting, inspiring, examples in his word?
Were are you even in God’s audience?
Were you listening and reading God’s word?
Were you seeking first his kingdom?
God’s calling IS a higher calling.
Ephesians 2 1 –2 says “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus”.
Not being made new… Not putting Jesus first… Not speaking His words of truth…. Leave us in the Past Tense. It means living in the ways of the world, and NORMAL – according to the ruler of the age – Satan.
That is the WHY!
Listen, only God can define your identity
Who is better qualified?
NOT the wrong people around you.
Don’t let them define who you can be!
God says you’re a masterpiece and a mighty warrior. Start speaking that into existence.
You have not because you ask not.
I read this prayer of Eph 2:10 Father, I am not who I want to be yet, but thankfully I’m not who I used to be. Thank you for preparing good works for me and for using me for Your glory. I know it is because of Your loving kindness and Your unfailing grace that I am capable of any good works. Help me to see your perception of me and my family. Help me to speak your truth into existence and not be conformed to the rhetoric of the world. Help me Father to move on to what you see… No matter what appears to be! . I pray you make it a Jesus filled day.
This Thursday night we have a special Following Jesus Class that will last three more weeks. Come and join us from 7pm to 8:30 online via Google Meets https://meet.google.com/pbr-jvhx-ykm
