Jay has gone through a lot of hardship this past year – including his wife graduating to Heaven (please keep Jay and his family in your prayers).
Please forward this word to your friends! Encourage them to subscribe to the Elijah List right here: elijahlist.com/subscribe.
God's Glory Outshines Our Sins
Several times in the past few days I have heard God say that I am like a shining ornament in His eyes. He went on to say that I am brighter than any Christmas ornament currently on display. I know myself – including my thoughts, my short-comings, my failures and sins – so I asked Him, "Why do I appear that way to You?" He responded by stating that He frequently saw faith being activated this past year, since my wife passed from Earth and went to be with Him in Heaven. He went on to say that whatever is not done in faith is sin, and that faith is predominant in my life and more prevalent than any sin I have committed. He also added that while it is true that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, it is His glory that rises in our life and that glory is activated, reclaimed and released through faith.
Isaiah 60:1 declares this, "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." God desires us to rise and shine in faith, with faith, which produces more faith and activates faith with increasing faith. As we do this, His glory rises upon us, and we shine even more.
God sees faith in us; He sees Jesus in us and how we are acting, and reacting, in the faith that Jesus multiplied to us through our obedient response to His Word. It is in that faith realm that He sees us shining. (Photo via Unsplash)
The Word of God Is the Light on Our Path
"Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path" (Psalm 119:105). Think about a table lamp in your living room. It shines bright enough for you to read a book or navigate your steps that your feet take by simply walking in that room. But I believe the light on the path is like the floodlight in the backyard, lighting up the whole darkened area for you to see. So it is with His Word, which is what builds and adds faith to our lives. That kind of faith accentuates the light, whether in our immediate surroundings or for a longer journey down the path. So, the Word of God is shining on and in you within your immediate circumstances, the path you are exploring or embarking on, or the extended trip you have been traveling.
God knows me, and He knows you. Your circumstances will be different than mine, but as you walk in faith, you shine like a bright Christmas ornament. For me personally, I have had 23 deaths in my life this year – including 20 pretty good to really good friends, three relatives, including a cousin, my last remaining Aunt and my wife of 41.5 years. It has been a very difficult expedition and passage from one month to the next, with death after death, funeral after funeral, tears following more tears, sadness, and discouragement – including lamenting, complaining, disgruntled responses coupled with seemingly unending grief and weeping. Yet God says He saw me shining, standing with faith, walking in faith and being an example to others. As I reflect and remember, I see faith too. I am tighter with God than I have ever been in my life. The journey was hard, but His grace was indeed sufficient.
John 1:5 says, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." Matthew 5:16 tells us to, "...let [our] light shine before others, that they may see [our] good deeds and glorify [our] Father in Heaven" (emphasis mine). In John 8:12 Jesus declares, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." You shine!
Look at Isaiah 61:10, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."
We Shine Like an Ornament Filled With Glory and Truth
A garland, jewels and ornaments – all part of the salvation package of believing in Jesus. That simple belief was the result of faith being activated. According to Romans 12:3, faith is given in a measure, so as we grow in Jesus, our faith also grows. We shine – like an ornament filled with glory and truth. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). When we became born again, that Word became a part of us, and we became a part of Him. Christ in us, the hope of glory – and you shine! (Photo via Unsplash)
The announcements and prophecies of the birth of Jesus, that we call Christmas, keep on being fulfilled as we shine with His light and walk in faith while demonstrating grace and sharing that supernatural and miraculous light which is brighter than any ornament. Philippians 2:15 adds that we will then shine like the stars. Surely you can see the Christmas story imagery in all of this. Daniel 12:3 completes the portrait with these words, "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." You release God to others through the faith that you have appropriated in Jesus – and you shine!
If you have previously prepared Him room in your heart, then you have become His personal and anointed joy to the world; born again, awakened in faith, energized by the Holy Spirit, proclaiming truth and assurance to others, producing good works, and empowered to take that light through faith into 2022. You are a shining ornament!
Whatever you do, don't miss another ELIJAH LIST email! Subscribe at this link: elijahlist.com/subscribe.
Jay West
Kingdom Encounters
Email: anointed2go@cox.net
Website: www.kingdomencounters.net | www.anointed2go.com
Pastor Jay West has ministered in over 1,800 churches in 65 different denominations along with many schools and marketplace locations. He frequently spends time with business, medical, educational and political leaders including governors, congressman, and senators. Jay moves in healing seeing over 7,000 people healed in a very low-key and unhyped way, plus he gets many accurate words of knowledge. Jay is the founder and apostolic overseer of a church in Omaha, Nebraska called Kingdom Encounters. Jay is an author, having published five books, including "Downloads from Heaven," "Willing to Yield," "Kingdom Encounters", "Well, Well, Well" and "The Adventures of Poodle Lou." Jay also co-hosts two television shows including Caring Community and also Super Natural Ministry available on You Tube, ROQU, Apple TV. Amazon Fire, and Best Life TV Network.
Find us on:
* Facebook click here
* XAPiT click here
PLEASE FORWARD to all your friends! Permission granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep Elijah List website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.
Elijah List Publications
525 2nd Ave SW Suite 629
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250
This is one heart-felt word from my friend, Jay West. Our readers have been really touched by his recent articles as they've ministered to many people in this season.
