Do Not Be Afraid

Friday, April 29, 2011 , 0 Comments

JOSHUA 1:9 NKJ
9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Over and over the Bible tells us to not be afraid.

When you stop and think about it -- it's ridiculous to be afraid when God is with you -- and for you.

As humans, we tend to forget. Maybe that's why God said so many times to "Fear not!"

Here are just a couple examples.

LUKE 12:7 NIV
7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

ISAIAH 41:13 NIV
13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

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You Can Do What You Cannot Do

Friday, April 29, 2011 , , 0 Comments

Let's look at two people from the Bible who did the impossible. But they did it anyway, because of God's involvement.

HEBREWS 11:11 NKJ
11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.

Sarah had a child when she was 91 years old. (Genesis 17:17-21) Physically, it was impossible. She had long since lost the ability to bear children.

But she did what she could not do.

Sarah achieved this impossibility because of God's promise, and because she believed God would keep His promise.

JUDGES 15:14-15 NKJ
14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting against him. Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him; and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands.
15 He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and killed a thousand men with it.

Samson killed 1000 of the Lord's enemies with a bone.

He did what he could not do.

No human being is capable of single-handedly killing 1000 people at one time, with no weapon but a bone. No matter how strong or skilled any man may be, he could easily be overcome by such superior numbers.

But with God's anointing and help -- the situation is different.

With God helping you: you have God's ability to do God's will. You can do whatever God's Word says you should do.

Your sufficiency is of God.

Whatever God wants you to do -- He will help you. God does not play favorites. Just as He helped Samson and Sarah to do what they could not do -- He will help you to do His will -- even if "it is impossible."

Without the anointing and help of the Lord, you cannot. But with God -- all things are possible.

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Jesus Is The Friend Of Sinners

Friday, April 29, 2011 , , 0 Comments

MATTHEW 11:19 NKJ
19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, `Look, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'. . . .

Jesus had trouble with the religious leaders of His day, because He was a friend of sinners. Jesus is the same today. He never changes. Jesus is your friend.

LUKE 19:7 NKJ
7 But when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner."

Religious people couldn't understand how Jesus could love a sinner -- they certainly did not. But Jesus did, and He still does.

Notice what Jesus said to the woman caught in the act of adultery.

JOHN 8:11 NKJ
11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

Jesus does not condemn you for your sin. He understands. He came to earth and lived in a human body just as you do.

Jesus knows the pressure you face. He knows the pain. And Jesus cares. He cares enough to help you be free of the sin; because He knows that sin will destroy you.

Sin may give a temporary pleasure, but in the end sin always destroys. Jesus loves you so much, and does not want you to be destroyed.

So Jesus is against sin because He loves you.

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Love Your Enemies

Saturday, April 23, 2011 , 0 Comments

MATTHEW 5:44 NKJ
44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

"Love your enemies? What kind of advice is that? How can you have enemies, if you act in love toward them?"

Good point.

Why would anyone want to have enemies? Do you?

God's instructions, if acted upon, will make friends out of enemies. Think how much better the world would be then.

God can, and does, love His enemies. He proved it. No matter what they did to Jesus, He never quit walking in love.

But it may be impossible for a normal human to love their enemies -- without God's help. Fortunately, God's help is available!

No matter how hard it seems, you can love those who have hurt you. If it was not possible, God would not command us to do it. Of course, to be successful at it, we need to call on the Lord and receive His help.

"But why should I love my enemies?" You should know it is the best thing for you to do, just because God said it. It benefits you as well as the one who wronged you.

You have two basic choices when someone does you wrong. Do wrong back to them. Or, return good for evil.

If you fight back, then they will have a valid excuse to continue mistreating you. Is that what you want? If not, then the intelligent choice is to stop the vicious cycle by returning good for evil. Love your enemies until they become your friends.

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Father's Faithfulness

Saturday, April 23, 2011 , , 0 Comments

PSALM 27:10 NKJ
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.

Normally, one's parents are among the ones who can be counted on to help and love and support -- no matter what.

ISAIAH 49:15 NKJ
15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.

Concerning earthly love, none is greater than that of a mother for her baby. Yet even that can sometimes fail, in extreme circumstances. But God's love for you is deeper, stronger, and more sure.

HEBREWS 13:5 NIV
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

People will fail you. You may even fail yourself. But God can be trusted. He will never fail you. He will never give up on you and never turn His back on you. He promised!

Does this mean God will always protect you from everything unpleasant? No. Not any more than a good earthly parent can keep their child from every unpleasant experience.

We must grow up. We must learn to walk in faith and love, and to overcome.

But God will be there to help you. And to make sure that everything does work out for your good in the long run.

Trust in the Father God. He is more dependable than friends or family, and He loves you more than anyone else ever will.

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God With Us

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 , , 0 Comments

MATTHEW 1:21-23 NIV
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."

Part of the wonderful good news of the New Testament is that God is not just a far-off God, but He is right with us.

With us -- in many ways.

With us as we face life -- right here to help us. Not far away, and out of touch with what we are facing. Not difficult to reach -- but only a prayer away.

With us in understanding what it is like to live on earth and face the problems and difficulties we all face.

With us in knowing what it is like to experience pain and loss.

With us in knowing what it feels like to be rejected and despised and misunderstood.

With us in knowing what it is like to be hungry and have nothing to eat.

With us in knowing how difficult it can be to struggle against sin.

With us in knowing what it is like to be attacked by the devil.

HEBREWS 4:15 NIV
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -- yet was without sin.

God came to earth. He became a man. (No, I don't understand that, I just accept it.) Jesus experienced what we experience, yet He always walked in victory.

If you let Jesus, He will guide you into victory, also.

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Why?

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 0 Comments

REVELATION 19:7-8 NKJ
7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."
8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

These verses hold an answer to the question often asked by humans facing difficulties and troubles: "Why?"

Since Jesus has already defeated the devil and gained for us all the blessings the Bible tells us about, why is the devil allowed to continue to attack us and steal those blessings?

Does any bridegroom desire to marry a bride he cannot communicate with? Certainly not!

Surely, no highly educated person would prefer marrying a spouse who cannot even read or write. No one would prefer marrying someone unable to speak their language.

Jesus is no different in this regard. His desire is also to have companionship with those who understand Him.

So you are being prepared to be a fit companion for the Lord Jesus Christ for eternity. This means you need to have opportunity to overcome and to walk in love in the midst of difficulty. Otherwise, you would never be able to truly appreciate all Jesus has done.

Does this mean Jesus will throw out those who do not perfectly overcome in this life? Absolutely not! Jesus promised that anyone who came to Him would never be rejected or cast out (John 6:37). But the closest fellowship will only be enjoyed with those who overcome as He overcame.

Revelation 19:8 says the fine linen adorning the Lamb's companion is righteous acts. What makes her so beautiful to Jesus is not that she is clothed in His righteousness, which was a gift, but in her own righteousness.

No, we are not saved by our righteous acts, but when we allow Jesus to live and love through us, our acts of loving sacrifice are very beautiful to the Lord.

Verse 7 says His wife has made herself ready. She was not born ready. She was born righteous, but not ready. She had to grow up and learn to walk as Jesus walked in order to become ready to be His most intimate companion. She received right standing with God as a free gift. But the righteous acts she is wearing are her own.

This is why the devil has not been incarcerated yet. God believes every one of His children can overcome, so we are being allowed the opportunity to do so.

The wife of the Lamb is meant to have the opportunity to overcome evil with good -- just as Jesus did -- so she can fellowship with Him on a level of understanding that would not be possible otherwise.

Our wonderful Lord Jesus is worthy of companions who understand (at least somewhat) the difficulties He suffered, because of His love for us.

So let us ask Him to continue His work in us, making us what He desires us to be -- similar to Him.

Then we will be ready for that wonderful, privileged position of intimate fellowship with Jesus.

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Words Steer Your Life

Monday, April 18, 2011 , 0 Comments

JAMES 3:2-5 NIV
2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

Your tongue steers your life. Words spoken by your tongue determine the direction of your life, just like the rudder of a ship determines the direction a ship will go. Words may not cause you to arrive at the destination immediately, but they head you in that direction, and eventually, if you continue in that direction, you will arrive there.

MARK 11:23 NKJ
23 "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Jesus said you will have what you say, if you believe it. But He never said you will immediately have what you say. He is telling us that the words we say set the course of our life.

What you say determines what you get in life. It did for the people of Israel. And the Bible says the things which happened to them are lessons for us (1 Corinthians 10:11).

ROMANS 10:10 NASB
10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Salvation (meaning deliverance) results from what our heart believes and our mouth says.

The more strongly you believe and express your words, the more power is behind them propelling you to that destination more quickly.

But even words you don't fully believe, but only express in jest, may still steer your life in that direction. Because the devil is like a crooked lawyer watching your words, looking for any legal loophole giving him the right to bring stealing, killing, and destruction into your life.

Words spoken by your tongue express your beliefs and release authority in your life. This works for everyone, whether they realize it or not. The words you speak steer the course of your life.

Now that you know this truth, act on it. Ask the Lord to help you always speak the right words to steer your life to victory.

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Tell satan Where To Go

Sunday, April 17, 2011 , , 0 Comments

MATTHEW 4:10 NLT
10 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him.' "

Jesus spoke directly to the devil -- and so must you.

Many Christians think they should pray about the devil and ask God to deliver them from his attacks. But the Bible is clear -- God has given the authority to believers to resist the devil.

You must control the devil, or he will control you!

Unless you exercise the authority delegated to you by Jesus Christ, the devil will wreak havoc in your life, and everywhere he is allowed to.

LUKE 10:19 NKJ
19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Praying to God to stop the devil's operations is no different than my son asking me to take out the trash, after I have told him to do it.

God told us to resist the devil and he would flee. We must believe and act on God's Word.

EPHESIANS 4:27 NKJ
27 nor give place to the devil.

Would God tell us not to let the devil have any place, if we had no say about it? If the devil does have a place in our affairs, it's because we allowed it.

JAMES 4:7 NKJ
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

We must first submit to God, because we are not greater in power than the devil. But submitted to God in Christ Jesus, the devil must back off when we resist him and his works.

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Heaven Is Our Home

Sunday, April 17, 2011 , 0 Comments

PHILIPPIANS 3:20 LB
20 But our homeland is in heaven, where our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is; and we are looking forward to his return from there.

Heaven is a real place. In fact, Heaven is ultimate reality. There are real people there, involved in real activities. But most importantly, our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ and our Father God are there.

Sometimes people talk of someone who has departed this life as "having gone to their reward."

Heaven is not a reward.

There will be rewards given out by God, but going to Heaven is not a reward. Heaven is a return to normal.

That's right. Heaven is the way life was supposed to be. Heaven is normal. What we have been experiencing on this sin-infested planet is sub-normal.

But part of the Good News is that Jesus will not leave this place, or us, sub-normal forever. One day, maybe soon, Jesus will return from Heaven and change things on Earth back to what God intended when He created this place.

Everything on Earth, as originally created, was a reflection of the home planet, Heaven. All the beauty and everything good that we enjoy on Earth is but a dim reflection of what Heaven offers.

What makes Heaven our home? Home is where your family is. Home is where you are comfortable. Home is where you have a place to live. Home is where you belong. For the believer in Jesus Christ, Heaven fits all those descriptions.

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The Lord Is Your Helper

Thursday, April 14, 2011 , , , 0 Comments

HEBREWS 13:6 NRSV
6 So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?"

Can you imagine how things could improve if God Himself was helping you?

It can happen.

But, to receive God's help you must cooperate with Him.

God is ready, willing, and able to help you. He desires to help you. But the choice is yours.

When you act contrary to God's principles, you stop God from helping you as much as He desires.

To cooperate with God, you must trust Him and walk in faith. You must agree with God and speak in agreement with His Word. And you must walk in love. To do that, constant meditation on God's Word will be required.

You will also need to humble yourself and ask the Lord to help you in everything you do. God does not force His help on you without you requesting His help.

Does this sound too hard? It's not. Just ask the Lord to help you and He will!

ISAIAH 41:10 NIV
10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

ROMANS 8:31 NIV
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

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Talk To Things

Thursday, April 14, 2011 0 Comments

MARK 11:23 NKJ
23 "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, `Be removed ....

Too many people think of the Bible only as a Holy book to be revered. So they put it up on a shelf and make sure no one mistreats it.

But the Bible is a message from God. It gives us instruction for our benefit -- practical advice.

It's time to take the Bible down off the pedestal, read it, and act on its instructions.

Here is one seldom acted upon: talk to things.

The devil wants you to think it would be crazy to talk to things. But it's not.

Jesus did it. He talked to sickness. He talked to the storm and told it to be still. He talked to dead bodies and commanded them to get up. He talked to trees. And He talked to the devil and told him to get behind him.

Jesus talked to things. You should too.

You should talk to fear and worry. You should talk to confusion. You should talk to lack. You should talk to sickness. You should talk to the devil. Tell them to leave. Tell them to "be removed."

LUKE 17:6 NKJ
6 So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, `Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

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Freely Give Us All Things?

Thursday, April 14, 2011 , , 0 Comments

ROMANS 8:32 NKJ
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Most people approach prayer as an exercise in convincing God to help. They think they must twist God's arm, or promise to do something, in order to get God to give them anything.

The New Testament paints a different picture. God not only is a willing giver, but has already given! He is not holding back on us!

When He gave us Jesus, along with Him He gave us everything we could ever need.

"Why then," you may ask, "do I not have what I need?"

Friend, there is a great difference between something being given and something being received.

Many people have been unaware recipients of great good, but until they became aware of it and took the necessary steps to properly receive their bounty, it did them no good.

You can be entitled to some inheritance, or other windfall, without knowing it. You can even know it, but without following the proper procedure, not possess and enjoy it.

So it is with the things of God. Proper procedure must be followed. There are instructions on how to receive. But the instructions are clear and easy to follow. You will find them in the New Testament.

1 TIMOTHY 6:17 NKJ
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

God gives us richly all things to enjoy!

Don't judge God's generosity by what you have, or have not, received. Find out the instructions from the Bible, and receive all that God has provided for you.

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Faith Is A Choice

Saturday, April 09, 2011 , 0 Comments

LUKE 22:67 NASB
67 "If You are the Christ, tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe;

No one can force anyone to believe anything. Each one of us chooses whether we will believe something, based on our evaluation of the evidence presented to us.

Faith and belief may have different English meanings, but in the New Testament they are different forms of the same Greek word. Believe is the verb and faith is the noun for the same word. (Like think and thought are in English.)

JOHN 20:25 NASB
25 The other disciples therefore were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."

Note that Thomas said, "I WILL NOT believe."

Many think seeing miracles would cause people to have faith. But the only ones who believe as a result of seeing miracles are those who choose to accept the miracle as sufficient evidence for them to believe. It is still a choice.

JOHN 12:37 NET
37 Although Jesus had performed so many miraculous signs before them, they still refused to believe in him,

I used to think faith was difficult to pin down with certainty -- something like a feeling or state of being. But now I understand that once we make the decision to believe, we are in faith, no matter how we may feel.

At its heart, faith is always a decision. No one can force you to believe in anything. The choice is yours.

However, we cannot believe or have faith in anything without evidence. We must have evidence that convinces us before we can believe something.

The primary evidence God has given us so that we may have faith in Him is His Word. God is not a liar; He can be trusted. Whatever God says, always comes to pass.

So if someone says they don't have much faith, the solution is for them to see the evidence from God's Word on that subject, then choose to accept what God said as true. Then they will have faith. At that point they may not feel anything, but they have faith.

The primary action of faith toward God is speaking in agreement with God's Word. Jesus said if you had faith you would say. So we express what we believe by the words we speak. And then we stand in that position of faith, regardless of feelings or circumstances.

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God So Loved The World

Saturday, April 09, 2011 0 Comments

JOHN 3:16 WEYMOUTH
16 For so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every one who trusts in Him may not perish but may have the Life of Ages.

Do you ever get fed up with the world? Do you just get tired of all the lies and the selfishness?

Do you ever deal with people that you think maybe the world would be better off if they just went to hell right away?

Well, God never thinks that way. God loves the world -- enough to die for it. He has never changed His mind.

JOHN 3:16-17 LB
16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.

Remember this the next time you are having difficulty with someone. You are dealing with someone God loves!

No matter how you classify yourself -- God loves you. If you are a sinner or a saint, God loves you. And the good news is that God's love and power will change you into what you should be.

JOHN 3:16 BBE
16 For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life.

Don't ever forget it: God loves people.

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What Is God Like?

Saturday, April 09, 2011 , , 0 Comments

NAHUM 1:7 NIV
7 The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,

Much could be said about God. But the first thing we need to realize is that God is good. He is not a bad guy. He is not against you. He is not your problem, but rather He is the answer to your problems.

Although the world doesn't know what God is like, they desperately need to know Him. Even sadder is the fact that most Christians do not really know what God is like, either.

If you want to know what God is like -- look at Jesus Christ. He perfectly revealed God to us.

JOHN 1:18 TEV
18 No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

COLOSSIANS 2:9 PHILLIPS
9 Yet it is in him that God gives a full and complete expression of himself in bodily form.

Would you be content to just read what someone else says marriage is like? Why be content to just listen to what others say God is like? You need to taste and see for yourself.

Have your own relationship with God!

PSALM 34:8 NKJ
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

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God Can Be Trusted

Saturday, April 09, 2011 , , 0 Comments

HEBREWS 10:23 NKJ
23 . . . He who promised is faithful.

The devil is trying to get you to doubt God and His Word. The devil wants you to give up on God, to not trust Him, to not expect Him to do what He said in His Word.

Do not give up! God can be trusted.

Someone who loves you enough to die in your place can be trusted. Someone who created all that you see, and all that you don't see, can be trusted to handle whatever you face.

TITUS 1:2 NASB
2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,

God is not a liar. Whatever He says comes to pass!

1 THESSALONIANS 5:24 NIV
24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

God is trustworthy. Don't be moved by the circumstances. God will not fail you.

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Look At The Stars

Saturday, April 09, 2011 , 0 Comments

PSALM 147:4-5 NIV
4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

Sometimes I wonder how God can be mindful of me when there are so many other people for Him to be concerned about. How can He keep up? Then I am reminded of the scriptures that tell us that God has named all the stars. We don't even know how many stars there are -- scientists say billions and billions -- but God can call them all by name!

God is definitely in a different category than anyone else I know. He is mighty. Compared to us, He has no limit to His understanding or His ability.

ISAIAH 40:26 NIV
26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

PSALM 8:3-4 NIV
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

When we do consider the heavens, it can make us feel small and insignificant. But, according to God's Word -- we are not.

Why does God love you -- and the rest of humanity? The best answer we can give is because He created us. He put something of Himself into us. We are His children.

God doesn't love us because of our great achievements -- but simply because we are His.

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Walk In Love

Saturday, April 09, 2011 , 0 Comments

EPHESIANS 4:31-32 NCV
31 Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil.
32 Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.

As a human who has been hurt, you may find it impossible to forgive and walk in love. But as a child of God, with God helping you, you can do it.

God freely forgave you. Now, with His love placed in your heart, you are to act like Him and forgive others.

EPHESIANS 5:1-2 NIV
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Putting others first is the essence of walking in love. Selfishness is the opposite of walking in divine love.

COLOSSIANS 3:12-13 NIV
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

If you are having trouble with this, just ask the Lord to work in you and change you. Tell Him you need help.

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The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength

Saturday, April 09, 2011 , , 0 Comments

NEHEMIAH 8:10 NLT
10 . . . Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!"

I do not claim it is the only meaning, but one thing the Lord showed me from this verse is that our level of joy is like a thermometer revealing our spiritual strength. If our joy is low -- our spiritual strength is low. That is because the Lord is our strength, and in His presence there is fullness of joy.

PSALM 16:11 NKJ
11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

So, if our joy is low, it means we have not been spending time in God's presence, receiving His strength and help. It means we have got our focus off God and onto something else.

(Although God is always with us, as we worship Him and praise Him and thank Him, God manifests His presence.)

Being gloomy is not a sign of being spiritual. God did not intend for His people to be downcast. Let the world be sad, we have something to rejoice about! Jesus! Heaven!

If you look at your circumstances you may not feel like rejoicing. But if you look at Jesus as He truly is -- you will not be able to keep from rejoicing in Him. Jesus is wonderful!

PHILIPPIANS 4:4 NLT
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again -- rejoice!

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God Is Not Your Problem

Saturday, April 09, 2011 , 0 Comments

JAMES 1:17 ESV
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

We all face many problems in life, but God is not behind our problems.

God is your answer, not your problem.

Insurance contracts may call natural catastrophes "acts of God," but they are wrong. They are not acts of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, but acts of the god of this world, the devil.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:4 NLT
4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Jesus made a clear distinction between the work of God and the work of the thief in John 10:10.

JOHN 10:10 ESV
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

When terrible things happen, it is not unusual to find people saying "God, why did you do this to me?" This assumes God is responsible for every thing that happens. But the Bible gives us a different message.

1 JOHN 5:19 NLT
19 We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

The devil is behind the evil in the world. And people have allowed the devil to do his dirty work. So, ultimately, we humans are to blame. We cannot blame God. He has given us authority to stop evil, but we have failed to exercise our authority as we should have.

God gave mankind dominion on earth.

GENESIS 1:26 ESV
26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

When Jesus redeemed mankind, He restored to us dominion through His Name. We are responsible for what we allow to happen on earth, because Jesus has given us His authority.

LUKE 10:19 ESV
19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

MATTHEW 18:18 NLT
18 "I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.

Heaven will back us, but we have the responsibility to stand against evil on earth, using our spiritual authority.

Anything that steals, kills, or destroys is not from God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, but from our enemy, so it should be resisted.

Jesus Christ perfectly represented God and He went around doing good and healing people (Acts 10:38), not hurting people. Jesus was a giver, not a taker. And He is still the same today.

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God Cannot Lie

Saturday, April 02, 2011 , 0 Comments

TITUS 1:2 NKJ
2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,

It's not just that God has decided He will not lie -- He CANNOT lie.

God only speaks truth!

JOHN 17:17 NKJ
17 "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Whatever God says comes to pass. God cannot lie, because anything He says will come into being -- even if it did not exist before He said it.

GENESIS 1:3 NKJ
3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.

So God's Word is ultimate reality! More real, and lasting, than anything we can presently see.

God cannot lie because it is contrary to His nature. God's nature is one of selfless love for others. His nature is not to deceive. It is natural for God to be truthful and never to deceive.

NUMBERS 23:19 NLT
19 God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

HEBREWS 6:18 NLT
18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.

This is what makes the foundation of our relationship with God so solid -- God has given us His Word -- which cannot fail. If we are ever presented with evidence contrary to what God says, we can know we are being presented with a lie. For it is impossible for God to lie.

God cannot lie because it is not His nature, and because whatever He speaks will happen.

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Why Do Christians Fight So Much?

Saturday, April 02, 2011 , 0 Comments

JOHN 13:34-35 NKJ
34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Instead of being known for love, Christians are more likely to be known for disagreements and fighting with other Christians.

Why?

Those who fight are displaying their immaturity. Children can be expected to squabble over insignificant things, but adults should not.

Yet even Christian leaders often fight with other Christian leaders.

It is the devil's strategy to get believers in strife because it opens the door to him. Do you really want to open the door to the devil?

JAMES 3:16 KJV
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

God allows us to face the temptation of strife so we can overcome and learn to walk in love. We are continually given the opportunity to walk in love.

God's primary concern now is preparing us to inhabit eternity with Him. His plan is to make us like Jesus (Romans 8:29). To become like Jesus, we must learn to resist the temptation to not walk in love.

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God's Word Is Medicine

Saturday, April 02, 2011 , , 0 Comments

God's Word is medicine — for any weakness or sickness in body, mind, finances, family, marriage, etc.

Whatever sickness or disease you suffer from, God's Word can cure it. God's Word is effective for any condition. It works as a preventative as well as a cure. There is no cost and no danger of taking an overdose.

Like any medicine, God's Word must be taken to be effective. It will not work sitting on the shelf. And it has to be taken according to the directions.

But if you will follow God's directions as faithfully as you would follow the directions of a human doctor, you will see wonderful results.

Here are the directions:

PROVERBS 4:20-23 NKJ
20 My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

In verse 22 the Hebrew word translated health is translated as medicine in some translations.

PSALM 107:20 NKJ
20 He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.

God's Word will heal. It is full of God's power and carries the authority of God who spoke it.

JOHN 8:31-32 NKJ
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

You have the guarantee of Jesus — His Word will produce freedom.

But, you must abide, or continue in His Word. You must feed it in until you know that you know that you know the truth. Then you will act on that truth — and it will make you free.

God's medicine works by taking His Word into your being. You do that by listening to the Word, reading the Word, and speaking the Word.

You must fill your thoughts with the Word of God. The more of God's medicine you take, the better off you will be.

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God Is Working In You

Saturday, April 02, 2011 0 Comments

PHILIPPIANS 2:13 LB
13 For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants.

Don't be discouraged. God is at work!

You may not be happy with yourself now, but God is not finished working.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6 NASB
6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

God can complete what He starts. Give Him some time.

HEBREWS 13:20-21 RSV
20 Now may the God of peace...
21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

You will never be able to please God just on your own effort, but through Jesus Christ and His work in you, you WILL become what God wants you to be.

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We Receive From God By Faith

Saturday, April 02, 2011 0 Comments

ROMANS 5:1-2 NKJ
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

All we receive from God is by His grace. We do not deserve it, and we are not able to earn it. It is a gift offered by grace.

But we must access it by faith.

GALATIANS 3:14 NKJ
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

We receive through faith. Whether we are receiving the Holy Spirit or receiving healing. Whatever we receive from God must be received by faith.

HEBREWS 6:12 NKJ
12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

There are many promises in the Bible. If you want them to be manifest in your life, you must possess them through faith and patience.

MATTHEW 9:29 NKJ
29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you."

This is the statement of Jesus. It is valid for you today just as it was then. You will receive from God according to your faith.

Do not let this discourage you. Rather it should encourage you. Although your faith may not be strong now, you can strengthen it by feeding on the Word of God. It is under your control.

God's Word is faith food. The more you read it, speak it, and hear it, the stronger your faith will grow.

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We Are The Jury

Saturday, April 02, 2011 0 Comments

1 CORINTHIANS 6:3 NKJ
3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
This is a curious verse. It just says, "we shall judge angels" without giving any explanation. It does not say why we will judge angels, or which angels we will judge. (Nor do I find those answers elsewhere in the Bible.)

So this message includes some speculation on my part. I share it because it makes sense and helps to answer some difficult questions, such as why so much evil has been allowed on earth. But, of course, I could be wrong.

The word translated as angels in the New Testament means a messenger, or someone who is sent by another. This word is used
186 times in the KJV and is translated "angel" 179 times and "messenger" 7 times.

There are good "angels" and bad "angels." Here are two verses that show clearly that the Bible speaks of bad angels. (I think these are the angels that rebelled against God with Lucifer.)

REVELATION 12:7 NKJ
7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,

2 CORINTHIANS 12:7 NKJ
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

While I suppose it could be possible that we would judge the good angels, and give out awards for all they did on our behalf, that does not really make sense to me. It seems more reasonable to guess that the devil and the rebellious angels would be allowed a "jury trial" and that we are the jury.

By imagining this scenario, it makes several things more understandable to me. One is why God allowed the devil access to Adam and Eve to tempt them. If mankind is the jury, then Lucifer (who we know as the devil now) would have to be allowed to present his case and have equal access to the jury.

Another is why God has allowed so much pain and misery to go on for so long in this world. If we are the jury, then God would be unjust to "tamper with the jury." In the interest of fairness and justice for the evil angels on trial, God cannot just jump in and change things. We as mankind have been given freedom to make choices and to follow whoever we choose.

Eventually, the folly of following anyone except the Lord Jesus Christ will become plain to mankind and the rebelling angels will be judged. Then God will wipe away all tears and remove all the pain that was ever caused and make all things right. Because God will do that in the future, and everything will turn out right, then God will never be able to be accused of wrong-doing.

So, I predict in advance what the jury -- that is, humanity -- will decide.

1. God is NOT guilty!
2. The devil and his angels ARE guilty.

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Enjoy Your Salvation

Saturday, April 02, 2011 0 Comments

HABAKKUK 3:18 NLT
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

To rejoice means to re-joy, or repeatedly en-joy. We are to repeatedly and continually enjoy God and what He has done for us.

PSALM 35:9 GWN
9 My soul will find joy in the LORD and be joyful about his salvation.

Enjoying God means being delighted with Him.

When we enjoy God, and what He has done, we also provide enjoyment for God. For God enjoys you being happy about what He has done for you.

DEUTERONOMY 26:11 ESV
11 And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you.

Our response to God should not always be limited to just a rational, subdued little response. When we clearly recognize what our wonderful Lord has accomplished for us, at times it should cause us to be overwhelmed with joy!

ISAIAH 61:10 NLT
10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.

Don't allow God's great love and redemption to become boring, trivial, or unexciting. Stir yourself up occasionally. Allow yourself to act like you would hearing the Good News for the first time. Go ahead -- jump and shout!

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Enjoy Your Salvation

Saturday, April 02, 2011 0 Comments

HABAKKUK 3:18 NLT
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

To rejoice means to re-joy, or repeatedly en-joy. We are to repeatedly and continually enjoy God and what He has done for us.

PSALM 35:9 GWN
9 My soul will find joy in the LORD and be joyful about his salvation.

Enjoying God means being delighted with Him.

When we enjoy God, and what He has done, we also provide enjoyment for God. For God enjoys you being happy about what He has done for you.

DEUTERONOMY 26:11 ESV
11 And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you.

Our response to God should not always be limited to just a rational, subdued little response. When we clearly recognize what our wonderful Lord has accomplished for us, at times it should cause us to be overwhelmed with joy!

ISAIAH 61:10 NLT
10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.

Don't allow God's great love and redemption to become boring, trivial, or unexciting. Stir yourself up occasionally. Allow yourself to act like you would hearing the Good News for the first time. Go ahead -- jump and shout!

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Faith Is A Choice

Saturday, April 02, 2011 , 1 Comments

LUKE 22:67 NASB
67 "If You are the Christ, tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe;

No one can force anyone to believe anything. Each one of us chooses whether we will believe something, based on our evaluation of the evidence presented to us.

Faith and belief may have different English meanings, but in the New Testament they are different forms of the same Greek word. Believe is the verb and faith is the noun for the same word. (Like think and thought are in English.)

JOHN 20:25 NASB
25 The other disciples therefore were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."

Note that Thomas said, "I WILL NOT believe."

Many think seeing miracles would cause people to have faith. But the only ones who believe as a result of seeing miracles are those who choose to accept the miracle as sufficient evidence for them to believe. It is still a choice.

JOHN 12:37 NET
37 Although Jesus had performed so many miraculous signs before them, they still refused to believe in him,

At its heart, faith is always a decision. No one can force you to believe in anything. The choice is yours.

However, we cannot believe or have faith in anything without evidence. We must have evidence that convinces us before we can believe something.

The primary evidence God has given us so that we may have faith in Him is His Word. God is not a liar; He can be trusted. Whatever God says, always comes to pass.

So if someone says they don't have much faith, the solution is for them to see the evidence from God's Word on that subject, then choose to accept what God said as true. Then they will have faith. At that point they may not feel anything, but they have faith.

The primary action of faith toward God is speaking in agreement with God's Word. Jesus said if you had faith you would say. So we express what we believe by the words we speak. And then we stand in that position of faith, regardless of feelings or circumstances.

1 comments: