Personality Test
A few nights ago I was in a class where we all had to do a personality test. In this test it was broken into four different personality groups, all of positive and negative qualities.
It was a lot of fun and we all had a good laugh. It got me to thinking though…
After spending some time studying what personality you are with both the positive and negative traits, it would be very easy to justify the negative. How many times have we caught ourselves saying things like… “That’s just the way I am”, “it’s just part of my personality”, or “it’s just in my nature”.
Well the thing about that is, you are made in the image and likeness of God, we are the Lord’s personal representatives. And the really big one… Jesus died on the Cross and make you’re a new creature, so there really is no excuse for bad behavior, bad thinking, and unfruitful deeds.
That’s why it’s so important to bring our bodies under subjection to Jesus Christ, take up our Cross daily and continually live in the Word of God so our minds stay renewed. If we don’t do this, everything becomes about us and not about Jesus.
I don’t know about you but, I’m tired to running into mean, self-centered Christians. Not because they are bad people, but because they are going around giving Jesus a bad reputation.
We need to make a choice not to let the old us get out and manifest itself. So make the decision to walk in agreement with the Lord and walk as crucified vessels of honor, allowing Jesus to manifest Himself through us.
2 Cor. 4:11 “…that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”
So give yourself a personality test, does your personality manifest carnality and self-centeredness or the One who died for you in the fullness of His divine nature?
Blessings to all of you.
Gird Up! - Part 2
In Gird Up Part 1 we covered hoping to the end, now I would like to cover the rest.
We are talking about 1 Peter 1:13 says, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
This verse sticks out to me so much because it has become so apparent that we as Christians aren’t taking our thoughts captive, which then leads to many unholy things that put so many in bondage. In other words, we aren’t taking ground and possessing our own minds for the Lord.
James 1: 14-15 says “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
Before sin can be brought forth, it is conceived, but where? In the mind, in the heart, those thoughts that were not held captive, but instead where put above Jesus. And notice the end result…Death. No way around that one huh?
This is why it is so important to bind up the loins of your mind. To truly understand what you are supposed to bind, we need to talk about the loins of your mind. What a weird thought isn’t it?! Loins of your mind!? Whenever I thought of loins, the “mind” never came to my mind!
But what this really comes down to is, you are binding up your mind in such a way that when God births something in you, it doesn’t get jacked up. The loins of your mind is where stuff get’s birthed. It is a creative thing, but if you don’t gird up, James says the end result is death. What a shame that this has been the case with so many. God gives someone a Word, a dream, a passion or desire and because they didn’t Gird Up, the enemy was able to come in and twist things around and they never knew it. They think they are still doing the Lord’s work, but in all reality that just simply isn’t the case.
We must be and remain sober with a clear mind (Cool, calm and collected). When I think of the meaning of the word sober, I think about someone who is not drunk. When someone is drunk, they can’t think straight, they don’t feel things, they can be unpredictable and can become dangerous. That’s exactly what happens when we don’t gird up and keep a sober mind. We end up living in a delusion. . . It would be like saying “I hear God well!” But, really you are listening to spiritual AM and FM signals at the same time. It’s just not going to work very well.
The thing I want to make very clear is, this stuff happens so easily, because we aren’t completely separating ourselves with things that contaminate. We aren’t living in the Word of God where are minds are renewed.
It’s sad so many Churches that started out as a good thing have gotten jacked up because they didn’t gird up. Very small, un-biblical thoughts, teachings and philosophies crept in and no one paid any attention to the seducing forces around them.
Now they are messed up in a spiritual stupor just like some drunk guy and they have become dangerous. Any Church that isn’t teaching people to live a separated life unto Jesus Christ, is one of satan’s counterfeits.
Anyways, don’t get me started…
What I’m getting at is the mind is such a complex thing, yet the instructions in what we are to do about it are so simple. The mind is where thoughts and imaginations happen and God can speak through those things, but if we aren’t girding up and casting down vain ones. We will walk around confused thinking we are advancing the Kingdom of God.
So Gird Up! Don’t allow the enemy to cause death to those things God has spoken to you! Get in the Word, keep your mind on the things above. And with your thoughts, make it a point to live more abundantly for the Lord.
A Message To The Body Of Christ…
The Word of God says that we believers are the Church, the body of Christ and the Bride of Christ. If you were engaged but had to go out of town for a while, but got news that your fiancé was cheating on you, how would you feel? How would you feel about being engaged to a whore?!
We must examine our own lives, we must examine what we are preaching and teaching. The Bible says in Jude 1:23 “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
Did you catch that? “hating even the garment spotted by the flesh”?
Something we need to be very careful of is preaching and teaching that spots are ok. They’re not! If you truly understand what Jesus went through at Calvary, there is no way you can be ok with spots! Spots of defilement on something that has been bought and cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus… What a disgrace! What a disrespect to the Lord!
There are way too many pastors, preachers, teachers and leaders out there thinking all they need to do is love people and everything’s all good. Well it’s not and you are loving some people straight to hell! We must examine what Gospel we are preaching and living.
You want to talk about love? Calvary was love and that was a bloody mess! Stop preaching a powder puff Gospel! How about loving the Lord enough to stop doing stupid things? How about loving people enough to say “I love you too much to let you continue to do that”?
The Bible screams that we are to be holy and sanctified. Why doesn’t the church behave holy? Why does the church look like it’s just spend a night in Vegas doing who knows what with who knows who?
So to all the leaders out there and I’m preaching to myself first…
Get a clue! Stop saying that things are ok when they are not! Stop empowering people to live powerless, pathetic, beat up lives.
The Lord is tired of people preaching another Gospel and leading His children astray. We are never going to take ground for the Kingdom living a defiled life. Talk about a no-brainer huh!? Oh, but the devil has been having fun desensitizing those who will let him. And the really scary thing is, those people have no clue.
So now it’s time to get a clue, examine yourself to see if you are in the faith or not and hate the spots of defilement and carnality. Love Jesus enough to say enough is enough!
Thought of the Day
Col. 1:12-14 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”
There is NO grey between Heaven and hell. Choose a side and live it!
Gird Up! Part 1
1 Peter 1:13 says, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
I want to focus on the “hope to the end”. It’s amazing how the enemy loves to try steal our hope if we let him, I guess that’s why there are so many hopeless people out there with nothing to live for.
But what a privilege that we have to have our hope is in Christ alone. When God gives us a promise, it’s not a hoping that it might come to pass. Our hope is a strong confidence that it will come to pass, that the Lord will get His way. We must continue to believe!
That’s why in this verse it says to gird up the loins of your mind. To gird up is to bind up or prepare yourself. It’s a firmness of mind; your mind is made up to believe Jesus and not the situations around you. Believe the Lord and not what people say.
If you don’t gird up, which we will get more into in the next part, you stand a chance to get confused about if you ever really heard God. Lies creep in and you start doubting God and yourself, which is a horrible thing. But a mind that is girded up is bound up tight in the Word of God, in the mind of Christ. It’s the grit that says “God said it, I believe it and that settles it!”
A mind that is truly girded up right says, “I’m not girding up my mind so I can get my promise, I’m girding up my mind because I love Jesus enough to go through the trouble. Even if I don’t get my promise, I just want the Lord high and lifted up.” That’s a mind that loves God more than anything.
So do not lose heart, don’t let go of the promises. Take every thought captive, cast down the stupid thoughts that are against God. Gird up in the power of the Lord! For it is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col. 1:27)
Are you a child of God?
Alright here is a pretty intense video. Please share your thoughts after watching this video 
More abundantly…
In John 10:10 it says, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
We seem to like that last part about how Jesus came to give life and life more abundant. Many have preached on that verse, some say nothing bad will ever happen to us. Others say we should have all the finer things in life and others say we should have overflowing peace and joy.
Everyone seems to have their own idea of what a more abundant life looks like. The thing that worries me is, with some of the teachings out there, it causes people to be selfish. They make it all about them.
We must never forget the One who purchased that abundant life on the Cross. When we stay focused on Jesus, suddenly it’s not about us or the things we desire.
It’s about using the abundance that the Lord has given to us and live more abundantly for Him. Whatever abundant looks like in your life, if it’s joy, love and peace, how are you going to use that to live more abundantly for the Lord? If you have abundance in your finances, how are you going to use that to live more abundantly for Jesus?
When we make Him the goal and living for Him the priority, we will not get prideful about the abundance in our life, we won’t get selfish with temporary things.
I’m reminded about Matt. 22:37-38 where it says: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
Notice it says to love God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul and ALL your mind. It’s an abundance thing. We need to love God with everything we have.
All week I have had a song going through my head, it’s a song my friend and worship leader at my Church wrote. Some of the lyrics go:
“More abundantly I will live for you, more abundantly I will worship you, more abundantly, I will praise you, more abundantly I will live you for. You died so that I might live, live life more abundantly, so I live.”
It’s an awesome song for an Awesome God!
So from this day forward, let’s love the Lord in every area of our lives more abundantly for Him!
In Christ Alone
This song has always meant a lot to me, it was even played on my wedding
It truly is an amazing song that describes our amazing Savior.
My Grace is Sufficient
In 2 Cor. 12:7-9 it says: “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
So Paul had a thorn and we know it was brought forth by the devil. We also know it was to keep Paul humble. The interesting thing is what the Lord told Paul, “My grace is sufficient”. Have you ever been disappointed with that answer? Or have you ever heard people quote that when going through a hard time?
Well if what God said to Paul has ever disappointed you, then you probably don’t truly understand what grace is. Some might think its mercy, but the Lord didn’t say My mercy is sufficient, He said His grace was.
Grace is Not Mercy!
It’s important to understand that grace and mercy is not the same thing at all. If I’m standing before a judge and I know I’m in trouble, am I going to beg for grace or mercy? Mercy of course! Surprisingly even the Amplified Bible describes grace as God’s unmerited favor, but mercy is God’s unmerited favor. It’s something you don’t deserve, but God gives it to you anyway. Both are very important, for we are nothing without Jesus.
2 Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
We are told to grow in grace, but if we don’t know what grace is, how are we supposed to grow in it? I would say most people think of it like mercy, they define grace as God’s unmerited favor. But if that’s true, can you grow in mercy?
We are to grow up, continue, and increase in God’s grace. Not knowing what grace is may have serious consequences in your life.
Grace is a divine influence upon our hearts and souls to cause us to walk in our inherited right that Jesus Christ purchased at Calvary.
In Romans 8:17 it says that we are “join-heirs with Christ” if we are not walking and growing the God’s grace, we will never live as joint-heirs with Christ, you will live powerless lives always begging for mercy. Now remember, mercy is a good thing and we all need it, but grace in another thing that is a huge part of our lives. I encourage you to remember what grace is next time you run across a verse that talks about grace, or even do a study on it.
Being joint heirs and walking in our inheritance is a huge topic that would take pages to write about. I’ll try to work on something real soon that covers that topic.
Grace to you my friends.
Study to Show Thyself Approved
2 Tim. 2:15 makes something very clear. To study to show ourselves approved and handle it correctly.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
It’s interesting how many people call themselves Christians, but don’t spend time in the Word, causing them not to know the Lord intimately, not being grounded in Truth, causing them to be deceived and walking in defeat. That’s sad!
You might not see much need to read your Bible on a regular basis and if not, then I will be bold enough to say that you probably aren’t abiding in Christ and not walking in very much victory or freedom. That is your choice, probably not a very smart one though.
Col. 3:16 says: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
It is so important to have the Word of God dwell in you richly and abundantly. To do so is allowing the Lord to be perfected in you. When that happens you have more Word in you than flesh and the world and you then walk as a conqueror having victory over the corruption that is thrown at you. Still not convinced? What about the demonic forces that wants to drag your soul to hell? The Bible is clear about how we are in a war and it would be smart to use the armor and weapons the Bible talks about. In Eph. 6:17 says, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
It is beyond clear that the Word of God is our sword, so if how much word you have richly dwelling in you determines how big and sharp your sword is, how big and sharp is your sword? Do you have one of those huge Brave Heart swords or are you trying to fight against the devil with a butter knife? In battle would you want someone with a big sword or a butter knife watching your back? So if you don’t want to get into the Word, you must like those things that keep you in bondage. Because we know from John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
When you are studying to show yourself approved and getting the Word so deep in you that it’s dwelling in your bone marrow, the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Truth that will lead us into all Truth will reveal lies that the enemy has shot at you. He reveals His Truth and you are able to take your sword and shatter those lies that hold you in slavery! Praise God!
The Truth makes us free!! What about your prayer life? Tired of praying stuff that never seems to get answered? Well, if you don’t want to get in the Word there is a good chance you are praying prayers according to your flesh rather than the Spirit. In John 15:7 (Amp) “If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.”
When you are abiding in Jesus Who is the Word, and His Word abides in you, you are praying prayers that are of the Spirit. You aren’t praying with your flesh, you are praying with the mind of Christ and those things you ask with the mind of Christ shall be done for you. You get the mind of Christ by abiding in Him and His Word. Eph. 4:23 tells us “to renew our minds” and in 5:26 talks about the “washing water of the Word”. The Word of God cleanses and renews our minds from all corruption. So if you’re not digging into the Word of God, you might want to reconsider. Because when the war is raging, it’s a really bummer to find out you are fighting with a little butter knife.
The Waiting
The more I hear about what’s going on in people’s lives lately it seems like the majority seems to be in what I call “the waiting”. They are just waiting to find out what the next move is, what God’s Will is for the next chapter in their life. The worst part is, they don’t seem to be getting any answers!
This is when people start making mistakes, when they aren’t hearing any direction from God, they move out on their own and pursue something. There are many well meaning people out there that will encourage you to do this. I know many people who all of the sudden think they should go back to school. That’s great, but you first need to examine your heart and see if your motivation is from the Holy Spirit’s leading, or if it’s your own way of trying to make “the waiting” more comfortable.
It’s not easy to wait, in fact most of the time it’s not fun at all. Since we live in the “I want it right now” society, waiting is viewed as a waste of time. Now I’m am not picking on people who want to go back to school, but a lot of the people I ask why they are going back to school, most of them don’t really have good answers. It just seemed like the smart thing to do. So if you are thinking about going back to school, I’m not trying to discourage you at all, just using school as an example.
The waiting that God has us all go through should be taken with great joy. In Isaiah 40:31 it says:
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
The main thing I want to focus on in this verse is the word wait. That word literally means to be bound up or twisted up with Jesus. Can’t you just picture that? When you are waiting you are not alone, you are spending that time getting to know Jesus. You are being twisted up with your Savior and Friend. That’s nothing to complain about! That is just a privilege and honor and something that should not be passed by with keeping yourself so busy with “doing” that you never really get to know Jesus.
I have seen over and over so many people filled with zeal ready to change the whole world, but end up back slidden and a terrible testimony. The really scary thing is most of them don’t even know it and they still think they are on the straight and narrow. People get hurt when that happens.
It’s a very foolish thing to start a ministry, go to other countries, or do anything like that without going through the waiting period. It’s kinda like taking a turkey out of the oven before it is fully cooked. All you have is something that is going to make people sick.
During the waiting you find out who you are and who you are not, who Jesus is and Who He is in you. You learn His voice, His Word, you learn to trust and worship. It’s a great place to be when you are in the waiting. So don’t get discouraged or stressed. Jesus is right there with you and He knows what He is doing. Your job is to enjoy getting twisted up with Him.
Fighting for the Faith
I found this post written by Naomi and I thought all of you would enjoy it…
“In Paul’s letters to Timothy, it struck me how many times he brings up fighting for the faith. Fighting… why would we have to fight for the faith? What does it mean to fight for the faith?
In 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul writes: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
He says “lay hold on eternal life” - seize it, grasp it, understand and fully recognize and appreciate the power and uplifting strength of Jesus Christ in our lives. Still, what does it mean to fight the good faith?
1 Timothy 6:17-19 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
We aren’t called to just appreciate the joy and love the Lord has for us and keep it to ourselves, but we are to communicate His love and the testimony of Jesus Christ to others so that they too can receive that joy. This really stood out to me because I have found in my life that it is sometimes easier not to say anything - to remain quiet and avoid conflict. But that is NOT what we are called to do. We are called to share the Lord’s testimony, even if it is hard. We are to be speakers of the Lord’s Word and witnesses of His testimony of Jesus Christ, despite persecution.
2 Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry
May we all take Paul’s words to heart, fight for the faith, and seek the crown of righteousness - which is the Lord - so that our witness may be that of Paul’s.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Thanks Naomi for that awesome post!
Walk at Liberty
Psalms 119:45 says:
“And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.”
Have you ever thought about walking at liberty? Walking in freedom is something that most of us probably don’t think about. But what a beautiful thought to walk in complete freedom with nothing holding you back. In the Amplified it reads:
“And I will walk at liberty and at ease, for I have sought and inquired for [and desperately required] Your precepts.”
The first point I want to make is when you seek for something you can’t do it passively. It’s a seeking diligently with a whole heart. You are requiring to know the answer. It’s a getting alone with God and not being distracted with anything else kind of a thing. Now in order to walk in liberty the Word says to seek God’s precepts. Precepts is this: detailed instruction from the Lord, direction. It’s comes down to this, because you inquire and require God’s instructions/directions and you have heard from God, you can walk at liberty. In spite of what people may say, in spite of the current situations around you, because you heard God you can walk in freedom. People might say you are crazy but you have to know they haven’t heard from God and you have! If God says to walk on water and other people say you will die, you can walk at liberty that you won’t die because you have heard God’s direction. (Not saying to go try to walk across the ocean). The point being you must know what God’s direction is and once you know it, walk it in freedom and in ease.
An Overcoming Church
Alright, I am posting an excerpt from the book called Destined For The Throne. I figured it should bring up some interesting topics.
“In order to enable the Church to overcome satan, God entered the stream of human history in the incarnation. As un-fallen Man He overcame and destroyed satan both legally and dynamically. All that Christ did in redemption He did for the benefit of the Church. He is “head over all things to the Church” (Eph. 1:22)
His victory over satan in the Church’s victory. Although Christ’s triumph over satan is full and complete, God permits satan to carry on a guerrilla warfare. God could put satan completely away, but He has chosen to use him to give the Church training in overcoming.
Prayer is not begging God to do something that He is loath to do. It is not overcoming reluctance in God. It is enforcing Christ’s victory over satan. It is implementing upon earth heaven’s decisions concerning that affairs of men. Calvary legally destroyed satan and canceled all of his claims. God placed the enforcement of Calvary’s victory in the hands of the Church. (Matt. 18:18 and Luke 10:17-19) He has given her the “power of attorney,” or made her His “deputy.” But this delegated authority is wholly inoperative apart from the prayers of a believing Church. Prayer therefore, is where the action is.”
Well there ya go! What are your thoughts? Bring on the comments! J
John 17:23 - Walking in Agreement
I am writing this post thanks to Katina, who posted in the comments section in our last post. She brought up John 17:23.
“I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
I love John 15 through 17, I remember in preparation for one of the Common Ground retreats we read those chapters everyday for 30 days or so. It was great and I fell in love with those chapters.
In those chapters, especially 15 we find a lot of talking about abiding and in 17:23 we find a similar thing…
Now it’s hard to talk about just this one verse since the whole chapter goes together, in a few verses previous, we find Jesus talking about how Him and the Father are one and how we are one in them.
When we are talking about “in Him” we are talking about a position that Christ purchased at Calvary. It’s a position of oneness and unity. This whole verse is about being in agreement with the Lord. When you are walking in agreement with Him you and your opinions don’t matter. It’s all about Him and what He wants. Every decision is not based on hidden self-centeredness anymore, decisions are based up “How can I love Jesus more?”
When walking in agreement just like Jesus was with the Father, that’s when He is perfected in you. It’s a beautiful thing! Sin isn’t an issue anymore.
Jesus gave us a great example of walking in agreement with God…
He said I only do that which I see My Father do. Now that’s agreement, that’s abiding, that’s oneness!
When this happens the world sees a Christian living Jesus loud, people will say “that’s what a real Christian is like”.
It’s an awesome privilege to be one with the entire Godhead and to have the entire Godhead in us!
I should also mention that the word “perfect” in that verse means:
- Be fulfilled, complete, consecrated, made perfect.
When you are complete, that means you are lacking nothing. Nothing! You are complete in Him (Col. 2:10)
That’s a great thing, no voids, no holes, no needs, just you and Jesus walking in completeness and agreement.
Thanks Katina for bringing up that verse, that was awesome!
When the Rains fall and the Winds blow, Push Back!
You know the saying “when it rains it pours” I guess people always relate that to a bad thing. I’m not sure why, if that was true, why do we sing songs like Grace like RAIN? Anyways, the bible says that the rain falls on the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:45). Well, depending on if it is raining on you and if it’s good or bad, may I submit to you, even if it is bad and you are getting soaked in the rain, that you should be able to turn it into a good thing.
When hard times come at you in all directions and in all areas of life, you are still supposed to consider it pure joy (James 1:2). You may say, “I already know that! But how?!” Well, you must be in the Word of God to know how.
When the world pushes on you, push back! And hard! When the devil comes against you, fight back! (Do you know what a boxer is called when he doesn’t block the punches, when he doesn’t move and duck, when he doesn’t punch back? An IDIOT!)
I remember a few years ago a friend of mine and I were in the mall and were checking out some “bling bling”. I never have been much of a necklace wearer, but I ended up getting this one necklace. When I put on this “bling” my friend said, “it looks good on you, it gives you push, you could get into places with that.” (I don’t know what kind of places I would want to get into, oh well.) Anyways, I thought about what he said, about having push.
You and I both have the push to push back whatever is putting the pressure on. You know why? Because “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4) Because of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27) Because the same Spirit the raised Christ from the dead is in you!” (Romans 8:11) If that is not enough reason, I don’t know what is. You have been given everything you need to push back. Because in all reality, if you are walking in the Spirit, it’s not you, it’s Him in you.
Now you may say, “I’m just too tired to push or fight”. Then I would have to ask, are you really taking joy in what’s coming against you? Because the “Joy of the Lord is our strength” (Neh. 8:10) I think we sometimes forget, when the pressure is on, there is a reason because of it. And we should take joy in that. Especially knowing that no matter how hard the rain is pouring and how hard the wind is blowing, Jesus is right there with you. So whatever is pushing against you, push back! Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph. 6:10) And allow the Lord to do His perfect will in and through you. Remember, Greater is He who is in you, than anything that comes against you.
Who is Stronger?
In 1 John 4:4 says “…Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world”
So here is the thought of the day:
“Can anything in the world stand against you and hold its place if it is a fact that He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world?”
Do you think it’s more than just memorizing that verse, but owning that verse, chewing on it until it becomes a part of who you are?
What’s going on!?
For those of you that know me, I am big on if you say you are something, then you should be it. Likewise, if you say you are a Christian, you should be one. Makes sense to me. The thing is, I’m seeing a lot of Christians who have no clue they represent Jesus whether they want to or know. When you wear the Name of Jesus, it’s a 24/7 kinda thing. I think the main reason it’s a problems with so many is, that you can only represent something or someone as good as you know that something or someone. So if we truly don’t intimately KNOW Jesus, you won’t be able to truly represent Him. So I have got to ask, do we really KNOW Him? Do we know what He likes? What He doesn’t like. Can we truly say we know the Heart of God because we have spent the time with Him. Or do we just read a couple of books and base what we know about Him on what we have read and heard?
I’m not trying to be judgmental here, but the Word of God says there are seducing spirits sent out to war against you. To desensitize you. Have we become too desensitized to the Holy Spirit?
I was talking to someone today and they were telling me about a movie they walked out of. “Knocked Up”, she was telling me how surprised she was that everybody who has seen it, loved it. Then I was sitting in my place of business later on in the day and some high schoolers from a youth group were talking about it and how funny it was.
So I decided to look it up on screenit.com, did you know there were 113 “f” words alone in that movie! And the whole movie was about drugs and sex.
So here’s the thing…Do you think that kind of stuff offends the heart of God? Would someone who is taking their walk with God seriously enjoy a movie like that, even when they KNOW that Christ is in them. Jesus said “He would never leave us or forsake us” even to His horror He won’t leave us, even when you are in that movie that’s all about perverted sexual crap He stays by you in tears, saying “wasn’t Calvary good enough for you?” Sound a little harsh? You don’t have to agree with me, but isn’t it time to love the Lord with everything we got and represent Him to the fullest? Because people are watching you.
If it ain’t Christ, it’s Crap!
In 1 Tim. 4:1 says, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”
I recently had a reminder about how true this verse is, because God has me doing a lot of different stuff that is totally new to me in the “business world” I am seeing a different side to things and how the kingdom of God is going to take over the “business world”. In the network marketing side of things there are a lot of speakers, books, tapes, cds and dvds all about prosperity and how to be the person you want to be and make a lot of money. The thing is we should be prosperous, Jesus said He came to give life and life more abundant. But, the scary thing is, a lot of these speakers are using spiritual laws or biblical laws that God created, but they are leaving Jesus out! And the really sad part is Christians are watching and listening to these teachings and not seeing a problem with them! There is one verse I want to point out. Col. 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
The Amplified says “See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).”
There are seducing demonic forces sowing lies with biblical truth. Let me make this very clear…If it’s not Christ, it’s crap! How dare anyone who takes God’s Truth and takes out Christ and says it’s okay! It’s not okay!
I just watched part of a dvd someone let me borrow about the “secret” wealth and I was told there was a pastor in Cali. that was in it and how it was a great dvd. The dvd ended up teaching a spiritual law that God created in a secular view. It was a twisted truth. As I started to watch it, I could feel righteous indignation arising, that was my first tip off that something wasn’t right. I got on the internet to look the “reverend” up to see what this guy stood for and sure enough, he’s not a minister of the Lord, he is a teacher of new age thinking and has a “spiritual center” where if you want to believe in Jesus it’s okay, but not necessary. How sad, people are falling for this crap. It’s so important to stay in God’s Word and renew your minds, because there is always seducing spirits out there ready to seduce anyone they can. It’s leave Christ out, it’s not worth pursuing.
