Tag: fruit
PERFECT WORK
HEBREWS 13:21
MAKE YOU PERFECT IN EVERY GOOD WORK TO DO HIS WILL, WORKING IN YOU THAT WHICH IS WELL PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST; TO WHOM BE GLORY FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN
AS WE YIELD OUR LIVES TO THE LORD, HE DOES A PERFECT WORK IN US, MAKING US PERFECTLY WHAT HE PURPOSED YOU AND I TO BECOME. OUR LIVES ARE DIRECTED TO GOD GIVEN PURPOSE.
THIS IS THE COURSE WE RUN, HE LAYS IT OUT FOR US. HE SETS US APART FOR HIS DESTINY FOR OUR LIVES.
WE SURRENDER TO HIS WILL, THE LORD PERFECTLY DIRECTS OUR LIVES INTO THE GOOD WORKS OF HIS WILL. WE PERFECTLY BECOME THAT WHICH HE INTENDED US TO BE. WE ARE SURRENDERED TO HIS PURPOSE, HIS WILL.
FOR THIS TO HAPPEN THERE MUST BE TOTAL SURRENDER TO HIS WILL, NO REBELLION. OUR COMMITMENT TO HIS PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES, MUST BE AS OUR LORD SURRENDERED TO THE FATHERS WILL IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE.
THE FATHER WANTS TO USE US TO BEAR FRUIT, MORE FRUIT, MUCH FRUIT FOR HIS KINGDOM. AS WE LIVE IN HIM HE MAKES IT HAPPEN. IT IS A WORK OF FAITH AND OBEDIENCE. WE ARE A LIVING SACRIFICE, COMMITED TO HIS PERFECT WILL.
WORDS
PROVERBS 18:21 – DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE: AND THEY THAT LOVE IT SHALL EAT THE FRUIT THEREOF (OR PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM SAYING THE WRONG THING).
PROVERBS 17:27a, 28 – HE THAT HATH KNOWLEDGE SPARETH HIS WORDS:
EVEN A FOOL, WHEN HE HOLDETH HIS PEACE, IS COUNTED WISE: AND HE THAT SHUTTETH HIS LIPS IS ESTEEMED A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING (OR IT PAYS HIM OR HER TO KEEP THEIR MOUTH SHUT).
I HEARD FROM SOME SOURCE: EVERY PERSON HAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000 IN THEM TO SPEAK EVERY DAY.
I DON’T KNOW IF THAT IS TRUTH OR NOT, BUT SOMETIMES WE ARE AROUND THOSE, WHO SEEM TO USE ALL THEIR WORDS UP ON YOU AT ONE CONVERSATION.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
OF COURSE YOU DO.
WE DON’T REALLY MIND, THOUGH, IF IT IS EDIFYING AND UPLIFTING.
CREATION IS IN EXISTENCE BECAUSE OF THE SPOKEN WORD, OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.
ALL THROUGH THE FIRST CHAPTER OF GENESIS, WE READ: AND GOD SAID…
SO WE MUST COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WORDS ARE POWERFUL AND CREATIVE, WHEN SPOKEN.
WHEN ADAM AND EVE SINNED, THE FIRST NEGATIVE WORD WAS SPOKEN BY ADAM. ADAM SAID IN GENESIS 3:1 – I WAS AFRAID…
RIGHT THEN AND THERE , THE SPIRIT OF FEAR WAS SPOKEN INTO EXISTENCE.
SO, SOMETHING CHANGED IN OUR SPOKEN WORDS WHEN SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD.
WE ALREADY HAD THE POSITIVE WORDS; BUT HERE CAME THE NEGATIVE.
MATTHEW 12:37 – FOR BY THY WORDS THOU SHALT BE JUSTIFIED (OR AQUITTED), AND BY THY WORDS THOU SHALT BE CONDEMNED (OR SENTENCED).
WHEN THE JUDGE SAYS, “GUILTY,” IT MEANS SOMETHING. WOULDN’T YOU AGREE?
WE CHOOSE WHAT HAPPENS AROUND US, AT TIMES, BY THE WORDS WE SPEAK ABOUT OURSELVES AND OTHERS.
AS WORDS ARE SPOKEN OVER US, WE CAN RECEIVE THEM OR REJECT THEM.
BECAUSE WE LIVE IN SUCH A NEGATIVE SOCIETY, THOUGH, MOST PEOPLE ACCEPT THE NEGATIVE. I FEEL LIKE MANY OF YOU CAN RELATE TO THAT STATEMENT. I KNOW I CAN.
OUR CHILDREN HAVE WORDS FOLLOWING THEM WE SPOKE OVER THEM SINCE BIRTH, AND THEY REMAIN AROUND THEM, FOLLOWING THEM, WHEREVER THEY GO, UNTIL THEY RECEIVE THEM, OR REJECT THEM.
I HAVE HEARD, THAT SPOKEN WORDS ARE LIKE SOUND WAVES: AFTER THEY ARE RELEASED, THEY STAY IN THE AIR UNTIL THEY ARE PICKED-UP BY A RECEIVER.
IF WE COULD SEE IN THE SPIRIT WORLD, WE COULD SEE THOSE ACTUAL WORDS, SPOKEN OVER US, REMAINING IN THE AIR, FOLLOWING US AROUND: CURSES AND BLESSINGS.
OUR PARENTS DIDN’T, AND WE DON’T PURPOSE TO SPEAK CURSES OVER OUR CHILDREN. WE JUST DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING.
LET’S CHANGE THE WORDS WE SPEAK ABOUT, OR OVER OTHERS. ASK GOD TO HELP YOU, AND HE WILL.
*WATCH FOR: WORDS PART II
THE FORCES OF EVIL/HOW THEY WORK
Evil began with Satan. With Adam, sin entered into the world.
Most Christians know this,
but there are things we must understand about our enemy, that keeps us from
being the best we can for God.
Satan uses demons, and shows
up himself, at times, as we are in the
process of developing in our
relationship with God.
I don’t mean he can be
everywhere at all times like God, but his demons are dispatched by him to
follow us around, to see if we will open the door for them to enter.
By this, I mean when we get
in the flesh, or look back to the world, we can take a back-step into what we
used to be before salvation, and be tempted to turn back to our old carnal
ways.
Why do you think God’s
ministers backslide?
Most of the time, it is
because they get so involved in God’s work,
they don’t make time to
spend with the God they serve.
Why do you think so many of
these occult religions get as far as they do?
They pray many times a day to their false god, which opens the door for
Satan to increase their growth, and spread their doctrines of error.
Evil will continue until the
end of the Church age, then it will become more furious during Jacob’s: The
Great Tribulation period of seven years, and will appear again, for a short
time, at the end of the millennial reign
of Christ.
We as Christians, should
guard against, or be watchmen, confronting
evil.
Surprisingly enough, sometimes, we as Christians, can be
influenced by Satan, to do his work.
How?
Hearts of
unbelief – Hebrews 3:12,13 —-Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the Living God.
But exhort one another daily, while
it is called today; lest any of
you be hardened through the deceitfulness
of sin.
Some begin to wander off
from the work of God, and God Himself, when the fiery trials come. They might get criticized for they way we do
things, and become despondent and loose
their vision, instead of turning it over to God.
Fear could arise, and they
might never start what God has called them to do. I have even seen people who are called to do
something, but try to influence someone else to do it, so they can be a part of
it, and they won’t have that responsibility on themselves. It never works, and the other person becomes
troubled and out of place, and ultimately out of the will of God. It won’t stand the test.
On the other hand, in the
body of Christ, we are commissioned to submit to authority. A person who is called to do a work, has authority over others under them. From the pastor, all the way down, we have to
submit to someone.
Every ministry that is
involved with a Church, has the responsibility of answering to the
leadership. If we can’t learn to follow,
we will never be successful leaders.
Moses had a problem like
this, but God quickly handled the problem; but people’s lives were lost in the
process. (Numbers 16:1-3) – Look at verse 3 —-And they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron, and said
unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy,
every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up
yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
Or, “Moses and Aaron, What
right do you have to put yourselves forward, claiming that we must obey you,
and acting as though you were greater than anyone else among all these people
of the Lord?
Now, look at verse 28,31-33
—-And Moses said, hereby ye shall know
that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of
my own mind.
And it came to pass, as he had made an
end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under
them:
And the earth opened her mouth, and
swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained (or related) unto Korah, and all
their goods.
They, and all that appertained unto
them, went down alive into the pit, and
the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
And Verse 34 states, All of
the people fled at their screams, fearing that the earth would swallow them up
too.
Have you noticed when people
come against leadership, how their whole family is affected?
They pray and pray, their
loved ones come to Church, get saved, and are growing in the Lord. (which, by
the way in itself, makes Satan and his demons mad) Soon they see
something they question about what the leadership is doing; they call a
family meeting, discuss it, and soon their family drops out of
Church, backslides, and they blame the Church? I’ve seen this over and over again. —-
Korah and his house were destroyed, as well as those who conspired with them.
The leaders are
responsible for the decisions they make.
It is not up to us to
straighten them out verbally, we are to pray for them.
Also, if you are not wearing
their shoes you have no right to judge them.
God called them to that
position. Most of the time, they are
following the leadership of the Lord, and they could know something you
don’t know.
When we serve the Lord with
all our hearts, the trials will come to try to stop God’s work. I have found, through experience, this is
when God is getting ready to do something great in that work.
Stay where you are, pray,
AND DON’T GIVE UP ON THE BRINK OF A MIRACLE.
We can be used unknowingly
in Satan’s plan: which is always trying to stop the work of God.
You wonder why you pray,
pray, pray, and can’t get peace?
Maybe you need to repent and
ask your family to forgive you for getting out of your place. We are not God,
we can’t control people.
You might ask me how I know
all this.
Well I’m sorry to say, I was
involved in something like this myself on two occasions of my life. When I understood, I repented.
But that didn’t keep me from
reaping what I sowed.
People of God, it is important
to me, to instruct you in how not
to fall into this trap of Satan.
There are no “Lone Rangers”
in the body of Christ, everyone is connected to someone.
We should be on guard and
stay out of things that could cause us to be influenced. How do the forces of evil influence us?
In our
thought life —- 1 Corinthians 13:4,5
—- Charity suffereth long, and is kind;
charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly,
seeketh not her own, is not
easily provoked, thinketh no evil (or we could say, is not ready to
suspect evil).
We see here,
devices that Satan uses, that could cause us to think evil of someone:
1- Lack of
love
2- Lack of
patience
3- Lack of
kindness
4- Envy (or
jealousy or rivalry)
5- The pushing
of self forward
6- Pride
7-
Inappropriate behavior
8-
Self-seeking
9-
Being easily provoked
10- I call these The Nine Rotten Fruit of Evil.
All of which,
manifest in someone who is ready to think or suspect evil of others.
Believe me,
these are things that should not, but do, operate at times in the body
of Christ.
We are told in
Romans 12:21 to …Be not overcome of evil,
but overcome (or Conquer) evil with
good.
In the very
next chapter, Chapter 13 we are instructed to honor authority.
These are
things the devil doesn’t want us to know that keeps us from being the best
followers of Christ we can be.
Evil Forces
Influence Us Through Our Companionships 1 Corinthians
15:33 —-Be not deceived: evil
communications (or companionships)corrupt
good manners.
Have you ever
noticed how, when you get around some people, even in the body of Christ, there
is a spirit of criticism that enters the conversation?
Before we know
it, we enter into the gossip without even meaning too; and we feel so
convicted afterwards; and wonder how we allowed ourselves to get involved.
In Proverbs
6:16-19, we are introduced to seven things that are an abomination unto the
Lord, which is called Seven Deadly Sins.
Let’s read it
—-These six things doth the Lord hate;
yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:
a proud
look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart
that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in
running to mischief,
a false
witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord
among the brethren.
Wow! God hates them, and they are an abomination (or loathsome
and wickedness) to him.
The sowing of
discord among the brethren causes more trouble in the Church than sinners or
demons on the outside.
The Church of
Jesus Christ needs revival, and a time of repentance.
This evil is
what the world and the Church are guilty of.
We see every day where there is a misuse of money in both.
Does the Word
say money is evil?
No. Look at 1 Timothy 6:10 —-For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after (or were
greedy about), they have erred (or
turned away) from the faith, and pierced
themselves (to torture one’s soul)
through with many sorrows.
It is the love
of money; that-is the putting of money before God.
God calls
evil, putting money and what you want, before Him and His work. He calls the love of money the root of all
evil.
Think about
it, what seems to be number one on the mind of the world, and also, I’m ashamed
to say, on the mind of much of the Church?
MONEY!
Money is not evil;
it is used by God to do good for His children and those in need.
It takes
money, to send the Gospel around the world.
It takes money
to live.
But, Church,
our dependency is to be focused on God.
He is the supernatural God who supplies all our needs and also gives us
the desires of our hearts. Our money may
fail, but God will never fail us.
The apostle
Paul does not condemn the possession of riches: they are only evil where they
are badly used. Neither does he speak against rich men: for he would condemn
such men as Abraham, and Joseph of Armethea who used their wealth
righteously. He condemns the haste to be
rich.
The rich must
not put their trust in their wealth, but put their trust in God, and their
focus on the treasures that have eternal value.
There is much
more I could go into about The Forces of Evil and How They Work, but time won’t
permit today.
We will stay
away from the evil one, if we set ourselves to live in the Word, and God’s
Spirit. ——– Until next week.
HOW TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD
Most of us know we can’t hide from God, because He sees and knows all.
He continues to deal with those who run from Him, because it’s not His
will that any should perish. He will continually, draw them to Himself, but we do
have a will of our own. He will draw us but His desire is, that we come to Him freely. This is why
He gave us a choice.
When we do come to Him, and receive Him as our personal Savior, He then, deals with
us: first, as babies, on milk; and then expects us to grow-up.
When we raise our children, we expect things out of them, but we do have to teach them. If they don’t grow up properly, we begin to have trouble with them and they can cause us much heart ache.
Well, God has guidelines and rules, similar to the rules we enforce on our children.
We offer our children many advantages. Most of the time they don’t see that until they grow-up. This is the samewith God and His children.
Some of our advantages of being God’s children are:
1-
His giving of His only begotten Son’s life for our Eternal life
2-
A personal relationship with Him where we can communicate through prayer, and see our prayers answered
3-
The precious promises in His Word
4-
The way to live a victorious life here
5-
Healing and deliverance
6-
The fruit of the Spirit
7-
We can operate in His gifts
8-
Heaven, when we leave here
9-
We will rule and reign with Him in the future Millennial Reign of Christ
And much, much more.
But, we have a part to play in this, which is the difference in having the favor of God, that
we all want, or we could receive the judgment side of God which brings with it much trouble.
We are always telling our children, when we send them out to play, “Stay out of trouble.” You got it! —– With God It’s the same. We know if we break the rules, we are in trouble.
Today we are going to learn:
How to stay out of trouble with God:
Many of us have tried to make a deal with God. We say “If You will do this, I will do that.”
This is not how God operates. We have His Word: if we will do this, He will do that. We’re always trying to ‘get the cart before the horse’ (so to speak).
WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD BY BEING OBEDIENT: Our relationship with
God, and our anointing has much to do with our obedience to Him.
Acts 5:29,32
– Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said, We ought to obey
God rather than men.
And we are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.
John 15:10 —- If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.
And
1 John 3:22 —- And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
Matthew 7:21 —- Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.
God Word is very clear about how to follow His will—we must trust and obey.
One of my most quoted Scriptures is found in Proverbs 3:5,6 —-
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own
understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He
shall direct thy paths.
We are instructed to trust and obey and leave the rest to Him.
He can cause circumstances around us to change. All He wants usto do, after trusting and being obedient, is to do good when it is in our power to do so; but the most important of all requirements, is to spend
time with Him each day.
SEEKING THE LORD CAN KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD:
This is where we get direction, and are refreshed by His presence.
How can we know what He desires of us, unless we have a relationship with Him?
Seeking Him, by spending time with Him, and praising and worshipping Him, brings relationship.
It can keep us out of trouble, even though, most of our trouble, is brought-on by our decision
to ‘do it our way’.
Acts 17:27 — That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far away from every one of us.
2 Chronicles 15:2 — The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.
Lamentations 3:25 — The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.
And
Ezra 8:22 — The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all that forsake Him.
WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT THE FLESH:
Romans 8:12,13 —- Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Or we could say, we are not obligated to our carnal or old sinful nature, to do what it begs us to do.
Verse 13 — For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify
the deeds of the body (that is die to self), ye shall live.
Let’s explain it this way. If you keep on following theold sinful nature, you are lost and you will perish, but
if through the power of the Holy Spirit you crush it and it’s evil deeds, you shall live.
You might say, ”This is hard to do”. Well, — I can tell you, it can be done, with the help of Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to help you.
Look at Titus 2:11,12 —- For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD IF WE TAKE THE WALK OF LOVE:
1-
Brotherly love
2-
Loving God
Let’s start with brotherly love:
There are probably many words that are the opposite to the word love, but the most prominent is hate.
There are others that could describe the lack of brotherly love, like despise, judgmental, unforgiveness,
and the list goes on. I ‘m sure you could think of others right-off, and you would be right, but this will do for
now.
1 John 2:10, describes those
who love their brother (talking about other believers), as abiding in the
light. — He that loveth his brother
abith in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling (or error) in him.
1 John 4: 7,8 —- Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love.
E M Bounds, on prayer, says,
“By prayer, the ability is secured to feel the law of love, to speak according to the law of love, and to do everything in harmony with the law of love.”
We need divine aid to act brotherly.
Jesus, our perfect example, was and is a devoted friend. He gave His life willingly that we might live. He
gave us Eternal life.
We need to judge our love walk.
JUDGING OURSELVES CAN KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD:
Corinthians 11:30,31,32 —- For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (or are dead).
For if we judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be
condemned with the world.
To judge self, is when the believer sees self as God sees him. He will renounce or forsake self.
It is replacing the self life with the Christ life.
To judge self is to deny self. This is more than self-denial. Self-denial is denying one’s self of the gratification or enjoyment of the flesh. If we practice self-denial only, it is treating the symptom and not the cause.
But when we judge self, we are attacking the cause.
*To judge self, is to lose the self-life and find the Christ-life:
Galatians 2:20 — I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
*To judge self, is to no longer be self-conscious, but to become Christ conscious:
Matthew 28:20 — Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:and, lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. Amen.
*To judge self, is to no longer be self controlled, but become Christ controlled:
Acts 9:6 — And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me do?
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told
thee what thou must do.
*To judge self, is to no longer practice self-esteem, but to esteem others better than self:
Philippians 2:3 — Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
*To judge self, is to become selfless or unselfish.
We are to search-out our lives, to see if there be any wicked way in us, and get rid of it, by askingGod to cleanse or take it out of us, so we can stay out of trouble with God and be a part of that Church without spot or wrinkle.
FRUIT OF ASSOCIATION
EPHESIANS 4:22-24 – THAT YE PUT OFF CONCERNING THE FORMER CONVERSATION THE OLD MAN, WHICH IS CORRUPT ACCORDING TO THE DECEITFUL LUSTS;
AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND;
AND THAT YE PUT ON THE NEW MAN, WHICH AFTER GOD IS CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD BRINGS CHANGE IN OUR LIVES, GOOD CHANGES , THAT BRINGS GREAT JOY AND PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.
JESUS BEGAN’S TO AFFECT OUR CONDUCT AND CHARACTER, AS WE READ THE WORD OF GOD AND DEVELOPE IN OUR PRAYER LIFE; WHICH INVOLVE’S WORSHIP.
OUR DESIRE’S BEGIN TO CHANGE OUR CONDUCT BEGAN’S TO CHANGE.
THIS RELATIONSHIP BEGAN’S TO GOVERN OUR CONDUCT, AND CONDUCT REVEAL’S CHARACTER.
CONDUCT IS WHAT WE DO, CHARACTER IS WHAT WE ARE.
CONDUCT IS THE OUTWARD LIFE. CHARACTER IS THE UNSEEN LIFE, HIDDEN WITHIN; YET EVIDENCED BY THAT WHICH IS SEEN.
CONDUCT IS EXTERNAL, SEEN FROM WITHOUT.
CHARACTER IS INTERNAL, OPERATING WITHIN.
GRACE IS WORKING IN OUR LIVES PRODUCING CHARACTER AND GODLY CONDUCT.
CHARACTER IS THE ROOT AND CONDUCT IS THE FRUIT.
GALATIANS 5:22,23 – BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH.
MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW .
AND THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH THE AFFECTIONS AND LUST’S.
PHILIPPIANS 2:13 – FOR IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE.
NEVER LAY YOUR WEAPONS DOWN
WE ARE TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE THAT WE HAVE WEAPONS. THESE ARE NOT FLESHLY WEAPONS, BUT WEAPONS OF A SPIRITUAL NATURE. THESE WEAPONS GUARD OUR SOUL.
FIRST, WE HAVE WEAPONS AGAINST THE WORLD, WE CALL FAITH.
I JOHN 5:4 – FOR WHATSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD OVERCOMETH THE WORLD: AND THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT OVERCOMETH THE WORLD, EVEN OUR FAITH.
THIS FAITH IS THE PRODUCT OF OUR BELIEF THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD (V.5).
THE NEXT WEAPON IS AGAINST SATAN, THE ENEMY OF OUR SOUL, WHICH IS THE COMPLETE ARMOR OF GOD FOUND IN EPHESISNS 6:11-18 –
PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL, FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES (PLACES OF AUTHORITY). WHEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE ALL TO STAND, STAND THEREFORE, HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH, AND HAVING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND YOUR FEET SHOD WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; ABOVE ALL TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH, WHEREWITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUINCH THE FIREY DARTS OF THE WICKED. AND TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION, WHICH IS THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD. PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYERS AND SUPLICATIONS IN THE SPIRIT.
YES, PRAYER IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST TOOLS, OR WEAPONS IN WARFARE. WE CANNOT GO TO BATTLE WITHOUT IT.
THE LAST WEAPON I WILL MENTION IS THE WEAPON AGAINT THE FLESH. THIS WEAPON IA THE SPIRIT.
GALATIANS 5:16-25 –
THIS I SAY THEN, WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND YE SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH. FOR THE FLESH LUSTETH AGAINST THE SPIRIT, AND THE SPIRIT AGAINST THE FLESH: AND THESE ARE CONTRARY THE ONE TO THE OTHER: SO THAT YE CANNOT DO THE THINGS THAT YE WOULD. BUT IF YE BE LED BY THE SPIRIT, YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW. NOW THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE MANIFEST (PLAIN), WHICH ARE THESE; ADULTRY, FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, LASCIVIOUSNESS, IDOLATRY, WITCHCRAFT, HATRED, VARIANCE (DISCORD), EMULATIONS (JEALOUSIES), WRATH, STRIFE, SEDITIONS (DIVISIONS), HERESIES (FALSE DOCTRINES), ENVYINGS, MURDERS, DRUNKENNESS, REVELLINGS (WILD PARTIES), AND SUCH LIKE: OF THE WHICH I TELL YOU BEFORE, AS I HAVE ALSO TOLD YOU IN TIME PAST, THAT THEY WHICH DO SUCH THINGS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
BUT THE FRUIT OFTHE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, AND PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW. AND THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH THE AFFECTIONS (IT’S PASSIONS) AND LUSTS. IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT…!
PEACE TO THIS HOUSE
HOW CAN WE BE THE CHRISTIAN AND MINISTER GOD WANTS US TO BE, IF THERE IS NO PEACE WITHIN?
IN MY TIME WITH THE LORD, HE SPOKE TO MY HEART, “I AM GOING TO BRING PEACE TO THIS HOUSE.”
I THOUGHT, THERE IS NO TROUBLE IN MY HOUSE. MY HUSBAND HAVE BEEN MARRIED OVER 4O YEARS, AND WE GET ALONG GREAT. THERE IS NO ONE ELSE IN THE HOUSE BUT THE TWO OF US.
THEN I REALIZED, OUR LORD WAS TALKIING ABOUT HIS TEMPLE WITHIN ME.
WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, I CORINTHIANS 6:19 – WHAT? KNOW YE NOT THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS IN YE HAVE OF GOD, AND YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN?
IF HE WAS GOING TO BRING PEACE TO MY HOUSE THERE MUST BE A LACK OF IT. I WAS TROUBLED ABOUT TOO MANY THINGS: MINISTRY, PEOPLE.
I KNEW I NEEDED TO HAVE PEACE WITHIN, SO I COULD BE MY BEST FOR GOD AND HIS KINGDOM.
WORRY IS NOT JUST A LACK OF FAITH, IT IS SIN. IT CAUSES A LACK OF PEACE OF MIND AND HEART.
PHILIPPIANS 4:5-7 – LET YOUR MODERATION (SELF CONTROL) BE KNOWN UNTO ALL MEN, THE LORD IS AT HAND (THE LORD IS COMING; THE LORD IS IN CONTROL).
BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING (DO NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING; OR DO NOT BE ANXIOUS); BUT IN EVERTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD.
AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, SHALL KEEP (GUARD LIKE A WARRIOR ON DUTY) YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.
GOD GIVES US PEACE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. JESUS IS CALLED THE PRINCE OF PEACEIN ISAIAH 9:6 – FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN: AND THE GOVERNMENTSHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER: AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE PRINCE OF PEACE.
MANY HAVE INTERRUPTED SLEEP, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF PEACE: PSALM 4:8 – I WILL BOTH LAY ME DOWN IN PEACE, AND SLEEP: FOR THOU, LORD, ONLY MAKEST ME DWELL IN SAFETY.
WE SEE IN THIS VERSE, ONLY THE PRINCE OF PEACE CAN BRING PEACE.
YOU MAY BE THE ONE WHO IS NOT SLEEPING WELL BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT SEPARATES YOU FROM GOD’S BEST FOR YOU. YOU LIE AWAKE, KNOWING, JESUS IS COMING BACK SOON, AND YOU ARE NOT READY. YOU CALL IT THE END OF THE WORLD, BUT FOR A BELIEVER IT IS OUR REAL LIFE, AND NEW GLORIOUS BEGINNING.
THOSE DREAMS YOU HAVE BEEN HAVING, TROUBLE YOU. YOU WAKE UP IN A COLD SWEAT, SAYING, “WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME?”
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT BORN AGAIN, WILL NEVER FIND PEACE UNTIL YOU GIVE YOUR LIVES TO JESUS CHRIST , AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
GIVE YOUR HEART AND LIFE TO JESUS, HE IS CALLING YOU TO HIS LOVE AND FORGIVENESS.
SOME NEED TO GIVE UP THAT THING THAT IS COMING BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR LORD: OF YOU DON’T, YOU WILL END UP LOOSING THAT THING, AND ALSO THE ONE WHO DIED FOR YOU.
YOUR CHILDREN NEED PEACE OPERATING IN YOUR LIFE. THIS WILL HELP THEM TO FIND PEACE IN THEIR LIVES.
YOU MIGHT SAY, “I’M DOING THE BEST I CAN, BUT MY CHILDREN A DRIVING ME CRAZY.”
TAKE INVENTORY, DO YOU HAVE PEACE WITH GOD?
DOES YOUR CHILD EXPERIENCE PEACE AND LOVE AT HOME? OR IS THERE ALWAYS TERMOIL, AND A LOT OF YELLING AND SOMETIMES, EVEN FIGHTS BREAK OUT?
SOMETIMES CHILDREN CULTIVATE THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR IN THEIR LIVES, AND BECOME ANGRY AND REBELLIOUS; AND DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ACT THAT WAY, AND FEEL THE STRESS OF LIFE.
IF YOU CULTIVATE A TRUST IN GOD TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING, AND YOU DO YOUR BEST, GOD WILL SEE AND HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND HEAL YOUR LIFE.
WHEN WE AS BELIEVERS DON’T HAVE PEACE, I BELIEVE WE ARE NOT REALLY ABIDING IN HIM. I KNOW HOW THE BALLTES COME TO TRY AND STOP US FROM TRUSTING GOD WITH EVEYTHING THAT COMES OUR WAY, BUT I ALSO KNOW GOD DECLARES THAT THE BATTLE IS HIS.
I HAVE PRAISED MYSELF OUT OF MANY SITUATIONS, WITH PRAYER AND SUPPLICATIONS (SUGGESTS PRAYER TO AVOID ALL EVIL) I LET MY REQUEST BE KNOWN UNTO GOD.
HE ALREADY KNOWS, HE JUST WANTS YOU TO INTIMATELY SHARE IT WITH HIM.
AND ONCE YOU GIVE IT TO HIM, IT’S HIS.
IF WE ASK GOD TO HELP US WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT IN THE FLESH, WE WILL SEE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR DAILY WALK WITH HIM.
THE PEACE THAT GOD GIVES, FLOWS FROM THE SENCING OF HIS MOST GRACIOUS PRESENCE, AND CONSISTS IN CHILD LIKE CONFIDENCE AND TRUSTFUL LOVE.
THIS PEACE PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING; IT’S CALM BLESSEDNESS GOSES FARTHER THAN THE REACH OF HUMAN THOUGHT; IT CAN BE ONLY KNOWN BY THYE INNER EXPERIENCE OF THE BELIEVER.
HE IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK (EPHESIANS 3:20).
PHILIPPIANS 4:7b – …SHALL KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS… THE PEACE OF GOD IN THE HEART IS A SURE AND RELIABLE MILITARY FORCE, GUARDING IT SO THAT THE EVIL SPIRIT, ONCE CAST OUT, CANNOT RETURN.
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THE FREEDOM YOU FEEL WHEN SOMETHING BOTHERING YOU KEAVES?
IN CHRIST JESUS, TRUE ABIDING BELIEVERS, UNDERSTAND HIS PROMISE, PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU, MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU, LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED, NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID (JOHN 14). WE SEE HERE, JESUS GIVES US PEACE, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ALSO GIVES US PEACE: GALATIANS 5:22 – BUT THE FRUIT OF THE (HOLY) SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONG-SUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH…
SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT PEACE COMES FROM THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
DON’T BE CONTENT WITH LESS
Luke 11:13 – If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask?
We are Gods children if we have accepted Jesus as our saviour. We are told we can ask the Father for more of the Holy Spirit. More of the Holy Spirit in our lives, means His power and influence is greater in measure inside us.
His desires begin to consume our thoughts and wishes.
The glory of His presence is changing us and filling us with a hunger for His Word and even a greater thirst for His Spirit.
As the Holy Spirit directs me to his Word, I begin to understand the Lord’s purpose for my life.
Great faith and peace overcome my thoughts.
The Love of God overwhelms me.
It now becomes easy to love those with whom I have a problem loveing.
His presence fills me with love.
The Holy Spirit will give us revelation of all things paid for by Jesus Christ, and belongs to us.
The Holy Spirit will not only reveal those things to us; but will show us how to believe and receive.
I Corinthians 2:9-10 – But as it is written, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM. But God hath revealed them by His Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
The Holy Spirit will reveal to us the power, authority, and blessing we have in our spiritual birthright in Jesus.
The Holy Spirit can do so much and longs to do it for us.
I Corinthians 3:21b – For all things are yours.
Ephesians 3:20 – Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
That power is the Holy Spirit.
We must be full of Him for Him to work in us.
When we are full of the Holy Spirit, the power is flowing, our thinking is great, and our asking is greater.
God is bigger, our faith is bigger, our receiving is bigger.Our fruit grows big.
Be filled with the Spirit –
Ask – Seek – Knock
