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THERE ARE THOSE WE TRUST, AND THERE ARE THOSE WE HAVE NO TRUST IN. MANY TIMES WE TRUST PEOPLE AND FIND OUT LATER THEY ARE NOT TRUST WORTHY. HOW CAN WE AS BELIEVERS KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?
MOST OF THE TIME IT’S THROUGH A PROCESS OF WAITING TO SEE IF THEY BETRAY OUR TRUST, OR HOLD TO THE TRUST WE PLACED IN THEM IN AN ADMIRABLE WAY.
TRUST IS FAITH IN ACTION. TRUST MEANS: TO PUT ONE’S CONFIDENCE IN.
IN THE WORD OF GOD, WE FIND INSTRUCTIONS IN WHAT NOT TO PUT OUR TRUST. I WILL LIST THEM: WEAPONS (PS. 44:6); WEALTH (PS.49:6,7); LEADERS (PS. 146:3); MAN (JER 17:5); WORKS (JER. 48:7); OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (EZEK. 33:13).
THIS SHOWS US WE CAN’T PUT OUR TRUST IN THINGS, PEOPLE, NOR OURSELVES. WELL, THAT COVERS ALMOST EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING BUT GOD, THAT IS.
WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE, MUCH OF THE TIME, PUT THEIR TRUST IN THINGS, PEOPLE, AND THEMSELVES, BEFORE THEY PUT THEIR TRUST IN GOD?
BELOVED, THIS IS THE WAY OF THE WORLD. WEAPONS, WEALTH, LEADERS, MANKIND, OUR WORKS, AND EVEN OUR RIGHTEOUS- NESS CAN FAIL US AT ANY TIME.
THE WORLD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE GOD AS THEIR SOURCE OF TRUST, BUT WE AS CHRISTIANS TRUST GOD FOR EVERYTHING, EVERYDAY.
OUR TRUST IS TO BE PUT IN GOD’S NAME: PSALM 33:20-22 – OUR SOUL WAITETH FOR THE LORD: HE IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD.
FOR OUR HEART SHALL REJOICE IN HIM, BECAUSE WE HAVE TRUSTED IN HIS HOLY NAME.
LET THY MERCY, O LORD, BE UPON US, ACCORDING AS WE HOPE IN THEE.
OUR TRUST IS TO BE PUT IN GOD’S MERCY: PSALM 52:8 – BUT I AM LIKE A GREEN OLIVE TREE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD: I TRUST IN THE MERCY OF GOD FOR EVER AND EVER.
OUR TRUST IS TO BE PLACED IN GOD’S WORD: PSALM 119:41 – LET THEY MERCIES COME ALSO UNTO ME, O LORD, EVEN OUR SALVATION, ACCORDING TO THY WORD.
SO SHALL I HAVE WHEREWITH TO ANSWER HIM THAT REPROACHETH ME: FOR I TRUST IN THY WORD.
WHEN GOD’S FAVOR IS MANIFESTED TO US, WE CAN SUFFICENTLY ANSWER OUR ENEMIES WITH THE WORD. WE TRUST IN GOD’S WORD: WE TRUST IN HIS PROMISES THAT ARE CONTAINED IN HIS WORD, FOR HIS SERVANTS.
MATTHEW 12:17-21 – THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ISAIAH THE PROPHET, SAYING,
BEHOLD MY SERVANT, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN: MY BELOVED, IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL PLEASED:
I WILL PUT MY TRUST UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL SHOW MY JUDGMENT OT THE GENTILES.
HE SHALL NOT STRIVE NOR CRY; NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.
A BRUISED REED SHALL HE NOT BREAK, AND SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUINCH, TILL HE SEND FORTH JUDGMENT INTO VICTORY.
AND IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES TRUST.
THIS IS DESCRIBING WHAT JESUS DID FOR OUR SALVATION; AND WE CAN PUT OUR TRUST IN HIM AND WHAT HE DID FOR US. ALL OF US, GENTILES AND JEWS ALIKE, CAN PUT OUR TRUST IN HIM FOR ETERNAL LIFE.
THIS BEING THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL, THERE ARE MORE WONDERFUL BENEFITS TO TRUSTING CHRIST: BENEFITS OF JOY: PSALM 5;11 – BUT LET ALL THOSE THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN THEE REJOICE: LET THEM EVER SHOUT FOR JOY, BECAUSE THOU DEFENDEST THEM: LET THEM ALSO THAT LOVE THY NAME BE JOYFUL IN THEE.
IT’S EASY TO HAVE JOY WHEN THINGS ARE GOING GREAT, BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE STILL PUTTING OUT TRUST IN GOD AND THINGS ARE NOT SO GREAT?
I EXPERIENCED THIS ONE DAY A WHILE BACK, AND THE DAY BEFORE THAT.
FIRST, MY MOTHER HAD CANCER IN HER ARM, AND IT WAS REMOVED. THANK GOD, THE DOCTOR THINKS HE GOT IT ALL. THIS WAS HARD FOR ME AND MY SIBLINGS BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR MOTHER AND HAD ALREADY SEEN OUR DADDY, WHO WE LOVED DEARLY, PASS WITH LUNG CANCER BECAUSE OF SMOKING.
I DROVE BACK HOME TO BE COMFORTED BY MY HUSBAND WHO WAS WAITING FOR ME: AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE TOLD ME, WAS OUR PET, ROSIE, WAS VERY SICK AND SHE WAS TO BE PUT TO SLEEP THE NEXT DAY. I WAS CRUSHED. THIS WAS JUST TOO MUCH.
I WAS STILL DEALING WITH MY TRUST IN GOD TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER, NOW THIS. ROSIE WAS OUR SPRINGER SPANIEL, WHO WAS QUITE A PERSONALITY, BUT VERY OLD AND WEAK. I LOVED HER SO MUCH.
I JUST HAD TO GET ALONE WITH GOD. I DIDN’T WANT MY HUSBAND TO DO THIS, BUT HIS MIND WAS MADE UP, AND IN THE END, I KNEW I HAD TO SURRENDER TO THIS. IT WASWHAT WAS BEST FOR ROSIE.
I CRIED AND CRIED, IT WAS SO HARD. I POURED OUT MY HEART TO THE LORD. HE BEGAN TO COMFORT ME WITH HIS WORD. THE SCRIPTURES BEGAN TO COME THROUGH MY TEARS. GOD INSTRUCTED ME WITH THAT STILL SMALL VOICE TO TURN TO PSALM 34 AND 44. ALL OF IT MINISTERED TO ME, BUT ONE VERSE IN PSALM 34, VERSE 18, GAVE ME THE GREATEST COMFORT OF ALL – THE LORD IS NIGH UNTO THEM THAT ARE OF A BROKEN HEART; AND SAVETH SUCH AS BE OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT.
I WAS THINKING, WHAT IS CONTRITE? THE DEFINITION IN STRONG’S IS: CRUSHED, AND POWDER.
THIS BROUGHT ME BACK TO A SERMON, IN FACT IT WAS THE FIRST SERMON I HEARD TD JAKES PREACH. IT WAS CALLED “ASHES.” HE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE CAN COME TO THE PLACE THAT WE ARE SO CRUSHED THAT WE BECOME THE POWDER FROM THE FIRE, WE CALL ASHES.
AS WE SERVE THE LORD, AND CONTINUE TO TRUST HIM THROUGH THESE HARD PLACES. HE BEGINS TO ELEVATE OUR FAITH, BECAUSE WE KNOW, WITHOUT A DOUBT, WE WILL NEVER COME THROUGH THESE THINGS ALONE.
I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE WHO DON’T KNOW THE LORD, GET THROUGH THESE HARD TO UNDERSTAND THINGS. A DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, OR A LOSE OF A CHILD. THEY CAN’T GET HELP THEY NEED FROM THE WORLD THAT BRINGS JOY.
WELL, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME: THE LORD RESTORED MY JOY AND GAVE ME PEACE AS I BEGAN TO WORSHIP HIM IN IT.
* PART 2 COMING UP.
I CORINTHIANS 1:26-29 – FOR YE SEE YOUR CALLING, BRETHERN, HOW THAT NOT MANY WISE MEN AFTER THE FLESH, NOT MANY MIGHTY, NOT MANY NOBLE, ARE CALLED:
BUT GOD HATH CHOSEN THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD TO CONFOUND THE THINGS WHICH ARE MIGHTY;
AND BASE THINGS OF THE WORLD, AND THINGS WHICH ARE DESPISED, HATH GOD CHOSEN, YEA, AND THINGS WHICH ARE NOT, TO BRING TO NOUGHT THINGS WHICH ARE:
THAT NO FLESH SHOILD GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE.
WE ARE TO SPEAK WHAT GOD GIVES US, AND NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT OUR DELIVERY OR THE OUTCOME. HE KNOWS TO WHOM WE ARE MINISTERING, AND WHAT ARE THERE NEEDS.
HE KNOWS OUR ABILITIES AND HOW TO STRETCH THEM. HE DOESN’T SEND US TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT PREPARED TO HEAR HIS HEART. WHAT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT MESSAGE FOR ONE GROUP, MIGHT NOT BE THE MESSAGE FOR ANOTHER. HE ALSO KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE LIVES OF THOSE AT YOUR DIVINE APPOINTMENT WITH THEM.
IT SHOULD BE OUR DESIRE TO FOLLOW THE CLOUD LIKE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN THE BOOK OF EXODUS. WHEN HE MOVES, WE MOVE!
IT IS SO MUCH EASIER FOR ME NOW, FOR I CONTINUE TO FIND OUT WHAT HE WANTS, SAY WHAT HE GIVES ME, AND WAIT FOR THE DEMONSTRATION OF HIS POWER AND HIS SPIRIT.
IF GOD USED A DONKEY; AND THEN A ROOSTER WITH A THREE PART SERMON, HE WILL USE YOU AND ME!
PREPARATION, STUDY OF THE WORD, PRAYER, AND FASTING, IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO; BUT OUR MOST IMPORTANT PART IS FINDING A PLACE TO BE ALONE WITH, GOD AND SEEKING HIM, AND WORSHIPPING HIM. THEN, STEP OUT IN FAITH, BELIEVING. FOR WITHOUT HIM WE CAN DO NOTHING; AND WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT HIM; BUT PHILIPPIANS 4:13 – SAYS, I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.
II CHRONICLES 26:5b,16 – AND AS LONG AS HE SOUGHT THE LORD, GOD MADE HIM TO PROSPER.
BUT WHEN HE WAS STRONG, HIS HEART WAS LIFTED UP TO HIS DISTRUCTION:
IF WE KEEP OUR EYES FOCUSED ON GOD AND WHAT HE CAN DO THROUGH US; AND NOT ON OUR OWN ABILITIES, WE WILL CONTINUE ON THE PATH OF MINISTRY PROSPERITY.
OUR DESIRE SHOULD BE THAT WE FLOW CONSTANTLY IN THIS PRINCIPAL, BECAUSE FAILURE TO DO SO, WILL BRING US BACK TO OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING AND ULTIMATELY IN A FALL; OR EVEN INTO SATAN’S TRAP OF SELF-WORSHIP, WHICH LEADS TO DESTRUCTION.
WHEN UZZIAH BEGAN HIS REIGN, HE BEGAN A GODLY REIGN.
II CHRONICLES 26:4a,5 – AND HE DID THAT WHICH WAS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD…
AND HE SOUGHT GODIN THE DAYS OF ZECHARIAH, WHO HAD UNDERSTANDING IN THE VISIONS OF GOD:
HE PROSPERED IN WAR AND FAME. THEN HE BAGAN TO THINK TOO HIGHLY OF HIMSELF; HE TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THE LORD, BY STEPPING OUT OF HIS PLACE OF AUTHORITY.
WHEN CORRECTED BY THE PRIEST, HE BECAME ANGRY.
V.19-21a – THEN UZZIAH WAS WROTH, AND HAD A CENSER IN HIS HAND TO BURN INCENSE:AND WHILE HE WAS WROTH WITH THE PRIESTS, THE LEPROSY EVEN ROSE UP IN HIS FOREHEAD BEFORE THE PRIESTS IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, FROM BESUDE THE INCENSE ALTER. AND AZARIAH THE CHIEF PRIEST, AND ALL THE PRIESTS, LOOKED UPON HIM, AND, BEHOLD, HE WAS LEPROUS IN HIS FOREHEAD, AND THEY THRUST HIM OUT FROM THENCE; YEA, HIMSELF HASTED ALSO TO GET OUT, BECAUSE THE LORD HAD SMITTEN HIM. AND UZZIAH THE KING, WAS A LEPER UNTO THE DAY OF HIS DEATH, AND DWELT IN A SEVERAL HOUSE (INFIRMARY), BEING A LEPER; FOR HE WAS CUT OFF FROM THE HOUSE OF THE LORD:
IT IS IMPORTANT TO START THE RACE, BUT MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE FINISH IT; AND REMEMBER: WE NEVER GET ABOVE CORRECTION.
PAUL WROTE TO TIMOTHY IN II TIMOTHY 4:5,7 – BUT WATCH THOU IN ALL THINGS, ENDURE AFFLICTIONS, DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST, MAKE FULL PROOF OF THY MINISTRY.
I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH;
ACTS 20:24 – BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME, NEITHER COUNT I MY LIFE DEAR UNTO MYSELF, SO THAT I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY, AND THE MINISTRY, WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED OF THE LORD JESUS, TO TESTIFY THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.
ALL WE DO IN THE KINGDOM, THE PRAISE AND GLORY MUST GO TO GOD. IF WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO RECIEVE ANY, WE REALLY ARE FAILURES IN THE END.
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
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.
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.
EZEKIEL 36:22-28 – THEREFORE SAY UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; I DO NOT THIS FOR YOUR SAKES, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL, BUT FOR MINE HOLY NAME’S SAKE, WHICH YE HAVE PROFANED AMONG THE HEATHEN, WHITHER YE WENT.
AND I WILL SANCTIFY MY GREAT NAME, WHICH WAS PROFANED AMONG THE HEATHEN, WHICH YE HAVE PROFANED IN THE MIDST OF THEM; AND THE HEATHEN SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, SAITH THE LORD GOD, WHEN I SHALL BE SANCTIFIED IN YOU BEFORE THEIR EYES.
FOR I WILL TAKE YOU FROM AMONG THE HEATHEN, AND GATHER YOU OUT OF ALL COUNTRIES, AND WILL BRING YOU INTO YOUR OWN LAND.
THEN I WILL SPRINKLE WATER UPON YOU, AND YE SHALL BE CLEAN: FROM ALL YOUR FILTHINESS, AND FROM ALL YOUR IDOLS, WILL I CLEANSE YOU.
A NEW HEART WILL I GIVE YOU, AND A NEW SPIRIT WILL I PUT WITHIN YOU: AND I WILL TAKE AWAY THE STONEY HEART OUT OF YOUR FLESH, AND I WILL GIVE YOU AN HEART OF FLESH.
AND I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND YE SHALL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS, AND DO THEM.
AND YE SHALL DWELL IN THE LAND THAT I GAVE TO YOUR FATHERS; AND YE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD.
PROFANED – A HEBREW WORD, HALAL – A VERB, MEANING TO PIERCE. THE FIRST MEANING OF THIS WORD IS TO PIERCE OR WOUND, EITHER PHYSICALLY UNTO TO DEATH OR FIGURATIVELY UNTO DESPAIR.
THE OTHER MEANING IS TO PROFANE OR TO DEFILE, WHICH IS USED PRIMARILYOF CEREMONIAL OBJECTS OF WORSHIP.
GOD SHALL SANCTIFY HIS GREAT NAME BEFORE THE WORLD BY PERFORMING A GREATER MIRACLE THAN PARTING THE SEA. HE SCATTERED THE JEWISH PEOPLE AFTER THEY REJECTED AND PIERCED THEIR ONLY GIVEN WAY TO WORSHIP.
JOHN 4:21-26 – JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, WOMAN BELIEVE ME, THE HOUR COMETH, WHEN YE SHALL NEITHER IN THIS MOUNTAIN, NOR YET AT JERUSALEM, WORSHIP THE FATHER.
YE WORSHIP YE KNOW NOT WHAT: WE KNOW WHAT WE WORSHIP: FOR SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS.
BUT THE HOUR COMETH, AND NOW IS, WHEN THE TRUE WORSHIPPERS SHALL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH: FOR THE FATHER SEEKETH SUCH TO WORSHIP HIM.
GOD IS A SPIRIT: AND THEY THAT WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.
THE WOMAN SAITH UNTO HIM, I KNOW THAT MESSIAS COMETH, WHICH IS CALLED CHRIST: WHEN IS COME, HE WILL TELL US ALL THINGS.
JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, I THAT SPEAK UNTO THEE AM HE.
ANYONE WHO REJECTS THIS WAY OF WORSHIP PROFANES THE NAME OF GOD. JESUS IS THE WAY, T HE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, NO WORSHIPS THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH THE SACRIFICE THAT WAS OFFERED ON THE CROSS BY JESUS. JEW OR GENTILE CAN ONLY WORSHIP THE FATHER THROUGH HIS CHOSEN SACRIFICE. IT IS PROFANE TO ATTEMPT TO WORSHIP GOD WITHOUT THE ONE THAT WAS PIERCED.
THERE IS A LAND COVENANT GOD MADE TO ABRAHAM. THERE IS A PEOPLE COVENANT GOD MAD TO ABRAHAM. THE LAND IS ISRAEL, THE PEOPLE IS THE JEW.THIS COVENANT CANNOT BE BROKEN, GOD SAID I WILL BRING THE BACK TO THEIR LAND.
THAT IS THE FIRST PHASE, THE SECOND IS ONE DAY IN THE FUTURE, THE JEW WILL RECOGNIZE THEIR MESSIAH. THEN JESUS WILL ENTER INTO THEIR HEART AND THERE WILL BE A REBIRTH OF THEIR SPIRIT. A NATION IS REBORN AND THEN THEIR SPIRIT.
ON MAY 14 1948, GOD PERFORMED A MIRACLE GREATER THAN THE PARTING OF THE RED SEA, ISRAEL BECAME A NATION IN ONE DAY. THIS IS THE GREATEST SIGN THAT IT WILL NOT BE LONG UNTIL THEY RECEIVE THE NEW BIRTH OF THE HEART.
JESUS IS COMING BACK TO JERUSALEM TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM, 144,000 JEWS WILL RECEIVE JESUS DURING THE FIRST THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS OF TRIBULATION. ALL OF ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED AFTER JESUS RETURNS TO JERUSALEM.
ZECHARAIA 13:6 – AND ONE SHALL SAY UNTO HIM,WHAT ARE THOSE WOUNDS IN THINE HANDS? THEN HE SHALL ANSWER, THOSE WITH WHICH I WAS WOUNDED IN THE HOUSE OF MY FRIENDS.
ROMANS 11:26 – AND SO ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED: AS IT IS WRITTEN, THERE SHALL COME OUT OF SION THE DELIVERER, AND SHALL TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB:
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…!