Showing posts with label Spiritual Warfare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spiritual Warfare. Show all posts
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Overcoming the Spirit of Defeat and Living With The Spirit of Victory
We all remember The Roadrunner. Who hasn't seen it. Every Saturday morning I would be glued to the TV and watch the usual line-up of cartoons and this was one of my very favorites. I don't know how many episodes were ever produced (probably hundreds) but, while the story was always the same, it was also always entertaining: Wiley Coyote relentlessly in pursuit of the ever-elusive Roadrunner. We were always intrigued with Wiley's newest methods and plans to capture Roadrunner. However, no matter how hard he tried, he would go down in the flames of defeat ...only to try again. "A" for effort, "F" for results! Poor Coyote. How he made us sigh and, mostly, smile and laugh.
The Roadrunner makes a great metaphor to speak about some deeper things on a spiritual level. Don't we all know of some people, even Christians who are like Wiley Coyote? Always trying to reach some goal with lots of effort but, in some way and on some level always being defeated. They seem very determined but also bound to fail.
Don't we also know other people who are like the Roadrunner? They go through life and no matter what they face, succeed nevertheless. They have victory. Despite opposition and circumstances, they just seem to triumph and overcoming the obstacles. Sorry to get so serious about something so enjoyable like The Roadrunner; however, it is an interesting study in victory vs. defeat.
Tragically, there are many Christians who, though knowing Christ, seem to live their day-by-day lives in defeat. They are like Wiley Coyote. Always trying, yet never really succeeding. For whatever reason, things just don't seem to work out. As a matter of fact, life itself just doesn't seem to work out. Though knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior, for some reason, there seems to be a disconnect between faith and real life experience. How can this be?
Perhaps you know of someone like this. I know I was like this. Even though a born-again believing Christian, for about the first 25 years of my walk in Christ, I lived with a spirit of defeat - not victory. I knew Jesus as my savior and lord, but honestly, I didn't know His sustaining and empowering victory in my life. I was so use to defeat that I didn't even know I was walking in it, because it was my normal. Like Wiley Coyote, lots of effort, but few victorious results. Life under the dark cloud, living with a spirit of defeat.
However, the good news is that we don't have to be like Wiley Coyote. We can live life like the Roadrunner. We can know victory and overcome defeat. Truly there is a spirit of defeat. It is manifested by a pattern of continual failure, fear, oppression and it can even "smell" or "feel" like death.
Question: where does it come from? Answer: the enemy...the devil.
Question: How did we get it? Answer: By allowing it to happen, by giving the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:27), allowing satan and his lies to speak to us and dictate to our lives instead of standing on God's Word.
Question: What do we do about it, how do we overcome it? Answer: First - repent of any sins and unbelief. Next, be renewed in your mind and spirit by God's Word (Romans 12:2)- standing on His promises and, in God's strength, walking in victory (Hebrews 10:36). Second - rebuke the devil (James 4:7). Tear down every thought/imagination/stronghold that does not agree with and conform to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5-6) and is contrary to the promises of God. Break any bondages the enemy may have on your life by claiming/accepting/calling forth the blood of Jesus upon your life (Romans 5:9-11). Third, understand that there is a warfare going on and your life is the battleground (2 Corinthians 10:2-4). Wage this warfare by developing a habit of continual prayer, as well as by standing, confessing, proclaiming God's Word over your life and situations. Put on the armor of God to be strong in the power of His might against the enemy (Ephesians 6:10-18). Fourth - be accountable to and seek the help of your spiritual oversight. Let your pastor minister to you and pray for you. Be rightly related to your leadership because your pastor is your shepherd and cares for you (Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).
This is how you get the victory! It is God's will for your life and your right, as a child of God, to have it and walk in it. Because of Jesus, we are more than conquerors in Him (Romans 8:37). We have all the victory in Christ, He is our victory (2 Corinthians 2:14). He has set us free from sin and death (John 8:36, Romans 6:22, 8:2) to love, obey, serve and walk victorious in Him.
As you do these things and persist until you gain the victory, you will overcome the spirit of defeat. This is how to say goodbye to being like Wiley Coyote and become an overcomer like the Roadrunner.
Beep..beep!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
God Is Our Yasha!
The word, Yasha, is a Hebrew verb which, in English, means "to deliver" and "to rescue". It is also the Hebrew word for Savior. Yasha means that God is, by His nature, a rescuer and deliverer. There can be people who rescue and deliver others, but it is not their fundamental nature to do so. However, concerning God, it is definitely His nature. He is also the source of all deliverance and rescue.
In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus says: "...The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." The freedom God provides, as illustrated in this verse, is to those held captive to sin, all mankind, and to release (rescue/deliver) them from the stronghold of the enemy, who is satan. Jesus accomplished this when he died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead. Also, Colossians 1:13-14 says: "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins".
Once saved, while we are free from the captivity of the enemy, there are times when the devil oppresses us and tries to lead us back into captivity. He comes as a thief and tries steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10a). His goal is to rob us of our faith, kill our joy and to destroy our testimony and relationship with God. But the Bible makes it very clear that greater is he (Jesus) who is in us than He (satan) who is in the world (1John 4:4).
There are also people and situations that oppress us and threaten, at times, to undo us. There are examples of many righteous people in scripture who cried out to God to rescue and deliver them from their enemies. King David was an example of a man who, when in trouble, turned to God and poured out His heart, and cried for help.
Psalm 18 is a wonderful portion of scripture we can hold onto when we are awaiting rescue from God. Read this psalm, meditate on it, and pray it. Watch God, who is Yasha (Savior), yasha (save, deliver, rescue) you. Can you be sure that He will rescue and deliver you? Yes, because it is both His nature and desire to do so! As you are waiting for your deliverance, thank and praise him because help is on the way. Thanksgiving and praise is a powerful and effective tool to usher in God during a dark hour.
Psalm 18 (NIV)
1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies ,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
20 The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
I have not done evil by turning from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
24 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
27 You save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
29 With your help I can advance against a troop ;
with my God I can scale a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
36 You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38 I crushed them so that they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
39 You armed me with strength for battle;
you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
to the LORD, but he did not answer.
42 I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind;
I poured them out like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
you have made me the head of nations;
people I did not know are subject to me.
44 As soon as they hear me, they obey me;
foreigners cringe before me.
45 They all lose heart;
they come trembling from their strongholds.
46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
47 He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
48 who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD;
I will sing praises to your name.
50 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.
In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus says: "...The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." The freedom God provides, as illustrated in this verse, is to those held captive to sin, all mankind, and to release (rescue/deliver) them from the stronghold of the enemy, who is satan. Jesus accomplished this when he died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead. Also, Colossians 1:13-14 says: "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins".
Once saved, while we are free from the captivity of the enemy, there are times when the devil oppresses us and tries to lead us back into captivity. He comes as a thief and tries steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10a). His goal is to rob us of our faith, kill our joy and to destroy our testimony and relationship with God. But the Bible makes it very clear that greater is he (Jesus) who is in us than He (satan) who is in the world (1John 4:4).
There are also people and situations that oppress us and threaten, at times, to undo us. There are examples of many righteous people in scripture who cried out to God to rescue and deliver them from their enemies. King David was an example of a man who, when in trouble, turned to God and poured out His heart, and cried for help.
Psalm 18 is a wonderful portion of scripture we can hold onto when we are awaiting rescue from God. Read this psalm, meditate on it, and pray it. Watch God, who is Yasha (Savior), yasha (save, deliver, rescue) you. Can you be sure that He will rescue and deliver you? Yes, because it is both His nature and desire to do so! As you are waiting for your deliverance, thank and praise him because help is on the way. Thanksgiving and praise is a powerful and effective tool to usher in God during a dark hour.
Psalm 18 (NIV)
1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies ,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
20 The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
I have not done evil by turning from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
24 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
27 You save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
29 With your help I can advance against a troop ;
with my God I can scale a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
36 You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38 I crushed them so that they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
39 You armed me with strength for battle;
you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
to the LORD, but he did not answer.
42 I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind;
I poured them out like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
you have made me the head of nations;
people I did not know are subject to me.
44 As soon as they hear me, they obey me;
foreigners cringe before me.
45 They all lose heart;
they come trembling from their strongholds.
46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
47 He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
48 who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD;
I will sing praises to your name.
50 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
How to Stand on God's Word
When we stand on God's Word, we are simply going to God with His promises. We are simply reminding God of His Word and asking Him to give us what belongs to us. We are doing what God told us to do. In fact, in His Word, God invited us to remind Him of His promises.
Isaiah 43:26 - "Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence".
It is scriptural for a believer to take his stand on the Word of God and remind God what He has promised in His Word. In fact, God said to put Him in remembrance of His Word and what He has promised us.
You see, faith believes what God has already said; faith responds to what God has already done; and faith receives what God has already provided.
It is not arrogant for a child to remind his parents of a promise made made to him. That's not arrogance, disobedience, manipulation, or disrespect. It is simply asking for what was already promised.
Therefore, it is not arrogant for us to ask our Heavenly Father for the gifts and benefits He already provided for us. We are just claiming in faith what He has promised in His Word. It does not detract from God's sovereignty to put Him in remembrance of His Word!
Taking a stand on God's Word is not arrogant! And when you stand on God's Word against the devil, you can't be mealy-mouthed and wishy-washy about it! You must know who you are in Christ and take your authority over the devil.
You've got to be strong in the Lord! You've got to boldly declare who you are in Christ. That's not arrogance- that's faith! When we are bold in Christ, we are not taking an arrogant stance against God. We are taking a strong stance against the problem and against our enemy, Satan, based upon the authority of God's Word (Luke 10:19; Phil. 2:9,10).
Let the devil know you are not going to be intimidated by him or his devices. That's not arrogance against God; that's acting boldly in your authority over the devil. It's boldly standing in your place of authority because the Word said that Jesus defeated the devil. And because Satan has been defeated, you can be bold as a lion.
Proverbs 28: 1 - "The wicked man flees though no one pursues him, but the righteous are as bold as lions".
You are dealing with a defeated foe that is already under your feet because he's under Jesus' feet, so you can be bold in your authority! The devil has already been defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ!
Jesus said "...All power is given to me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28:18). Then He said, "Go you," giving that power to His Church on the earth (Matt 28:19). So why should we we weak and afraid to deal with a defeated foe - when we have the authority in Jesus' Name to put him in his place?
It is not arrogant to scripturally come against the enemy that is trying to steal from us what God has already given us. When you know God's Word, you get bold and strong in the Lord!
But when people don't really know what God's Word says, they don't have the boldness to stand against the devil. And some believers only know what someone thought God's Word said. But if they would study the Word for themselves, they would see for themselves that they have authority over the devil in Jesus' Name!
Some believers aren't sure about their authority in Christ because they are still trying to figure out everything in their natural minds. They say, "This is how I interpret this scripture". Or, "This is what I think this scripture means".
Then they try to explain away the truth of God's Word theologically because it doesn't coincide with what they believe, and they can't figure it out with their natural minds. (1 Cor. 2:14).
But when you are dealing with faith, you can't always figure out the way God works with your natural mind. Faith doesn't always make sense. It is not always logical, and you can't always understand spiritual things mentally. But as long as you walk in obedience to God, you can claim and receive what His Word says belongs to you...
...And I'm going to be bold and declare what the Bible says I have in Christ! It's time to take a strong stand on God's Word! Are there areas in your life where the devil is trying to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10)? Then take a bold stand against the devil with the Word! He's under your feet! It doesn't matter what people say - it matters what God's Word says!
And when I find out what God's Word says about any subject, then I know that is God's will. I'm going to claim God's will for my life and walk in it! And I'm going to enjoy the triumph in every circumstance because God promises me the victory!
1 Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
...Whatever you need, receive it from the Word of God. Boldly declare the Word over your circumstances! Boldly declare your faith, whether you can see your answer, feel it, or taste it! Take it by faith!
You see, when you base your faith on God's Word, you can say, "It's mine! I have my answer now! How can you be that bold in your faith declaration? Because Jesus already made provision for your every need to be met. That's why you can receive your answer in faith when you pray (Mark 11:24).
Grab hold of God's Word with the tenacity of a bulldog with a bone. Don't let go of His Word! Tenaciously hold on to God's promises. That's when you receive results!
Written by Kenneth W. Hagin, "Another Look At Faith", pp. 79-83
Isaiah 43:26 - "Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence".
It is scriptural for a believer to take his stand on the Word of God and remind God what He has promised in His Word. In fact, God said to put Him in remembrance of His Word and what He has promised us.
You see, faith believes what God has already said; faith responds to what God has already done; and faith receives what God has already provided.
It is not arrogant for a child to remind his parents of a promise made made to him. That's not arrogance, disobedience, manipulation, or disrespect. It is simply asking for what was already promised.
Therefore, it is not arrogant for us to ask our Heavenly Father for the gifts and benefits He already provided for us. We are just claiming in faith what He has promised in His Word. It does not detract from God's sovereignty to put Him in remembrance of His Word!
Taking a stand on God's Word is not arrogant! And when you stand on God's Word against the devil, you can't be mealy-mouthed and wishy-washy about it! You must know who you are in Christ and take your authority over the devil.
You've got to be strong in the Lord! You've got to boldly declare who you are in Christ. That's not arrogance- that's faith! When we are bold in Christ, we are not taking an arrogant stance against God. We are taking a strong stance against the problem and against our enemy, Satan, based upon the authority of God's Word (Luke 10:19; Phil. 2:9,10).
Let the devil know you are not going to be intimidated by him or his devices. That's not arrogance against God; that's acting boldly in your authority over the devil. It's boldly standing in your place of authority because the Word said that Jesus defeated the devil. And because Satan has been defeated, you can be bold as a lion.
Proverbs 28: 1 - "The wicked man flees though no one pursues him, but the righteous are as bold as lions".
You are dealing with a defeated foe that is already under your feet because he's under Jesus' feet, so you can be bold in your authority! The devil has already been defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ!
Jesus said "...All power is given to me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28:18). Then He said, "Go you," giving that power to His Church on the earth (Matt 28:19). So why should we we weak and afraid to deal with a defeated foe - when we have the authority in Jesus' Name to put him in his place?
It is not arrogant to scripturally come against the enemy that is trying to steal from us what God has already given us. When you know God's Word, you get bold and strong in the Lord!
But when people don't really know what God's Word says, they don't have the boldness to stand against the devil. And some believers only know what someone thought God's Word said. But if they would study the Word for themselves, they would see for themselves that they have authority over the devil in Jesus' Name!
Some believers aren't sure about their authority in Christ because they are still trying to figure out everything in their natural minds. They say, "This is how I interpret this scripture". Or, "This is what I think this scripture means".
Then they try to explain away the truth of God's Word theologically because it doesn't coincide with what they believe, and they can't figure it out with their natural minds. (1 Cor. 2:14).
But when you are dealing with faith, you can't always figure out the way God works with your natural mind. Faith doesn't always make sense. It is not always logical, and you can't always understand spiritual things mentally. But as long as you walk in obedience to God, you can claim and receive what His Word says belongs to you...
...And I'm going to be bold and declare what the Bible says I have in Christ! It's time to take a strong stand on God's Word! Are there areas in your life where the devil is trying to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10)? Then take a bold stand against the devil with the Word! He's under your feet! It doesn't matter what people say - it matters what God's Word says!
And when I find out what God's Word says about any subject, then I know that is God's will. I'm going to claim God's will for my life and walk in it! And I'm going to enjoy the triumph in every circumstance because God promises me the victory!
1 Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
...Whatever you need, receive it from the Word of God. Boldly declare the Word over your circumstances! Boldly declare your faith, whether you can see your answer, feel it, or taste it! Take it by faith!
You see, when you base your faith on God's Word, you can say, "It's mine! I have my answer now! How can you be that bold in your faith declaration? Because Jesus already made provision for your every need to be met. That's why you can receive your answer in faith when you pray (Mark 11:24).
Grab hold of God's Word with the tenacity of a bulldog with a bone. Don't let go of His Word! Tenaciously hold on to God's promises. That's when you receive results!
Written by Kenneth W. Hagin, "Another Look At Faith", pp. 79-83
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Uh Oh! Watch out, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. (Genesis 4:7)
Romans 6:8-12
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Whose Voice Is Gaining Your Attention?
When coming to God for salvation or healing, it is essential for each one to decide whether he or she shall allow the hiss of the serpent to rise above the voice of God. (1)
Blessed are the ears that hear the pulses of the Divine whisper , and give not heed to the many whisperings of the world. (2)
Footnotes:
(1) F.F. Bosworth, Christ The Healer, p. 112
(2) Thomas a' Kempis
Blessed are the ears that hear the pulses of the Divine whisper , and give not heed to the many whisperings of the world. (2)
Footnotes:
(1) F.F. Bosworth, Christ The Healer, p. 112
(2) Thomas a' Kempis
Monday, April 5, 2010
How To Fight Your Goliath!
"Do Not Shrink Against the Enemy -- Run With God"
by Dr. John Markley
I Samuel 17:48 "David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine."
David had no fear as he came against Goliath because his heart was full of faith. He refused Saul's armor and placed his confidence not in a big sword, but in a big God. David knew that the God he served could and would deliver him because this same God had fought David's battles before.
David came against the giant in the Name of the Lord with a purpose and a cause. That cause was to stand against the spirit that was defiling the armies of the Living God. As David began to maximize and magnify God with his words, he minimized and diminished the giant that was challenging him.
David did not shrink in the sight of the giant even though Goliath threw out frightening threats and disdaining accusations. Instead, David ran towards the giant and the Philistine army with great courage.
We are continually called to face giants in our lives because the enemy is at work. He is still seeking to defile the people of God and their purposes. He makes his mission known with frightening threats and accusations in his effort to reduce us to nothing before the real battle even begins.
The secret to our victory is the same as it was for David. We must have a cause and the Name of the Lord. We must rely upon what we know about God and His Word and our purposes must line up with His Will. (Phil 2:10)
We cannot rely upon someone else's armor, for it will be too weighty and unproved. We must come to believe so much in the Name of the Lord and His purpose that it becomes a power within us. (Mark 11:23)
We cannot shrink back in our darkness and despair. We must be bold and run towards the enemy that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10)
God's Word promises that if we resist the enemy, he must flee. He has no choice! (James 4:7)
David said that the battle was the Lord's and he relied totally on that premise. He did not rely on his own strength or ability. He allowed God to work through him with a simple sling and a stone against a mighty giant who held a huge spear, sword, and a javelin. Yet David prevailed without a sword in his own hand.
You may feel very inadequate as you come against the giants in your life. (2 Cor 10:4)
God may only provide you with meager weapons as he did with David. Your natural sling and stone may not look like very much as you view the spear, sword, and the javelin of the enemy.
However, you must not consider what you hold in your hand but what you hold in your heart, for God will honor your faith and your pure motives.
Run with faith towards the enemy and God will stand with you as you fight for His cause and in His Name.
Do Not Shrink Against The enemy!
Run With God!
Written by Dr. John Markley
Abiding Life Ministries
Lindale, TX
http://www.abidinglifeministries.org/
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