The world is full of fear. Let's look at a couple.
First of all are you born again? If so here are some things from God's word on fear and some things people fear
Hunger
Neh 9:15 And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which Thou hadst sworn to give them.
Ps 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that see the Lord shall not want any good thing.
Ps 37:25 I have been young, and now I am old: yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Now you may say, oh that is fine for you but you have food.
Well let me tell you a little about my past.
When I was a small child, it was just my mom and I. She had health issues among other things. Many nights all we had to eat were stale crackers and cocktail onions. Was it what I would have liked to eat? No! But it was enough to eat that we survived.
Later there was a time when I was put on bed rest by the doctor awaiting the birth of our 4th child. While I was out of work during that time, my husband lost his job. Total strangers showed up at our door with bags and boxes of groceries. They all said the same thing. The Lord told them what to buy and where to bring it. I have never seen them again. So I do speak from experience. God is faithful.
Is your fear what man can do to you?
Pr 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.
Mt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Afraid of death?
2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
And finally,
2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Turn those fears over to the Lord, and leave them with Him. He is bigger then your greatest fear.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Peace, be still
Mk 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
:38 And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest not Thou that we perish?
:39 And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
:40 And He said unto them, why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, what manner of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him?
Ok, let's look at a few things.
First off, why were they surprised the wind and sea obeyed Him? If they didn't think they would, why wake Him? What good did they think waking Him would do?
Why was Jesus able to sleep through all the tossing of the boat? Because He totally trusted God to get the boat across to the other side. He knew His Father was in control.
The secret to being calm in the midst of storms is not to change the circumstances that are out of your control, but to change you. Christ in you will get you through.
We live in south Louisiana. We have a boat and fish quite a bit. There have been times that we have ventured out into the bay and it has been smooth as glass. Then all of a sudden things will pick up and you may be looking straight down into the water coming off the top of a wave. Yes it has happened and it is SCARY. I can understand why they were afraid. But they had Jesus with them. Obviously they thought He could do something about it or they wouldn't have woken Him up.
What do you (and I) need to totally trust God with today, and tomorrow, etc?
When Jesus rebuked them he said they had no faith. Prayerfully He won't say that about us.
:38 And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest not Thou that we perish?
:39 And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
:40 And He said unto them, why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, what manner of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him?
Ok, let's look at a few things.
First off, why were they surprised the wind and sea obeyed Him? If they didn't think they would, why wake Him? What good did they think waking Him would do?
Why was Jesus able to sleep through all the tossing of the boat? Because He totally trusted God to get the boat across to the other side. He knew His Father was in control.
The secret to being calm in the midst of storms is not to change the circumstances that are out of your control, but to change you. Christ in you will get you through.
We live in south Louisiana. We have a boat and fish quite a bit. There have been times that we have ventured out into the bay and it has been smooth as glass. Then all of a sudden things will pick up and you may be looking straight down into the water coming off the top of a wave. Yes it has happened and it is SCARY. I can understand why they were afraid. But they had Jesus with them. Obviously they thought He could do something about it or they wouldn't have woken Him up.
What do you (and I) need to totally trust God with today, and tomorrow, etc?
When Jesus rebuked them he said they had no faith. Prayerfully He won't say that about us.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
What are your thoughts?
Are your thoughts holy?
Pr 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Your thoughts are as loud to God as your words are when you speak loudly.
Pr 15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
Dan 5:24 Then was part of the hand sent from Him; and this writing was written.
:25 And this is the writing that was written, ME'-NE, ME'-NE, TE'KEL, U-Phar'-SIN.
:26 This is the interpretation of the thing; ME'-NE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
:27 TE'KEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
:28 PE'RES; Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
How would you like the hand of God to write your thoughts across the sky for everyone to see? He could.
Jn 8:6 This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not.
Jn 8:8 And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
We must not only repent of sin of our words and actions, but of sinful thoughts also.
Is 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
Ps 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Ps 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Sin of the body first begins in the thoughts and heart.
Mt 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Satan will come to you in thoughts to tempt you to sin.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Don't argue with the devil. That is not resisting. It is what he wants. Once you get into a conversation with the devil, he has the battle half won.
Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
How do we know when evil thoughts come from our heart or from the devil?
If our immediate reaction is hatred of the thought it is from the devil. Otherwise it came from us if we try to justify or explain it.
If we are continually bombarded in one area of our christian life by attacks from the devil, we know he has been listening to our words or watching our actions. He can't read our minds. But he can use words or actions to figure out our weaknesses and attack there.
Mt 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
We are only as pure as our thoughts are pure.
Pr 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Your thoughts are as loud to God as your words are when you speak loudly.
Pr 15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
Dan 5:24 Then was part of the hand sent from Him; and this writing was written.
:25 And this is the writing that was written, ME'-NE, ME'-NE, TE'KEL, U-Phar'-SIN.
:26 This is the interpretation of the thing; ME'-NE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
:27 TE'KEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
:28 PE'RES; Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
How would you like the hand of God to write your thoughts across the sky for everyone to see? He could.
Jn 8:6 This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not.
Jn 8:8 And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
We must not only repent of sin of our words and actions, but of sinful thoughts also.
Is 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
Ps 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Ps 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Sin of the body first begins in the thoughts and heart.
Mt 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Satan will come to you in thoughts to tempt you to sin.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Don't argue with the devil. That is not resisting. It is what he wants. Once you get into a conversation with the devil, he has the battle half won.
Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
How do we know when evil thoughts come from our heart or from the devil?
If our immediate reaction is hatred of the thought it is from the devil. Otherwise it came from us if we try to justify or explain it.
If we are continually bombarded in one area of our christian life by attacks from the devil, we know he has been listening to our words or watching our actions. He can't read our minds. But he can use words or actions to figure out our weaknesses and attack there.
Mt 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
We are only as pure as our thoughts are pure.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Influences and sin
What areas in your life influence you to sin?
Habits, friends, peer pressure, heredity?
Mt 18:18 Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Jn 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Maybe we sin because of past experiences. Our spirit may have been wounded. If we have totally forgiven the ones who have hurt us, we can come in faith and ask for healing of those memories.
Is 53:4 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted.
:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him: and with His stripes we are healed.
It is sometimes hard to forgive others when they hurt us.
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you , and thereby many be defiled.
Principles of total forgiveness:
1. Forgiveness is an act of will. I must want to forgive. Resentment is destructive to my mind, body, soul and spirit.
Pr 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
2. I will not be forgiven by God unless I forgive those who have hurt me.
MT 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mk 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
3. Think about all that God has forgiven you.
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one anothe, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
4. Thank God for the blessings the person who hurt you has been to you.
1 Thess 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
5. Think about the needs of the person who hurt you, then and now. They are probably greater then yours.
Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory: but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better then themselves.
6. Ask God to help you love them and forgive them as He does and receive it by faith.
Rom 5:15 And hope maketh not ashamed: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
7. Ask God to give you opportunities of expressing His love to them in work and deed.
1 Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
8. Become an intercessor for them.
MT 5:44 But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.
9. When we have fully forgiven others, we won't want to speak of how they wronged us.
1Pet 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Ask God to show you how to change the habit patterns, believing that He will.
Find verses addressing the sin, memorize them.
We must forgive ourselves because God has forgiven us.
Habits, friends, peer pressure, heredity?
Mt 18:18 Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Jn 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Maybe we sin because of past experiences. Our spirit may have been wounded. If we have totally forgiven the ones who have hurt us, we can come in faith and ask for healing of those memories.
Is 53:4 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted.
:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him: and with His stripes we are healed.
It is sometimes hard to forgive others when they hurt us.
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you , and thereby many be defiled.
Principles of total forgiveness:
1. Forgiveness is an act of will. I must want to forgive. Resentment is destructive to my mind, body, soul and spirit.
Pr 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
2. I will not be forgiven by God unless I forgive those who have hurt me.
MT 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mk 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
3. Think about all that God has forgiven you.
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one anothe, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
4. Thank God for the blessings the person who hurt you has been to you.
1 Thess 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
5. Think about the needs of the person who hurt you, then and now. They are probably greater then yours.
Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory: but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better then themselves.
6. Ask God to help you love them and forgive them as He does and receive it by faith.
Rom 5:15 And hope maketh not ashamed: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
7. Ask God to give you opportunities of expressing His love to them in work and deed.
1 Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
8. Become an intercessor for them.
MT 5:44 But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.
9. When we have fully forgiven others, we won't want to speak of how they wronged us.
1Pet 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Ask God to show you how to change the habit patterns, believing that He will.
Find verses addressing the sin, memorize them.
We must forgive ourselves because God has forgiven us.
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