In viewing the latest weight loss programs, people still have to cut back on how much they put in their mouths. People still have to consider that food is for energy and not to carry around all day as in extra baggage. But the society tells you to buy more, pay later, you need this, but does not fit you, will not be anything you can use as in comfort, a place to bring people to visit you, is not a place you would want kids to know about, is something that even a spouse may not know anything about, or it is the "I just want it because I deserve it". ( like that second do-nut, that second piece of cake, that second dress, but you ONLY needed one, that new car, but the old one is barely a year old)
In the health department, I know some people who brought on serious health problems who would not eat at all. We knew a young lady who was in high school back in the 80's who had a severe eating disorder. It cost her the life God had given her. People can get caught up with not fitting in "some crowd" and so they will do anything to :WIN! (they will drink some water and eat one yogurt a day to stay what size? They will seek others who tell nasty jokes to fit in, but their "saved", right? They will do whatever it takes to be
"noticed".)
Our teaching the other evening was about that which controls the mind. It was about the "stronghold". It was given from The Message Bible, but here I have put the amplified version.
The Scripture foundation was:
2 Corinthians 10: 3-5....amplified. 3 For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. 5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments
and theories
and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God;
and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
And a wording that the Apostle used the other night in his teaching was that of people's agendas being a cancer that destroys. Their way of thinking has that of negativity towards another or in my terms something that either divides them or subtracts from them.
I had never thought of that example he gave in the teaching and when we allow our own agendas, our own theories like winning, of being number one in a crowd, can certainly be detrimental to us and to those we lead, may desire to lead, or may regard those who we may be raising up as leaders ( even our children or grand-children).
Of course, I am taking notes, and putting this down to reflect on days later. Had opportunity to view the teaching again yesterday evening and was glad to be refreshed on that powerful word.
Well, yes we all have heard it and hopefully to hear it many thousands of times before this year is done and many before Jesus' return.
And the importance is that we realize that when God sends His word it is to heal them. Right?
In view of that Word the Apostle spoke on his sister coming for a visit. Having not seen her in some 20 years, he was apprehensive, yet his trust was in the Lord. As the sister arrived with family, she began to bring up those
old things of witchcraft and such from those early days. But the Apostle held on to faith and believe he would give no room to the devil for a foothold of any kind into his life and that of his wife and children. It is truly a wonderful testimony when our faith is in God.
I thought of the scripture below:
2 Corinthians 3:17
17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled
faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory,
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. NIV
We each can have a sister, or a brother. And in our relationships we can probably think of something of long past events that were probably life shattering, but today is what counts and how we treat others including the brother, the sister and even our fellow-believers in Christ.
I think today of those visiting with sisters and parents who have come a distance to visit............and to reminiscence the experiences of the "old days".........!
And in that I think on the Apostle's word from God for us to guard our hearts and take no word against what God had given us.......that we were to be the free. I wonder in the meeting of others do we allow the "old" man to resurface, play out that which made us feel number One, the Supreme, the COMPETITOR, the "know it all" or are we the meek who shall inherit the earth.........are we those who will send others off with their visit with us.......inspired to serve the Lord with gladness in their hearts? Will the questions be opened up about Jesus or will they just be another hill of beans that helps no one and does nothing to bring or speak life of God into another?
Hey, let's play Yatzee..........and I win! Hey, let's play pin the tale on the donkey...........oh, I win! Let's play Charades, oh, I win! Or........let's play the word game, and make up some parables of our own! It is all about me, the best, the funny, the clever, the top-banana, the comedian, the "lucky" instead of being the talented, the "main attraction". Wow! And how do we act when we start losing at a "touch football" game, start to lose our current favor with the "boss" at work, start losing at a simple card game, or in a conversation we know nothing about, or when we are called and confronted about some issue we would rather not speak on? Would we act the same around the "new" comers to a Bible study as we would our family: like parents, children, grand-parents? Are we going to shine and make every one else look bad?
In the days of Peter and John, they had the opportunity to minister life! See below:
Acts 4:13-17
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."
NIV
When we are in a crowd of people, what face will others see before them? What part of your past will play out for them? Will you have to be the "main attraction"?
I believe that testimony the Apostle gave was one of victory in that he does not live in that place any more. He is filling up daily on the Word of God and truth. I know my husband to be one like that as well. He fills up, reads aloud to me and we spend time together to pray. We take time together just like Jesus took with His disciples and with His Father. APOSTLE RANDY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS!
I do not know about you, but I keep before me that Judgment Seat of Christ. I know He will play before my eyes and His all that I spoke for Him and that which I spoke about me. And I repent daily when I know when He is not first in my life. It is a walk. It must be in faith. And it must be that which we will know and understand that others are watching us. And is our life today measuring up to God's standard or you and I being the "same 'ole man"?
Do we throw a tantrum when we do not get our way when a crowd is around like for a holiday gathering, a birthday celebration, a special dinner to celebrate what a child has accomplished in school? Do we pretend that all is well within our home life and no one is talking to each other? Has the spouse stopped encouraging his wife? Has the wife neglected her duty to her child/children?
Are we training up our children in the way they should go? Are we training them that is more important to win and do it however you must to be the "one, the main man (woman), the main thing". Yikes!
I give honor to those today who stand their ground in the Word of God and will not give way to the devil's schemes of that lust thing of the flesh, the eyes, and pride of life. (1 John 2:16)
Are we the mere animal who indulges in that which is worldly? What gratifies our appetites?Well, that is the lust of the flesh! In the lust of the eyes, what will gratify our pleasure place? Will it be that spectacular furniture or that new car? And in the pride of life: well that is just boasting! And with it is a tendency to promote it to a greater level and greater degree of pride in themselves. Not a good place to be!
To you who have held the conviction that God is greater and have placed your trust in Him, I commend you. Letting Freedom ring in our lives is paramount. For my own sister and Mother, I see a greater gift of giving of oneself to serving the other. In my sister and brother-in-law I see a love that comes from wanting to serve another as they do with our mother in her loss of husband and her health issues. They do not give up, but continue to speak life to her and pray for her daily to know Jesus as they do.
I commend those who do not give in to the "flesh" creature, but serve the Lord gladly so a sister and her husband can receive Jesus as Lord. I pray our children and grand-children will know this is not a race in RELATIONSHIPS. There is no speed dating with the Lord!
I pray that people will know Jesus in the intimate that reflects in esteem for the other person.
I pray that it will NOT BE in the how I can beat you at cards or how I can be No. 1 at work, or at home or how I can have more knowledge of the worldly things by going back to hang out on-line with those who tell foul jokes or blaspheme another because of their race or color!
What will our children see of us and in us? What will stand out most in their young minds and thought processes............that is better to win, and if we do not, we will throw a tantrum and walk off stomping our feet or do something worse. "Well, I saw ________(
mommy, daddy, auntie, grandfather, lady next door) act like that, so I can do it too!"
Galatians 5:13-15
13 For
you, brethren, have been called to liberty;
only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! NKJV
Will your sister be saved?
Will your mother finally meet Jesus?
Will brother-in-law get to know Jesus before that terrible event happened in his life? Did I have opportunity to give them Jesus before they died?
The Apostle spoke that his sister and family left in a better shape than they had come. He said his home remained in the peace of God. Amen!
I close with this:
My husband and I had just read a book by Perry Stone and we highly recommend it. ( It answers some questions like: What will we look like in heaven? Another is : Will we judge the angels? Plus many others) It is called 'Chronicles of the SACRED MOUNTAIN". From chapter 13 of that book, he teaches of "all things new" from Revelation 21:5. The previous memories from earth, with any we might have known as of people and events will be erased. They are those who will not receive Jesus as Lord. If they exist in your bloodline and they refused Jesus, then they will be erased from memory for all time. I had always wondered about that. And it was a question I had asked before.
For any not entering into that place with Christ, who remained to do their own thing, their own way will have no place in Heaven with Christ Jesus or God. Perry Stone wrote that past memory of them in our lives would be erased forever.
It would not be heaven, if we remembered all those family members or friends who were NOT with us in heaven. And in that,there would be pain, many tears and grief! (forever) That would NOT be heaven!
Revelation 21:4 God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away.
We have today, and while we have life in us.........we can make the difference for some one and their destiny into hell or into heaven. What place do you expect for that Mother, that sister or brother-in-law or maybe that youth who has turned away from God? We have today that can make the difference in life for another!
It is not about how many times we can win, how fast I can run, or how much you weigh. It is not about what you look like or how you laugh or about being "the main attraction" in a crowd of people. If we have that opportunity to give life to another, how will you represent the One who died for you?
Let FREEDOM Ring!
May we touch others today with the testimony of faith that leaves them encouraged and free to serve God gladly.
Father, in the name of Jesus I pray for our sisters, brothers, children, and grand-children who may not believe in Jesus yet. We together pray they will come to their senses of knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord. May they each obey their parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the
Lord. I pray that they would not be provoked by their father so that they do not become
discouraged according to Colossians 3:21.
I pray that each will honor their father and their mother. We pray they will be a wise son who hears the father’s instructions, and will not
consent to going with sinners. We pray they will not walk on the path with them but
they will be kept from their path for their feet run to evil and they make
haste to shed blood.
According to James
1:19-23, May each we pray for today be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; knowing
that the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. We pray that they will continually lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and
receive with meekness, the implanted word, which is able to save the soul. May they be a doers of the word and not a hearer only, deceiving themselves. May they know that God desires His relationship with them. May they know that He treasures them greatly!
It is According to Proverbs 22:24-25 that these sisters and brothers/children and grand-children will make no
friendships with angry men and they will not go with the furious. They will refuse them and their ways. Help them Holy Spirit to see and know that God loved us
so much, that he gave his only begotten Son Jesus , so that we would have
everlasting life by believing on HIM. May these we pray for today become those confessing with their
mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in their heart that God has raised HIM from the
dead, and they are the saved.
May freedom truly ring in the lives we believe to be saved in Jesus name. We believe You have heard our prayer. Thank You Lord for answering us. Amen.
