~Why is it important to be forgiven?
-It's important to be forgiven because without God's forgiveness we wouldn't be able to get into Heaven. If we didn't have forgiveness we probably wouldn't have much love either. Love usually comes along with forgiveness.
Just by God forgiving us we cat tell that He loves us and cares about so much that He would send His only Son to die so that we could be FORGIVEN.
-Psalm 86:5- For thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
~Why is it important to forgive?
-It's just as important to forgive as it is to be forgiven. Think about it. We have been forgiven so much so why shouldn't we forgive even the little things? When someone hurts us, whether it is mentally or physically, we don't always want to forgive them because of the pain that it has caused us. But, un-forgiveness can cause bitterness. If we don't forgive somebody who has wronged us and we continue to stay mad at them Satan can use that bitterness to get strongholds so that he can take us down and lead us down a path apart from God. The Bible says that if we didn't forgive then we ourselves dont deserve to be forgiven. God wants us to not only forgive when asked but to forgive even when not asked.
- Matthew 6:14,15- For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
-Mark 11:26- But if ye not forgive, neither will your Father which is in Heaven forgive your trespasses.
-Luke 23:34- Then said Jesus, Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
-Ephesians 4:32- And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
God Bless
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Bitterness
How to Tear Down The strongholds of bitterness.
Our Souls
The problem-
-Bitterness defiles our souls
In our pursuit of "peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord," We are to watch diligently that no one resists the grace of God. Otherwise, there can very easily spring up in us roots of bitterness. By this means "many be defiled." (Hebrews 12:14-15)
The Consequence
-Bitterness weakens our souls
If we pursue that which is evil, God may allow us to have the evil desires of our hearts but send "leanness into our souls." (Psalm 106:15) Leanness decreases the capacity of our souls to respond to God and to follow his ways.
The Solution-
-Lost ground can be regained
The promise of Psalm 23:3 is especially significant: "He restoreth my soul." As our shepherd, the Lord leads us in the "paths of righteousness" and "prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies." (Psalm 23:3,5)
"Ground"
The definition-
A jurisdictional area of our souls-
We are warned that bitterness will "Give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27). The word place in the Greek means "an area of legal control." In a kingdom, the jurisdiction is determined by the ground under the authority of the king.
The Problem-
-Surrendered ground brings torment
When the devil is given ground in a person's soul, he has the legal right to build strongholds on that ground and use it as a base of operations to torment other areas of the soul.
The Solution-
-Ground is regained one step at a time
Every time we allow the sun to go down upon our wrath, we give more ground to Satan, according to Ephesians 4:26-32. There may be many individuals toward whom we are bitter. In warfare, ground that is surrendured to the enemy must be regained a foot at a time.
Strongholds
The Definition-
-A false patterb of thinking
God warns us not to be deceived by vain philosophies which are "after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Believing these philosophies will allow Satan to "spoil" (plunder) our souls. (Colossians 2:8)
The Consequence-
-Decisions contrary to God's Will
When Satan constructs a line of reasoning in our minds that is contrary to scripture, he then influences our wills to make wrong decisions. Wrong decisions produce distructive emotions such as fear, anger, depression, and worry.
The Solution-
-Strongholds can be pulled down
We have been given weapons that are "mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds" (2 Corinthians 10:4). These weapons of truth are designed to cast down every false philosophy and every deceptive imagination and bring every thought into line with the truth of Christ's teaching.
Examples of Strongholds
-My offender will never change
Jeremiah 32:27
1 Peter 3:1-2
Ephesians 5;25-33
-I must punish my offender
Romans 12:19
Tormentors
The definition-
-powers of evil that afflict our souls
When the servant who had been forgiven the huge debt refuse to forgive one who owed him a little debt, he was rebuked by his lord and delivered over "to the tormentors" (Matthew 18:23-34)
The Problem-
-God sends tormentors to bitter people
In the parable of the unjust steward, the lord rebuked the servant who refuse to forgive an offender: "I forgive thee all that debt. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on they fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delievered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him" (Matthew 18:32-34)A bitter person becomes a prisoner of his own making.
The Solution-
-Understand the meaning of mercy.
In the parable of the unjust steward, the debtor did not plead for mercy he simply asked for an extension of time. (Matthew 18:26). The lord delivered him to the tormentors so he could come to the realization that he would never be able to pay back his debt.
Steps of Action
1. Confess the sin of bitterness
2. Ask God to regain surrendured ground
3. Tear down strongholds with truth
4. Show mercy by forgiving your offender
Our Souls
The problem-
-Bitterness defiles our souls
In our pursuit of "peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord," We are to watch diligently that no one resists the grace of God. Otherwise, there can very easily spring up in us roots of bitterness. By this means "many be defiled." (Hebrews 12:14-15)
The Consequence
-Bitterness weakens our souls
If we pursue that which is evil, God may allow us to have the evil desires of our hearts but send "leanness into our souls." (Psalm 106:15) Leanness decreases the capacity of our souls to respond to God and to follow his ways.
The Solution-
-Lost ground can be regained
The promise of Psalm 23:3 is especially significant: "He restoreth my soul." As our shepherd, the Lord leads us in the "paths of righteousness" and "prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies." (Psalm 23:3,5)
"Ground"
The definition-
A jurisdictional area of our souls-
We are warned that bitterness will "Give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27). The word place in the Greek means "an area of legal control." In a kingdom, the jurisdiction is determined by the ground under the authority of the king.
The Problem-
-Surrendered ground brings torment
When the devil is given ground in a person's soul, he has the legal right to build strongholds on that ground and use it as a base of operations to torment other areas of the soul.
The Solution-
-Ground is regained one step at a time
Every time we allow the sun to go down upon our wrath, we give more ground to Satan, according to Ephesians 4:26-32. There may be many individuals toward whom we are bitter. In warfare, ground that is surrendured to the enemy must be regained a foot at a time.
Strongholds
The Definition-
-A false patterb of thinking
God warns us not to be deceived by vain philosophies which are "after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Believing these philosophies will allow Satan to "spoil" (plunder) our souls. (Colossians 2:8)
The Consequence-
-Decisions contrary to God's Will
When Satan constructs a line of reasoning in our minds that is contrary to scripture, he then influences our wills to make wrong decisions. Wrong decisions produce distructive emotions such as fear, anger, depression, and worry.
The Solution-
-Strongholds can be pulled down
We have been given weapons that are "mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds" (2 Corinthians 10:4). These weapons of truth are designed to cast down every false philosophy and every deceptive imagination and bring every thought into line with the truth of Christ's teaching.
Examples of Strongholds
-My offender will never change
Jeremiah 32:27
1 Peter 3:1-2
Ephesians 5;25-33
-I must punish my offender
Romans 12:19
Tormentors
The definition-
-powers of evil that afflict our souls
When the servant who had been forgiven the huge debt refuse to forgive one who owed him a little debt, he was rebuked by his lord and delivered over "to the tormentors" (Matthew 18:23-34)
The Problem-
-God sends tormentors to bitter people
In the parable of the unjust steward, the lord rebuked the servant who refuse to forgive an offender: "I forgive thee all that debt. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on they fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delievered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him" (Matthew 18:32-34)A bitter person becomes a prisoner of his own making.
The Solution-
-Understand the meaning of mercy.
In the parable of the unjust steward, the debtor did not plead for mercy he simply asked for an extension of time. (Matthew 18:26). The lord delivered him to the tormentors so he could come to the realization that he would never be able to pay back his debt.
Steps of Action
1. Confess the sin of bitterness
2. Ask God to regain surrendured ground
3. Tear down strongholds with truth
4. Show mercy by forgiving your offender
A Missionary Story We can All Learn from!
~This isn't a very well known name but this woman was truly incredible! She many not be the one we think of when someone says a great Christian woman from the past, but she was just as important as Mary Slessor, Amy Carmichael, or Susanna Wesley! This is a little bit from the life of Sabina Wurmbrand.
~Sabina grew up as a jew in the 1920's. As Jews they didn'tbelieve in saying the word Christ, so therefore, they didn't have a CHRISTmas. They didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah either. In 1936 Sabina married Richard Wurmbrand. Richard was a Jew also and he grew up with the same beliefs as Sabina. Not long after they had been ,married Richard became a Christian and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour! When Sabina found out she was so mad. Soon after their marriage became dead. Finally Richard was able to lead Sabina to Christ.
By 1943 World War 2 had broken out and was raging. Sabina had already lost both her parents, her sisters, and her brother to death in the Nazi concentration camps. "May God forgive them" she prayed. "I'll pray that prayer until I really mean it". And that is exactly what she did. Each week for Sabina was packed full of ministry. One week she might be helping in the soup kitchen. The next she might be smuggling food to refugees. She might be trying to get salt into Buddapest. She was a busy woman serving the Lord.
In 1948 her hardest trial yet came. Richard had disappeared!! Even though she went through many trials through the next 21 years that Richard was gone she kept helping other people and serving the Lord!
~Think about it. Sabina went through so much persecution but she never strayed from God. She continyed to serve Him. She forgave the people that had caused her these hard trials and she suffered much more than many of us. God teaches us to to forgive our enemies and to love those that hurt us!
Dear God, make me like Sabina Wurmbrand.
~God Bless!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Self Image
~When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Many kids, teens, and adults see only an ugly face in their reflection. They just see their flaws and that makes them feel ugly. Maybe they have no flaws at all but something somebody might have said has made them feel inferior. That's not what God sees when He looks at you.
When you look at your body, what do you see? Many see imperfections. But, God sees his image. And the way he made you is perfect! There may be something "wrong" with the way you look, talk, or feel but God designed us to have these flaws to glorify Him.
-Height doesn't matter. Kick weight our the door. Scars, in the trash. Any "imperfection" you can find are just imperfections to you. God sees a perfect work of art. He knows what purpose you will serve and that's why He made you the way you are. We might not be the prettiest girl in our school,church, or friends. We might not have the biggest muscles in our school, church, or friends. But when God sees us He sees His creation. He sees a miracle.
~Think of all the things, that if you could, you would change about yourself.
Now look at this-
10 Unchangeable Things About Me
1. Parents 6. Birth order in your family
2. Time we live in 7. brothers and sisters
3. people groups 8. Physical features
4. Nationality 9. Mental capacities
5. Gender 10. Aging & Death
Were any of these thing on your list?
-Isaiah 53:2 talks about how outward beauty is not related to inward happiness. You don't have to be pretty or handsome to be happy. Some of the most miserable people are who most people thing are the best looking. True beauty comes from the heart. If you don't have love, then wheres your beauty?
True happiness comes from God. A life of total dependence on God will bring you true happiness.
~ Any "defect" you may have shows ownership. Who do you think allowed you to have that special "Flaw"? God did. Now thank God for that flaw and for showing His ownership on you by giving you this "defect".
~God Bless
When you look at your body, what do you see? Many see imperfections. But, God sees his image. And the way he made you is perfect! There may be something "wrong" with the way you look, talk, or feel but God designed us to have these flaws to glorify Him.
-Height doesn't matter. Kick weight our the door. Scars, in the trash. Any "imperfection" you can find are just imperfections to you. God sees a perfect work of art. He knows what purpose you will serve and that's why He made you the way you are. We might not be the prettiest girl in our school,church, or friends. We might not have the biggest muscles in our school, church, or friends. But when God sees us He sees His creation. He sees a miracle.
~Think of all the things, that if you could, you would change about yourself.
Now look at this-
10 Unchangeable Things About Me
1. Parents 6. Birth order in your family
2. Time we live in 7. brothers and sisters
3. people groups 8. Physical features
4. Nationality 9. Mental capacities
5. Gender 10. Aging & Death
Were any of these thing on your list?
-Isaiah 53:2 talks about how outward beauty is not related to inward happiness. You don't have to be pretty or handsome to be happy. Some of the most miserable people are who most people thing are the best looking. True beauty comes from the heart. If you don't have love, then wheres your beauty?
True happiness comes from God. A life of total dependence on God will bring you true happiness.
~ Any "defect" you may have shows ownership. Who do you think allowed you to have that special "Flaw"? God did. Now thank God for that flaw and for showing His ownership on you by giving you this "defect".
~God Bless
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Devotional from Amy Charmichael
Colossians 1:11- Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfullness.
- Sometimes nothing help us more than to read and re-read some great word of our God's. We can renew our strength by reading it not just in one version, but in many. Each yields some new emphasis, some fresh light.
Colossians 1:11 is a fathomless word. Ponder these different translations.
Moffat: "May His glorious might nerver you with full power to endure and too be patient cheerfully, whatever comes."
Weymouth: "Since His power is so glorious, may you be strengthened with strength of every kind, and be prepared for cheerfully enduring all things with patience and longsuffering."
Way: "I ask Him that with all His strength you may be strengthened, even to the measure of the might of His divine majesty, till you attain to all-enduring patience and forbearance, which exults under suffering."
The devil will see to it that there is something to try the spirit today. He always sharpes his fiery darts. But he can do nothing against this shield.
~God Bless
- Sometimes nothing help us more than to read and re-read some great word of our God's. We can renew our strength by reading it not just in one version, but in many. Each yields some new emphasis, some fresh light.
Colossians 1:11 is a fathomless word. Ponder these different translations.
Moffat: "May His glorious might nerver you with full power to endure and too be patient cheerfully, whatever comes."
Weymouth: "Since His power is so glorious, may you be strengthened with strength of every kind, and be prepared for cheerfully enduring all things with patience and longsuffering."
Way: "I ask Him that with all His strength you may be strengthened, even to the measure of the might of His divine majesty, till you attain to all-enduring patience and forbearance, which exults under suffering."
The devil will see to it that there is something to try the spirit today. He always sharpes his fiery darts. But he can do nothing against this shield.
~God Bless
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