When the Enemy Strikes Chapter 5

Whether we like it or not…🤔

And this is difficult to remember, but TRUE🤔

If you’ve experienced this, can I get an Amen?? Amen 🙂

It’s not an eyesight issue, it’s a HEART condition

Have you ever thought about the Scripture “walking by faith, and not by sight”? Sure, we hear it and possibly think “yes, indeed I will walk by my faith in “THE ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD”, and not by sight…
We have started the Experiencing God Bible study in our Wednesday evening class at church. This week’s lesson references that the Holy Spirit will be our personal teacher.
The Holy Spirit gives us the assurance and confidence that we need to trust in God by faith. He enhances the knowledge that we have a house in heaven. The Holy Spirit stirs confidence and courage to face the present life. He stirs our faith within us. Knowing that our present home (body) is only temporary– that we are soon to move to our heavenly home– stirs great faith within us. True we do not yet see our heavenly home, but the Holy Spirit stirs within us- faith to walk through all the trials and problems of this life.

2 CORINTHIANS 5: 7, 8
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

How could Paul be so sure that when we leave this body, we will be present with the Lord? Paul says that we walk by faith. We take God at His Word. I would rather take Him at His Word than anyone else’s word.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: Walking by faith requires confidence in God’s Word. Real faith doesn’t come with a step by step plan, in which we “see” in order to believe..

Let’s grow our faith and trust in God’s Word every day without having to see the proof of His Promise in advance!! Walk by faith and not by sight:)))

It’s really a matter of ACCOUNTABILITY:))

Do you know that we are accountable to our brothers and sisters in Christ? We are:))
We are in SESSION 2 of our WAR ROOM Bible study, and the lesson is on Accountability.

PROVERBS 27:6
The Wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

Accountability: The quality or state of being accountable; especially: an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions.
A friend has the best interest at heart; they may give us unpleasant advice, but know it’s for our good. The enemy, on the other hand, says sweet words and happily sends you on your way to ruin.
Sometimes our friends or family many need to be encouraged with Godly wisdom. A person can be so caught up in their struggle that they may lose perspective of the entire situation. As Christians, we should come alongside them and gently critique them. Such as a family member who has stopped going to church and soon several weeks of missing becomes several months, and before they know it, they’ve lost their excitement about going to learn about or to Worship our ALL MIGHTY God.
Nobody likes criticism,

but everybody can benefit from it when it is given wisely and taken humbly.

David suggested how to accept criticism; 1. don’t refuse it, 2. consider it a kindness

3. keep quiet and don’t fight back.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: We must always pray for God’s guidance and the wisdom that we stand in need of to help those that we are accountable to and to those that need encouragement to get back on the right path with the Lord.

Let’s do our best to critique gently where needed today and every day!!!!    🙂

The seventh piece truly means completion and perfection:)

Did you know that Prayer is part of the FULL Armour of God? It is!!

While participating in doing my homework for the War Room Bible study, I’ve come to understand this important aspect. I count six pieces of the armor, but prayer makes seven. Most of us know that in  the Bible the number seven represents completion or perfection. I’d say that prayer truly is both! 🙂
In Ephesians 6:10-17, we are told that in the Christian life we battle against “principalities and powers.” (the powerful evil forces or fallen angels headed by satan who is a vicious fighter, see 1 Peter 5:8). To withstand the attacks, we must depend on God’s strength and use every piece of His armour. Paul is not only giving this counsel to the church, the body of Christ, but to all individuals within the church. The whole body needs to be armed.
As we do battle against “the rulers of the darkness of this world,” fight in the strength of the church, whose power comes from the Holy Spirit.

One does not commonly equate prayer with battle attire, but it is no accident that Paul commands believers to pray when engaging in spiritual warfare.
EPHESIANS 6:18
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
One way to pray constantly is to make quick, brief prayers our habitual response to every situation we meet throughout the day. Another way is to order our life around God’s desires and teachings so that our very life becomes a prayer
FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: We don’t have to isolate ourselves from other people and from daily work in order to pray regularly. We can make our prayer our life and our life a prayer while living in a world that needs God’s powerful influence.

Let’s remember that we have a POWERFUL WEAPON and that we can use it today and every day! 🙂

It’s NOT about today…It’s about eternity:)))

After a week of vacation,

and a POWERFUL Easter Sunday, I’d say that I’m a tad behind on blogging and reading others blogs…

I must admit that I feel very blessed that a good number of you have said that you look forward to reading my post for encouragement.
My purpose is exactly for that reason which also glorifies Christ:)))

2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Today, a good friend and I met to walk and catch up. We discussed our physical limitations, family situations, and had a wonderful time of encouraging each other in the Lord. Oh, how we will continue to face obstacles in this life on earth, but we must keep our commitment to serving Christ.
Rather than giving up when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on experiencing the inner strength from the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16).

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: Don’t let fatigue, pain, or criticism force you off the job for Christ. Our ultimate hope in terrible illness, persecution, or pain is realizing that this life is not all there is-there is life after death!
Let’s remember that we will live forever with God in a place without sin and suffering! 🙂

Get a hold on your thinking:)

TRY IT because ALL we have to lose is our negative attitudes:))

*FRUIT BITE* Life Wisdom 3/26/16

Can I get an AMEN?