When the Enemy Strikes Chapter 5

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! 🙂

Rooted, BUILT UP and ESTABLISHED!

Do you know that there is a BIG difference between claiming to be a Christian and knowing Christ and actually living as a maturing believer?

2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Christians are brand new people on the inside. The Holy Spirit gives them new life, and they are not the same anymore. We are not reformed, rehabilitated, or reeducated-we are new creatures, living in vital union with Christ (Colossians 2:6-7). We are not merely turning over a new leaf; we are beginning a new life under a new Master.
Colossians 2:6-7
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Accepting Christ as Lord of our life is the beginning of life with Christ. But we must continue to follow His leadership by being rooted, built up, and established in the faith. Every day He desires to guide us and help us with our daily problems in the faith.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: Paul used the illustration of our being rooted in or connected to Christ. As plants draw nourishment from the soil through their roots, so we draw our life-giving strength from Christ.

Let’s draw our life from Christ, and not be fooled by those who falsely claim to have life’s answers (2:8).

LUKEWARM…EWWW NO THANKS!!

We are starting a five week Bible study this evening on the WAR ROOM movie.

The primary focus is how PRAYER IS A POWERFUL WEAPON!

Jesus invites us into a closer and more intimate fellowship with Him. Prayer is our ultimate conversation with Him, and He wants us to be on fire for Him.

The first lesson addresses LUKEWARMNESS
Revelation 3:14-22
Laodicea was the wealthiest of the seven cities, known for its banking industry, manufacture of wool, and a medical school that produced eye salve. But the city always had a problem with its water supply. At one time an aqueduct was built to bring water to the city from hot springs. But by the time the water reached the city, it was neither hot nor refreshingly cool-only lukewarm. The church had become as bland as the tepid water that came into the city.
Lukewarm water makes a disgusting drink. The church in Laodicea had become lukewarm and thus distasteful and repugnant. The believers didn’t stand for anything; indifference had led them to idleness. By neglecting to do anything for Christ, the church had become hardened and self-satisfied, and it was destroying itself.
FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: God does not want us to be cold, but there is more hope for a rebel to repent than for a halfhearted, in-name-only Christian who is self-sufficient. Don’t settle for following God half way.

Let Christ fire up our faith and get us into the action today and every day!  :))

*FRUIT BITE* Life Wisdom 3/26/16

A Guarded HEART condition produces PEACE :))

Do you believe that positive thinking plays a BIG part in how we live our daily lives?
It does, but what’s more important is focusing on God’s Word and keeping IT in our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 4:7-9

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, 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.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

God’s peace is different from the world’s peace (John 14:27). It is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings Real peace comes from knowing that because God is in control, our citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom is sure, our destiny is set and our victory over sin in certain.
What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions. Paul tells us to program our minds with thoughts that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: Examine what we are putting into our mind through television, books, movies, and magazines. Replace harmful input with wholesome material.

Let’s read God’s Word and pray. Ask Him to help us focus our mind on what is good and pure TODAY AND EVERY DAY!

A HEART CONDITION CAN BE FATAL!!!

How many times have you been having a great day and then allow yourself to lose focus? Scripture tells us that it is important for us to keep our focus on the right things in life.

PROVERBS 4:23-27

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth,
and perverse lips put far from thee.
25 Let thine eyes look right on,
and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet,
and let all thy ways be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left:
remove thy foot from evil.

Our heart-our feeling of love and desire dictates to a great extent how we live, because we always find time to do what we enjoy. Solomon tells us to keep our heart with all diligence, making sure we concentrate on those desires that will keep us on the right path.

Make sure your affections push you in the right direction. Put boundaries on your desires: don’t go after everything you see.

Look straight ahead, keep your eyes fixed on your goal and don’t get sidetracked on detours that lead to temptation.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: We all know how quickly that we can let our thoughts get to thinking on negative issues, which produces worry. We must be aware and change our view to the positive things of God. What we harbor in our heart comes out of our mouth

Let’s stay focused on what God’s Word says today and every day!

HIS WORD IS THE POWER THAT WE NEED TO DEFEAT THE DOUBT THAT THE devil BRINGS

Hearing, RUNNING and finally OBEYING:))

While reading my Bible and sitting with a warm heating pad on my back and a bowl of peanut M & M’s by my side, the thought of relaxation and peacefulness came over me as the cool breeze was blowing in through the window.

 

What a blessing to just be still in the presence of the Lord and His Word!

 

Jonah would have found himself much better sitting quietly and listening to God, instead of running away and catching a ship!

 

The Book of Jonah shows that God can use a negative example to teach a positive lesson. The negative example is the prophet Jonah, whom God called to preach to the citizens of Nineveh. This great city was the capital of the Assyrian Empire. The Jews hated the Assyrians because they were sworn enemies who worshipped pagan gods. So Jonah tried to run away from God’s call. We know the story of how a violent storm strikes the ship, which led to Jonah admitting that he was running from God’s call. He advises the sailors to toss him overboard to appease the anger of the Lord.

 We read that God saves Jonah by sending a great fish to swallow him, keeping him alive for three days in the stomach of the fish. Jonah prays for deliverance and the Lord hears and has him ejected from the fish unharmed and placed on the shore.

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Eventually, Jonah did travel to Nineveh and preach to the Ninevites, as God commanded him to do. But when they repented and turned to God, he sulked and pouted because the Lord refused to destroy them.
One positive thing we can say about Jonah is that he did dare to tell the truth about himself and his prejudice by writing the book that bears his name.
God reminded Jonah that He is merciful and a forgiving God, who loves all people, even the pagan Assyrians.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION:God’s message is for everyone. Despite the wickedness of the Ninevite people, they were open to God’s message and repented immediately.

Let’s do our best today and every day to simply proclaim what we know of God, we may be surprised at how many people will listen.