Saturday, May 12, 2012

Job 1:7


Job 1:7
King James Version (KJV)
7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.



Satan has, since I can remember, been portrayed as an animal-like beast that stays in a dungeon. In the bible it is completely different, Satan is spirit that can walk amongst us if he wanted to as in Job 1.

Satan is always trying to find reasons as why God should not bless you and instead find a way to bring you down.

God has given us many warnings as to how to keep from being devoured by the enemy. Do not be fooled in to believing that Satan has no authority on earth-the world system is controlled by Satan. 



**side note: I found that many people, both Christians and non-Christians have a hard time or just choose not to use the word Satan, because of fear or feeling silly for using it. The name has been used so much in folklore that it has become more of a name for the “boogey man” rather than an actual demonic spirit.
Just because you don’t use the word Satan does not mean he doesn’t exist.



This is even more of a reason to follow God and keep His commandments, none of us want to live a life of constant ups and downs because we fall victim to the traps the Satan has set up for each of us….

2012 part deux



Genesis 9:11-13
New International Version (NIV)
11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. ”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.



There are many people who believe in the end of the world in 2012 due to the Mayan calendar ending in late December of this year.

It’s unfortunate that people believe this nonsense, however our Lord has made it clear that the earth will not be wiped out,ever!

In Genesis 9:11 we see that God had made a covenant with us the He would never again destroy life like He had before. There is no need for Him to do so.

Of course this world is going to get darker spiritually and eventually physically, but this does no mark the “end of the earth” it marks the end of this supernatural battle that is being fought everyday…but we all know that the war is already won and we just have to stand our ground in faith and trust that God will do the rest if we yield to Him.

Don’t be fooled by fake “warnings” from worldly sources, they use things like these to get people of course and in fear.

If you want to hear truth, crack open a bible and seek for yourself…give yourself to God and allow His spirit to dwell in you and you will have the truth and understanding to keep from being deceived.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Favor


Proverbs 13:15-17
King James Version (KJV)
15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.




The most recent topic we have been discussing in bible study is about favor.

I never really paid much attention to the need of favor and the appreciation of what favor does for our walk.
Have you ever been in a situation that you know you need to have a certain outcome for everything to be okay? Or in a situation where you want to achieve something that you know you couldn’t buy your way in? Well that is a prime example of when you need favor.


Favor is not something that you earn but rather what you ask for when getting ready to go into a situation. Favor comes when you ask, knowing that you are living a righteous life and not living in sin. Favor is the one thing that can take you from rags to riches in ways that no other worldly person could ever imagine.
I have heard a few people say that they don’t need much and that they just know “the Lord will provide enough”…God is the God of ‘enough’, He is the God of ‘Abundance’!


When you ask for favor in situations it doesn’t just mean you get to get ahead it means that you get to achieve and come in contact with people that God had set aside for you to ‘touch’ their lives. When you get that business going or that job promotion that you asked favor for, you are now able to do more to reach those that wouldn’t have been reached hadn’t you lived a righteous life and asked for favor!




To be continued….

A Good Name


Proverbs 22:1
New International Version (NIV)
22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.



In a world where your worth is based on your family’s bank account, it is hard for today’s Christians to be unmoved by the topic of finances. Everyone who doesn’t live under a rock has thought about what it would be like to be rich, to have the money to go wherever you want, buy whatever you want and have people look up to you. This idea of having monetary wealth is the cause for many issues that come about in life. We see people like the Kardashians on television and in magazines that advertise a lifestyle that displays excess of money and resources.


God does not place a monetary value on anyone. The Lord loves to spoil His children with whatever they desire, however, He does not have dollar bills falling from the sky into people’s laps for a reason…Because God knows that we would not be unfazed by the money and stay focus on our walk.



You are worth what you do with your life…

Not just doing going about doing good, but being the representation of what God can do.
You can have as many zeros in your bank account, but it cannot buy you salvation or even favor with God and men. Everyone can get money, but not everyone can get a good name in the sight of the Lord.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Mind Manipulation



As each day goes by I have noticed how intensely the lines have been drawn in society when it comes to what you should and should not tolerate.


It’s interesting how we as Americans consider ourselves free thinkers and yet we have the most manipulative tactics being used every day in just the media alone to form our ways of thinking about things.


The heated debate over whether gay marriage should be legalized in any state has caused those who are for it to appear as peace loving and are up to date on how to view people, however those who are against gay marriage are considered to be old fashioned and prejudice.


Due to fact that there have been numerous organizations that have abused the name of God, have called themselves Christians and have inappropriately protested their views of homosexuality, the gay organizations have been provided with “ammo” to persuade others into following them rather than God.


We need to let everyone know that first and foremost, God does not HATE gay people! He hates the homosexuality which is the sin. Love the sinner, hate the sin. Secondly, we have to show the love of Christ and not “bash” them over their heads with the word, but show them that they have been bought with a price and that they can have a life without sin.


These youth who are committing suicide because of the torment from others and from other demonic influences cannot be a reason to support gay rights and groups, it means that we have to help our youth understand that there is a deeper spiritual reason as to why they feel this way and to teach those who bully that they also have issues that need to be addressed spiritually.



Please don’t let these advertisements for raising awareness for gay organizations and artist claiming they support this or that lifestyle persuade you!


Faith = Currency



A member of our church had said that faith is the currency of Heaven. That made me think about how faith would look in comparison to our dollar currency that we value so much in this world.

Can you imagine if having faith in God and all that He has for us being used as actual currency to “buy” the things we want and need??

Well that’s how the things of heaven move-with our faith.

In order for us to get the things we want from God we have to have faith that He can and will do it for us. How else do you expect to receive those things if not for faith?

Faith is the type of currency that does not rise and fall in value, cannot be bought, can be used throughout the world and is always an acceptable form of payment.



faith/fāTH/
Noun:
1.      Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
2.      Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.
Synonyms:
belief - trust - confidence - credence - credit




You don’t have to be “born into faith” to have it and achieve great things as those who have been “born into money” that we see in the world.



Having faith in God means that you have no limits!

Life Changers pt.2





Having what you say is taken to a whole other level when you consider the words you speak on a daily basis.


If you were to write down every single word that you had uttered, would you have anything listed that was contrary to where you want to be in life?


For example, say you want to open your own business. During the course of a regular work day at your current job, you talk to your coworkers about how hard it is to start a business, how it’s going to take a long time to save the money you would need to pursue your dream, or how you keep running into various issues in life.


These are all things that place giant road blocks in your plan and keep you from reaching your goal at the appointed time or even at all.




2 Corinthians 4:13
New International Version (NIV)
“13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[a] Since we have that same spirit of[b] faith, we also believe and therefore speak”




We all say “just kidding” or “I don’t mean it” in our conversations with friends and family…even I am a “repeat offender” when it comes to this…but everything we say we actually do mean it! It’s the reaction of others or what we have heard or been taught that causes us to automatically recant and say that we don’t really mean it.

Remember…say what you want and expect it to manifest.