A great danger for the Christian is to fall into hypocrisy, and worse, to not know we have become one. The Pharisee's were so blind, that Jesus' open rebukes to them, only made them even more mad with rage against him, and finally moved them to conspire to crucify him. We see the same conduct today, and the weapons of use, and the ruthless tactics, haven't changed. Satan uses what works, and he's been at it a long time. People who become deceived, blind hypocrites have certain traits that were evident in Jesus' day. The Pharisee's were scrupulous about pointing out everything he did, that didn't stay within the strict letter of the Law, but they chose to overlook the mercy, forgiveness, and miracles of healing and deliverance Jesus performed in front of them-they hated him for it, and they cared nothing about the person he had just made whole in their sight. One answer he gave them, I love; and it cut them to the heart: Luk 13:15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
Now, we have to understand that there's a distinction between the hypocrite and the preacher or believer of righteousness who's preaching against sin to bring conviction to the sinner, doing their best to get the unrepentant sinner to turn from their sin, and surrender their lives to Christ, and be delivered from their bondages. There's a vast difference here, and if the preacher or believer is preaching hard against sin, with no malice toward any individual, the Holy Spirit will confirm this to your spirit, and you will stand with them in prayer, that he/she will wins that soul for God. Our guidelines in preaching are this: 2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. Read the preaching of Jesus himself- most of it to the Pharisee's will singe the hair on your head. Strategies for Victory There are strategies God has taught me, that will help you overcome the attacks of the hypocrite, and the devil-and it works better than anything the devil can throw at you. 1. Beat the devil at his own game- come out in public, and admit your sins, failures and temptations. Be completely honest about who, and what you are. I can gaurantee you, it works every time. I respect those like Paul, and John Newton, who describe themselves as "the chief of sinners". John Newton would answer those who spoke of his past sins and say "Yes, I'm a great sinner, but Jesus is a great Savior". I am in the same category as people like this, I have nothing to boast of, and no reputation. It is Jesus, and Jesus alone that has made me what I am this far, and even now, I know my faults which are many-But, Jesus paid my sin debt. Every time I fall, I repent, get back up, and walk on, that's what the devil hates. Don't give up, cling to Jesus, and seek Him for the power and strength to change you, renew you, and keep you. He will not fail you. I won't guarantee you a million dollars, a mansion, or popularity. But, you will gain a walk with the Lord Jesus Christ, that you will never want to lose, and will throw away the world to keep His mantle of love, protection, and peace in your life. Any calling he may put on you, I won't tell you it will be easy, but knowing He is with you in it, will be worth anything you may go through in this life. One word from Him, is all it takes, he knows I will never say no to Him. When God calls people-it NEVER has a price tag on it. The power of the name of Jesus to forgive, heal, and deliver cannot be bought; read the book of Acts, to confirm this. See Act_3:16, Act_4:7, Act_9:34, Act_16:18, Act_19:13-16 Act 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Act 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. Act 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Act 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Act 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 2. Spend quality time with Jesus, and ask Him to show you your place in this world, and what He put you here on earth for, then make up your mind to do it, with all your heart. Don't be jealous of other people's callings, if you knew what they have to do, or have compromised themselves to get where they are-you wouldn't want to be in their place. God has shown me many times, people and their lives-are not always what they appear. 3. Be honest with yourself- do you still love this world. If you do, your level of consecration, and love for Jesus, will be revealed by what you do. If he convicts you of something He would want you to leave behind, and remove from your life, it's because He loves you, and wants the best for you. If you cling to the sin, or the thing that's keeping you bound, you're now walking in disobedience, and are open to a lot of bondage, and deceptions. Studying the word of God, and applying it to your life, is what puts on the armor of God Paul describes in Ephesians Ch. 6, and renews our minds to fight the lies that come our way by this world system, the devil and his demon hordes. If Christians are not willing to examine themselves consistently, and aren't willing to let the word of God change them, they are an open target for every deception, and the world is full of it today. 4. When the devil, or a person who's working for him comes to you accusing you again of a past sin that you've repented of, and it's now under the blood of Christ- remind him of the verses below, they work every time. Then, go on further and remind him of his future. 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Yes, remind Satan of what he is going to face, and it doesn't look like it's going to be long in coming. I enjoy speaking these verses to him often, when the battle gets heavy. The word of God is my weapon of choice, and I use it the same way the Lord did in the wilderness when he was tempted by the devil. It worked for Jesus, and it works for you and I, if we learn how to use it with faith. When you know who you are in Christ, you can see through the lies of the devil, and stand on victory ground. Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Take up the challenge to become an adversary to the devil, and his works in this life. In order to do that, you need to spend quality time seeking the Lord in prayer, study His word, and be willing to apply it to your life daily. Trials, temptations and attacks from many areas will keep coming, but God will equip you to deal with it, and whatever comes your way, and be able to wield the sword of the Spirit with power to cast down the strongholds of Satan in your life. The biggest key to this, is let go of the world, and embrace God's word. It is the power of God unto salvation. Lorna Couillard There Is Victory In Jesus
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful: but his delight is in the law of the Lord." Psalm 1:1-2 OUR LORD lived inside the City of Blessedness, and in Mat_5:1-12 He reveals to all men the eight gates by which that City may be entered. For myself, I cannot go in by the Gate of Poverty of spirit, for I am not humble enough; nor by the Gate of the Mourners, for I am not grieved enough for my own sins or the sins of others; nor by the Gate of the Meek, for I often resent injury; nor by the Gates of Mercy, or Purity, or Peace. But I may claim to enter by the fourth Gate, for I Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness. And as I go in, I find myself inside the City, and in the company of all holy souls that have entered by the other gates. For in the Heavenly City, to enter by any gate is equivalent to having entered by all; and one grace which is inwrought by the Holy Spirit will ultimately lead on to all the rest. What is Blessedness? According to our Lord's teaching, it is a condition or state of heart. Outward circumstances are not mentioned, unless it be reproach and persecution, as though they were matters of indifference. Blessedness is altogether independent of our outward lot, whether prosperous or perplexed, rich or poor. Blessedness begins and ends with a contented recognition of the Royalty of Christ's Kingdom; in the power of seeing the good in everything, and so inheriting the earth; in being satisfied, in obtaining mercy, in seeing God and being called His sons and daughters. Is it not worth while to strive to enter in at these wide-open doors? And if you can say that you really do yearn after better things, hungering and thirsting for more likeness to Christ, and more fitness for His Kingdom; if that desire really represents the purpose of your life, you may account yourself as being already admitted within the Gates of the Blessed Life. We must not suppose that Our Lord allocated the award of Blessedness to the possessors of certain attributes with an arbitrary and royal prerogative. He simply declared what was true in the very nature of things. To be true, pure, merciful, and meek, is to have in your possession the seed-germs of the harvest of Blessedness. If you turn from this wonderful enumeration of Christian qualities to Gal_5:22, you will find all of them set forth in the list of the fruit of the Spirit. May He work in us and through us a well-balanced and full-orbed Christian character. (Our Daily Walk) Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. The Beatitudes Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2Ti 3:12 HOLD FAST TO INSPIRED SCRIPTURE The world does not love Christ or Christians any better than of old; and all who are minded to live godly lives will come inevitably to the cross in one form or another. To be without persecution should put us in serious doubt as to whether we are right. The spirit of the gospel is in absolute disagreement with the spirit of the world. But, whatever the losses and trials, let the children of God abide in the things which they have learned, and walk in blameless purity and consistency. The conduct, purpose, and patience of this great and holy Apostle gleam in front of us for our inspiration and guidance; and his experience will be ours-that there is no sorrow out of which we shall not be delivered, when we have learned the lesson it was sent to teach. In the stern experiences of human life there is no stay that is comparable to the Holy Scriptures. The infinite variety of Scripture adapts itself to different states of the soul. Whatever our need, we can find its solace and remedy here. Thus we may live a complete life, finding in the Bible an equipment for all our emergencies. In this armory is every weapon for offense and defense; in this pharmacopoeia is a medicine and antidote for every wound. (F.B. Meyer) All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God 2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 2Ti 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Take Up the Cross-and Follow Jesus Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Matt 16:24 If any man be willing to come after me - None is forced; but if any will be a Christian, it must be on these terms, Let him deny himself, and take up his cross - A rule that can never be too much observed: let him in all things deny his own will, however pleasing, and do the will of God, however painful. Should we not consider all crosses, all things grievous to flesh and blood, as what they really are, as opportunities of embracing God's will at the expense of our own? And consequently as so many steps by which we may advance toward perfection? We should make a swift progress in the spiritual life, if we were faithful in this practice. Crosses are so frequent, that whoever makes advantage of them, will soon be a great gainer. Great crosses are occasions of great improvement: and the little ones, which come daily, and even hourly, make up in number what they want in weight. We may in these daily and hourly crosses make effectual oblations of our will to God; which oblations, so frequently repeated, will soon amount to a great sum. Let us remember then (what can never be sufficiently inculcated) that God is the author of all events: that none is so small or inconsiderable, as to escape his notice and direction. Every event therefore declares to us the will of God, to which thus declared we should heartily submit. We should renounce our own to embrace it; we should approve and choose what his choice warrants as best for us. Herein should we exercise ourselves continually; this should be our practice all the day long. We should in humility accept the little crosses that are dispensed to us, as those that best suit our weakness. Let us bear these little things, at least for God's sake, and prefer his will to our own in matters of so small importance. And his goodness will accept these mean oblations; for he despiseth not the day of small things. Mat 10:38. (John Wesley)
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. |
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In this page there will be devotions/poems music and inspirational material The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. Joel 2:28-32 But this is that which was spoken by the
prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: Act 2:16-18 Resources
Madame Guyon - A Short and Easy Method of Prayer / Christian Audio Book (1 / 2) https://youtu.be/eihZWpAk7y4?si=PQ-_J3Y6i8u-N2Ac Union With God By Jeanne Guyon Chapter 1 Of 7 https://youtu.be/d5AfKS2dFLg?si=VtWAeEurkAddTDpL The Practice of the Presence of God - audiobook Brother LAWRENCE (1614 - 1691)- https://youtu.be/rRAs_BK1NR8?si=hGAL4C829aH7 DKMn Gander Story Poems
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November 2024
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