SEEDS...

I love the story of the "Seed and the Sower" and as much as I have read this story I always come away with something different. This time, as God showed me how we meet people and when we talk with people, we can see them in one of these scenarios. Some may receive a word from you with joy, some may debate you on every scripture you speak and others will blatantly refuse to believe what you say as truth.  I can say I have met many who I could relate to the four stages of  heart condition.  But, truth be told, I have found myself to have visited each of these stages at one time in my life. I give all glory to God for HE IS a God of His Word, for He never left me to my own foolish thinking, He has kept His hand upon me guiding me and directing back on His path. I may have wondered here and there, but He never let me go too far out of His sight. I pray that this insight from the God above will be enlightening to you as well as a blessing...

 The wayside

Break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord... (Hosea 10:12) For we need to prepare our hearts and this is done through much praying and diligently seeking God on a daily basis. “Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)” 2 Cor. 9:10.   God is the supplier of the seed as well as the bread that we eat for all comes from His hands. Our hearts seem to have been seared as with a hot iron, we are stubborn, high minded and arrogant“…he that hardens his heart shall fall into mischief” Prov. 28:14.  Our pride says we can do better, we have given ear to the enemy in following all his ways, unknowingly, we have let him have control of our lives, for when the Word of God is sown he comes immediately and takes away what we have heard. Our pride says this is rubbish, but now something is breaking within us, something is changing our way of thinking, let us strive to break up that fallow ground of our heart, let us begin with fervent prayer; we must fight off the lies of the enemy who will try to destroy the Word which we have heard, and we must not give him an opportunity to whisper in our ears to deceive us any longer. Don’t give him any place in your mind and your heart, “…resist the devil and he will flee” James 4:7.

The stony, rocky ground

When we hear the Word, it is received with great joy, it is sown within us but our foundation is shallow and weak and we don’t have the ability to receive the deeper meaning of the Word.  And because this is the condition of our heart for it has no deepness in which to take root, the Word says; “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” Jn. 6:66. Those who walked with Jesus, those who saw His miracles and heard His teachings, suddenly turn away, they allowed doubt, fear of persecution from others, and unbelief to come in and they chose to turn away from Christ.  Our soil is partially prepared not all the stone have been removed for the seeds cannot fully develop. Many times, we hear people say that the Word is too difficult to understand, or it's just confusing. Because there are still many obstacles (stones) that still stand in your way, Jesus says: "...In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (Jn. 16:33). He knows that we all face the temptation to doubt, and we may even turn away for a while, but we will all come back to the only source who is able to help us when we call upon Him. Our faith is critical in fully believing in what we hear, tribulations and all sorts of evil that arises may come, but knowing that God is on our side we are assured to be an overcomer just as Jesus. Whatever the hindrances are to the Word being planted deeply with you must be dealt with immediately. For that stony ground is covered with more and more rocks that prevent the seeds to fully grab hold of the richness of earth.  Therefore, when you hear the Word, resist the lies of the enemy when he comes to take that away which was planted. You must keep striving never give in to fear or doubt, but believe that God desires to give you another heart: “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh” Eze. 11:19. Continue to break up your fallow ground, don’t give up.

The Thorny Ground

“…break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns” Jer.4:3. As we come to God, as we truly receive Jesus as Lord of our lives, a cleansing starts within and this is where we agree with God that this bad habit, arrogant attitude or this selfish way of thinking must go.  Our ground is receiving good seed, and it’s beginning to take root in us, but the cares of this life, the things we find ourselves so concern with daily are beginning to chock the seeds. There are so many concerns that many of us face daily and it may seem hopeless at times but we must grab hold of the Word and believe it with all that we have. We must let go of the negativity, we must break away from the naysayers and we must close our ears to the lies of the enemy. There is no justification for holding onto things that displeases God. You must learn to let go, to relinquish control and know that all is in God’s hands. Don’t allow the cares of this world to smother your seed, don’t think that your way is better for this is just lies from the enemy to make you stop pursuing God. And don’t allow the “deceitfulness of riches” of this world, rob you of your glorious riches in heaven. The Word is in you and the Word is doing what it’s supposed to do – and that is, helping you to produce fruit.

The Good Ground

Now this is the place where we should strive to be, we hear the Word, we receive it and now we are beginning to bear fruit. This is the level that we all should desire our hearts to be, the soil is plowed up and made ready for good seed. Our soil is supple, we are receiving the Word and cherishing every moment to read it; and its roots are deeply planted.  The Word of God is within us, it feels as though we have finally come home. It took some time for us to reach this point, but in the struggle, we found the strength to keep breaking up our fallow ground. There were struggles about letting go, there was doubt as to if this Word is true, and there was spiritual warfare that we had to engage in to battle the lies and to turn our focus onto God. Now, God’s Word is firmly planted, we have complete access to His throne of mercy at any time of the day and we know how to respond to those who ask us of our hope. Our faith grows stronger every day, our knowledge of God enlightens our understanding and His love fills us with not only assurance but with a sense of awe. We are producing fruit that pleases God, we are sharing, helping, encouraging, and praying with others on their journey to the Good Ground.  

Chosen2Prayer

Promises and Power of God

Jn. 3:27 “…a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.”

Rom. 8:25 “…then do we with patience wait for it.”

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” (2Peter 1:3). All that we will ever need is in Him, for He is our source for strength, ability, might, and power and He has given to us these thigs where we draw strength, endurance, faith to work the work He has given for us to do. His Word is His promise that we can trust completely in: “for all the promises of God in him are yea (yes) and in him amen (truly, so be it), unto the glory of God by us” 2 Cor:1:2.  What a wonderful blessing to know that in God His promises are sure, His Word is sure, and that not one promise of God is “no” to those who will believe. If He said it will he not do it?

As we look in Matthew 17:20 we see Jesus speaking; “… if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove...” this is a powerful statement, the story here was that the disciples were unable to cast out a demon from a young man and the father went to Jesus to see if He could help his son. Of course, Jesus was successful but He told the disciples "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting" Mat. 17:21 (NASB). unbelief or doubt is a killer to faith, it hinders our prayers from being answered, it stops the Word from producing fruit when we speak it because our faith is mixed with doubt.

If you have faith it will be done – whatever you say – but if you do not have faith it will not be done. We need this mustard seed of faith that which is pure and unmixed with doubt, to know that we can move every mountain, every obstacle, every road block that tries to hinder what God has given us to do. As you begin to search the Bible for the promises of God your faith will awaken, there will be a knowing that is birth within that is indescribable because faith has been stirred.  Never should doubt or fear come in us when God has called us to do something, in fact just kick those out of your vocabulary right now and know that “…nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Mt. 17:20).

Our Mustard seed faith is very powerful, if you have ever seen an actual mustard seed you will know that, that tiny seed is like an atom bomb waiting to be connected with your belief and what God’s Word says we have. And when it is released, it becomes the power of God, and the faith of God that will move the mountains and all that stands in our way.  There is great power even in a little faith when we trust in God’s power to act. The next time you feel weak or powerless, examine your faith, make sure you are trusting God’s power and not your own ability to produce fruit. 

A good example of this is in 1 Samuel 15, here you will find Saul who was anointed King over Israel, who was victorious over many of the enemies of Israel because of God’s hand upon him. But something went wrong in his thinking, he didn’t follow God’s command completely, he disobeys God in the taking of the king and the best of the animals (1 Sam.15:8-9).  Then, he intruded into the priest office by offering a burnt offering (1 Sam. 13:8-15), If men could only learn to obey God and be patient until He sends help in times of need, it would be a great lesson learned. Then he sought guidance from one with a familiar spirit, the same people he had vanquished and destroyed he was now seeking their help (1 Sam. 28:7-25).  

 Saul chose to do these things because he feared the people more than God, he was prideful and then in desperation he totally disobeyed the laws of God, the one who had given him victory over many of his enemies. But he never realized that disobedience to what God called him to had such a dire consequence.  You see, when God has given you a word, a task or a calling, and you fail in obeying or you half-heartily follow it or you are fearful of what people would say, the one at fault is you. Saul did not see himself as one at fault, he thought it was the people he feared, it was his impatience, and it was Samuel who had died and left him. He was the king the people followed him, as his faith weakened and an evil spirit rested upon him the people’s faith was lacking and as he disobeyed the people followed.

Saul is an example that shows us how life can become when we walk in our own ways and thoughts. Remember, we have the power of God in us, that is, those who have truly received the atoning work of Jesus as Lord of their lives. We have been given a precious gift when Jesus said; “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another comforter, that He may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16). This comforter, is the precious Holy Spirit, He is living in us, He is that power behind the mustard seed faith, He is that power that raised Jesus and Lazarus from their grave, and He is that power that worked when God said “Let there be…” When God calls us, we should let nothing stop us from going forth to do the will of God. And as we walk in obedience to God’s will good fruit will come forth.

Accessing the promises of God requires that we “have faith in God” and doubt not. For when we meet this condition we can thus know and believe that “…what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24). We must ask according to God’s will our desires, what is your desire you ask? God’s will is God’s Word and God’s Word is your desire.  Ask in faith, believing and never doubting, for the deeper we get into Gods Word, and the more time we spend in His presence a relationship develops, an intimacy that you have never known is being formed.  And suddenly, all that you thought was vital to your existence no longer has priority, and every trial or situation has lost its urgency because now you know what it means when God say’s “but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mt. 6:33).

The desires of your heart are no longer worldly, for God does see the condition you’re in, He knows what you are facing, He has promised never to leave you or forsake you. So, let your faith stand strong knowing that he is an on - time God, let God handle the issues of your life and let Him work everything out according to His plans for you – in the meantime, continue to praise him, to pray unto Him, to seek Him, to study His Word and to love His presence, for He is faithful.

One other condition I want to mention is that “if ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you” (Jn. 15:7). Abiding in Christ, means living free from condemnation, knowing we are no longer bound to our sins, for Christ has freed us, he has washed us white as snow and we are now adopted into the family of God.  And therefore, we have the privilege of coming to the Father in prayer at any time with our desires, needs and wants. And with unwavering faith, God will do nothing in our favour without faith. It is right that we should have confidence in him; and if we have confidence, it is easy for him to help us, and he willingly does it. (Barnes' Notes on the New Testament) Because we understand that “…all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mk 9:23). Because “without faith it is impossible to please God for when we come to God, we must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). For God, cannot deny His word or Himself.

Chosen2Prayer

Dangerous and Destructive Paths

It has been said many times that our world in headed in a dangerous direction that will have severe consequences. Yet, the path to destruction is widening and is making room for more. Prayers are being sent up, intercessions are going on, and burdens are being felt by all of God’s children. Still there seems as though nothing is changing that we can see, but it’s not so important as to what we see but what we don’t see that is happening in the Spiritual realm. God hears the prayers, He sees what is happening, and He knows the hearts of men are evil continually.  The path that you choose is vital to your destination – either eternal life or eternal destruction.

 If the attitude of this world does not begin to be humbled, then we place ourselves in the path for Gods wrath. You see, God is Love and yet He is a God of judgment and justice, according to His Word; for“Justice and judgment are the habitation (foundation) of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face” Ps. 89:14. People have chosen to substitute the truth of God for the imaginations of their own lust. They have stifled (choked, suppressed) the truth of God in order to believe anything that supports their own self-centered life-styles. God will never tolerate sin because His nature is morally perfect. He cannot ignore or condone willful rebellion.

For the government of God is based upon justice, judgment, mercy, truth, and righteousness. He knows, sees, and does what is right without exception. He cannot permit any breaking of His law without proper punishment, nor can He permit one good act to be without just and proper reward. Sin is cursed and righteousness rewarded in the minutest of details.  His decisions are all oracles, (truth, forewarnings) and not one of them is ever reversed. Just remember “it’s a fearful, (terrifying, horrific) thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).

“…Mercy and truth shall go before thy face” will be the cries that will announce the coming of the judge. His truth (Word) binds Him to all his deceleration's; and His mercy shall be shown to all those who have fled for refuge to the hope that is set before them which is Jesus Christ. His mercy is eternal; “the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting…and His righteousness unto children’s children” (Ps.103:17).  Righteousness, justice, love and truth are the foundation of God’s throne; they are fundamental aspects of the way God rules.  As God’s ambassadors, we should deal with people likewise. Make sure your actions flow out of these traits, because any unfair, unloving, dishonest action does not come from God.

Chosen4God

Dangerous and Destructive Paths

It has been said many times that our world in headed in a dangerous direction that will have severe consequences. Yet, the path to destruction is widening and is making room for more. Prayers are being sent up, intercessions are going on, and burdens are being felt by all of God’s children. Still there seems as though nothing is changing that we can see, but it’s not so important as to what we see but what we don’t see that is happening in the Spiritual realm. God hears the prayers, He sees what is happening, and He knows the hearts of men are evil continually.  The path that you choose is vital to your destination – either eternal life or eternal destruction.

 If the attitude of this world does not begin to be humbled, then we place ourselves in the path for Gods wrath. You see, God is Love and yet He is a God of judgment and justice, according to His Word; for“Justice and judgment are the habitation (foundation) of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face” Ps. 89:14. People have chosen to substitute the truth of God for the imaginations of their own lust. They have stifled (choked, suppressed) the truth of God in order to believe anything that supports their own self-centered life-styles. God will never tolerate sin because His nature is morally perfect. He cannot ignore or condone willful rebellion.

For the government of God is based upon justice, judgment, mercy, truth, and righteousness. He knows, sees, and does what is right without exception. He cannot permit any breaking of His law without proper punishment, nor can He permit one good act to be without just and proper reward. Sin is cursed and righteousness rewarded in the minutest of details.  His decisions are all oracles, (truth, forewarnings) and not one of them is ever reversed. Just remember “it’s a fearful, (terrifying, horrific) thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).

“…Mercy and truth shall go before thy face” will be the cries that will announce the coming of the judge. His truth (Word) binds Him to all his deceleration's; and His mercy shall be shown to all those who have fled for refuge to the hope that is set before them which is Jesus Christ. His mercy is eternal; “the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting…and His righteousness unto children’s children” (Ps.103:17).  Righteousness, justice, love and truth are the foundation of God’s throne; they are fundamental aspects of the way God rules.  As God’s ambassadors, we should deal with people likewise. Make sure your actions flow out of these traits, because any unfair, unloving, dishonest action does not come from God.

Chosen4God

When God can’t be found…

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” (Isa. 55:6)

We are commanded to seek God with our whole hearts, with our minds and our soul but sometimes in our seeking Him, it’s as though He has disappeared completely from our view. One of the modern misconceptions is that men are not required to seek the Lord; that they are not required to repent, pray, call upon God, confess, or do anything else besides believe in order to be saved from sin. The truth is that all these terms are used many times in Scripture to tell people what they must do to find God. Looking at the next verse of Isa.55:7 confirms this:

1.      He must forsake his wicked ways.

2.   He must forsake his unrighteous thoughts.

2.      He must return to the Lord.

These things constitute genuine repentance, the kind that needs not to be repented of (2Cor. 7:9-10). As long as one continues in his wicked ways and unrighteous thoughts, he is still in rebellion and sin and is not returning to God with the whole heart. As much as we try, as much as we pray we can’t seem to connect with Him. Then enters doubt, anger, fear, and feelings of rejection, but have you ever considered that it could be your walk, the way you’re carrying yourself before Him or your attitude or unforgiveness.  Below are just six suggestions that might be the culprit to finding God;

1.       

         1.  When you turned your heart away from Him and refuse to truly hear

        * Psalm 95:7-11 (KJV) “For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep       of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as      in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw           my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in       their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should         not enter into my rest.”

      2.   When you mock God and disrespect His dealings then judgment comes

* Proverbs 1:23-33 (KJV) “Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.”

      3.    When you become too proud and stubborn to humble                        yourselves under God’s chosen ones

                *See Numbers 16 Korah and Dathan’s rebellion

     4.   When you neglect to settle all matter with Him encouraging            His judgement to come upon you

                *See Acts 5:1-11 Ananias, and Sapphira theif selfishness 

   5.  When you die in your sins without repentance

* Hebrews 9:27 (KJV) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

    6.  When you blaspheme the Holy Spirit

* Matthew 12:31-32 (KJV) “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

When one truly believes it means that you do what is necessary and required by the gospel when desiring to find God:

    1.   Seek – “But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a warder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6).

     2.  Repent – “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

     3. Call upon God – “AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED” (Acts 2:21).

     4.  Confess – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9).

     5.  Pray – “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14).

    6. Humble yourself – “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10).

    7. Hear – “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Mt. 11:15).

    8. Obey – “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17).

This is just a few of the ways that we who “Believe” must conduct our efforts in seeking God. He’s not playing hide and seek, He is desiring you to find Him, He wants you to seek Him with your whole heart and mind.  God loves us so much and each and every day that we are awaken whether we are saved or not, He showers His grace upon each of us. He gives us strength in our bodies to do what we have to do every day, we have a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, and food in our homes, and anything above this is nothing but a blessed gift from our Father.

So do whatever it takes to seek God, keep seeking Him till you find Him, no matter if it takes the rest of your life. God wants a relationship with you, He wants to be Lord over all your life, are you willing to forsake all that the world has to offer and all that He shows you that doesn’t please Him?

Chosen4God

Let go of the pain of the past

There are things in life that hinder us from achieving goals, moving to new areas, taking chances in love or even having a fruitful and bless marriage, all because our past has grown destructive hindering roots within us. The past has also affected our present situations and has kept us hostages from reaching our future. Many of us can’t seem let go of the past in our own strength, we need God to help us, we must let Him shine His light on what we are holding onto and when it is revealed, we have to release that into His hands. Release the pain, the torment, the abuse, the lies, the deceit, release it all to Him, so that peace can flood your soul. We do not need to be walking in the pain of the past but in the love of God, in the freedom of what Christ gave to all. There may be some reluctance to dealing with the past, the memories seem to be still fresh and the pain still hurts, but as you learn to let go with each step God’s light within get brighter and brighter.

 You see, when God reveals things to us it is for our benefit to finally let it all go, facing the past will free us from emotional pain, psychological issues, and physical distress. Forgiveness is the key to getting past the past, we must forgive all who have hurt us, we need to forgive ourselves for our part and we must ask God to forgive us and those who were the perpetrators. To get free of the pain we must face the truth, as hard as it may be. The Word says: “agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him… (Mt. 5:25)”. It is vital that we resolve as much as we can in the strength and power of God, make things right at this present time, for when we stand before God it will be too late.

Chosen4God

The Valley of Weeping

There is a place that we all, at some point in time; will travel through. It is a place that will bring us a release, as well as joy that has been hidden. It is a place that one would not choose to go through yet, in a strange course of events it chooses us.  A path opens that must be traveled even though our heart doesn’t desire to go.  This valley is symbolic to our struggles in life and our tears that speak louder than we ever could as we press through on our way to seeking God.

The valley of weeping is its name, now don’t let the name fool you, for there is a time to weep…and a time to mourn (Eccl. 3:4). We weep for many reasons, for the sins we’ve committed, for the death of love ones, for our children, and for our deep need of God’s presence in our lives. Weeping releases the unspoken pain where words are inaccurate.  Weeping cleanses our soul (believe it or not) when burdens are so deeply embedded. And weeping even helps us to focus more on God rather than our situations. Growing strong in God’s presence is often preceded by our journey through barren places in our lives.  It is here that we can rid ourselves of the hurt, the pain, the frustrations and the anger. 

Since we have to go through the Valley of Weeping we might as well call upon His name to meet us here.  For it is in the valley that we seek Him for deliverance, it is here that we learn to humble ourselves and it is here where we strengthen our faith in His ability and provision.  But as we spend time with God, our adversity is an opportunity to re-experience God’s faithfulness. As we continue walking through the Valley of weeping, make sure that your pilgrimage leads you to God and not away from Him.

Nina

Chosen2Prayer

Methods of Satan...

We find ourselves in a world that seems to be over-run with every inconceivable, negative and immoral way of living without the evidence of consequences. “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord Pondereth the heart.” These words are very definite and are very true. There seems to be a spirit of self-ness that has come into the hearts of people, what am I talking about? A spirit of self-ness is one that considers only self, it’s my way, my thoughts, my rights, my will and my thing. There is no consideration of others and if it is, then self has to come out on top some way.

Now there are those who ignore the second half of this statement “…the Lord pondereth the hearts.” God knows what is in the hearts of man for even at the beginning “GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5). We can see this happening now, but there is a real enemy that many times we choose to ignore or believe is a fictitious character. Oh my friends let me tell you, he is real, as real as you and I and he has come “…but for to steal and to kill, and to destroy…” (Jn. 10:10). We call him Lucifer, but he has other names that he is known by; adversary, serpent, Belial, Beelzebub, the enemy and Satan.

He comes to deceive all men, he is the leader of all sinners and backsliders and all rebels, he causes sickness, disease, and physical and mental maladies, he takes advantage of all adversities of men to further his rebellion and hold them captive. He even provokes to sin, he steals the Word of God from those who have just begun, lest they should believe, he works false miracles and sets snares for us to fall into. This is what we have been facing for years, and now it seems as though the world has found solace in his deceptive and lying ways.

His work is mainly to oppose God whenever possible, he uses counterfeit doctrines to deceive the Saints of God and those who are open to his teachings.  That is why God tells us: 

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

The fact that we are believers does not stop the devil from trying in every conceivable way to imitate God. Believers are the ones Satan concentrates on and wars against. This is why we must keep our Spiritual armor on and our two-edge sword sharpen; by studying the Word of God daily.

Now, let’s look at the following 10 methods that Satan uses to capture and keep one bound in self-ness, that is until the light of God’s Word comes into one’s ears and is received in the heart.  Now this is not all of his methods, but it will give you a general idea of how he works and is working today.

1.    He uses every conceivable means to hold men in subjection to himself and keep them from turning to God. If he fails in this, he tries to kill the believer’s testimony and ruin his influence for God.

We have seen this in family, friends and co-workers; those who find every excuse not to believe in God’s Word and that even includes trying to put human reasoning to what God has done supernaturally in someone’s life. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6). There are those who approve sin and ignore the need for repentance and holy living as they try to remove any penalty for sin and make you doubt if there is a hell or not; this is the workings of Satan only.

2.    If one falls he tries to make him stay fallen or commit suicide. He endeavors to cause men to end their lives by insisting it is the best way out; but he hides the true fact that this will be only the beginning of real torment in eternal hell.

Everyone has experience some kind of storm in life that has shaken the foundation that you believe in. It has been a category 10 hurricane that has left you feeling hopeless and lost. Suicide is never the answer to any storm, or trouble you are facing, it is never without serious consequences here and the hereafter. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn. 2:15). As believers we must “lift up our eyes unto the hills…our help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” (Ps.121:1-2).

3.    Satan tries to get one in a lukewarm condition and, if he succeeds, urges them to stay in that condition so that God will cut them off in the end.

The Laodicea church was one that was proud and self-satisfied, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, but they also failed to see that they were wretched, and miserable and poor, and blind, and naked (Rev.3:17). Yet to be lukewarm meant they were nauseating, sickening, and most of all blind. If one chooses to be in this state of their journey, then Christ says “…I will spue (spit) you out of my mouth” (v.16); and forever be lost.. We must remain faithful to God and believe beyond our circumstances, situations and what we see, and know in our knower that God is faithful to His promises.  

4.    He dares men to do many things which they would not do under ordinary circumstances; and men are foolish enough to think they are not brave if they do not accept his dares.

Sometimes all it takes is a small crowd to get a mob mentality going, and one person steps up in the midst and takes charge as the leader or the agitator of the mob. It grows and grows into something that is destructive and dangerous. Lives have been lost, families have been shattered and peace has been destroyed. “if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom.12:18).  

5.    Makes people think they are missing everything in life if they do not go into all kinds of sins which, in the end, will damn their souls.

Now, remember we are still looking at the methods that Satan uses to ensnare people and especially the children of God – if he can. Before salvation sin was fun, of course we never looked at it as being sin, for us it was fun and something to do.  For the Christian, Jesus has cleansed us from our sins and He has washed us white as snow. We have been forgiven and our sins have been forgotten. Satan knows which button to push to bring on temptation into our minds, and our lives; he tries to make you think of all that you are missing out on and this is what has weakened many a soul. Life does not truly begin until you have received Jesus as your Savior, don’t believe the lies of the enemy for his goal is to keep your soul damned.

6.    Emphasizes sin and sinful pleasures as innocent enjoyment.

“For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:20-23). Now you choose!

7.    Stirs unholy passions in men and women, causing them to throw away all restraint and live a life of revelry.

Galatians 5:19-21,  gives us 17 works of the flesh and a very stern warning that “…they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21). Those who continue to want their way and those who say I’m grown and can do whatever I want, then know this – you will not enter the kingdom of God. The only way to enter is through repentance, confession and putting this life style out of your life forever. “be not deceived; God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal.6:7).

8.    Tries to make people think there is no joy in serving the Lord. This is one of his greatest errors. Serving Christ and winning souls who will be thankful forever pays the greatest dividends and afford the greatest pleasures known.

We are to fear the Lord our God, walk in all His ways, love and serve Him with all our heart and soul, and keep His commandments (Deut. 10:12). If one does this then there is a love beyond understanding that we have for our Father, God.  Therefore, “ Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations” (Psalm 100:2-5)

9.    Preaches to the diligent in business that he needs to take all his time for getting rich before serving the Lord; while the fact is that if one will truly serve the Lord, he can be abundantly prosperous with God’s help.

As long as one focuses on getting that 1^st or next million, then their eyes are not looking unto Jesus. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil desires, as long as your eyes are making more money, they are not seeking direction or help from God and therefore, in prosperity there is a tendency to forget God. Man is so depraved that he wants to take credit to himself for any success and prosperity he has, but when truth be told, God is the one who gives us power to get wealth (Deut. 8:18).

10. Urges churches and their leaders to make religion a paying proposition by appealing to the rich and influential through lowering the standards of holy living, making salvation easy for all, and compromising essentials of the faith; and by feeding the sheep messages on current events and book reviews instead of the infallible Word of God.

The position of a pastor is a daunting task, and to say that one is call to fulfil this position you must be certain that you have heard right. For one, you have been chosen to be an overseer of God’s children, Jesus’ lambs, by feeding them and caring for them as Christ. Second, you must be one free from sin, be a seeker of God, shepherd the flock, protect and nourish the vineyard and protect and gather the sheep. As well as, comfort them in fear, be morally clean, be honest and truthful, and be free from deceit. Yes, this must be a call from God upon the life of one that only God chooses. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit…” (John. 15:16). If there is any compromising of God’s Word so that attendance goes up and finances increase, you are the one who will give an account as to how and what you have taught God’s children.

There is so much more that I can speak on but this will do for now. I encourage you to do your own Bible study so that you can have a clear understanding of the enemy that we face daily, and to know his strategies and schemes. God’s Word is sitting on the table or bookshelf, its right at our finger tips on computers, phones, tablets and IPhones, all we have to do is access it. The days are getting darker, and it seems easier for people to set aside their beliefs and faith and even compromise their morals, all because of hardship or current conditions. Faith is our shield (Eph. 6:15) it is part of our Spiritual armor that God has provided for us we my keep it upon us and if we take off our armor then we are vulnerable, and unprotected and open to all kinds of attacks.  

Pray for your loved-ones who refuse to listen, lift up those employees who laughs at you and seek God to help you reach the lost for there are so many more who need to hear God's truth, His Word. Pray that God will open their hearts to understanding and that they will make a decision to accept Christ before it is too late.  God bless...

NinaJ

Chosen2Prayer

The God who sees...

“…the God who sees me, for she said “I have seen the One who sees me!” (Gen 16:13 NLT)

El-roi – The God who sees

Sometimes it’s hard to grasp the idea that God does see all things, for many times we ask the question “God don’t you see what is happening?” At these moments our state of mind is not clear and neither can it remember any scriptures.  Hagar was in a precarious situation, she was running away from Sarai her mistress, because Sarai’s actions had cause her to be jealous of her handmaiden, who now was carrying her husband’s child.

You must remember this, that God sees even our mistakes, our evil hearts, our wrong motives and even our wrong attitudes as well as our ways and actions. Even our thinking is not hidden from Him:

            “The Lord knows the thought of man…” (Ps.94:11)

You see, sometimes our actions for the better good, (our own way) of solving a problem, only causes the problem to get worse, thereby causing our decision to bite us in the end. God also sees that we are not following His instructions when things happen:

            “Casting all your care upon him…” (1Peter 5:7)

He does see that we are trying to fix something that we are not qualified to fix. Know this, there is no problem too complicated for God to fix, but you must be willing to give it to Him completely and let Him work it out.  You never know what blessings God has in store for you, until you walk-it-out, walk out the pain, walk out the disappointment, walk out the frustration, walk out the anger and walk into blessings.

Now does God see you and all that is going on? I say emphatically YES, He sees and He is ready to help you walk through.  What must we do? Take every problem, every situation, and every negative event to God in Prayer, be comforted in knowing God is in control, be faithful to God and His promises, be strong to stand upon the Word, be grateful for the love God has for you and be sure that He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Prayer:

Father God, I thank you that you see and know what I am going through. Help me Lord to cast this burden upon you for you care for me. I release all my concerns, all my anxieties, all my fears and all my stresses and because you see, I can rest knowing that you are completely in control.  Thank you for your answer to my prayers and thank you for your loving care in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.

Chosen2Prayer

A conversation...

Father, I need to talk with you.  My heart is very heavy and my spirit is very angry. You see, there is a demonic spirit that is going around touching the hearts and minds of those who are open to his influence. You know them Father, these are the ones that have been assign in authoritative positions. I must admit Father, that I’m finding it hard to follow what you said; “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” [Luke 6:27 NASB].

Now many lives that should still be here have gone on home to you, and there are many angry and broken families that are trying to make it day by day. Some are trying to fix a system that has been one sided for years. How can a mother’s heart not remember the day her child was placed in her arms and not ache because her child is deceased, and how can a father go day by day looking into the face of those who despise him because of the color of his skin? Knowing that his child is no more. Father, I just don’t understand please help me to do your will. I don’t want to fall into that darkness that seems to have capture so many already.

“Harken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people” (Isa. 51:4). My child, I hear your concern and your heart. “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done; and there is no respect of persons” (Col.3:25).  For my Son came to save all “…they that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17). So “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Rom. 12:19).  Therefore, “I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you” (Luke 6:27-28). Finally, “therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head” (Rom. 12:20). So my child remember “let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).

Ok Father, as you will help me through this anger and hurt, I ask that you will please help all peoples to understand your love for them. I ask that you will forgive me for holding others in condemnation, cleans my heart and my mind as I place these into your hands, for you to do what you do. I now release them in the name of Jesus Christ your Son, amen.

NinaJ

Chosen4God

They know me to…

It seems that we are having to deal a lot with many evil spirits that have been unleashed in the world today. We see and recognize the hand of Satan and his demons in many lives that are open to his leading. The enemy recognizes the Christ in many of who are believers in Jesus and we are attacked because of who we love and trust in. Many of our sisters and brothers have been murdered for their belief and faith, many are still in areas where there is no freedom of religious expression of their faith.

The Bible gives us many examples of the power and authority of Christ over demons and evil spirits at a time when it seem to be a common recognition of those who walked contrary to everyone else. Looking at Mark, Jesus gave strict warning to evil spirits that possess some people in Mark 3:11-12, “And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.”  

Even the evil spirits knew that Jesus was the Son of God, but they refuse to turn from their destructive behavior; they did not want to let go of those they possessed; as is still today. Now Evil spirits or demons are ruled by Satan and their purpose is to kill, steal and destroy. To kill your future of hope, to steal your faith and to destroy any thought of salvation.

Another incident we see in Mark 1:21-26, there was a man in the Synagogue, the Temple, the House of God, who was possessed with an unclean spirit, he said to Jesus “let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth?... I know thee who thou are, the Holy One of God” (v. 24).  My question is “what was this demon doing in the Temple?” 

Throughout scripture we see that Jesus warned evil spirits not to reveal His true identity, because it not their duty to make known who He was and it was not in God’s plan that His identity be revealed through them. Jesus wanted to teach people about the kind of Messiah he really was – one who was far different than their expectations, who did not fit into their mold of the Messiah.

Christ kingdom is a spiritual one that begins with the overthrow of sin in people’s heart, and not with the over throw of governments, or political parties, or world issues – these will be dealt with by God.  Christ came to deal with the sin that is in our hearts, after all He tells us that “for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man…:” (Mat.15:19-20).  He sees the truth of what is deep within us and this is where He starts to deal with our issues of life. If we can see what He sees, many would be running to Him begging for Him to clean out their hearts, we would be seeking repentance as we seek for riches,  “…for He knows the secrets of the heart” (Ps.44:21).

I have heard many say “I have a good heart” but truth be told, “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it” (Jer. 17:9). Christ came to help us to deal with truth and our hearts, along with giving us eternal life.  But if we are not willing to see our condition as God sees us; “…desperately wicked…” what hope do we have in obtaining eternal life? 

NinaJ

Chosen4God

Time to come clean...

Sometimes the Word of God can be challenging in this day and time, but if you look at His Word as truth then there is always a purpose and reason for what He has said and what He will do. It comes down to our obedience and willingness to walk the path of truth. We must be willing to accept what God has said, we must be ready to face persecution when it comes, and regardless of the consequences, we must be ready to stand firm and strong on His Word.

We can see that our world has changed and it’s not a change that we can be proud of but rather one that destroys the idea of what a Christian nation looks like.  2 Chronicles 7:14 says “if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways…”  now this is not the world that He is talking to, but HIS people, HIS chosen, HIS called out ones; have our prayers reached heaven or the ceiling in our home? Have we ask God to “search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24). 

O God, “if I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; let me be weighted in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity” (Job 31:5-6).  “examine me, O Lord, and prove me: try my reins and my heart” (Ps. 26:2) “Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins” (Ps. 7:9). We must put ourselves under the microscope of God and ask ourselves some hard questions, have I been walking the way I should, have I compromise my values or morals just to go along, have I become lazy in my prayer life, do I justify my sins and do I faithfully read and follow my Bible, do I put other things before God?

There are many question, hard questions that we must ask ourselves, but most importantly we must be truthful. You see this is between you and God, there is no one else there but Him and if you can’t be truthful with Him then you are not truthful with yourself. If your condition looks like this then you are in need of repentance: the Word says “…because thou are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” (Rev. 3:16-17).

For thus saith the Lord “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me…He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Rev. 3: 18,20,22). 

  

NinaJ

Chosen4God