The Bible clearly states that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and of a sound mind (2Timothy 1). I am beginning to believe that one of the biggest impediments to the advancement of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven is the spirit of Fear that has gained a stronghold in the church. If we are going to be available and fully engaged in the Kingdom Calling for which God is calling His chosen, then we must be delivered from this spirit of Fear. One of the challenges with fighting and defeating this spirit of fear is having a proper understanding of what it is. The general conception of fear is a state of being afraid or intimidated. Of course this is correct, but it's deeper than the surface. A lot of times we associate fear and the spirit thereof with anxiety and nervousness, an outward emotional expression based upon an internal disturbance for which we are overwhelmed. Once again, this is correct to a very large extent, but the spirit of fear that is paralyzing the church is a little more covert and subtle than this.
The spirit of fear that has a hold on the church is the fear of Insecurity. One of the basic psychological needs of human beings is a sense of Security. When people do not feel secure, then they act out this insecurity in very delinquent and dysfunctional ways. There are things that God is calling His people into that, quite frankly, many of us have never done before. That can be scary. Nothing's wrong with acknowledging that, but there is something wrong with giving into that. Why? Because that spirit is not of God (2Timothy 1). We need to understand during this Season that God is purposefully allowing us to encounter some situations that are over our heads. He's intentionally allowing us to be "overextended". Why? So that He can move us beyond our personal limitations and get us beyond our fears. The Kingdom of God cannot be established operating in a spirit of fear. Personal doubts, circumstantial questions, skeptical what ifs, not of God. So am I supposed to just charge ahead? There we go! That's it. What was the Battle Cry when the soldiers were getting ready to head into battle? CHARGE! Yes saints, that's what God wants us to do. He's Faithfully given you Revelation of what He's assigned you to do. Just Do It! I'm pressing this because any other "skeptical-cynical" spirit is not of God. That's why the Lord was so displeased with the children of Israel when they refused to march into the Promised Land at His Command. They were operating in a spirit of fear (Numbers 13).
What should allow us to rebuke and overcome the spirit of fear that is subtly shackling many of us, is the Word of Comfort that the Lord has given to us, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13). When we demonstrate and manifest a spirit of fear, we are basically saying that we don't trust in the Security of the Lord. That is an Insult to Him. I'm sure we don't mean to be insulting, we're just trying to be real with where we are. But how would you feel if you were leading your child into a situation that you knew you had total control of, but yet they still didn't trust you. Notice I didn't say they were still scared, I said they still didn't trust you. The reality saints, when you experience fear over an area that the Father is leading you into, you're saying in essence that you don't trust Him. That He as God is not sufficient. I know you don't "think" that's what you're saying. But if you felt God was sufficient, then why would you be afraid? Do you see what I'm getting at. Let us learn to put all of our trust in God. Let us learn to truly take Him at His word. Then we will no longer insult Him by operating in the spirit of fear.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Friday, July 24, 2015
Preparation for the Crossover
Saints, we are in a time of Transition. For many, the nature of your situation and current circumstances, are a far cry from what they were say 2 to 5 years ago. And for many of us, it may not be what could be described as "for the better". But Be Encouraged, God is Still in Control. He is moving behind the scenes and He's setting some things up for His chosen that we would not be able to fathom in our most active imagination. But in order to receive what God has in store for us, we must make Preparation for the Crossover. Crossing over into God's Ordained Destiny for our lives is not something that just "miraculously happens". It does to a certain extent of course, but in order to successfully make the Transition for which God has ordained for our lives, it is imperative that we be Prepared.
One of the areas of Preparation for the Crossover is the development of a Soldier's Mentality. I still get the strong impression that a lot of Christians that attend church services, don't truly understand that when they accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, that they were actually enlisting in the Army, GOD'S ARMY. Yes saints, we are in the Military, and in order to operate successfully and effectively in the armed services, there's a certain mentality that is required. Soldiers don't function like Civilians. Civilians structure their lives to live a leisurely, casual lifestyle as much as they possibly can. Not that there are not certain demands placed on them, but they are not necessarily of a Military nature. When you're in the Army, particularly when you are at War, you're "always" on Guard. There's an Assertiveness that is required to function as a Soldier. I'd like to think of myself as a fairly disciplined individual. But I don't know if I would consider myself a "regimented" individual. When you're in the Service, everything is regimented, from the time you wake up till the time you go to bed. There is a Spiritual Regiment that God has devised for all of us that is part of our Preparation for the Crossover.
In conjunction with the Soldier's Mentality, we have to be prepared to fight for the Kingdom of God. This passiveness on behalf of many Christians, including those in leadership, must cease. It's Time to Go to War! If you're not ready to fight, then you're not ready to Crossover. God told the children of Israel that once they entered the Promised Land that they were to "possess the Land" by fighting the Canaanite nations that resided there (Numbers 33). Are you ready to fight? Are you ready to take back our neighborhoods, take back our communities, take back our families, take back our schools, take back our government, take back our institutions, take back our churches, take back this nation, for the Kingdom of God in the Name of Jesus Christ? God's not going to shower us with Miracle Blessings just to enjoy for our personal consumption. He's going to bless us so we can change the world in Jesus' Name. I pray that as we get closer and closer to this Season that you will allow the Holy Spirit to give you the Grace for the Preparation for the Crossover.
One of the areas of Preparation for the Crossover is the development of a Soldier's Mentality. I still get the strong impression that a lot of Christians that attend church services, don't truly understand that when they accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, that they were actually enlisting in the Army, GOD'S ARMY. Yes saints, we are in the Military, and in order to operate successfully and effectively in the armed services, there's a certain mentality that is required. Soldiers don't function like Civilians. Civilians structure their lives to live a leisurely, casual lifestyle as much as they possibly can. Not that there are not certain demands placed on them, but they are not necessarily of a Military nature. When you're in the Army, particularly when you are at War, you're "always" on Guard. There's an Assertiveness that is required to function as a Soldier. I'd like to think of myself as a fairly disciplined individual. But I don't know if I would consider myself a "regimented" individual. When you're in the Service, everything is regimented, from the time you wake up till the time you go to bed. There is a Spiritual Regiment that God has devised for all of us that is part of our Preparation for the Crossover.
In conjunction with the Soldier's Mentality, we have to be prepared to fight for the Kingdom of God. This passiveness on behalf of many Christians, including those in leadership, must cease. It's Time to Go to War! If you're not ready to fight, then you're not ready to Crossover. God told the children of Israel that once they entered the Promised Land that they were to "possess the Land" by fighting the Canaanite nations that resided there (Numbers 33). Are you ready to fight? Are you ready to take back our neighborhoods, take back our communities, take back our families, take back our schools, take back our government, take back our institutions, take back our churches, take back this nation, for the Kingdom of God in the Name of Jesus Christ? God's not going to shower us with Miracle Blessings just to enjoy for our personal consumption. He's going to bless us so we can change the world in Jesus' Name. I pray that as we get closer and closer to this Season that you will allow the Holy Spirit to give you the Grace for the Preparation for the Crossover.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
If Jesus Were Alive Today
Do you ever wonder what the world would be like if Jesus was living on earth in the 21st century? The problem with that question is that it shouldn't have to be asked. Jesus is supposed to be alive today, walking the earth the way He did nearly 2000 years ago. The Presence of Christ is supposed to be as palpable now as it was when He was born in Bethlehem as King of the Jews. That's the purpose of the Church. The job of the Body of Christ is to represent and manifest the presence of Jesus in the earth realm in the present. So if Jesus is not "alive" in the earth today, it's not because He's not alive, it's because His church will not allow Him to live through her.
Saints, we've reached a point in the history of the church where we now have to abandon religion. All of this tradionalized, denominationalism has to be done away with. It's restricting the flow of the life of Jesus in and through His Body, the church. The church is not a religious organization, she is a spiritual organism. We are no more effective than our ability to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest the life of Jesus Christ in and through us (2Corinthians 4). So, what would Jesus be doing if He were living in the earth today?
One of the first things Jesus would be doing is healing the sick. America is a sick country, and this includes the church! Diabetes, cancer, heart disease, hypertension and a host of other illnesses and diseases, is not the will of God. And yet there are thousands upon thousands of Christians who suffer through all types of arthritis and dementia and other types of bodily ailments. If Jesus were walking the earth today, such would not be the case.
Jesus is a Healer, which means the church should be in the "healing business." No matter what a person's physical ailment is they ought to be able to come to the church with the confidence, or at least expectation, that the healing power of Jesus Christ is available. Is this a viable expectation in the church you attend? In most churches, it is not. Why? Because Jesus isn't allowed to live in most contemporary American congregations.
Another thing Jesus would be doing if He were living in the earth today is galvanizing the poor. I use the word galvanize because the disenfranchised and oppressed loved Jesus. His preaching was aimed at them (Luke 4). If Jesus were living in the earth today, the indigent would follow Him like He were a rock star. Why? Because He would be giving them hope. Not empty political promises, Hope! He would be empowering people and literally changing their social and economic conditions, thereby changing their very lives.
In a lot of our churches today, people who don't meet a particular socio-economic status aren't even welcomed in our churches. Saints, it's time to do a gut check. The Master isn't going to continue to sit by and let the church for which He shed His Blood to purchase misrepresent Him. He IS the Head of the church, and Jesus will live in and through His people again.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Left Behind
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| "Left Behind" by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins can be purchased at Amazon.com. |
I'm concerned that there are more than a few professing Christians that really don't understand what time it is in the economy of God (the timing-plans of God). Time is winding up. Not strictly from a "dispensational" standpoint, but from a judgment standpoint. The judgment of God is getting ready to be released on this nation; and when it does, not only will the leadership of this country be held accountable, but the church will too!
We have not served as the mouthpiece and the witness that God is calling for in these last and evil days. I am persuaded that if the church had exercised a stronger voice in the affairs of this country, some of the abomination and perversion that we've witnessed would not have transpired. Therefore, we need to insure that as God prepares to make a major move in the earth, that we as His people are not left behind.
One example of this is the children of Israel. God delivered them from Egyptian bondage through miraculous signs and wonders (Exodus 14). God provided for them in the wilderness and took care of their every need. But when it was time to cross over into the Promised Land, a whole generation of "church folk" got left behind (Numbers 14). Be not deceived saints, just because you've been in the church all of your life does not mean you're qualified to enter the next move of God. As a matter of fact, there will be more than a few congregations that will resist the move that God releases in the days to come. But there will be nowhere else to turn but to God. And the God that many "religious Christians" have manufactured is not the God of the Bible, nor the God that sent His only Begotten Son to die for the sins of the world. If you are still operating in disobedience and stubbornness to the revealed will of God for your life, you stand to get left behind.
Another example of this is Moses. Remember, Moses got left behind, too. One of the greatest men of God to ever walk the planet did not make it to the Promised Land; he too, got left behind (Deuteronomy 34). Why did Moses, as faithful as he was, get left behind? Unbelief.
In order to progress with God, you have to walk by faith and continue to walk by faith. One of the biggest mistakes that a lot of church leaders make, particularly preachers and pastors, is that we get stuck into doing things the same way over an extended period of time. We must remember that the God we serve is a progressive God. He's not a God of digression, and He's not a God of stagnation, He's a God of PROGRESSION. God's ALWAYS Moving Forward! With this being the case, if you're going to move forward with God, you can't expect things to stay the same.
I truly believe that the philosophy of a lot of church leaders is, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Wrong. If God says, "fix it," then change It! There are a lot of things in the church that need to be changed. Not because they're old or outdated, but because they no longer reflect the movement of the Kingdom of God that the Father has ordained for this next season.
No one wears shorts in the winter time (almost nobody). No one wears gloves and boots in the summertime. Why? Because it's not the season. Nothing's wrong with gloves, nothing's wrong with shorts. But something is wrong when they're worn, out of season. If we're not subscribing to what God has ordained for this Season saints, we too, like Moses and the children of Israel, will get left behind.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Hang in There!
A prophetic word went forth recently, and the word that the Lord gave to His prophet was, Perseverance. The Lord told His servant (and I paraphrase) that the people in the world persevere until they get what they want. They don't let obstacles and setbacks make them give up on what they're reaching for. The Lord went on to say, but with His children this is not the case. We give up too easily. Saints, this is a sad indictment on the Body of Christ. God is looking for some saints that will Persevere. He's looking for some soldiers that won't just throw in the towel when the going gets rough and it "looks like" the Enemy has the advantage. When things start not to go our way, and it looks like our efforts are in vain, we give up. Wrong! It's time saints that we learn to Hang in There!
The scripture says in Galatians 6 for us to "be not weary in well-doing". I know that this is an issue for many of us because a lot of us are tired. We're tired of being broke, tired of being stressed, tired of being sick, tired of being in pain, tired of the drama-whether it's with our family or friends or even the church. We're just tired. And if we be honest, we're tired of God. Not literally of course, but we're tired of praying, we're tired of sowing, we're tired of sacrificing, we're tired of serving, we're tired of studying and not seeing the results we're looking for. We don't mind being committed to the Lord, but we're like HOW LONG before the change comes? And we're tired. All of this is understandable, but saints we've got to Hang in There!
Romans chapter 8 says, "for we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope, for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for it? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (Perseverance) wait for it". That's the Perseverance that the Lord was speaking of to His prophet. The key to this Perseverance is Hope. The reason why a lot of us get frustrated and give up is because we're still being regulated by what we see. But what does the Bible say? Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. If we're going to operate in the Perseverance that God is looking for from His people, we have to be regulated not by circumstances and results, but by Hope. And Hope is the Revelation and Vision that God has promised to you according to His Word. So regardless of what people say, regardless of what the facts are, regardless of how you feel, your Hope is built on the Word and Revelation of God. That's why Romans 10 says, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God". What are you hearing? Are you "listening" to what God is saying to you? What has God said about your finances? What has God said about your health? What has God said about your family? What has God said about the drama and stress? God has a word for everything you're going through. Once you sit still to hear and rehearse (which is re-hear) what God has already said to you, put your Hope in that. This will give you the strength to Persevere and saints you'll be able to Hang in There.
The scripture says in Galatians 6 for us to "be not weary in well-doing". I know that this is an issue for many of us because a lot of us are tired. We're tired of being broke, tired of being stressed, tired of being sick, tired of being in pain, tired of the drama-whether it's with our family or friends or even the church. We're just tired. And if we be honest, we're tired of God. Not literally of course, but we're tired of praying, we're tired of sowing, we're tired of sacrificing, we're tired of serving, we're tired of studying and not seeing the results we're looking for. We don't mind being committed to the Lord, but we're like HOW LONG before the change comes? And we're tired. All of this is understandable, but saints we've got to Hang in There!
Romans chapter 8 says, "for we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope, for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for it? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (Perseverance) wait for it". That's the Perseverance that the Lord was speaking of to His prophet. The key to this Perseverance is Hope. The reason why a lot of us get frustrated and give up is because we're still being regulated by what we see. But what does the Bible say? Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. If we're going to operate in the Perseverance that God is looking for from His people, we have to be regulated not by circumstances and results, but by Hope. And Hope is the Revelation and Vision that God has promised to you according to His Word. So regardless of what people say, regardless of what the facts are, regardless of how you feel, your Hope is built on the Word and Revelation of God. That's why Romans 10 says, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God". What are you hearing? Are you "listening" to what God is saying to you? What has God said about your finances? What has God said about your health? What has God said about your family? What has God said about the drama and stress? God has a word for everything you're going through. Once you sit still to hear and rehearse (which is re-hear) what God has already said to you, put your Hope in that. This will give you the strength to Persevere and saints you'll be able to Hang in There.
Monday, July 20, 2015
The Art of Forgiveness
I suspect that, unfortunately, there are still quite a number of Christians who love the Lord, but are still dealing with the issue of Forgiveness. There are still people in our lives that for one reason or another, we still have grudges against and bitterness towards. This is not the will of God. In order for us to progress spiritually and to get where God would have us to be, it is imperative that we learn the Art of Forgiveness. This may be easier than a lot of people think, but still it's not practiced as regularly as it needs to be, particularly in the Body of Christ. We must learn the Art of Forgiveness.
The first thing that we want to understand about Forgiveness is that it's Grace Based. The Forgiveness that God commands His children to have for one another is based upon the Grace of God. The Grace of God can be defined as God's Acceptance of us in spite of us. God loves us simply because He made us and He is Love. He's not waiting for us to "get it right" before He accepts us. The Scripture says we are "accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1). Once you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, God accepts you unconditionally. That's Good News! In spite of my sins, in spite of my habits, in spite of my shortcomings, in spite of my disobedience, God loves me and accepts me right where I am. That's Grace! It doesn't mean He wants me to stay where I am, but He "accepts" me where I am. This Grace is the basis of all forgiveness. We must learn to accept people unconditionally just the way God does with us. In spite of how you've been wronged or mistreated, at the end of the day there's one thing we know for sure, you're not God (Genesis 50). So you don't have the right not to forgive someone, particularly considering how God has forgiven you (Ephesians 4).
We also want to understand that Forgiveness is a decision. Sometimes you hear that forgiveness is a process; that it's going to take "time" for me to forgive someone. This is incorrect. Forgiveness is not a process, it is a decision. You can make the decision to forgive someone immediately, particularly if you understand the application of Grace. What we confuse a lot of times is forgiveness with Healing. It may take "time" for you to get over the pain, the hurt, the abuse that you may have had to endure or absorb from someone. But this is not necessarily a reflection of forgiveness (even though of course it can be) but a lot of times it's due to a lack of healing. And what we do is think that because we're still hurting and associate the person with our pain, that we haven't genuinely forgiven them. This may be true, but it doesn't have to be. Forgiveness literally means the release of a debt. If I loan you $100 and you don't pay me back, I can forgive the debt, which means you no longer owe me the money. Now that doesn't mean I may not be disappointed by the fact that reneged on the loan, but technically, you've been forgiven. An example I often like to use is, if someone hits me in the face and breaks my jaw, I can forgive them right there on the spot. However, it's going to take weeks, maybe even months, for my jaw to heal. Do you see the difference? And believe it or not saints, the decision to forgive actually facilitates the healing process.
Lastly, we want to learn the Art of Forgiveness because our Salvation is contingent upon it. Jesus says very clearly, "but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6). Did you know that a lot of professing Christians are going to hell because of a lack of forgiveness? Not lying, not stealing, not adultery, not gossip, lack of forgiveness. Why is this the case? Because it is inexcusable for you to be a recipient of the Grace and Forgiveness of God and not have the heart capacity to forgive those who have sinned against you, regardless of what they've done. Is that grudge, is that bitterness, that you're holding onto worth going to Hell for? I think not. Now is the time saints to go to God, let the Holy Spirit work with you, and let Him teach you the Art of Forgiveness.
The first thing that we want to understand about Forgiveness is that it's Grace Based. The Forgiveness that God commands His children to have for one another is based upon the Grace of God. The Grace of God can be defined as God's Acceptance of us in spite of us. God loves us simply because He made us and He is Love. He's not waiting for us to "get it right" before He accepts us. The Scripture says we are "accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1). Once you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, God accepts you unconditionally. That's Good News! In spite of my sins, in spite of my habits, in spite of my shortcomings, in spite of my disobedience, God loves me and accepts me right where I am. That's Grace! It doesn't mean He wants me to stay where I am, but He "accepts" me where I am. This Grace is the basis of all forgiveness. We must learn to accept people unconditionally just the way God does with us. In spite of how you've been wronged or mistreated, at the end of the day there's one thing we know for sure, you're not God (Genesis 50). So you don't have the right not to forgive someone, particularly considering how God has forgiven you (Ephesians 4).
We also want to understand that Forgiveness is a decision. Sometimes you hear that forgiveness is a process; that it's going to take "time" for me to forgive someone. This is incorrect. Forgiveness is not a process, it is a decision. You can make the decision to forgive someone immediately, particularly if you understand the application of Grace. What we confuse a lot of times is forgiveness with Healing. It may take "time" for you to get over the pain, the hurt, the abuse that you may have had to endure or absorb from someone. But this is not necessarily a reflection of forgiveness (even though of course it can be) but a lot of times it's due to a lack of healing. And what we do is think that because we're still hurting and associate the person with our pain, that we haven't genuinely forgiven them. This may be true, but it doesn't have to be. Forgiveness literally means the release of a debt. If I loan you $100 and you don't pay me back, I can forgive the debt, which means you no longer owe me the money. Now that doesn't mean I may not be disappointed by the fact that reneged on the loan, but technically, you've been forgiven. An example I often like to use is, if someone hits me in the face and breaks my jaw, I can forgive them right there on the spot. However, it's going to take weeks, maybe even months, for my jaw to heal. Do you see the difference? And believe it or not saints, the decision to forgive actually facilitates the healing process.
Lastly, we want to learn the Art of Forgiveness because our Salvation is contingent upon it. Jesus says very clearly, "but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6). Did you know that a lot of professing Christians are going to hell because of a lack of forgiveness? Not lying, not stealing, not adultery, not gossip, lack of forgiveness. Why is this the case? Because it is inexcusable for you to be a recipient of the Grace and Forgiveness of God and not have the heart capacity to forgive those who have sinned against you, regardless of what they've done. Is that grudge, is that bitterness, that you're holding onto worth going to Hell for? I think not. Now is the time saints to go to God, let the Holy Spirit work with you, and let Him teach you the Art of Forgiveness.
Friday, July 17, 2015
FOCUS
As we progress through this Summer Season and prepare to wrap up this Season of Basilisk, it is imperative that we remain FOCUSED. Satan is roaming about, seeing whom he may devour (John 10). It is up to us to be watchful, be sober, be vigilant and to remain prayerful (1Peter 5). We must remain mindful of the fact that we have only 2 more months till the beginning of the New Year on the Hebrew Calendar. I can assure you, as we move into the Season of Fall, you're going to witness some radical changes in your own life, the life of this nation, and the life of the world. But when these events hit, individually and collectively, we won't have time to get prepared then, we must get prepared now. We must make sure that we are in FOCUS.
One of the areas Jesus said that we need to remain focused on is the Kingdom of God. Jesus says in the 5th chapter of the Gospel of Saint Matthew, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness". The top priority of all of our lives should be Seeking the Kingdom of God. And where did Jesus say the Kingdom of God is? In you (Luke 17). There is a war going on in each and every one of us. Who's going to rule over your heart and mind, GOD or the Devil? The catch is, you decide who wins the war. When you yield to the Holy Spirit, then God wins. When you yield to the flesh, then Satan wins (Galatians 5). This is a relentless war, but one for which God has given us the Victory in and through His Son Jesus the Christ (Romans 7). But in order to come out Victorious, in order that the Rule of God (His Kingdom) may prevail in you, you have to remain FOCUSED.
Another area for which we need to remain focused is our Affections. The scripture says that those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (Galatians 5). The Affections of the Flesh represent the energy and passion that an individual directs towards something or someone that reinforces their self-worth, significance and self-esteem. The dangerous thing about the affections of the flesh is that they're not always overtly sinful. There's nothing in the Bible that says, "thou shalt not date". There's nothing in the Word that says, "thou shalt not watch tv for hours". The scripture doesn't say, "thou shalt not eat that chocolate cake". You're not going to find any of these "prohibitions" in the Word. However, all of these things and more, can represent affections of the flesh. I've had plenty of "girlfriends" that, at the end of the day, were primarily objects of my affections. But I wasn't sinning, right? This is the area where Satan wants to trip us up and why we have to remain FOCUSED. When it comes to nurturing our relationship with God, it's not always about "avoiding sin". A lot of times it's about monitoring our affections. The three areas that I mentioned earlier, even though none of them are inherently sinful, can all represent areas of self-indulgence. And believe me, once the Devil draws you into self, disobedience to God is borderline inevitable. But we can avoid this if we stay FOCUSED.
The last thing, in order to maintain our focus, we have to stay focused on Jesus. Colossians chapter 3 says, "set your affections on things above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." Everything in our lives, and I do mean "everything" in our lives, should revolve around Jesus. When you operate with this type of FOCUS on the Lord, then it's not about avoiding sin, it's about arranging environments and making decisions where sin is not an option. Why? Because you're FOCUSED. When your focus is off, even just a little bit, you can sway off of God's Divine Course and Path for your life. But when it's all about Jesus, and He is the Love of your Life, then the Spirit will equip you with what you need to stay FOCUSED on the Lord.
One of the areas Jesus said that we need to remain focused on is the Kingdom of God. Jesus says in the 5th chapter of the Gospel of Saint Matthew, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness". The top priority of all of our lives should be Seeking the Kingdom of God. And where did Jesus say the Kingdom of God is? In you (Luke 17). There is a war going on in each and every one of us. Who's going to rule over your heart and mind, GOD or the Devil? The catch is, you decide who wins the war. When you yield to the Holy Spirit, then God wins. When you yield to the flesh, then Satan wins (Galatians 5). This is a relentless war, but one for which God has given us the Victory in and through His Son Jesus the Christ (Romans 7). But in order to come out Victorious, in order that the Rule of God (His Kingdom) may prevail in you, you have to remain FOCUSED.
Another area for which we need to remain focused is our Affections. The scripture says that those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (Galatians 5). The Affections of the Flesh represent the energy and passion that an individual directs towards something or someone that reinforces their self-worth, significance and self-esteem. The dangerous thing about the affections of the flesh is that they're not always overtly sinful. There's nothing in the Bible that says, "thou shalt not date". There's nothing in the Word that says, "thou shalt not watch tv for hours". The scripture doesn't say, "thou shalt not eat that chocolate cake". You're not going to find any of these "prohibitions" in the Word. However, all of these things and more, can represent affections of the flesh. I've had plenty of "girlfriends" that, at the end of the day, were primarily objects of my affections. But I wasn't sinning, right? This is the area where Satan wants to trip us up and why we have to remain FOCUSED. When it comes to nurturing our relationship with God, it's not always about "avoiding sin". A lot of times it's about monitoring our affections. The three areas that I mentioned earlier, even though none of them are inherently sinful, can all represent areas of self-indulgence. And believe me, once the Devil draws you into self, disobedience to God is borderline inevitable. But we can avoid this if we stay FOCUSED.
The last thing, in order to maintain our focus, we have to stay focused on Jesus. Colossians chapter 3 says, "set your affections on things above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." Everything in our lives, and I do mean "everything" in our lives, should revolve around Jesus. When you operate with this type of FOCUS on the Lord, then it's not about avoiding sin, it's about arranging environments and making decisions where sin is not an option. Why? Because you're FOCUSED. When your focus is off, even just a little bit, you can sway off of God's Divine Course and Path for your life. But when it's all about Jesus, and He is the Love of your Life, then the Spirit will equip you with what you need to stay FOCUSED on the Lord.
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