Overcoming Fear Again

     "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  2 Tim. 1:7.  Fear will try to stop you, paralyze you, make you choose another route, make you quiet, and stop you from moving ahead.  We are told there are 365 "Fear Nots" in the Bible, one for every day, because fear will try to rise up against you every day.  One day when I was starting to preach, fear came over me.  Fear told me I couldn't do it.  Fear had almost convinced me that it was impossible for me.  But I remembered 2 Tim. 1:7, and I began to quote that verse over and over.  I told the devil to go, because God had not given me a spirit of fear.  After I stood on that verse, fear left me, and I was encouraged to go ahead and preach the gospel.
     Fear will come up against you again and again.  The fear of public speaking is said to be the #1 fear.  It is the fear of rejection, and the fear of failure.  It is being concerned about self, and what people will think of me.  Pro. 29:25 says, "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe."  Fear is a snare, a trap, to keep you from stepping forward into what God has for you.  When the 12 leaders were sent to spy out the promised land, 10 came back with a report that made the children of Israel afraid.  Their report of doubt made the people cry and wish they could return back to Egypt.  Joshua and Caleb encouraged them and told them not to fear the people, for God would give them the land.  But fear stopped them, and those who feared never did enter the promised land.  We must not make our decisions based out of fear, but we must move in faith, believing what God has said to us.  It wasn't the giants that stopped the people from entering the land, it was their fear.
     In Matt. 14 we read that Jesus made the disciples get into a boat to go to the other side of the lake.  In the middle of the night a storm came up that made the disciples think they would die in the storm. Jesus knew they would encounter this storm, and still He invited them to come.  There are things that Jesus will call you to do, knowing that those things will cause fear to rise up in your heart.  But these experiences are meant to teach us to trust God, and lean more closely into Him.  When anxiety tries to grip your mind, it is time for your trust in God to rise up to a new level.  Recognize the fear, and begin to take steps against it.  Read the Word, and pray, and don't shrink back in fear.  Rise up in faith and move forward toward that fear.  You recognize the fear, and say, "Oh, it's you again."  Now you know that God has something good ahead for you.  FEAR stands for "False Evidence Appearing Real."  Faith has no power when you rise up with faith in God, and take a step toward the fear.   Faith is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to trust God and step forward.  "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me."  Ps. 23.

Care For One Another

     "That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another."  1 Cor. 12:25.  Paul uses the human body as an analogy of the body of Christ.  Just as the body has many parts, so the body of Christ is made up of many different parts, with many various gifts and abilities.  The members of Christ's body, though very different, are all part of the same body, and all belong to Christ, who is the head. 
     The human body looks after itself, and protects itself.  It cares about every part and does not want any part to be hurt or injured.  Pain that is felt in one part of the body affects the overall function of the whole body.  There are no parts that the body is willing to do without.  It does not want to sacrifice any part.  It will protect itself and fight to survive and save every part.  If you've ever been in some kind of a shooting game, like paint ball, you know that getting hit can really sting.  You don't want to get hit anywhere!  It is not okay with you to get hit in any place on your body.  The whole body looks after itself, and cares for itself.  It is like stubbing your toe, or hitting the wrong nail with a hammer, the pain of that moment goes through your whole body, and you are unable to function for awhile until you get some relief from that pain.  It is the care for the body that makes the body function. 
     We are connected as the body of Christ by the care that we have for one another.  We are connected when we feel valued, when we feel seen, when we feel heard, and when we feel understood.  Our true value comes from Christ, as we come to know Him, and what He has done for us.  The body of Christ is to have the same care one for another.  This love is what connects us, and is a testimony to the world that we are Christ's.  Sometimes things happen that cause a disconnection in our relationships.  When this happens in marriage, we must fight for our marriages by reconnecting.  We cannot allow something to disconnect us, and cause feelings of hurt and pain to grow.  We need  life giving relationships that flow one to another for healthy and growing marriages.  In the body of Christ we must be committed to one another to grow together, and give the time, attention, and understanding needed for our relationships to flourish. 
     There has to be a connection for our phones to work, and for our electrical devices to work.  When our furnace wasn't working, and we got it fixed, the sound of that furnace was so good to hear.  The connection had been restored!  So it is in our relationships with one another.  The connection we have through Christ is a precious gift that we protect and value, just as the human body values every part, and is unwilling to do without any one part.  The gift of salvation is free, but maturity will cost you something!  Maturing in Christ and growing into everything God wants you to be will take commitment, time, attention, and being connected to other people.  God uses people to form people!  I need people in my life in order to grow and become all God wants me to be. 

Changing With The Seasons

        Moses had come through the Red Sea with the children of Israel and was now in the wilderness.  He was in the place God wanted him to be, and was now surrounded with the responsibilities of leading the children in Israel in the desert.  His father in law Jethro came out to met him to see how he was doing.  After observing Moses serving Israel, he had some things to say.  Moses had been helping the people from morning to night.  Jethro saw the long line of people waiting to talk to Moses, waiting for Moses to judge their situations and help with their problems.  Jethro said, "What is this thing that you are doing for the people?  Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?  The thing that you do is not good.  Both you and these people will surely wear yourselves out.  For this thing is too much for you.  You are not able to perform it by yourself." 
        Sometimes when God blesses you and you experience growth in your life, your work, your business, your family, and in your responsibilities, you find yourself in a situation where you can not adequately look after everything.  You find the demands of life are pulling you in so many directions that you can no longer look after your family properly, nor are you managing the responsibilities you have.  Your life starts to go out of balance, and things start getting neglected.  Your family feels it, and things are not working out at home like they should, because you are too busy, and don't have the time and patience.  This is a crucial time to make changes in your life.  Your family needs you, and you need your family.  It is a time to pray for wisdom to know how to manage all the blessings that you are experiencing. 
        Jethro's advice to Moses was that he appoint people to help him, good men who would be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.  Moses would still oversee the people and deal with the great matters, but others would look after the small matters, and make it easier for Moses, bearing the burden with him.  This is such good advice, for Moses to let go of some of his responsibilities, and trust others to lead instead.  We need to ask God for wisdom in our lives, knowing what we should leave for others to do, and letting go of things.  This advice would both save Moses' life, and also the people.  When seasons change in our lives, we need to recognize it, and change with the seasons.  It would be very frustrating to continue to dress like it's winter time when it is spring, because we didn't recognize the change of season.  So it is in our lives that we must recognize the changes we go through in life, and adjust ourselves to the new season.  Otherwise, we may lose the blessings that God has provided for us.  Ask God for wisdom for your new season!

Hunger and Thirst - Part 2
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."  Matt.5:6.
        The beatitudes are attitudes for a blessed life.  Jesus wants each of us to live a blessed life, and He has shown us the way to experience blessing everyday.  To be blessed is to be happy, fortunate, and to be envied.  This life is the life that everyone longs for, and admires in others.  It is a life to be envied, because it seems that through every circumstance, these attitudes carry you through and continue to reflect the life of Christ.  They bring satisfaction and fulfillment in life, and freedom from anxiety and fear and hopelessness. 
        The attitude of hunger and thirst for righteousness is essential for a believer.  In every day and in every circumstance the believer is calling out for God to bless, and guide, and strengthen.  It is continually leaning on God and trusting for God's provision.  It is living out of a living relationship with God, that gets ever stronger, because of hunger and thirst.  The more of God you experience, the more you want!  The more you experience the goodness of God, the more you want of it, and are unwilling to live without. 
        Our hunger and thirst for God is our most precious attitude, as it causes us to cry out to God for more.  To lose our hunger and thirst is a very serious problem that must be remedied.  What are the things that take away hunger from the body?  Usually sickness is the main thing that takes away hunger.  You know something is wrong when there is no hunger.  Spiritually, there are some things that can dampen our spiritual hunger, such as bitterness, anger, quarrelling, evil speaking, and malice, Eph. 4:31.  Getting angry at others, and upset with what someone else has done can cause you to lose your hunger for God, and you become so focused on what happened to you.  The answer for this is found in the next verse: "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." 
        Poison will take away hunger.  Spiritually, our hearts get poisoned by gossip and complaining.  "But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another."  Gal. 5:15.  I must protect my own hunger and thirst by not entering into gossip and talking negatively about my brothers and sisters.  Food poisoning will destroy hunger.  When we bring into our life teaching that is false and not based on the Word of God, it brings deception and causes disillusionment.  I have promised the Lord that I will not listen to teaching that is focused on bringing down another ministry.  Our ministry should always build up and lead others closer to Jesus. 
        "As new born babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."  1 Pet. 2:2.  Nurture your hunger and thirst for God and let it grow.  Cry out to God for His fullness, and He will fill you until you are satisfied.
        "He who is satiated (with sensual pleasures) loathes and treads underfoot a honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet."  Pro. 27:7  AMPC

Hunger and Thirst

Hunger and Thirst
        "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."  Matt. 5:6.  The beatitudes are attitudes we need for everyday life.  It is not that we learn them once, and never have to return to them.  They are needed for each new situation and circumstance we encounter.  They are attitudes that reflect the character of Christ.  They are attitudes that take us through life with wisdom and understanding.  They build strong relationships with others, because they are not self centered, but rather they bring a blessing to those you encounter.
        To hunger and thirst is a natural part of life.  Hunger and thirst is essential for life and growth.  Your life is dependent upon your hunger and thirst.  To not be hungry or thirsty is a sign that something has gone seriously wrong.  Without hunger and thirst, a person is suffering from sickness, or some serious condition, that if not remedied, will ultimately lead to death.  But we must be careful how we fulfill our hunger and thirst.  If I consume the wrong things to satisfy my hunger, I will do damage to my body.  If I fill myself with junk food and pop, I may get the feeling that I am full, but I have not taken in the nutrition I need for health.  And so spiritually, my heart is hungry for the presence of God in my life.  But if I reach for other things, and don't reach out to God to satisfy my hunger, I may feel full, but this will not satisfy the hunger of my heart.  I must protect my hunger for God, and not allow my hunger to be fed with other things.
        "Ho!  Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat.  Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?  Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance."  Isa. 55:1,2.  Why would a person spend their paycheck on all kinds of things, but have no food to eat?  This is like a child of God who spends all their time and effort on other things, and have not called out to God to satisfy the longings of their soul.  We need to listen carefully to God.  God is speaking to every child of God, and desiring to lead them into a life of abundance and satisfaction.  But we must listen carefully to God's voice.  He has set a table before us, so we can come and dine with Him, and taste and see of His goodness.
        Life offers us a table to eat from.  Some things are good, some things are rotten, and some things are poisonous.  If you were invited to eat at a table which had some good things, some rotten things, and some poisonous things, you would become very careful about which things you ate.  And so as believers, we must be very careful about what we consume into our lives from this world.  There are many good things that God has provided, but the rotten things will make us spiritually sick, and the poisonous things will bring death. 
        Satisfy your hunger and thirst with the things of God.  Call out to God in prayer and worship, read the Word of God, and take time to fellowship with others who will build you up and encourage your life. 

What To Do On Your Way To A Miracle

     The prophet Elisha used to pass by a certain village where there lived a woman and her husband.  As often as he passed by, he would stop there and eat food.  The woman said to her husband that they should build a small room, and put in a bed, a table and a chair, and a lampstand for the man of God.  So one day when Elisha came, he turned in there and stayed in the room prepared for him.  Elisha wanted to do something for the kindness that this woman had shown to him, so he asked what he could do for her.  But she was content with what she had.  Gehazi, Elisha's servant said, "Actually she has no son, and her husband is old."  Upon hearing this, Elisha told the woman, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son."  At the appointed time given by the prophet, the woman gave birth to a son.
     A few years later, the son was out with his father in the field, and complained about his head.  The father had him brought to his mother, and he sat on her lap until noon and then died.  Can you imagine what the mother felt when her son died.  But the mother did something very unusual.  She laid the boy on the bed prepared for the man of God, and closed the door, and went to see her husband.  She asked for a donkey and a young man to go see the man of God.  Upon asking her why she wanted to go, she answered, "It is well."
     As they approached the place where the man of God was, he sent out his servant Gehazi to inquire what was wrong.  He asked her, "Is it well with you?  Is it well with your husband?  Is it well with the child?"  And she answered, "It is well." 
     When she finally arrived where Elisha was, she held onto his feet, and Elisha realized she was in deep distress.  He soon realized there was something wrong with the child, and ordered Gehazi to go on ahead and lay his staff on the child.  Gehazi went ahead and did this, and returned with bad news saying, "The child has not awakened."  This was another setback for the woman.  Elisha finally arrived at the house, and stretched himself out on the child, and the child became warm.  Then again he stretched himself on the child, and the child revived, and was given to his mother. 
     The woman knew there was a miracle for her, if she could get to the man of God.  Her faith said, "It is well", while she was in deep distress.  She trusted God while she was on her way to a miracle.  This is one of the toughest places to be in the Christian life.  You know God can do anything, and you believe that nothing is impossible, yet you have not yet experienced your miracle.  The attitude of the heart needs to be like this Shunammite woman, who refused to be denied her miracle.  Even after the setbacks that she faced, she was unwavering in her faith in God.  She would not talk about her need except to the one who could do something about it.  She was persistant and wouldn't give up in the face of adversity.  She knew God had the answer.  She showed us what to do on the way to a miracle. 

Integrity

     David revealed both the blessing he experienced, as well as the suffering he went through.  In Ps. 41 the demonic realm was attacking him.  His enemies said, "When will he die, and his name perish?"  The enemy's desire is to kill, steal, and destroy.  David says that if the enemy comes to see him, he speaks lies, and then goes out and tells it.  They whisper against him and devise ways to hurt him.  "An evil disease" they say, "clings to him, and now that he lies down, he will rise up no more."  And above all this, David's own familiar friend in whom he trusted, who are bread together, lifted up his heel against David.  This was most likely Ahithophel, who betrayed David and went to help Saul.  There are times of attack in the Christian life, where we experience what Peter talked about in 1 Peter 5:8, "...your adversary the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."  David's answer in Ps. 41:12 is this, "As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, and set me before Your face forever."  Because of the integrity of David's heart, the enemy was not able to get ahold of David.  Integrity upheld and saved David's life.
     The word integrity comes from the word integer, which means a whole number.  To have integrity means to be in a state of being whole, entire, or undiminished.  It is adherence to moral and ethical principles, soundness of moral character, honesty.  It is a heart that stays devoted to God through times of pressure that try to force you to do something out of character.  In Ps. 25:21 David said, "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on You."  Integrity will preserve you and keep you.  King Abimelech took Sarah when Abraham journeyed to the south.  The Lord appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and told him, "Indeed you are a dead man..."  But Abimelech thought Sarah was Abraham's sister, and said, "In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this."  And the Lord said, "Yes I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart.  For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her."  Though Abimelech did the wrong thing, he was preserved because of the integrity of his heart. 
     "Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity..."  Ps. 26:1.  David was kept and protected by God because he walked in integrity of heart.  Vs. 8, "Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells."  This was David's first love, even during times of temptation and pressure to conform to what the people around him were doing.  He desired for the Lord to examine him, and try his mind and his heart.  Ps. 26:11, "But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful to me." 
     Satan is out to destroy your integrity.  Job had gone through trials that destroyed everything he had, and finally even his health, as he sat scraping his boils with a piece of potsherd.  His wife had long passed the point of holding onto integrity of heart.  Her words to Job were, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity?  Curse God and die."  Job 2:9.  The battle was over Job's integrity, and whether he would hold onto God through the loss of everything.  We have heard of the patience of Job, but have you heard of the patience of Job's wife?  Her advice was to curse God and die.  Integrity will preserve you even through the harshest of trials.  Hold onto your integrity!