It is sin living in you that’s pulling you

When you want change but you don’t know how to begin START HERE. • Admit to yourself that something is seriously wrong in your life and that you have made a mess of that area in your life and admit that you’ve been playing games with yourself. • Realize that your life has become unmanageable in many ways and that in that area of your life you are not in control anymore. • Admit that you keep doing things that you later regret you do them and then tell yourself that you will not do them again. But you do. You keep on doing them, in spite of your regrets, your denials, your vows, your cover-ups and your promises.

The Bible says it like this in Romans 7: 14 You know that the law is spiritual, but you are not spiritual since sin rules you as if you were its slave.15 You do not understand the things you do. You do not do what God wants you to do, and you do the things He hates.16 And if you do not want to do the hated things but you do, that means you agree that the law is good.17 But you are not really the one who is doing these hated things; it is sin living in you that does them.18 Nothing good lives in the part of you that is earthly and sinful. You even want to do the things that are good, but you do not do them.19 but you do the bad things you do not want to do.20 So if you do things you do not want to do, then you are not the one doing them. It is sin living in you that does those things. 21 So learned this rule: When you want to do good, evil is there with you.22 In your mind, you are happy with God's law.23 But you can see another law working in your body, which makes war against the law that your mind accepts. That other law working in your body is the law of sin, and its purpose to makes you its prisoner.

In spite of all of the failures in your life - all of the broken promises, there is still hope. There is hope because greater is He that is in you than you that is in the world and with Christ all things are possible. You are incapable of doing it yourself, you need God’s help. Philippians 3:13-14 says: forget those things which are behind, and reach forth unto those things which are before, press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.

You must be honest with yourself and say you can’t change this thing on your own, you’ve tried it and you’ve made a mess of it. You don’t have it all together and you need to change. Let it go. Make a conscious and willful decision to turn your will and all your life’s circumstances over to the care of God. 1st Peter 5:6-7 says “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for He cares for you”.

TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND. When you look in the mirror and don’t even realize who you are. A spiritual vale has been placed over your eyes so that you are blinded to the truth. The devil wants to humiliate you. He wants to destroy your reputation, separate you from those that love you; he wants to leave you out there in sin to die all alone. Remember Nothing Changes if you don’t make up your mind that you are sick and tired of being sick and tired. You must make the beginning choice to change. From lost to found. From hurt to healed. From sad to happy TAKE THAT FIRST STEP.

A curse can be responsible for things that happens or things that shall come

Hidden curses are wicked weapons used by the devil. You owe yourself the duty of reversing all hidden curses in your life. Your life will be transformed the moment all hidden curses are cancelled. You will begin to experience the joy of living life at its fullest. Curses are the direct opposite of blessings. A curse is an invisible barrier that keeps you away from what God has for you. God has the power to turn curses into blessings.

Proverbs 26:2 ²Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying, so the causeless curse does not land.

An undeserved curse will not come unless a person tolerates it. This means that when there is no landing space, no welcome, nothing to feed upon, a curse cannot come and stay in the life of a person. When there is a reason, the curse can come. This means that nothing can take root unless there is an underlying reason. There must be reason for a curse to stay. For complete freedom there must be complete repentance. If someone has issued a curse without a reason, it will go back to that person. So, do not curse whom God has blessed.

All the wrong kinds of sex bring curses.

That is why the Bible has two expressions for sex: "laid with" and "knew his wife". While the first word (laid) is negative, the second word (knew) is positive. Whenever the Bible says "laid with", it means fornication or adultery. When the Bible says "knew his wife", that is the right thing. A person who used their money to ’buy’ sex is under a curse. Girls releasing themselves to be used as objects of satisfaction to men in order to get a job, promotion, accommodation, etc., come under curses. A woman permitting herself to be abused sexually because of money comes under a curse. A father sleeping with his daughter, or a mother sleeping with her son, come under a curse. People sleeping with animals or their brother’s wives or sister’s husbands, come under curses.

You may not know. When a person is under a curse, normal prayers will not influence the breaking of the curse. There are thousands of people whose problems cannot be solved through normal prayers. Many are fighting a battle they did not initiate. Hidden curses are a source of real problem. Curses could result in all kinds of evil things. They can lead to chronic frustration and problems. They can be transferred to a person’s possessions and from parents to children.

If you’re operating under a curse it is easy to recognize, because you will be struggling against something, and you will be unable to master the thing and overcome it. Curses have long lasting effects. They can run from generation to generation. The curse on Jericho was not broken till 300-500 years after it was issued. When the man of God came and identified the problem, he added salt, and the curse was broken immediately. So shall all curses be broken, in Jesus’name.

Curses act like a fence, to protect evil spirits and give them legal grounds to operate. They can come from so many sources. If a curse comes upon you from God, then you need to repent and move away from what brought the curse which only God can remove. All curses from God are as a result of disobedience. God was the first to place a curse in the Bible. He placed it upon Adam and Eve when they ate the forbidden fruit. All disobedience invites curses from God and only He can remove them.

Are you ready to rise up and walk, or continue lying in self-pity

John 5:1-8 The name Bethesda means “house of pity or mercy”. That’s certainly what these poor suffering people needed. It is terrible to think that right there at the Sheep Gate, where the sacrificial lambs were brought in, that there would such a display of suffering humanity. Right at the very entrance, if you will, of the path to worship, lay people without hope. There they lay, day after day, night after long night, with only one hope – to beat everybody else to the water when it began to stir from the presence of the Angel of the Lord.

Look around your world today, and sometimes right there in the House of God, you’ll see so many who are in the same condition as these people were around the Pool of Bethesda. Not a day goes by when you’ll fail to hear of someone else in pain and suffering. The world is filled with people who need both pity and mercy. It’s as though the entire world now was a giant Pool of Bethesda and everywhere you look there is nothing but suffering.

Just as then it is today you need a visitation of Jesus once again! You need that grieving heart of the Savior to walk among you, to take pity upon you, to show mercy and grace once again, and lift you out of the place where you have laid for so long. You cannot lift yourself up. There is no power in human flesh over that which is destroying the souls of humans. The power to heal and deliver can only be found in the supernatural; that ability that only God can give.

The power of sin has immobilized the souls of humans. They cannot see to walk with God, they cannot hear the voice of the Lord, they cannot understand the leading of the Spirit and they don’t perceive the Word of the Bible because it all must come as God enables. Flesh cannot break through to that spiritual realm without the grace and mercy of God to open your eyes and ears that you might see and hear the supernatural.

It’s the Spirit of God only that supernatural power to overcome can be made manifest in your life. You can’t conjure up the Holy Spirit. There are a lot of things going on in the hearts of humans today that are nothing more than fleshly works, things that they have tried to manufacture to make it seem that the Spirit of God is moving; but there’s no supernatural power. You can have a form of godliness without the power of God.  

If you are going to be changed, you must be drawn by the Spirit of God as he troubles the waters of your soul. You must experience the supernatural power of God to change the heart. Nothing else works but the power of God!

John 5:8 … Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. You may have been fighting with things in your life that has kept you bound and limited for a very long time, perhaps your whole life. Maybe it’s a secret sin, or something in your life that hinders the moving of the supernatural within you. Maybe it’s a bit of doubt and unbelief that keeps you from believing that God could really move for you, that God will really answer your prayer and set you free. Maybe its depression, or physical issues, that keep you from experiencing God’s best. Whatever it is, you’ve been laying in that place long enough.
Maybe you’re just waiting on a sign; something supernatural to stir the waters or a bolt of lightning out of Heaven; or the audible voice of God to speak to you? Just like the Jews at the Pool of Bethesda. You might have convinced yourself that God can’t move without some kind of shout, or some other kind of stirring! The very Son of God is with you right now, and the question is, “Will you be made whole”? Are you ready to get up and move on in God?

Jesus told him, “Rise up, pick up that thing that has had you bound, and walk on in victory!” There’s nothing too hard for God. Whether it’s a lifetime of sin and shame, a load of guilt that suffocates you, or a hindering spirit that lingers near you always bringing doubt and fear that you will look foolish for believing God, or it’s a fear of just stepping out by faith – the supernatural power of God to set you free is here right now and there’s nothing too hard for him to do. Don’t lie around, bound with chains that keep you from experiencing God’s best for your life. You have the supernatural power of God in your hands. The Holy Spirit is stirring the waters of your heart and soul. Jesus is asking, “Are you ready to rise up and walk, or are you going to continue lying in self-pity?”

It’s time you said, “Yes, Lord, and without excuse, just get up, rise up, and get about the Lord’s business.”

You are part of the chosen generation

It seems that the devil has declared all-out war against God’s people, and even seems to be advancing on all fronts, it’s time for you as a believer to stand up and send the answer back to hell that you refuse to surrender. You are going to have a battle on your hands and as time draws ever nearer to the coming of the Lord, Satan is making a last ditch effort to destroy the gospel message in the earth.

When you think of the multiplied millions of people who will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire because of Satan’s lies and deceitfulness, you can’t help but rejoice when you read about his final downfall in the Book of Revelation. There you are told that the archangel of God will lay hold on him and cast him into the bottomless pit where he will be held prisoner until he is released for the last time, only to be utterly defeated and cast into the Lake of Fire along with all his fallen angels and non believing humans.

You are living in some exciting times. You are a part of God’s chosen generation who are at the right time, and in the right place, to see all of these things come to pass.
In 1 Peter 2:9 you are a part of those called, "… a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should praise him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light…"

God has given you the weapons of warfare that you need to defeat the devil. Those weapons are not guns, knives and rockets, but they are spiritual weapons that have the power to destroy the works of darkness that try to invade your family and your soul. God has poured out his Spirit in these last days, and His Spirit is greater than the spirit of the devil and the spirit of antichrist that is in the world.

Acts 2:17-18, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:"

God has poured out His Spirit upon you for a purpose. It’s not just to make some chills to run up and down your spine. It’s not just so you can speak in other tongues and dazzle your brothers and sisters in the Lord. It’s not just so you can be slain in the Spirit. God gave you the anointing power of the Holy Ghost so that you can defeat the devil and pull down strongholds of darkness.

God has poured out His Spirit upon you and The Holy Spirit has giving you understanding and knowledge of the Word of God and the Spirit of God that many in older generations, never had. The Lord has opened the floodgates of Heaven and has advanced knowledge and power in these last days; you are witnessing a mighty revival in the world, like never has been before. The believers are triumphant and the devil is on the run. He might roar but he has to run for he cannot stand against the power of the Blood.

You are a part of the most blessed and privileged people on the face of the earth. In fact you are a part of the most privileged humans to be alive since Jesus walked the earth over 2000 years ago. You are in the right place, at the right time, with precisely the right power at your disposal to give the devil his ultimate blow.

You are living in the last generation that shall witness the Rapture of the church and the coming of the Lord in the clouds of Glory. Do you understand? You could be only a few short years from the end of Satan’s reign and the beginning of the reign of Christ. What an exciting time to be alive! You are at the right place, at the right time, and you are in the position to witness the final defeat of the devil!

Send a message back to the devil the next time he tries to make you think that you are losing. Just tell him, “He has Lost already”. Devil, you’re a liar and the father of lies. You can’t win and I cannot lose because I have the Lord on my side.

Get Over Yourself

 “Get Over Yourself!” Wouldn’t it feel great to be able to say that to some people? The problem you run into is that if you said that to other people, it will probably come back on yourself sooner or later. All need to “get over themselves” in some way or another. Philippians 2:3 - love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourself long enough to lend a helping hand. “Attitude is everything”

Philippians 2:5-11 - Think of yourself the way Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave and became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before Jesus, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all.

So how do you “empty” yourself? How do you get over yourself? Here is away: Look at life through a telescope, not a microscope…When you look at life through a microscope, everything else is smaller than you. YOU are the biggest object, and YOU have the illusion that you are in control. When you look at life through a telescope, you are looking at something MUCH BIGGER than you are, and you realize that you are small, that you are NOT in control.

IF you’re not truly in control of your life {and you’re not} then you must be willing to submit yourself to a greater power that IS in control. That power is not a energy source, or some cosmic light source, it is the God who made all of creation, including you.

Isaiah 45:9-12 - You have no right to argue with your Creator. You are merely a clay pot shaped by the potter. The clay doesn’t ask, “Why did you make me this way?”… God is the Creator, the holy God of all things. Do you dare question him about …what have you done?

You need to recognize and acknowledge that GOD is in control – he has the ability to reward you for things done for Him, and the power to discipline you for the wrong things that you do. He has the power to give life and to take life away. So be rid of the notion that you are in control, (that’s when you’re looking at life through the microscope) and acknowledge how much you do need God. God knows your past, your present and your future and He is in control.

Not only is this humbling, but it is empowering! You have THE God of the universe on your side. The ONE who keeps all things going, He is infinitely larger than you, the Father who wants to be you’re everything, your guide, father and friend in your life…

So empty yourself and give up your bragging rights. That you are this or that, you are only valuable because of your relationship with the CHOSEN ONE, - and that is because of The Fathers love, not anything you have done to earn it…

It’s NOT who you are, nor where you live, nor who your parents are, your job or education that make you valuable – it is because of the EVERLASTING FATHER, and his work in your life.

Become a person of true humility and “Get Over Yourself” James 4:10 - When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor. Also Scripture says: God will make you prosper: Proverbs 22:4 - True humility and fear of the Lord leads to riches, honor, and long life.

Your words are a reflection of Who you are

Jesus said in Matthew 15:17-18 “Surely you know that all the food that enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then goes out of the body. But what comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart. It's from the heart that you begin evil arguments, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, and cussing. That's what pollutes the words you speak from the heart—that’s what defiles you.

Your words are a reflection of Who you are, for the most part you’d like to separate those words from how people see you and view you. That’s why people apologize for their language. Because they know that it will cause people to think differently about them. It’s why in most cases people don’t use unclean language in front of their mothers.  And when unclean language slips out they try and excuse it or justify it, “That’s not really what I’m like, I don’t know where that came from.” but it was in your soul and you let in come out. You might not want to admit it but what is in the well of your heart will eventually show up in the bucket of your mouth.

Your language says a lot about you, the use of obscenities don’t require a lot of imagination or a lot of intelligent. When you stop and think about it, for the most part obscenities deal with bodily functions or body parts and don’t really require a lot of imagination and most are uncomfortable hearing them and sometimes personally offended. “Profanity is the use of strong words by weak people”

When most people hear someone cuss they automatically make value judgments about them, immediately they put them into a unintelligent category, not necessarily uneducated there are a lot of educated and seemingly smart people who talk as if they had been to hell for a post-graduate course with the devil as their speech instructor, but they sound dense.

Regardless of the reason you might cuss, as a follower of Jesus that is a reason to not cuss. The word of God tells you in Ephesians 4:29 don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. But your language is not just a reflection of who you are. Exodus 20:7 “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. It’s a Reflection of How you View God

The sad thing is that society as a whole and even Christians seem to feel like blasphemy isn’t as bad as some other words and the bad part of it is that even believers have become immune to hearing it. Why is this command not to misuse God’s name?  If you remember the Ten Commandments you might recall that the second commandment was concerned with making idols and the reason that was forbidden was because Idols reduce God. You take the Creator of the Universe and reduce Him down to an inanimate object made of stone or wood. And while making Idols certainly reduces God, misusing his name also reduces Him. You see, any time that you diminish the name of God by making it lower and less respected you reduce the glory of God. And that’s true even if it isn’t a conscious act.

When you misuse God’s name you’re not recognizing God as holding of the high ground as Creator of all things. It’s Simple, when you makes a statement like “God-damn you” your saying I’m not thinking of God as listening to me, I’m not realizing every word I say is recorded and I’m not using the Holy ones name as significant to my blessings and cures that I will receive according to what I say. The enemy does not want you to understand this Truth. Do you ever hear someone say, “Bob-damn you” or “Sue-damn you” why not? It doesn’t have the same effect when the name is someone on the same level or lower then you.

Or at times the reason isn’t malicious it’s simply ignorance. The name of God is belittled without even thinking. In fact most people who use the Lord’s name in vain through profanity do not even think about what they are doing. They are not intentionally cursing God. Their words are not directed either to God, or about God. Many of these people are not even aware of their profanity. Their profanity is simply a habit pattern for their speech. They’ve grown up with it. Perhaps their parents cursed, or their friends cursed. The use of profanity has become part of their speech. They are ignorant as to what they are doing, they are probably unaware that this issue really offends God; I mean God takes it fairly serious. The entire commandment reads Exodus 20:7 “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. Did you catch that? “The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.”

“His Birthday, My Birthday”

“Birth may be a matter of a moment, but it is a unique one.
A celebration of birth together a Birthday is a SPECIAL DAY to celebrate life. Not just any life, but a very special and unique life! Lots of family and friends celebrating together with joy to demonstrate personal value, love and appreciation.

THE PURPOSE: to mark the passing of another year an earlier birth that you can be grateful for, to look ahead for future accomplishments and blessings.
The birth Genesis 1:26-28 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth." So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth."

All were created from the beginning to live on this earth in such a way as to accurately reflect the character and glory of God! To celebrate a physical birthday should be an annual reflection on this privilege and evaluation of how well you are living out your life's purpose. Jesus was born to restore your ability to fulfill this purpose; an ability that had been lost since Adam & Eve chose to sin in the Garden.

John 3:16-21 "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not judged, but anyone who does not believe is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. "This, then, is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God."

John 18:37 "You are a king then?" Pilate asked. "You say that I'm a king," Jesus replied. "I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice."


EXPECTATION:  Parents, remember the building expectation at the birth of their children. Their thoughts and dreams that consumed their minds with fears, worries and hopes, many times child's birthday never passes without a parent remembering in particular those final hours, minutes and finally the moment of birth.
Will it be a boy or girl? Healthy? Who will the child resemble and in what ways? What kind of personality will one day shine through? What purpose will the child's life fulfill? How will he or she be most remembered?
For young Mary, it was wonder and praise! Luke 1:46-55.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Finally, your born and all are so full of joy, wonder and love beyond their ability to contain it so they must announce to any and all alike.
“This is the best, cutest, most special, loveable baby EVER!” Phone calls, cards, plastic storks, balloons, email, you name it!

Jesus' impending birth was first announced by the great angel, Gabriel to Mary in private. Luke 1:26-38. At the moment of His birth, God the Father really pulled out all of the 'stops.' A new, unique and unmistakable star in the sky, and an entire choir of angels surrounded by the glow of the LORD's glory in the night sky! Luke 2:8-14
every year, many continue to celebrate their children's birthday, often with as much or more awe and wonder. Each year, continuing to send announcements, invitations and pictures to remind everyone. Then, a cake to remember the sweetness of the occasion and fill it with lit candles to mark their light to our lives.
How much more, then, should the world continually announce Christ's birth?

Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lamp stand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, your light shines before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to the Father in heaven.

Make a lasting difference in the world

You don't have to know a lot of things for your life to make a lasting difference in the world. But you do have to know the few great things that matter, and then be willing to live for them and die for them. The people that make a durable difference in the world are not the people who have mastered many things, but who have been mastered by a few great things. If you want your life to count, if you want the ripple effect of the pebbles you drop to become waves that reach the ends of the earth and roll on for centuries and into eternity, you don't have to have a high IQ; you don't have to have to have good looks or riches; you don't have to come from a fine family or a fine school. You have to know a few great, majestic, unchanging, obvious, simple, glorious things, and be set on fire by them.

But whatever you do, find your passion and find your way to say it and live for it and die for it. And you will make a difference that lasts.

Acts 20:24: "Do not account your life of any value nor as precious to yourself, if only you may accomplish your course and the ministry which you have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." One thing mattered: Finish your course, run your race.

Philippians 3:7-8: "But whatever gain you had, you can count it as loss for the sake of Christ. Count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus your Lord. For his sake suffer the loss of all things, and count them as nothing, in order that you may gain Christ."

Here is the way to be shaken of God in this moment to waken in you to a single passion for a single great reality that will unleash you and will set you free from the small dreams and send you to the ends of the earth?

Only boast in the cross of Jesus Christ. The word can be translated "exult in" or "rejoice in." Only exult in the cross of Christ. Only rejoice in the cross of Christ. Let this be your single passion, your single boast and joy. In this great moment called TODAY let the ONE THING that you love, the one thing that you cherish, the one thing that you rejoice in and exult over be the cross of Jesus Christ.

Don’t waste your life on fatal success. Want your life to count for something great for eternity. Want this with all your heart. Don't coast through life without a passion for the eternal things nor ever reaching for the lost. Don't waste your life. It is so short and so precious. "Only one life, it will soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last."

Do you Want To Know His Direction For your Life

Today you stand facing the journey of the uncharted, not yet traveled road of Life before you. It is not a question of whether or not you shall make the journey but the question is of what course you will choose to travel.

Every road will have its twists and turns. Every path it’s unseen dangers and unexpected surprises. Each course once initiated will bring you to its ultimate destination. And the question for you today is what course will your life navigate the remaining part of 2012.

There is an old saying that says, "All roads lead to Rome" and some have mistakenly thought that this principle also applies to Spiritual destinations. They have mistakenly thought that "all paths lead to God." But this is not what the scriptures teach. The scripture clearly teaches that the way to God is singular, that the pathway of life and righteousness is but one. (John 14:6) I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the father but through me (John 10:9) I am the door, if any man enters through Me he shall be saved…

- God clearly offers all the pathway of life through His Son Jesus Christ and all cannot begin the journey if they do not come to Christ.

The Question Is Do you Want To Know His Direction For your Life?
- There are many paths that lie before each you
- How will you know which path you should choose and take
- What will be the criteria by which you determine the course of your life
- For some it will be:
a) Does it feel good,
b) Will it bring me prosperity or financial benefit
c) Will it bring me recognition
d) Will it make me happy
e) Will my friends or family approve

- The bible clearly teaches you what happens when you try to determine your own course of life: Prov. 14:12; 16:25 says: "There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end is the way of death."God Wants to Reveal His Will - His Direction For Your Life.
- God has gone to great lengths to reveal His divine plan and purpose for your life, but all too often you have chosen your own paths
Isaiah 53:6 says: "All like sheep have gone astray; all have turned to their own way"

God’s Word is His Divine Will for your Life His Word will make Know the Path of your Life. The problem is that even though God speaks clearly, you often think you know better!

As a Christians you must rest upon God to sustain you, and upon the breath of his Spirit to empower you. Yet within his moral boundaries, you have the opportunity and responsibility to determine your course.

The greatest achievement and blessing you can attain for the remaining part of 2012 is to follow the Path of Life, to live your life in the presence of the Lord, to walk in fellowship with him.
It doesn’t matter what you will encounter along the journey as long as you have His presence.

Being filled with the Spirit is not the same as being indwelled by the Spirit

Let’s clear up a few things - Number one = Being filled with the Spirit is not the same as being indwelled by the Spirit. Why? Because every believer receives the indwelled by the Spirit from the moment of their conversion you are commanded in Ephesians to be filled with the Spirit! This literally means “being kept filled by the Spirit”
Every day though the process of life’s events you lose spiritual oxygen. God and God alone is the only one who can provide the spiritual oxygen you so desperately need. You can’t get it from your pastor, spouse, family, and friends, - It only comes from God!

When God created the man and women, one reason was to have continual fellowship with them. God is a gentlemen and he only resides where He is welcomed. People decided to kick God out of our schools, courtrooms, and government foundation and look at what is happening!
To keep your spiritual fire burning – Keep the warmth of His presence near you. The element of fire is important. It is your choice on how powerful your flame will be.
If you chose to live your life at a distance from His presence and serve Him when it’s convenient your spiritual flame will not be strong. Are you taking or giving ground?
Ephesians 4:27 = don’t give place to the devil. Therefore glory in Christ Jesus in your service to God. Romans 15:17 - If your serving him – you are close to Him. Always being kept filled: The Fuel is (The written word of God) Nothing can operate without fuel: 1. Humans need food 2. Vegetation needs sunlight 3. Automobiles need gas or electricity.  Proverbs 4: Give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life (Or fuel) to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.

Just as a gas station – the gas station does not come to you – But you must go to the station! Same goes with your spiritual fuel. When was the last time, you went to God’s filling station?

“Being kept filled by the Spirit” You were never designed to run on empty. Eph 3:19 = to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Your spiritual engine can only run on the words found in the bible and on nothing else!

II Timothy 3:16 = Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction. If God breathed these scriptures then they are true, alive, and eternal!

Look at Acts 2:37-47 when your life is filled with the Spirit – worship is not work it’s what you live for. Worship in the Spirit is about want to – it’s exciting because you never know what God’s going to do next. True Expansion – v47 – “And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” That is the true focus of your Christian life. That you should bear fruit unto righteousness the Church is about you – it is also a fueling station. This is to be a place of spiritual growth that propels you into a community that lies in darkness. If you’re serving him you are close to Him. Be sure to get to the Fueling Station (The Bible) to get your spiritual fuel. There’s Nothing worse than running on EMPTY.

The power of sin within you keeps sabotaging you.

The kingdom of God is within you; therefore the struggles that are being fought is within you. James 4:1 says “From where do wars and fighting originated among you? They begin from your lusts that war in your members” So when the kingdom suffers opposition it is you that suffers the aggression because it is the real you that is inside of the body that constantly fights against the flesh. This flesh is daily in conflict against God and you must crucify it and bring it under subjection. See the biggest fight you have is not with demons but with yourself. Demons are subject to the spirit of God so you can rebuke demons in the name of Jesus and they have to flee, but it is within you that spiritual warfare often takes place and the battlefield is the mind. Because demonic spirits try to influence your flesh to do certain things or act in certain ways and that is violence, but because you crucify flesh daily you take victory by force.

Scripture says it best in Romans 7:14-25 ^14-16You are full of yourself; you’ve spent a long time in sin's prison. What you don't understand about yourself is that you decide one way, but then you act another, doing things you absolutely despise. So if you can't be trusted to figure out what is best for yourself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's control by his Laws are necessary.

^17-20But you need something more! For if you know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within you keeps sabotaging your best intentions, you obviously need help! You begin to realize that you don't have what it takes. You try to will it, but you can't do it. You decide to do good, but you don't really do it; You decide not to do bad, but then you do it anyway. Your decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within you and gets the better of you every time.

^21-23It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment you decide to do good, sin is there to trip you up. Even if you truly delight in God's commands, Parts of you secretly rebel, and just when you least expect it, they take charge. ²⁴Even when you’ve tried everything and nothing helps. And you’re at the end of your rope. Is there no one who can do anything for you?

²⁵The is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where you want to serve God with all your heart and mind, but your pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

The devil is upset with you as a believer of Christ’s because he knows you’re destined to work for God who has sent you. There is an anointing upon you to be fruitful and make followers for the Kingdom of God. You are to Love everybody and because you try to live by that motto, the enemy is going to try to do everything in his power to make you believe that you cannot love as God says to love.

Righteousness it has nothing to do with your obedience

Receive Two Gifts Every Day. The Abundance of Grace and The Gift of Righteousness can be yours as one of God’s; you can be free of the bondage of sin and negative thoughts. Unfortunately, many believers are not reigning in life because they are trying to Earn the gifts of grace and righteousness, which God wants them to freely receive. You see, grace is God’s undeserved, unmerited favor towards you. It’s a gift. You cannot earn or achieve it. You can only receive it. It is the same with the gift of righteousness. Righteousness, which is you being right standing before God, is not a reward for your good conduct, it is also a gift that is received, not achieved. You don’t become more or less righteous depending on your behavior. You are either 100 per cent righteous by the blood of Christ or you are not. The truth is that the day you were born again, you were made 100 per cent righteous — as righteous as Christ Himself for all eternity, because it is His very own righteousness given to you as a gift!

The other reason many believers are not reigning in life is that they are not receiving these two gifts every day. “You might think, didn’t I already receive God’s gifts of abundant grace and righteousness when I got born again? Why do I still need to receive them every day?” It’s true that when you were born again you received God’s gifts of abundant grace and righteousness. But this receiving is not just a one-time affair.

The Greek word for “receive” in Romans 5:17 is in the present active tense. This simply means that the receiving here refers to an ongoing, continual action. It’s not something that is done once and forgotten. No, it’s something that needs to be done continually. This means that every single day, you need to receive the abundance of grace and gift of righteousness — especially when you’ve blown it!

It is especially true when you’ve missed it that you need to receive the two gifts. If you want to see victory in your area of struggle, you must realize that true and lasting change always starts with what you believe and receive into your heart.

So the heart of the matter is this: Do you believe that you are still righteous in God’s sight and that His grace is still available to you in abundant measure despite your imperfect behavior, emotions and thoughts? Or do you wallow in guilt and condemnation and say, “I’m a hopeless sinner,” and believe that God has distanced Himself from you? When you miss it, your response should be, “I am still the righteousness of God in Christ! I choose to receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness and I will reign in life!” Believing this is right believing that will lead to right living — the victorious, reigning kind of life!

“But if you think, how can I be righteous when I’ve failed? Here it is: No matter what you have done, you cannot lose your righteousness! Why? Because it’s a gift. You never obtained it by your works, so you can never lose it by your works. If you can lose it by your works, then it was never a gift to begin with!

Look at Romans 5:19For as by one man’s [Adam’s] disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s [Jesus’] obedience many will be made righteous.

You were made a sinner not because you sinned, but because of another’s sin — Adam’s disobedience. In the same manner, you were made righteous not because you did righteous deeds, but because of another’s righteous deed — Christ’s obedience at the cross.

Do you see it? When you were a sinner, your good works could not cause you to lose your “sinnerhood”. Likewise, now that you are righteous, your bad deeds cannot cause you to lose your righteousness. If it were possible, then what the first Adam did was more powerful than what the last Adam, Jesus, did! But the opposite is true — Romans chapter 5 is all about how the work of Christ is “much more” than the work of Adam!

So it is the obedience of Christ that has made you righteous. It has nothing to do with your obedience (good works). Just as Christ was made sin at the cross despite having done no wrong, you were made righteous in Christ despite having done no right. That’s why you cannot lose your righteousness even when you have failed. You have an “everlasting righteousness” (Daniel 9:24). If it’s everlasting, you cannot lose it!

Beware… that one last time may be your last time!

For the Bible says… in Genesis 19:15-19:19 : “because of magnified mercy, God saved Lot and his family!” The Holy Spirit wants you to know that God has been merciful to you, but don’t keep playing’ God for a chump because at some point God’s mercy may run out!

Beware… that one last time may be the last time! One last passionate kiss might lead to an unplanned pregnancy… One last drink might lead to alcoholism…One last snort or one last hit might lead to addiction...– One last fight… – One last lie– One last fling– One last fit of anger or rage and you might get stuck. “It’s Time To Get Out And Stay Out!”

All Lot’s wife wanted was one last look, but the real problem is, one last time is never satisfied! One more is never enough! One more always wants one more! And if you’ve read the story, you know that Lot’s wife’s one more time, turned out to be her last time! – One last look… turned out to be the last look…– One last thought… ended up being her last thought…. . . And the Bible says, “She was turned into a pillar of salt!”

The Angels were trying to rush Lot and his family out of the city, telling him, “Arise, get up now, and get out of here! Take your wife, take your daughters and flee from this place, or you will be consumed in the iniquity of the city!”

In the 16th verse it says, “Lot lingered... “He didn’t move... “He lingered…” In other words, he didn’t get in a hurry… but “he hung around!” He lingered right there in Sodom! In that strange, but familiar place, “He lingered! “ In Sodom, in that corruptible, detestable place, “He lingered” And today maybe you’re “lingering” when you ought to be fleeing!

What has The Holy Spirit been saying to you? – What has God told you to leave behind…– What has God told you to get away from… “You Need To Get Out And Stay Out!” Don’t get lost in Lingering... but take advantage of His “Magnified Mercy” That’s what it says in verse 19: “and thou hast magnified thy mercy...” Magnified mercy… looked beyond your faults and saw your needs…– Magnified mercy… spared your life when you didn’t even deserve it…–

Thank God today for mercy. Mercy which knows your needs more than you know your needs…– Mercy which makes a way, in spite of you….In spite of your shortcomings… In spite of your lack of faithfulness… thank God for “Magnified mercy…” What has God told you to leave behind “It’s Time you Get Out And Stay Out”

Here is how to see the Invisible God

Scripture tells you that no one has ever seen God. The true God cannot be made visible by any kind of image formed in your mind or conjured from your deepest imaginations. He remains invisible. No one has ever laid eyes upon the Holiest of Holies. As a Christians, you are left with classifications and symbolic language to describe to the world the God you worship. You can only tell an unsaved world that your God is like a refiner’s fire burning And yet you cannot capture or express the magnitude of the Majestic God. God himself only described himself to Moses as being the “I am who I am”. There are not human words to give you a visible image of The Creator. He still remains unseen.

Yet, the gospel declares that at a certain point in time however, God became visible. It was a historical event that caused time itself to bend. Eternity’s clock changed its direction from BC to AD the moment God stepped out of time into human reality. The Creator of humanity became a part of his creation. People saw him. They heard him. They touched him. This is what’s called the incarnation – God made visible, not as an idol, but in a life, a human life, the life of Jesus Christ. But the question is why throughout all the gospel and epistles, no one saw fit to describe the physical characteristics of God made flesh? How come the Holy Spirit left humans mystified and clueless to what the savior Jesus Christ looked like? Was he tall, dark and handsome? How come you are still forced in this age of science and technology to still worship that which you have not seen?

Scripture gives you some answers “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; humans have beheld his glory, glory as of the only son from the Father. Scripture points out to you that it matters not what Christ looked like when he dwelt among humans. No, what matter is what he did. His actions outshine his appearance. His spirit overshadowed his flesh. Humans are beings caught up with the flesh. Striving to look their best and are attracted to those who look good. For humans flesh and blood still matters a great deal. Scripture says what drew the disciples to Jesus was not the glide in his stride, or the fineness of his physique. It wasn’t the color of his skin or the height of his statue. No Scripture says that ‘they had beheld his glory, glory as of the only son from the Everlasting father, a glory that surpasses human appearance or understanding?

You shall not really see God unless you consider his work in Christ for you. You need to receive that which the forefathers received in order to see this invisible God. You need to receive two precious gems that will allow you to behold God in all of his glory.

They are God’s grace that is mercy, and his truth. First he has shown you the truth about you. You deserve to die. There’s nothing good about you. You have fallen short of the glory of God and will continue to fall short of his glory. Without Christ, you are a worthless sinner. The truth about the incarnate Christ was that His life was the ultimate and last commandment. He said that this is my last commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this: that a person lay down their life for their friends. God died for you because he loved you. He died for you so that you would not have to die. That’s grace. That’s mercy. You have someone who loves you for just being you. He’s not concern with how you look or what you have. He loves you. And because of his love, his grace and his mercy, you can behold his glory every day.

God wants you to approach your problems with faith in Him

Difficulties in your life have tremendous power to change you – for better or for worse. You get stronger or weaker – more positive or more negative - You become more hopeful or more cynical – depending on your response to your Difficulties.

What are you supposed to do while going through the change process? The Bible gives you help."Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong. Yes, wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14. The biggest problem when you have problems is waiting! You don’t want to wait! You want to wrestle. You’re like Jacob in the Old Testament. You want to wrestle with God and you want to wrestle with your problems.

But that’s not what God wants! God wants you to approach your problems with faith in Him. He wants you to exercise confidence in His timing. God doesn’t always take away your problems because His goal isn’t for you to live a problem-free life. His design is for you to become more like His Son Jesus.

How do you get to the place of “waiting on the Lord?” How are you supposed to act while you’re waiting? What can you do to facilitate the changes in you that God is using your suffering to accomplish?

Your to yield your will to do things God’s way. "Abraham was willing to wait and God gave to him what He had promised." Hebrews 6:15 God promised Abraham that he would bless him and the future generations that followed him.

(Don’t stop yielding to God just because you’ve made some mistakes along the way! Allow your confidence in God to grow through your ups and downs.) Abraham learned that it was expressing confidence in God, not in his own ability that brought about God’s blessings.

Your faith may waver sometimes. You may have some faith hiccups. But yield to His will? Say, “God, here’s my pain, here’s my problems. I’m WILLING to do what you want me to do in this difficulty. I’m not going to mess up again by trying to solve things my way.”

Rest while you’re waiting."Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not because of those who prospers in their ways, because man brings wicked devices to pass." Psalm 37:7

THE SIGNS OF BURNOUT!

After every mountaintop there is a valley. After every high there is a low. With success comes stress. The good news is that the Bible tells you Elijah was just like you. He was a human being, he wasn’t supernatural. God used him in some miraculous ways but he was just a normal human being. So you can look at his life and see the causes or the signs of burnout and the cure for burnout. You may not need this message today but there is probably somebody you know that’s going through emotional burnout right now. This is one of those messages you hold on to so when you go through the dark days, you pull out the outline and read what God said to do.

THE SIGNS OF BURNOUT! What are the signs of burnout? You can see them in Elijah’s life. When you see them in your life you know you’re headed in the wrong direction.
1. You depreciate your worth.You put yourself down mentally. There’s a little tape going on in your mind that says over and over, "I’m a nobody. My life doesn’t matter. I’m insignificant. I don’t count. I have no value." It plays over and over in your mind. When you start doing that, you know you’re headed for burnout.

1 Kings 19:4, "Elijah came to a broom tree, sat down under it, and prayed, `Take my life. I’m no better than my ancestors.’" Circle "I’m no better." He’s comparing himself to his ancestors and saying, "I’m no better than those guys!" That tells you one of the first causes of burnout -- comparing. When you start comparing yourself to somebody else, you’re setting yourself up for emotional burnout. What you tend to do is compare your life with the accomplishments of other people: "I’m not doing enough." You compare your problems and your trials with the relatively easy lifestyle you think somebody else is having. They’re just hiding their problems. You compare your talents and your gifts and think how meager they are compared to the super star quality of the person next door, the other guy or woman in the office.

But the worst thing you do is when you start comparing your expectations with the way life has really turned out. When you start looking at the way life turned out with the way you expected it to be, you’re setting yourself up for burnout. God says don’t do it. Don’t depreciate your worth.
Once you start comparing the second things you start doing is criticizing yourself. You are your own worst critic. Your worst critic lives between your ears. You tell yourself, "I must... I should ... I have to ... I ought to ... I’ve got to ... " Then when it doesn’t happen, you move to phase three, to feeling guilty about all the work you haven’t gotten done. Do you ever have so much to do on your To Do list that there’s no way possible you’re going to get it all done? But then when you don’t get it all done, you feel guilty because you don’t get it all done. You’re setting yourself up for burnout.

2. We underrate your work. 1 Kings 19:19 "I have worked very hard for the Lord God of the heavens but the people of Israel have broken their covenant with You and have torn down Your altars." Elijah was a man of God, a teacher of the truth. Yet he blamed himself for things that weren’t his fault. He was to tell the people what God wanted them to do but they weren’t listening and the nation was falling apart morally because they had some bad leaders. They had brought in all kinds of paganism. He’s teaching and preaching and they weren’t changing and he blames himself.
Learn that you’re not responsible for others response. You’re responsible to simply tell others the truth. Once they walk back into their world that’s their business. In fact, you wouldn’t want to know what each person is doing during the week. It would really depress you. You’re not responsible for their response.

This is the second major cause of burnout -- trying to control everything. Comparing is number one. Trying to control everything is number two. It’s the Atlas Syndrome where you’re acting as if the whole world rests on your shoulders. Trying to make sure everything’s going to turn out all right or you have to hold everything together or have to work everything out. If it is to be, it’s up to me. You think you have to make it all work out. You’re setting yourself up for burnout. When you try to be general manager of the universe. This is a burden God never intended for you to carry.

How to endure and conquer difficult periods of life

If your life is going great right now, this is the best time to reflect on life’s challenges because when troubles come, you need to be armed and ready to fight with the Power of the truth from God. But if you are in a time of struggle right now, take heart. It is not too late to receive God’s word of hope.

Romans 8:28. “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” You can generally take this to mean that no matter how bad things look right now, in the end, everything will turn out for the best. Usually most take this verse 28 to support their own ambitions and purposes. They quote the promise that “In all things God works for the good” but they leave out the condition “For those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

When things don’t go your way, the first thing to remember is (God’s Purpose) for you! What is God’s purpose, God’s ultimate goal for you? Do you have the mistaken idea that God’s purpose is for you to be happy. Do assume that happiness is your right and goal. Have you heard the saying “It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you’re happy” and “Don’t worry, be happy.” But God’s ultimate goal for you is not happiness.
Or do you have the mistaken idea that (God’s Purpose) is for you to be “successful”.
But according to the scripture reading, you can see that God’s purpose has nothing to do with either happiness or success. 8:29 – “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” (God’s Purpose) is to conform you in the image of his Son, the likeness of his Son.

What’s life all about? Some will prosper in business and others will fail, some will have many children and others will not be able to have even one. Some will be born in a happy family but some will not even have their own family. You have no assurance of happiness or success. All you do know is that God will work all things together for your good in order to fulfill His ultimate goal of making you like Jesus.

When things don’t go your way, remember (God’s Purpose)! When things don’t go your way, the second thing to remember is (God’s Plan). v. 30 – “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

God has a plan of salvation and it was settled before the foundation of the world. God knows who will be saved and has a plan, a method, and a design for fulfilling his purpose in them. (God’s Plan) will bring you to full maturity because as Scripture has said; (God’s Purpose) is to make you like Christ. (God’s Plan) will ensure that this goal is achieved in you.

The problem is, you have your own plans too and sometimes they do not line up with (God’s Plan). Proverbs 16:9 says; "The human mind plans their way but the Lord directs the steps." You can make plans till you’re blue in the face, but it is God who determines your course in life. Scripture repeatedly commends the wise steward and the diligent worker but you need to hold your plans loosely up to God in humble obedience.  When your goals are frustrated, look to God’s higher purpose. And when your plans are frustrated, look to God’s higher plan.

When things don’t go your way, another thing to remember is (God’s provision).
God will provide all the resources you need to endure the struggle and suffering you face. Let’s look at the four questions in 31-34. v. 31 if God is for you, who is against you? Does your struggle involve an enemy, a person who is mocking you for your faith or your Christian ethics? Is there someone who seems to be against you? Remember God’s provision. If God is for you, who is against you? v. 32 “He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for you, will he not also give you everything else?” In your struggle you may feel that you just can’t go on anymore. You have no more love to give, your patience has run dry, and God seems to be withholding what you need most. But this is the God who gave the most precious thing when He had given you the gift of Jesus Christ. If God had given you the Son, will he not also give you everything else? Yes, He will. In fact, Ephesians 3:20 says that God is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all you can ask or imagine. When things don’t go your way, the thing to remember is (God’s provision).

And finally, when things don’t go your way, remember (God’s presence).
When you have hardships or persecution, when you’re penniless, friendless, hopeless and loveless, it can feel like God has forsaken you. But v. 38 assures you that nothing can ever separate you from God’s love. Death can’t. Life can’t. The angels won’t and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Your fear for today, your worries about tomorrow, or if you are-flying high in the joys of life or in the deepest emotional ocean-nothing will ever be able to separate you from the love of God demonstrated by the Lord Jesus Christ when he died for you. When things don’t go your way, remember (God’s Purpose) is to make you like Jesus, remember (God’s Plan) is to bring you to full maturity, remember (God’s provision) includes all the spiritual resources you need day by day and remember (God’s presence) - nothing can separate you from His love.

The Power Of His Grace

Instead of preaching grace and the gifts of righteousness and no condemnation in Christ to set people free, the church has been preaching the law to believers, saturating them in sin-consciousness, guilt and condemnation. In the desire to see believers overcome sin and addictions, the church has failed to realize that the biblical key to reigning over sin is not in preaching the law but in preaching grace — “for sin shall not have dominion over you when you are not under the law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). It is grace, not the law that empowers you to overcome every sin, and transforms you beautifully from the inside out!

Reign Through Receiving. No one likes to be in bondage to anything. You want to be free of your addiction. You want to reign over it. In fact, you want to reign in every area of your life. When you reign in life, your addiction doesn’t. When you reign in life, disease and depression don’t. When you reign in life, poverty and lack are things of the past. When you reign in life, the devil is under your feet!

What you need to realize, however, is that reigning in life is not about doing — “You’ve been trying your best”. It is not achieved through your self-efforts, willpower or discipline, it is simply you receiving.

Romans 5:17 for if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the world (Adam), much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

In this verse, Scripture gives you the key to reigning in life. It is RECEIVING the abundance of God’s grace and His gift of righteousness. Scripture didn’t say that you will reign in life when you exercise more effort, willpower and discipline. No, Gods word said that when you simply receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, you will reign in life. So reigning in life is not achieved but received.

The good news is that the Lord’s abundant grace and gift of righteousness are always being supplied to you because of His finished work at Calvary. This means that the power to break free from that bad habit, disease or depression is always there for you to take hold of to experience victory. And when you simply receive the abundance of grace and gift of righteousness, the floodgates of His rich provision will open wide in your life. Stress, fears and insecurities will lose their footholds, and peace and joy will reign in your heart and mind. Indeed, you will reign over anything that hinders you from receiving all that He died to give you!

Find true freedom from your addictions.

Many people aren’t sure what God wants for them. But it’s really quite simple: God wants you healthy, whole, well provided for and enjoying life to the fullest! That’s why He wants you free from any kind of bondage. Bondages, be they paralyzing anxieties, depression or addictions, only rob you from enjoying all that He has in store for you.
God so wants you to live a life of freedom and victory that it moved Him to send His beloved Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for you so that you may live an abundant life. Today, if you are not experiencing this abundant life because you are in bondage to something, I want you to know that Jesus is your answer. His gifts of abundant grace and righteousness are what you need to empower you to break free from whatever is holding you captive!

Find true freedom from your bondage through the Lord’s abundant grace and gift of righteousness. Even if you are bound by addictions — to pornography, alcohol, nicotine and drugs — so many are defeated and paralyzed by depression, fears, guilt and condemnation.

No Christian likes to sin, let alone be hopelessly chained to one. The Lord calls you His sheep, and no sheep — even a lost one — likes to wallow in mud. Also, every one longs to live free from defeatist thoughts that hold them back from living a purposeful and powerful life.

In The Pain Of Addiction many have been frustrated and unable to help themselves, some people 10, 20, 30 years, some practically their whole life, before they were set free. The shame and condemnation many feel are often so overwhelming that many of them become depressed and suicidal. Some start to develop sicknesses and marital problems as years of substance abuse and self-condemnation take a toll on their bodies and marriages.

They hate living in such captivity and seeing what it was doing to themselves and their loved ones. But if anyone can discover and lean on the grace of God to deliver them that they find lasting freedom. As a precious person to God once you hear and kept hearing about God’s abundant grace and the gift of righteousness that is yours through Christ’s finished work, your addictions supernaturally will fall away, and a welcome sense of wholeness and joy will replace the emptiness, frustration and shame.

Forcibly make your thoughts obey Christ.

Scripture says to take every thought captive, forcibly make your thoughts obey Christ. The battle for your spiritual freedom is within your mind! God shows you clearly how the devil works: 2 Corinthians 2:11 don’t let Satan outwit you. Don’t be ignorant about Satan’s scheming. He is devious in his trickery; he calculates his plan wanting to outwit you. In 2 Corinthians 10:5. Satan’s schemes are within your thoughts. 2 Corinthians 4:4 the enemy has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Satan’s underhanded schemes are not removed from you; his schemes are engaged within your mind. 2 Corinthians 11:3: just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your mind may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. Begin to understand how Satan works against you. Satan runs to the strongholds within your mind; he engages you within your thoughts. Your battle for freedom is within your mind. Your thinking must be transformed as your mind is renewed.
“The Devil throws hideous thoughts into the soul—hatred of God, blasphemy, and despair.” Here are some Personal struggles with Satan, He disputes with you and makes you give birth to all kinds of strange thoughts . . . The devil understands how to produce arguments that can change you. His goal is to produce doubt in you whether or not there is a God.

Its not a chemical imbalance in anyone’s brain create a suicidal thought? How can nerve endings that aren’t making proper connection make you think that you are a bad person; that you’re evil and only cause trouble? How can any physical problem in your brain cause a nonphysical thought of any kind? “Your struggle is not against flesh and blood;” it is not a physical problem. Your struggle is “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms;” you are engaged in a spiritual battle! (Ephesians 6:12)

How are you to overcome the strongholds you have allowed Satan to build in your life? How do you break free from the negative, lying condemning thoughts that fill your mind? Here is how: Corinthians 10:5 you demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT TO MAKE IT OBEDIENT TO CHRIST. Take every thought captive; make your thinking obedient to Christ. You overcome destructive and wrong ways of thinking; by breaking down the strongholds of the enemy by changing the way you think.

So how do you demolish arguments? How do you tear down strongholds that try to keep you from knowing God? How do you take your thoughts captive? Here’s the answer: Philippians 4:4-8 Rejoice in the Lord always. Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Jesus.

Where is God when you’re hurting

The problem while you’re waiting on God is you see someone else who isn’t waiting and you’re afraid they’re getting ahead of you! So you get back in the game of taking care of things on your own and quit waiting on God. God intends for your spirit to be more at rest than it is. You’re so use to the competition of the culture around you that you don’t rest like you should. The world is in a constant state of "unrest" but as a follower of Christ you have the resources to rest. But you often fail to utilize them.

It is a joy to experience resting in God - to give Him your worries and troubles and take a vacation from them. You don’t have to stress-out over your difficulties. You don’t have to lose sleep. You can sit back and rest in the confidence that God is at work on your problems. So where is God when you’re hurting? He’s prompting positive changes in you for your own benefit. But you need to cooperate in the process by yielding your will and resting while you’re waiting.

Don’t worry if you’re not an expert at these things. You’ll need to practice until you get it right. And the Bible tells you where else God is when you’re hurting. GOD IS RESCUING OTHERS THROUGH YOUR SUFFERING. God uses people to help other people. And sometimes that necessitates God putting your life in the middle of someone else’s mess so you can help clean it up by your confidence in God. Your human nature may rebel at this thought – but you are never more Christ-like than when you are willing to suffer for others in order that God may rescue them.

“Are you pouring out your life for those who don’t notice? Jesus understands.”  The purpose in your suffering sometimes is to rescue others from their suffering. You don’t need to doubt God’s love for you. He knows when you’re hurting and sometimes that hurting has a really special purpose – to rescue others.

Where is God when you’re hurting? God’s right there with you. He’s prompting positive changes in your life. If you’ll be patient and trust Him, He’ll do some wonderful things in your life. If you’ll yield your will to Him and rest while you’re waiting on Him, He’ll see you through whatever problem you’re facing. And God is rescuing others through your suffering. You get to be a part of God’s work – but it means that sometimes God has to put you in the middle of someone else’s mess so you can lift someone else up while your down there in the pit of suffering with them. Through your entire life; GOD IS SHOWING YOU THAT HE LOVES YOU!

"Don’t forget the encouraging words God spoke to you as his child. He said, ’My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.’" Hebrews 12:5-6

God doesn’t turn the heat on because He doesn’t care. It’s because He does care! He loves you and wants your life to be pure. Pure so you can lead the kind of life He created you to live; a happy and fulfilling life.

The question is – are you going to cooperate with God? Are you going to have confidence in Him by yielding your will to Him and express a willingness to be a part of His plan to rescue others by accepting the fact that sometimes you’re going to have to suffer to be a people helper?