Overcoming The Wicked One

Overcoming The Wicked One 

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8b

If we are to be winners we need to know who we are fighting against. We wrestle against spiritual forces, even if we cannot see them with our eyes we are in a struggle against them. We are defeating the enemies of God!

There is an adversary who accuses our brothers and sisters in Gods family. He stands day and night in the presence of God. But one day he will be cast down.

If we are lifted up in pride we can fall under the condemnation of the Devil. He has snares set for us and wants to kill us and destroy us. But Jesus has come to give us the opposite, he gives us life. Abundant life, eternal life. He has shown us the way of life that loves and obeys Father. The devil is tempting us to disobey Gods commands.

Why did the devil come up in my thoughts this last week? There has been some teaching in our church that I have received as Rhema spoken to me. An elder in my life has shared doctrine that I am laying hold of. We need to know who we are in Christ because we are in a war. There is a battle that is going on in our mind. " The flesh is at war against the spirit, and we end up doing the things that we don't want to be doing. We are commanded to perform spiritual warfare ( Eph 6 ) and victory is our destiny. 2 Corinthians 10:4,5 says "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

What have I been feeling defeat in for the 34 years of following Jesus? My emotions, my tongue speaking evil. Bad habits, self destruction with eating to much, drinking to much coffee and many other worse things. Loving other things more than God. Loving my wife less than she deserves.

Jesus has overcome the world. We are not to fear persecution yet I stay silent when I could speak out the truth in the workplace or with friends that might reject me. My fear of man has been greater than my respect and desire to please God. When the trials and testings come, the best way to resist the Devil is to submit to God. Obey Father, is that simple enough? Jesus said that Satan wants to sift us like wheat. I do not know what all that means. A true experience that I have had over and over again is that I feel a conversion in my heart and mind. It is then that the scriptures declare my opportunities will open up to strengthen my brothers and sisters.

May there be grace to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil in some of the same ways Jesus did. What does the word of God, the word of truth say about what you are facing today? Jesus has shed his blood and we can stand on that fact that he has paid the price for our salvation. We have been set free, there is no more condemnation for us who are in Jesus. Being in Jesus means that in general as a whole we live by the the guiding and power if Holy Spirit and not our carnal nature. The flesh cannot please God. May we have a testimony of these things happening in our lives. May we be a testimony that points the attention of those around us to Jesus. We need to speak prophetically of the work that Holy Spirit is doing in us. There is a great reward for us who are called to be overcomers. G.W.

Go And Tell The People Matthew 21:5

Go And Tell The People Matthew 21:5

The Sunday before Easter is a celebration and remembrance of when Jesus entered into Jerusalem. In that day the crowd stood along the road laying down palm branches. Palm Sunday was a welcome to a king. The crowd cried out “hosanna”!. I always thought this meant Praise, or Bless the Lord, but it means: “save us now. Deliver us. Help us!” How did it happen that this crowd knew that Jesus would be entering Jerusalem as a King? Jesus told the disciples to get a donkey so he could ride it into town, this was fulfilling a prophecy that the Jewish public knew of. They expected their king to come into town like he did. There was another part of the prophecy to be fulfilled from Zechariah 9:9 It is quoted in Matthew 21:5 "Tell the people of Jerusalem, 'Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey's colt.'" NLT I noticed in my reading this week the words, “ Go tell the people” Yeah Greg, go tell some folks about Jesus!

Our church has been able print up some invitations for the congregation to use for inviting others to our Easter Sunday service. In Mexico we gave out hundreds of new testaments and bibles. These pieces of paper are merely tools that lead to the “rhema” which is a spoken personal word that God gives us. It becomes “spirit and life” for us. An announcement was made to the people of their king coming into town. We are also called to give notice of Jesus death, his rising from the dead, and his second coming again.

The crowd knew they needed a deliverer. Our relatives, friends, neighbors, and even strangers and enemies are in need of this news of a deliverer. They are spiritually kidnapped people. Some are caught in slavery while others want to be rescued from a desperate situation. Jesus, who was God in the flesh, paid the price for our ransom. Jesus took the punishment for what we deserve, that is one of the things that happened at the cross.

We share Jesus as someone who can help us with our daily problems. There are temporal earthly benefits that are also given to us. This happened when Marianne and I prayed for a neighbor who had severe pain in his arm. Instantly he was healed. Jesus healed a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for 18 years. He said that Satan had bound her up, even though she was a rightful descendant of the promises given to Abraham. There are believers who are sons and daughters of God living around us that need to be loosed from the destroyers grip. Satan has plans to steal life from them, destroy them and kill them. We can give the words of life to them in Jesus name. John 6:63

Another aspect of the gospel is a hope of Eternal life, an assurance of our life after death. How much thought have I given to what it will be like in the next life? This is one of the best questions we can ask ourselves and others. Do you know where you will go when you die? There are so many opinions on that one! What does the scripture say? How will we or others we know be living in eternity?

Forgiveness of rebellion and disobedience to God is in the message also. We are announcing that Jesus let himself be tortured and killed, on the cross, as a sacrifice for our sins. We know this, and we know that we need to share this whether a person receives it or not.

May we have a passion for sharing the news of the lamb that was slain. May he receive the reward of his sufferings. May we be able to announce Jesus 2^nd coming as king, and warn those we love and care about. There is a wrath of God, a real hell, and an outer darkness that awaits those who refuse to believe and submit to Jesus now.

Jesus is Lord. He is our Salvation. May we lift him up, that many will be drawn unto him. G.W.

A Treasure To Keep 2 Corinthians 4.7

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

As I read the passage above, I thought of how temporal our bodies are, and the various weaknesses we all have. God places his Holy Spirit in us, fallen humans, sons of Adam, with delight.

“See what I can do, in you and through you,” he says. He calls this his treasure, the deposit of the Holy Spirit that guarantees our resurrection from the dead and the eternal life to come. The Scripture declares "that where a mans treasure is, that is where his heart will be also." Our Fathers heart is in us, where he has placed his spirit, that our inward man can be “renewed day by day.” 1 Corinthians 4:16

When we lived in Mount Vernon, Oregon, a mobile home burnt to the ground in our neighborhood. I remember seeing the older couple standing in their yard being thankful just to be alive. They mentioned that they had a fireproof box, full of money, but the heat was to great and it too was lost. They had the greatest thing remaining after the fire, their lives and each other.

What do you treasure? Where do you keep your treasures? I think of a chest, up in an attic, full of treasures. My folks had an attic, and I have a few memories of seeing a bunch of old relics and various things, very unused, like an old violin up there. Marianne has several little jewelry boxes, that are full of pretty rocks, and ornaments, memorabilia and keep sakes. We take these kinds of things out every once in a while and hold them in our hand, appreciating their beauty. Some times we set them on a shelf for display, but often we just put them back away till another rainy day comes along and we re-discover these little treasures again. Some of them are tied to good memories, others are just rare items that you cannot just run down to local “Five and Dime” and replace.

Last week was very long for me. Many occupations were before me. Working for the U.S. Census Bureau, Tree service and construction, then on Saturday our janitorial duties. Thank God for one day of rest each week! I treasure this day of rest that we are given, one in seven is very good for me, and it helps to set aside a day or a time to worship. I also treasure the rest of Hebrews 4, ceasing from my own works for righteousness.

The scripture declares that the “unseen things are eternal” 1 Corinthians 4:18 This is where our attention should be drawn to, each day, as we go through our work and play. Out of this circumstance or relationship, what has lasting value? Do I love? Does this glorify God?

A friend of mine has often testified, “I have peace.” This was his treasure, and joy. He was referring to the right standing that he knew he had with God by faith. Romans 5:1

One of the most valued treasures that some people have is their family. Many are missing this security and love. May we all know our Fathers love for us, and how much he has invested in us. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is working in us! See Ephesians 1:18-20

Many are searching to fill up in themselves, the void God designed to fill with himself. I had sought for security or fulfillment from a peer group, or pleasures from alcohol, drugs or sex, and even video games. Sports enthusiasts live for the burn or the rush. May our identity as Gods sons and daughters be so strong in knowing him and his care for us that we are not lost, or searching in the wrong places. May we enjoy all the good things in this earth, and in this life, even sports or horses, with a sound mind and without making it an idol. G.W.

The Full Measure Of The Blessing Of Christ Romans 15:29

“The Full Measure Of The Blessing Of The Gospel Of Christ” Romans 15:29

What is the biggest blessing that you have received from God? Paul wrote of this to those who were loved by God and called out as saints. Today as I read these words, Holy Spirit speaks to us, about having my measuring cup full of this blessing. Not only are we to be blessed to the full for ourselves but we are to share this blessing with others.

Earlier in this same letter Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write of the blessing that comes through Abraham's covenant with God, a covenant that can only be received by faith, not our works. This blessing is described in Romans 4:7,8 as forgiveness. When we have had our offenses, and rebellions, and shortcomings against God and others completely forgotten and never counted against us, this is foundational to all of the blessings of being in Christ.

The main common denominator between believers should be Christs sacrifice for us, and by this, we have right standing with Thee Almighty Creator. I have learned over time to not make our particular doctrines, or standards, or special interests be the bond of fellowship. This is why Paul wrote; “ I am determined to know nothing among you, except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

Are you secure and confident that you will be blameless on the day of Christs return, the final day when all things will be brought into the light? 1Corinthians 1:8 says you will be. Many veteran Christians that I have met have said to me, “ I need to do better in my walk.” “ I need to pray more... I need to read my bible more.” Some have stated their denominational affiliation when I ask them of their faith in Jesus. Others have testified of a prayer that they prayed, or that they got baptized, or joined a church. If our logistical reference to where we are or where we are going is primarily based on what we have done we may be offending the one who has come to save us. He has come to fill us up with a satisfaction of a right relationship with our Father in Heaven. Needless to say, we should all strive to do better, to learn and to grow in maturity and bear good fruit; but in a motive of gratefulness for what HE has done, not because we need to gain a better standing before God.

May we never forget that the Son of God has bought us , sanctified us and made us holy in Gods sight. By what JESUS did for us, we are in right standing with our Father. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Is this the principle blessing that you have, and will rely on when the final judgment day comes? When each one is raised from the dead, some will live eternity in Gods presence and others will go into outer darkness. Receiving and keeping the blessing of Christ will make that determination, true? G.W.