My Hope is Built: My hope is built on nothing less, Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand.
I take the work of God’s
ministry very seriously, so when I minister to singles as a worship leader, I
usually fast a meal because I like to depend on the anointing of God in my
life. I try to “prepare” myself before I go talk to certain people in prayer.
But at the same time, I realize although I prepare myself, it’s not my good
works that I’m counting on, it’s God grace to work through me. Paul said
through the grace of God he labored more than others. I fast and pray so
I am more “sensitive” to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
But
by the grace of God I am what I am,
and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of
them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Cor. 15:10
I find that people that
accuse other Christians that they have demons, in my experience, usually have
mental problems. I believe like Peter we can be under the
“influence” of saying or doing the wrong thing at times, and speaking something
the adversary would have us say, but I would not go as far to say a Christian is
controlled and possessed with an evil spirit when we are a new creation in Jesus Christ.
There can be temptations of
the flesh that people get into where people get oppressed even Christians that
take them back into alcoholism, drugs or sex. It talks about once
an unclean spirit leaves a man, it once to come back in and the house is swept
clean, and so it tries to come back. That is why it’s important for young
Christians to fill their minds with the word of God. If you keep the word
of God in your heart like David said (forgive me my hidden sins). It’s
like God’s flashlight in your light that expels darkness. (Who can
discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Psalm 19:12)
When I became a Christian, I
spent hours and hours in the word of God to fill my mind up with spiritual
things to get set free from past addictions which had a strong hold on my
life. I also did not hang out with my former drug-user friends that could
pull me down, outside of giving them my testimony of how the Lord redeemed me.
When
an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and
does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it
arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it
goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go
in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.
That is how it will be with this wicked generation." Matthew
12:43-45
A
good example is Saul who was tormented and started down this road of even
killing God’s priests. There are many people that do things “in the name
of God,” religion or during war times (they think they are doing God a
service), including strapping dynamite to their own person or to a child.
I could go around and condemn people who are ex-alcoholics. I could get prideful and say it only took me one year to break free from all desire from cigarettes and marijuana. It was a temptation of my flesh and although I gave it up, I still had thoughts that I wanted to smoke it for at least one year. Now, someone could blow marijuana or cigarette smoke in my face and it won’t affect me at all.
I could go around and condemn people who are ex-alcoholics. I could get prideful and say it only took me one year to break free from all desire from cigarettes and marijuana. It was a temptation of my flesh and although I gave it up, I still had thoughts that I wanted to smoke it for at least one year. Now, someone could blow marijuana or cigarette smoke in my face and it won’t affect me at all.
I never had a problem with alcohol since I
have a weak stomach so I don’t understand why others have to go back to AA
meetings 10-20 years down the road, but I am not my brother’s judge. We
are not to “compare ourselves” with others when it comes to the time frame of
breaking free from a problem. (We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves
with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves
and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 2 Cor. 10:12)
The Bible warns that we are not wise when we compare
ourselves with others. It reminds me of how mothers will compare when their
baby sits up, holds a spoon, walks, or other milestones in life. There are
“general rules” of comparison and I go out and read statistics all the time. On
a statistic as a general rule it takes a widow 5-6 years to start feeling
better about her life, less for a man, but it all depends on the person. I’ve
had people come up to me and tell me that they don’t mind celibacy in rather a
condescending way. It’s a constant thorn or weakness of my flesh.
My sister loved God, but never got rid of the cigarette habit, and she passed away at age 61 due to lung cancer. She did manage to give it up a few months before she passed away. I wish she would have given it up sooner. I like what I heard Pastor Craig said at the Avon Christian Church, if my son is tired and hungry (cranky), it is not a demon, it’s his flesh! The Bible warns about “trouble in the flesh” and walking in love as a married couple can be a struggle at times.
But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. 1 Cor. 7:28
My sister loved God, but never got rid of the cigarette habit, and she passed away at age 61 due to lung cancer. She did manage to give it up a few months before she passed away. I wish she would have given it up sooner. I like what I heard Pastor Craig said at the Avon Christian Church, if my son is tired and hungry (cranky), it is not a demon, it’s his flesh! The Bible warns about “trouble in the flesh” and walking in love as a married couple can be a struggle at times.
But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. 1 Cor. 7:28
Paul talked about “the works of the flesh”
Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
Many people go to church or do good works to feel better about themselves. God gave us a righteousness, not based on what we do, but based on what he had Christ do for us. What I am more concerned about is a deception that people labor under as far as getting “caught” up in a legalism and works like the Galatians' church. In my early 20’s I got caught up with fasting a lot of food (I fasted for 14 day on liquids), doing a lot of ministry, praying all the time and constantly in God’s word, I saw little joy or peace in my marriage relationship with my spouse.
It was this self-glory or self-righteousness about our obedience to God, and what we were doing rather than focusing on God. It was a righteousness focused on what we were doing rather than focused on what God had done for us. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:22-23
Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
Many people go to church or do good works to feel better about themselves. God gave us a righteousness, not based on what we do, but based on what he had Christ do for us. What I am more concerned about is a deception that people labor under as far as getting “caught” up in a legalism and works like the Galatians' church. In my early 20’s I got caught up with fasting a lot of food (I fasted for 14 day on liquids), doing a lot of ministry, praying all the time and constantly in God’s word, I saw little joy or peace in my marriage relationship with my spouse.
It was this self-glory or self-righteousness about our obedience to God, and what we were doing rather than focusing on God. It was a righteousness focused on what we were doing rather than focused on what God had done for us. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:22-23
We
have the example of the Pharisee who went to the temple and boasted about his
good works and then there was a tax collector.
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
It says the man went down “justified”—just as if he never sinned because he humbled himself. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Roman 8:30
A lot of people want to blame things on demons and I would be careful about having a theology that believes a Christian can have a demon – that is borderline blasphemy of the Holy Spirit to say that a Christian is possessed and controlled by a demon and what they are doing for God is from a demon. We see evidence of demon hunters in Jesus day as far as they accused our beloved Lord of being the “prince” over demons and that is how he cast them out. This leads me to believe since the “servant is not above his master” that people will accuse us of being motivated by demons or evil. “Jesus knew their thoughts.” Jesus had the word of knowledge.
But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Mathew 12:28
I don’t believe any Christian is possessed by a demon. I believe that spirits can “oppress” us from time to time. If we looked at Job’s life, the fact that he lost all his children, belongings, his wife wanted him to curse God and he had physical boils on his body, than we could say that Job was “heavily” oppressed, and yet we see that God allowed him to go through those trials. It says that he was a righteous man. Speaking evil or affecting another person’s mind by saying “a Christian has a devil” it starts becoming like they had in the 1800’s trials of burning people at the stake or witch-hunting. Paul talked about how people were “evil affecting” people’s minds against him.
But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. Act 14:2
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. Acts 13:45
But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. Acts 13:50
We are to focus our lives on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith and he endured his cross. A cross is not easy. He endured the cross knowing the joy of coming into fellowship and relationship with us by his laying down his life. That too is now my joy is being in fellowship with God.
All spiritual gifts are going to cease when that which is perfect is come and that which is perfect is love. God is love. It sort of reminds me how the Pentecostal church focus on how women should not cut their hair, we should not social drink and don’t have tattoos or piercings. Is Christianity supposed to focus on what we don’t do?
Whatever we do in life we are to do it “all for the glory of God.” It says "whatever we do." Some people can get caught up into self-glory and I was out with singles, and friend came up to and said “I” had healed him when I prayed for his shoulder. I told him, “God healed him.” Mary cannot save or heal a flea. That would have opened me up for an attack of the enemy if I claimed the glory with spiritual pride. Instead of serving God for his glory, we bring glory to ourselves!
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31
And everything, whatever ye may do in word or in deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him. Colossians 3:17
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
It says the man went down “justified”—just as if he never sinned because he humbled himself. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Roman 8:30
A lot of people want to blame things on demons and I would be careful about having a theology that believes a Christian can have a demon – that is borderline blasphemy of the Holy Spirit to say that a Christian is possessed and controlled by a demon and what they are doing for God is from a demon. We see evidence of demon hunters in Jesus day as far as they accused our beloved Lord of being the “prince” over demons and that is how he cast them out. This leads me to believe since the “servant is not above his master” that people will accuse us of being motivated by demons or evil. “Jesus knew their thoughts.” Jesus had the word of knowledge.
But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Mathew 12:28
I don’t believe any Christian is possessed by a demon. I believe that spirits can “oppress” us from time to time. If we looked at Job’s life, the fact that he lost all his children, belongings, his wife wanted him to curse God and he had physical boils on his body, than we could say that Job was “heavily” oppressed, and yet we see that God allowed him to go through those trials. It says that he was a righteous man. Speaking evil or affecting another person’s mind by saying “a Christian has a devil” it starts becoming like they had in the 1800’s trials of burning people at the stake or witch-hunting. Paul talked about how people were “evil affecting” people’s minds against him.
But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. Act 14:2
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. Acts 13:45
But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. Acts 13:50
We are to focus our lives on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith and he endured his cross. A cross is not easy. He endured the cross knowing the joy of coming into fellowship and relationship with us by his laying down his life. That too is now my joy is being in fellowship with God.
All spiritual gifts are going to cease when that which is perfect is come and that which is perfect is love. God is love. It sort of reminds me how the Pentecostal church focus on how women should not cut their hair, we should not social drink and don’t have tattoos or piercings. Is Christianity supposed to focus on what we don’t do?
Whatever we do in life we are to do it “all for the glory of God.” It says "whatever we do." Some people can get caught up into self-glory and I was out with singles, and friend came up to and said “I” had healed him when I prayed for his shoulder. I told him, “God healed him.” Mary cannot save or heal a flea. That would have opened me up for an attack of the enemy if I claimed the glory with spiritual pride. Instead of serving God for his glory, we bring glory to ourselves!
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31
And everything, whatever ye may do in word or in deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him. Colossians 3:17
No comments:
Post a Comment