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What Scent Are You Wearing?

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Mark 14:3-9

3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

Nard was made from a plant found in the East Indies, with a small, slender stalk, and a heavy, thick root. The best perfume was obtained from the root.

4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

Scholars think that the value of this oil, 300 denarii, would have been around that made by a well-paid laborer over the course of an entire year. At first, it seems that Jesus followers had learned his lessons about the poor very well: they complain that the oil had been wasted when it could have been sold and the proceeds used to help the destitute. Sometimes what seems like a waste to others is the beginning of opening up the substance of your witness.

Is it a waste to testify? Is it a waste to praise the Lord? Is it a waste to keep on trying?

When others would tell you to save it for the appropriate time, God will recognize the efforts of you honoring Jesus!

6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.

7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

Anointings were common at the time of Passover (Psalm 23:5, 141:5), but this woman’s anointing may have had nothing to do with the coming Passover.  The anointing may be an indication that Jesus is about to begin his messianic role (Messiah is Hebrew for “anointed one.”)  On the other hand, it is possible that the anointing has more to do with the death and burial of Jesus.  In this section Jesus is anointed before his burial since, in chapter 16, he will not be available for anointing.

When God wants to anoint you for your persecution it will come in times when you would think it is a waste

9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her

So what Jesus was saying was that the essence (or fragrance of the deed would be remembered, right?)

Having an essence means you’ll stink to the world and yet smell good to the lord!

Ephesians 5:1-2

5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

5 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

What may stink or appal others is the very thing God wants you to have as the fragrance that you wear. He wants you to be anoited for your purpose that you may be remembered for what you endure through the power of God!

Discovering Satan’s Devices

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2 Corinthians 2:1-11

2 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

A device can be thought of as being a tool to carry out a certain function. But in this context (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) the implication is that the device is primarily mental. He is clever and crafty. He possesses ingenious subtlety, but he also has a modus operandi (particular way of doing something) that presents us with clues about his influence and tends to give him away, rendering much of his cleverness inoperative and making him easier to defeat.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 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;

The idea is to catch him as he begins to use his devices to twist us mentally to agree to the line of reasoning that he wants us to follow. If we can catch it as it begins, we will not be entrapped by it. We know that Adam and Eve did not catch it, and they were led astray.

One of a Christian’s primary defenses against Satan, of course, has to be a prior awareness of his modus operandi—particularly his desire to turn good into evil. Perhaps nothing could be more devilish than to do such a thing. And in this very context, Paul suggests that Satan can get to a person through a spiritual quality that is good.

1)    We know his voice

John 10:27

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

2)    We are taught to know better

John 14:26

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

3)   We know what to examine

1 Samuel 16:7

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

4)   The word helps us weed Him out

James 1:22

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.)

The apostle desires them to receive the person who had done wrong, again into their communion; for he was aware of his fault, and much afflicted under his punishment. Even sorrow for sin should not unfit for other duties, and drive to despair. Not only was there danger last Satan should get advantage, by tempting the penitent to hard thoughts of God and religion, and so drive him to despair; but against the churches and the ministers of Christ, by bringing an evil report upon Christians as unforgiving; thus making divisions, and hindering the success of the ministry. In this, as in other things, wisdom is to be used, that the ministry may not be blamed for indulging sin on the one hand, or for too great severity towards sinners on the other hand. Satan has many plans to deceive, and knows how to make a bad use of our mistakes.

Get Back Up Again

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One of the most difficult struggles we face as mankind is dealing with ourselves after we fall. It’s not God that struggles with us to get back up again, it is ourselves. To be a victor in Christ means that you have defeated the fear of getting back up again. It means that once you are standing again that you learn from it and use it to establish you. To ever begin your change you must take the first step to start over.

Proverbs 24:16

16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

People have failed and still found a way to be successful. Abraham, Noah, Moses, Isaac, Jacob, David and Peter to name a few.

Psalm 37:23-24

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

1 Corinthians 10:12

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

1) Rest assured, God is interested in you, even when you have fallen

Psalm 145:14

14 The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

2) If you have fallen, do not lean on your own understanding. Do not rationalize, repent

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

James 4:7-8

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

3) Do not shun or shy away from those who can help.
Ecclesiastes 4:10

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

Galatians 6:1-2

6 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Cause remember that if you are drowning, it doesn’t matter what hand is out to you.

4) Do not become discouraged and bitter.
Determine to become better by better confession of sin, better prayer time, better commitment, better response to the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 3:11

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

5) Do not listen to the voice of fear, doubt and anger. These will lead you deeper in sin and further from God.

Psalm 51:1-8

51 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

6) Determine to never give up for the last time!

Job. 13:15

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”

The Power Of Encouragement

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Romans 12:3-8

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

– Encouragement is necessary to our walk of faith.

– Without encouragement a will with purpose fades unto a state of unrest and unsatisfaction

Hebrews 3:13

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

– Without encouragement, life would soon feel pointless and burdensome. Without encouragement, we can be overwhelmed by the very real pains of our lives. Without encouragement, we feel unloved. Without encouragement, we begin to think that God is a liar or is unconcerned with our welfare. So, the Bible tells us to encourage one another, to remind each other of the truth that God loves us, that God equips us, that we are treasured, that our struggles are worth it.

– Encouragement makes it easier to live in a fallen world in a holy way.

– Encouragement makes it easier to love as Jesus loved (see John 13:34-35).

John 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

– Encouragement gives hope (Romans 15:4).

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

– Encouragement helps us through times of discipline and testing (Hebrews 12:5).

Hebrews 12:5

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

– Encouragement nurtures patience and kindness (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

– Encouragement makes it easier to sacrifice our own desires for the advancement of God’s kingdom. In short, encouragement makes it easier to live the Christian life.

Proverbs 16:24 says, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

– God’s Word is full of encouragement. Pleasant words, indeed.

– And even though at times the words of others may fail us we can have hope in the fact that when our strength is little in tribulation that Jesus steps in for us to God by our faith


John 16:33

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The Open Invitation Of God: Come!

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  1. Come and rest

Matthew 11:28

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

There is rest for the one who is weary of everything. There is rest for those who are preparing for the unseen. There is rest for those who need protection. There is rest for the soul that cannot sleep for fear of where their soul may go should they go.

  1. Come and drink of the living water

John 7:37

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

If you are thirsty and need to be refreshed in your relationship with Christ He is ready to help you. If you are thirsty from wandering this life with what feels like no peace or closure about anything then Christ wants to have a relationship with you.

  1. Come and reason, let God give you wisdom

Isaiah 1:18

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

When others will not forgive and let go of things that are seemingly holding you captive from being happy inside God is ready to help you to let go of it all.

  1. Come without price and without money

Isaiah 55:1

55 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

When we would have had to pay a penalty or suffer the cost God saw fit to love us enough to make the way for us through Christ that we would not have to put together anything tangible good to be worthy to be in His fellowship.

  1. All say, come, and all are welcome

Revelation 22:17

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

If all are welcome that means not only us here but us everywhere. This single-handedly breaks down any barrier or excuse that we could ever make that would keep us from being saved.

  1. Come, for none will be rejected

John 6:37

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

This verse was made for me. If you were the kind of person that deserved to be rejected by everyone and everything then you should know that that God made it so that there could be no reason to ever reject His call for fellowship.

  1. Come, now

Luke 14:17

17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

We do not have to wait any longer to receive Christ in our life. We do not have to wait until we are older or until we feel like we are good enough. We do not have to put off for a later time nor think we have to wait until we have everything together. Now is the time. Today is the day.

Creating A Miracle Atmosphere

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A miracle is defined as a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.

I am slowly learning the purpose of miracles in my life.

Miracles are not to brag or boast about, they are to humble you by the fact that without God we cannot do anything.

Miracles are not for us to forget but for us to remember that there is a God that loves us.

While miracles surprise us naturally on earth they are commonplace in the supernatural.

Miracles do not happen for history to continue and repeat itself. Miracles come for us to learn and to be thankful for our newfound knowledge that we would have otherwise have lacked without God.

The base components of a miracle are:

  1. a welcoming environment for the godhead (god, spirit, son)

  2. a recognizing of needs beyond our control

  3. unwaivering faith not crumbled by doubt and temptation

  4. compassion for others and a willingness to help

  5. full and entire obedience to the full call of God

1) This miracle of sight to the blind shows that if we will not over complicate our approach to God and bring a humble faith that things can begin to be opened!

We must learn to open our hearts and welcome God in the midst of our lives

Matthew 9:27-31

27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.

28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

2) The virtue going out from Christ shows that through our advocate of Christ that our faith is enough to cause miracles to come to pass, only but be faithful!

Luke 8:43-48

43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

3) Though it was a spirit of infirmity, an evil spirit, that she was under the power of, Christ has a power superior to that of Satan, is stronger than he.

Luke 13:10-17

10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his donkey from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

4) This miracle of faith shows that it is far more easier to exercise compassion and faith towards God than to act as though we are going to ever help people by judgments and forms of reason

Mark 2:1-12

2 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

5) Jesus’s demonstrated lack of fear and hesitancy toward the leper showed that God wants to reach out to others to whom the world would call “untouchable” by our full and entire obedience

Luke 5:12-16

12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed

The Top 10 Reasons I Can Be Thankful To God

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1) I am thankful to God for His love. Without His love I would wonder afraid of tomorrow. His love helps me to not fear and to be confident in whom I call my Heavenly father. Had God not loved me first I would not know how to show the love of God toward others.

1 John 4:19
19 We love him, because he first loved us

2) I am thankful to God for His mercy. He was merciful to me and did not punish me when I did not understand His will. He has been merciful to me and shown patience towards me when I had understanding and did not submit as I should have. And as I learn and improve He shows mercy to me and gives me another crack at being successful and what I go forth to do.

Titus 3:4-5
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

3) I am thankful to God for His grace. Without God’s grace we would not be saved through faith. In fact we do not deserve it but He gave it anyway. When God has had, or has, or could have every right and reason to withhold on us He has not. Rather through each moment where we could totally perish grace provides us the only right that justifies us to even get to walk by faith at all.

Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

4) I am thankful to God for His compassion for others in need. Without compassion none of us would be saved. Without compassion the hungry would starve. Without compassion the poor would perish. Without compassion the lost and broken would lose their souls and burn forever. But since the dawn of creation God has given us compassion that without it we would have perished in our own lack.

Zechariah 7:10
10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

Galatians 6:2
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

5) I am thankful for the promise that God never leaves. When all others would forsake us for it being inconvenient or by other reasons we should all be reminded that every second of our lives is in the attention of God. He was with me before I knew Him and is with me as He is in me. And one day I will never leave His presence when He calls me from earth to Heaven.

Deuteronomy 31:6
6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

6) I am thankful for God’s blessings. The things that happen that help us in the times we never expected, the things that happen suddenly or in the nick of time. The literal, spiritual and physical blessings that could only come from God remind me no matter what season that He is there!

Philippians 4:19
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

7) I am thankful for God’s protection. When things could have been worse and they were not God was there. When things didn’t even happen that never crossed my mind to comprehend He was there. When the angels of Heaven destroy the minions of Satan through my advocate of Christ I am not without a covering.

Psalm 138:7
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

8) I am thankful for the Holy Spirit. The spirit lets me know what true joy feels like. The spirit teaches me in things I am unlearned in or wrong about. The spirit keeps churches in perfect order, ministries refreshed and the works of the body of Christ with conviction. Without it we would be so far away from the will of God.

1 John 2:27
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

9) I am thankful for my future in Heaven. It is the resting place of the righteous and a place where neither Satan nor his power can come. The curse of man will be left behind. The pains of life, confusion of all things why, mourning will cease, sorrow will be no more. Worship and joy forevermore.

Revelation 21:4
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

10) I am thankful for salvation through Jesus Christ. It has made my old sins to pass away and my forgiven life to become new. It has taught me to not live as I was and by what I know was God. It gives me hope for today and longing for a greater tomorrow. It provides the peace that surpasses all understanding.

John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life

The Power Of Being A Proactive Christian

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Romans 12:1-3

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

– Being proactive describe a person who get things done. If you are proactive, you make things happen, instead of waiting for them to happen to you. Active means “doing something.” The prefix pro- means “before.”

– a sacrifice is an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.

– Renew means to re-establish (a relationship).repeat (an action or statement).

– it is vital that we learn that we must establish a daily habit of re-establishing our love and commitment to God by how we plan our daily lives. Look at what you’ve done today and see if anything showed God 1st.

Proverbs 23:7

7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

– What we put in our heart by a proactive spiritual life will reflect who we are. On the other side of the coin, what we do not do also speaks just as much. We must learn to be just as committed to God to serve him with obedience as we are faithful to believe he is able.

Psalm 37:4-5

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

If we can learn to renew ourselves on a daily basis than there is no time for things to get stagnant. And if things do not have a chance to spoil then the enemy cannot continue to come after something that you are guarding!

Here are a few examples:

  • Make time, set an alarm in the evening to remind you of time to read
  • Set out positive materials, lay out scripture and books out that will engage your spiritual thinking
  • Create a place where you can go to God in secret and feel comfortable doing so
  • Take time to listen to spiritual songs to give yourself time to worship and honor God
  • Find yourself good friends that are willing to encourage you back and talk of God.
  • Lay aside things that you know good and well will hinder you. And if you feel better when it’s gone keep it gone.
  • Allow time to sit and relax or rest to give your mind and body time to recharge
  • Don’t always feel like you have to do everything everyone tells you. Seek God and he will give you the times to say yes and the times to say no. everyone needs a break from time to time!

Never Leave Anyone Behind

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1 Thessalonians 5:6-15

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

NIV

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

Should we perceive that we have others around us that are weak, in distress or have need of encouragement then it is our Christian, fatherly and Godly responsibility to provide stability by fighting against the hindrances in others by the love in our hearts, gifts and talents in our lives, and the anointing that gives us the strength to do so.

Why is this important?

  • People who continue to live in an unbalance will find themselves more likely to stumble.
  • People whom do not receive the truth from a Godly individual are more likely to believe Satan’s deceptions
  • Youth who may not understand completely what is right and wrong may have the lines blurred to think what they are doing hurts no one or themselves
  • Under-encouraged people are more prone for aggravation, short-fused behavior and a defensive attitude fighting against you who is “judging” them or is “better than they are”

Remember: when we see others that are wounded or vulnerable we must help them to get out of trouble so they can one day gain strength and be able to fight for themselves

Romans 15:1-7

1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

One of the major issues of why mankind rejects showing compassion is that we want something in return or expect things to compensate us for the effort given.

Compassion is not compensation, nor is compensation compassion

Compensation is something awarded to someone as a recompense for loss, injury, or suffering.

Compassion: is sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

1 John 4:19

We love him, because he first loved us.

When God saved your soul he did not want compensation, he showed compassion

Mark 12:29-31

29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

The commandment of God shows the the model of what the first two things in our lives should represent: God and God’s compassion for others

Matthew 6:32-34

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

God is saying I’ll take care of the compensation if you will take care of giving compassion

Matthew 18:11-14

11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

If we never leave a person behind and we help them along we must celebrate their victories, honor their efforts, and love them in spite of the enemies attempts to destroy them. For even when one would perceive them as gone we should never leave them behind.

Let the lost be found, the found be celebrated and our mission never waiver from the pursuit of the hurt and the broken. So long as we stand as soldiers of Christ, let our work demonstrate His love for us that never left us behind, forsook us, and never let us be alone.

Establishing Your Perimeter

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Perimeter is commonly defined as:

  • the continuous line forming the boundary of a closed geometric figure.

  • the outermost parts or boundary of an area or object.

  • a defended boundary of a military position or base.

1) Keep things well lit so that you can see what’s out there:

  • keep the lights on: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. ” (Matthew 5:16).

  • this will keep temptations that think they will prevail from even happening

  • this also keeps others who know you from provoking you through your actions that send the message that this is not acceptable nor will it be again

2) Don’t leave things you hold valuable out in the open

  • Personal Prayer Time: “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:6).

  • personal prayer time will help you to keep established the things you are believing for by faith

  • personal prayer time allows God to help humble you in a trial

  • personal prayer time allows God to speak to you

  • it allows for God to give you wisdom for the future

  • it brings peace in your time of stress

3) Keep what you care about locked down:

  • Set Priorities: “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. ” (Luke 16:13).

  • setting and maintaining a made up mind will produce stability and establish you

  • setting priorities will help you to align what is of lesser importance than your relationship with God

  • setting your priorities shows God how you love him by how you change things for his pleasure

4) Use your security system to keep things on watch when you are not around

  • we can’t live in the constant stress of what may come: “The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. ” (Psalm 121:5)

  • trusting God in a situation that you cannot change takes unnecessary stress from you and allows you to focus on the spiritual warfare at hand

  • knowing that God is our protector in things we cannot see helps us to live a more righteous life, it helps us to be in his favor by living right so that we have more help than we would have had on our own

  • walking in the peace of God when all hell breaks loose around you is the closest thing to Heaven that we will ever know. Living in complete surrender to his will and acknowledging his dominion will help us to live lighter of load

5) Have something to arm yourself to protect you in the event of a breach

  •  Obey God: “But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you” (Matthew 21:28-31).

  • even when we have failed in the past it is better to get back up again and try to strive for a stronger walk with God than it would be to give up all together
  • obey God by living the word to others so that they can see something in your life that convicts sin
  • love others by sharing the word of God to teach them about the better self that they can become
  • arm yourself against the enemy with an entire bible of reminders that his dominion is short and only for a season
  • obedience to God’s commands is the true sign of your love for God, and the only way you can know if you are obeying God is by knowing his Word.