A lot of you may have heard this saying before, but I heard it for the first time the other day and I can’t stop thinking about it:
You’re not going to get God’s best without first getting through the enemy’s worst.
This is a constant reminder of the spiritual battle that we face every single day! The more I strive to draw closer to the Lord, the more I am reminded of how much the enemy hates me, yes HATES, and wants nothing more than to see me suffer destruction by his own hands. We know this because his pride caused his own downfall. Well, I’ve made up my mind that I’m not having it. My God, the Spirit of glory that lives and breathes in me, is bigger, greater, stronger, and more wise than any enemy I may face (even myself at times!).
Satan is always roaming about seeking whom he may devour. If it weren’t so, God would not have told us. Don’t forget this! In your churches, in your Bible studies, in your homes and in your friendships—Satan wants to divide and conquer. That is his only plan for the children of God. He wants to create discord, doubt and division. Do not entertain the flesh when the devil plants these seeds and do not give place to the enemy. The moment you speak in tune with the doubt and discord, envy or strife the enemy has planted, you have given him place. Turn instead to the words of Christ to love your enemy (as your enemies will be that of your own household at times), bless those that curse you (even in your thoughts), and pray for those that despitefully use you. Rebuke that seed of bitterness or confusion the enemy wants to grow in you. Most importantly, when you see someone overtaken in a fault, restore him with MEEKNESS. Not pride!
Take back what the enemy has stolen and continually tries to steal—our unity in Christ. We all love, we all anger, we all fall, we all soar, and we all live this life in this flesh. When our eyes are stuck on each other, they are not on the Lord and they are not seeing souls come to the cross. Let us live in Christ, always endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
God's Best, Satan's Worst
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Friday, August 6, 2010
Blessed Are...
Matthew 5 gives nine reasons why we are blessed. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV & KJV used) give nine attributes to the fruit of the Spirit. What if being blessed through the situations explained in Matt 5 make manifest and perfected in us the fruit of the Spirit?
The circumstance = Perfecting/manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit = Our blessing.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (v3)
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (v4)
Only having experienced mourning can we truly then experience, understand, and come to be grateful for real JOY. The JOY of the Lord, which is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), not a temporal joy as experienced in the things of this world.
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (v5)
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (v6)
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (v7)
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (v8)
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (v9)
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (v10)
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (v11-12)
I’m sure many of the aspects of the fruit of the Spirit could be made manifest/perfected in many of these situations, but I thought it was neat when you put them side-by-side.
The circumstance = Perfecting/manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit = Our blessing.
Poor in spirit = Love = Kingdom of heaven
Mourning = Joy = Comforted
Meek = Peace = Inherit the earth
Hunger & thirst after righteousness = Patience = Be filled
Merciful = Kindness = Obtain mercy
Pure in heart = Goodness = Shall see God
Peacemakers = Faithfulness = Called children of God
Persecuted for righteousness sake = Gentleness = Kingdom of heaven
Reviled, persecuted, spoken evil of = Self-control = Great reward in heaven
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (v3)
Through being “poor” in spirit (broken?) the LOVE of God is perfected in us. As we live through and overcome spiritually devastating situations our compassion for others grows.
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (v4)
Only having experienced mourning can we truly then experience, understand, and come to be grateful for real JOY. The JOY of the Lord, which is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), not a temporal joy as experienced in the things of this world.
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (v5)
This one gets me every time I read it. Not only because Jesus specifically said to learn of Him for He is meek and lowly in heart (Matt 11:29) but because what meek really means. I had it once described to me as having power and authority yet knowing when and when not to use it. The basic dictionary definition is: enduring injury with patience and without resentment. Now isn't that just the character of Jesus!
To know, though, that we truly are meek, I think we have to live through circumstances where that character can manifest. Maybe it’s the PEACE that surpasses all understanding that allows the meekness to overrun any other instinct that tries to rise up. Or maybe overcoming through an attitude of meekness makes manifest the PEACE of God within us.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (v6)
To hunger and thirst after righteousness will develop PATIENCE (longsuffering) in waiting on the Lord. We soon learn that things happen on His watch, not ours. And they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31). Tell me that’s not being filled!
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (v7)
In moments where mercy rejoices against judgment (James 2:13), the KINDNESS (gentleness) of God is perfected in us.
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (v8)
Pure in heart – always thinking on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, any virtue and praise (Phillipians 4:8)—brings forth the GOODNESS of God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (v9)
In striving to maintain peace in all situations, spiritual, emotional ,etc., our FAITHFULNESS to our Lord is strengthened.
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (v10)
Persecuted for doing good makes manifest the GENTLENESS (meekness) of the Spirit. Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, bless them that curse you, pray for them which despitefully use you (Luke 6:27-28).The GENTLENESS of our Lord will overcome the evil that tries to hinder us.
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (v11-12)
And the final fruit of the Spirit—SELF-CONTROL (temperance). What better way for this attribute to be made manifest in us then through reviling and being evil spoken of? How many people just want to bite back, avenge their insults? Blessed are we for in this is SELF-CONTROL perfected in us.
I’m sure many of the aspects of the fruit of the Spirit could be made manifest/perfected in many of these situations, but I thought it was neat when you put them side-by-side.
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