This will be a two part message, first I would like to present a simple teaching on spiritual warfare. I remember challenging our old congregation to pray a simple prayer "Lord show me to others as I truly am!" Some congregation members could not pray it as they knew their walk with the Lord was as phony as a $3 bill. My belief is that our lives should be transparent for all to see. When someone asks me about my past I share it as it was but, reminding them that the person they see today is not that person, thanks to the life changing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I realize not many are willing to reveal their past or even their present flaws because our carnal nature would choose to hide those things we don't want others to see or know about. HELLO people let us not forget God sees all & knows all. What is hidden in darkness will eventually come to the light, WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT! Honesty & integrity unique virtues in this day & age but also spiritual weapons, even though truth often hurts, but only for the moment, it will win out in the long run.
The moment is that instance were something interrupts our normal life. It could be an accident, a sickness or words some person speaks, whatever. Our reaction at that moment rises up from deep within us. In other words what we have put in us through reading, watching or listening to will formulate our response to whatever has transpired. If you choose to focus on what the media & parts of the church telling us, fear will rule your life. A simple checklist of what you are feeding into your soul is the new testament perspective on prophesy, it will exhort you (lift you up,) edify (teach you) or comfort you (1 Corinthians 14:3.)
"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" Not a comfortable scripture to ponder, especially after you have just lost it & you are totally ashamed of what had come out of your big mouth. The first thing we have to do is ask God to forgive us & PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE Holy Spirit help me not to lose it again. If we do not do that odds are we will sink lower & lower + be filled with self loathing & condemnation (neither of which are from God!) Do not be so foolish as to think you or anyone else has arrived at some spiritual sainthood. We are all a work in progress, IF we will allow the potter to continue to mold us into a useful vessel for the Lord.
What shows up in the moment is possibly frustration or anger from the frustration, unforgiveness, bitterness, to name but a few of the negatives that can so easily rise up. There can be many reasons for these wrong thoughts but guaranteed they are something rooted in your past or something you have been inputting into your soul. The Bible refers to these thoughts as a stronghold of the mind. It may have been words spoken over us again & again, these are curse words. Many times a person tries & tries but never seems to succeed, it doesn't take long before you start to believe you're a failure. If you are a born again believer YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE! But if you do not learn how to defuse these wrong thoughts you start to expect those negatives & actually believe you deserve them just because of who you are, sad eh! Another reason is you feel you were born on the wrong side of the tracks or within a disfunctional family. Naturally the next step is to bow down to the plum syndrome (poor little unloved me) which will guarantee you a big old pity party.
What we have to do is take these curse words from our past to the foot of the cross. It could be your relationships, marriage or past marriages, manipulative controlling family members or friends, past failures to the foot of the cross. Remember it is not the person (flesh & blood) we battle but the spirit that is driving them. Ask Gods forgiveness for any mistakes you have made, any & all sin, for even believing the lies of the devil & plead the blood of Jesus over the foul root that has held you in bondage. Believe you are free once & for all & start to praise Him for His deliverance as He is worthy of all our praise.
The next time that negative thought tries to rise up rebuke it, GET OUT IN JESUS NAME. Devil you are a liar I am a child of God, He has given me the power to become an overcomer, more than a conqueror. Trust in the Lord & lean not on your understanding. the devil is real & he has power, but Jesus is the highest name in heaven, on the earth & under the earth! He is all powerful & like the old hymn is titled we have Victory in Jesus! As God proves Himself to us it is now our duty to reach out & help others around us.
We are to be people of compassion, that is someone who sees a need & then steps out to meet that need in other lives. It is not up to us to judge them for the state they are in but to help lift them out of that pit. Do not sit & pick them apart or try to figure out why they are the way they are, just love them for who they are. The love of God within us should compel us to find a way to be an encouragement rather than a discouragement to them. Lift them up rather than tear them down through our words. As Christians everything starts with prayer & a smile is a excellent followup.
Everything comes down to what we have been putting on the inside. That is what will dictate what comes out in the moment & if we will be equipped to meet the need whether in our own life or someone else's. For me the Word of God is the positive I choose to put in. One scripture that God has prompted me to memorize is Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. This also is spiritual warfare. When I was in public school we had to memorize stuff but now I choose to do so to make myself not only a better person but useful to God in reaching out & helping my fellowman.
Can you but imagine what an impact we the church would have on the world around us in 2012 if we put this simple message into practice. Food for thought!
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