"You adversary is real"

The devil is real and he is constantly trying to steal, kill, and destroy everything in the life of Christians (John 10:10). When do not give in to his attacks out right he uses deception to creep in and attack us. He tells us lies that are close enough to the truth that we believe it and start to stray away from the truth. He destroys our fellowship with other believers by reminding of us their past, present, and possible future offenses which causes arguments and stirs up strife. He is the root cause of every source of evil there is. He condemns when we fall and tells us that we are horrible people, we lose all hope, and think God can't love or use someone like me. He tries to scar us away when we are close to doing, accomplishing or getting what Has for us through thoughts of doubt, reminders of past failures, and throwing obstacles in our way. 

BUT if we spend time in the Word and remain faithful in prayer we will be sensitive to God's Spirit and have enough discernment to see through his schemes and recognize when it is spiritual warfare. We will be able to spot heresy when we hear it as opposed to believing it. We will walk with grace toward one another, forgiving one another, and reconciling with one another after an offense has accrued. Instead of falling into condemnations when we sin we will be convicted of our sin and turn away from as opposed to wallowing in it. Instead of being scared of the obstacles that stands in our way, we will see the roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8) but we will not fear because we know that the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5) protects us and we can boldly go forward and do what God has called us to do.

Recognize the enemy for who he is and who he is not, but also recognize God for who He truly is. Because of Christ we are not defeated, destroyed, or in despair (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) . Because of Christ we have true life (John 10:10), we have peace (John 14:27), and we have JOY (Jon 17:13)! but you will not know these things if you do not spend time reading and applying God's Word to your life (Psalm 119:15) as well as spending more time listening to God through prayer as opposed to dominating the conversation, be still and let him search your heart so you can grow (Psalms 139:23) Spending time with the Lord brings about a great results but neglecting to do so bring about unwanted consequences.

"In His JOY!"

Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable.

http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/

"Little Pigs"

Luke 6:47-49

We all know the story of the three little pigs, it's a timeless tale. But if you don't know it, here it is. Three pigs all decide to build three separate houses. So the first pig makes a house out of straw, the second pig makes a house out of sticks, and the third makes a house out of bricks. Along comes the big bad wolf and tells the pig with the house of straw "Little Pig, little pig, let me in!" and the pig responds "Not by the hair of chinny chin chin!" So the wolf takes a deep breath and blows the house down with ease.  The first pig runs to the second pig's house made of sticks but the wolf was in hot pursuit. Again the big bad wolf shots "Little Pigs, little pigs, let me in!" and the pigs respond "Not by the hair of our chinny chin chins!" So the wolf takes a deep breath and blows the house built of sticks down. The pigs scatter like roaches when there is light! They race to the third pig's house made of bricks, he graciously lets them in. The wolf arrives and demands "Little Pigs, little pigs, let me in!" and the pigs respond "Not by the hair of our chinny chin chins!" So the wolf takes a mighty breath and with everything he has tries to blow the house down, but this time it is to no avail because the house is stronger than his mightiest effort. The pigs are finally safe and secure.

I look at this story and I see parallels with the Gospel. The Word tells us in Luke 6:47-49 that when we are disobedient to the Words of Christ we risk losing our firm foundation when trouble comes because trouble will come. The Gospel makes it very clear that we will face trouble but if we stand in obedience to God's Word we will survive no matter the storm that comes. Just like the wolf, Satan prowls at our door and desires not only to blow our house down but destroy us in any way that he can (1 Peter 5:8). If we are continually disobedient and intentionally ignore God's instruction for our life, our houses built of our plans, our thoughts, and our ways (sticks and straws) will always fall (Proverbs 19:20-21). But if we are trusting and relying on Jesus, seeking his direction for our life, actively being obedient to His Word and Will for our life we will have a firm foundation (Psalm 119:9, 89, 105). Trouble will come but through His Word, Prayer, and His Spirit we will withstand the storm and defy the wolf (Satan).

I am asking for you to commit not forsake being an ordinary person but become an extraordinary Christian. I am petitioning you to step up your faith by studying the Bible and make an eternal promise to yourself to follow Christ. I am requesting that you let Jesus guide you and direct you in every aspect of your life. Become the pig with the house made of bricks and not the house of sticks and straw.

Stay focused, you can do this.

"In His JOY!"

"Do you eat Wheaties or Weedies?"

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

The parable of the weeds tells of a farmer whose field is sabotaged by his enemy.  His adversary plants weeds next to all the farmer's wheat.  The wheat and the weeds begins to grow together.  When the workers find out what happened they ask the farmer if they should uproot the weeds, he tells them no because they will uproot the wheat by accident if they take all the weeds out.  Instead he tells them to let the weeds grow because in the end they will separate them.  The weed will be thrown into the fire while the wheat will be placed in the barn (Matthew 13:24-30)

Jesus later on explain this parable by saying He is the farmer and the adversary is the devil.  Those who follow Jesus are the wheat but those who follow the devil are the weeds.  The angels are the farm hands that will be used by God to separate His people from those who are not.  Followers of Christ will go to Heaven will those who pursued the will of the enemy will burn in Hell (Matthew 13:36-43).

This parable teaches me that in the end God will decide who is a wheat and who is a weed, not us.  It is not our job to condemn other Christians to Hell or call them workers of the devil. True we hold each other accountable, point out sin when we see it, and speak out against heresy.  But when it comes to determining the heart and intent of someone as being righteous or wicked, that is not our place.  I have found out that no one answers to me but we all will answer to God.

As Christians we want to "pluck" the weed and distinguish the wheat.  But that is not our place, God will handle that in His time.  The wheat and weeds Jesus was using in this parable looked similar and only could be distinguished when they were fully grown.  Because the weeds could not produce the grain like the wheat.  So the farmers in Jesus time would wait until the crops had follow grown to separate them.  As Christians we spend so much time calling each other "evil weeds" as opposed to praying for a "young immature wheat" .

We need to silence our mouths and stop trying "sift" each other out.  Jesus could call the Pharisees evil because He knew their hearts because He is God.  My friend, you are not.  We cannot expect to lead to people Christ if we are acting like a dysfunctional and abusive family.  No one wants to be apart of that.  Let the Lord distinguish the weeds from the wheat in His time.  This does not give us a license to sin and act any kind of way, instead it should make us consider our ways and ask ourselves "Are acting like a wheat or a weed?

Stay focused, you can do this!

"In His JOY!"

"I would like some revenge and make it cold"

Proverbs 20:22, Isaiah 40:31

"Revenge is a dish best served cold", it's a saying that many of us live by.  Because when we become subject to unmerited pain we want to see justice for our grief, we want to see someone fall and come to their ruin, we want the peace back that they took from us.  But is it ever enough?  Are really truly satisfied when we take vengeance on someone-else and see them come to ruin?  The true answer is no!  We will never be filled with satisfaction from the demise of an individual.  Yes the pain may have ended and justice given but our feeling of wholeness will never be met and our need for vengeance will continue.

The Bible tells us not to repay evil but instead wait for the Lord and allow Him to deliver us (Proverbs 20:22).  This not a promise of justice and it is not a promise that we will see the one who wronged us humiliated but it is a promise of deliverance.  It is a promise that whatever situation I am in God will rescue me.

What ever has happened I know that He will redeem me and set me free once again.  But God tells me to wait on Him.  The promise of waiting is knowing that in Him my strength will return and I live to fight another day (Isaiah 40:31).  Because the fight of it all does take its toll on us and the Lord knows it (Isaiah 40:30).   But if we choose not to wait and seek after revenge we can look forward to falling into the trap we set (Proverbs 26:27).  So I choose to wait.

What about you?  Are you seeking vengeance or mercy?  Love or hate?  Bondage or deliverance?  Death or life?  The devil or Jesus?  If your choice is to get revenge you will never be free, but if it is to wait for the Lord you will enjoy freedom. (But this only works for those who believe and confess Jesus as their Lord and Savior, to you it is foolish jargon.  But trust me it is truth.  You have to willing take the chance and find out for yourself.) Stay focused you can do this!

In His JOY!

I did not know I was in a fight until he punched me

Ephesians 6:10-18

We never stop until we have reached the goal that God has set before us. When we decide in our hearts we are going to do the Lord's Will we will always face opposition. This opposition will try to persuade us to stop doing the Lord's Will. It will cause us to question our faith. purpose, and if we actually heard from God. But despite this we press on and do not shrink back.

So we must truly develop a strong relationship with the Lord and surround ourselves we with Christians that will hold us accountable and encourage us to walk in obedience to God (Ephesians 6:10, Hebrews 10:22-25). We understand that the devil is going to attack in various ways but we stand ready to fight (Ephesians 6:11). No matter how the attack comes, whether it is through our enemies or friends we love them regardless (Luke 6:35, 1 John 4:11). Because the opposition is not coming from the but it is coming from the devil, whom does not want God's Will to accomplished on the Earth (Ephesians 6:12). Now that we know the attack is coming we take our prayer time, time in the Word, and time with other believers seriously. We are not playing church but we are preparing for battle that we can stand firm in our faith and not run in fear (Ephesians 6:13).

But we know that in our own righteousness we cannot defeat the enemy. There is no good deed or special sacrifice that we can do that will win this battle. Instead we rely on the Righteousness of Christ and truth of His Word (Ephesians 6:14). Although we are in the heat of battle we stay ready to share the Gospel with the lost and teach how them live for Jesus (Ephesians 6:15, 2 Timothy 4:2, Matthew 28:19-20). We hide these truths in our hearts so we do not get discouraged from walking forward in God's Will, even though these attacks seem overwhelming (Ephesians 6:16). We remind ourselves that Jesus saved us and it is by God's Grace we have been delivered/forgiven from our past because the enemy would have us to believe we are not (Ephesians 6:17, 2 Corinthians 5:17). And we no longer consider ourselves as the world considers us. We now view ourselves as God views, so we are not what the devil says we are, we are what God's Word says we are. His Word is our tool when we doubt, when we are weak, when face this opposition. His Word is our weapon that brings us light in the dark places of our life (Ephesians 6:17). Finally we survey the battle field and see our brothers and sisters in Christ. We see them winning, struggling, and even losing. For this reason we pray without ceasing and we don't stop praying until the battle is WON (Ephesians 6:18)!

So for all of us in this battle. I know this battle can be discouraging. But I implore to keep fighting. Keep climbing and don't stop until you get to the top (Philippians 3:14). Stay focused you can do this.

In His JOY!