Greetings -
Scriptures from the King James Bible
This post is inspired by Timothy who made this statement (used here by permission) about Satan in the comment area on blog LIONS SHARE MAJESTY at http://www.lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/ under the topic, "FEAR FACTOR - YOKE DESTROYED - ISAIAH 10:27..." dated Monday January 17, 2011:
"While we should not fear the devil, we should respect him and his diabolical wisdom. That wisdom is powerful. He could sell a used car salesman a refrigerator in Alaska!”
Our Lord quickened my spirit when I read Timothy's comment. Later He told me to write a post to expand on the matter.
My belief is that next in line after GOD, JESUS and THE HOLY SPIRIT, and the holy angels - is Satan - relative to intelligence and power.
We, the people of GOD can be in danger, spiritually and otherwise if we underestimate Satan as we can be if we overestimate him.
Satan is a warrior, albeit on the wrong side - but a warrior he is. By no means is he a lightweight. While he cannot, of course, defeat the most High GOD, who is FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT, or GOD's purposes, Satan is a formidable opponent against the forces of purity. Those with pure hearts and clean hands are prime targets for Satan's opposition.
When Satan "shoots" at us, he is NOT shooting blanks. His ammo has the potential to kill in more ways than one. He operates with cold-blooded skilled calculations. He is a strategic and highly intelligent operative. He has a kingdom - the kingdom of darkness, and he is the god of this world - 2 Corinthians 4:4. Remember it tells us in Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
The Devil lurks, ensnares, beguiles, deceives, and knows precisely what "buttons" of ours to push and when - often when we are at our most vulnerable. He is adept at ambushes and he uses "high-tech" surveillance methods. His job title includes cunning manipulator. He takes people captive - 2 Timothy 2:26. Genesis 3:1 says, "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made." "Yea, hath God said,...?" - Genesis 3:1. "...If thou be the Son of God,..." - Matthew 4:6. Now we need to remember that Satan had/has "the nerve" to challenge JESUS!
Satan has doctrines - the "doctrines of devils," it says in 1 Timothy 4:1, and "seducing spirits." Also, we are warned in Matthew 16:6, "Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."
No, people, Satan cannot be underestimated. An excellent example is how he was able to use the disciple Peter in chapter 16 in the gospel of Matthew. In verse 17, it says, "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Very shortly thereafter in verse 23, we read where Jesus rebuked Peter. It says, "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan:..." Peter had just got "a word" from GOD (verse 17)! And in the same chapter Jesus needed to rebuke him. None of us is above such lapses. May our GOD help us all.
Matthew 8:28 tells us, "...there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way." We cannot afford to lose the awareness that Satan is fierce. Also, it is imperative to remain mindful that he often turns on "charm" and transforms into an angel of light, as do his ministers, so says 2 Corinthians 11:14,15.
Satan is on the prowl. Here is an excellent example from our Lord's Word in Luke 11:24, 25, 26:
"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
"And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
"Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first."
The above clearly reveals that it is dangerous for us NOT to be filled with the Spirit of GOD with his Word in our hearts to DO it steadfastly! James 1:22 says, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
As Timothy said, "While we should not fear the devil, we should respect him and his diabolical wisdom. That wisdom is powerful."
Certainly, Satan's wisdom is "earthly, sensual, devilish" - James 1:22 - but it is wisdom, nonetheless.
Jude 9 states, "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." Zechariah 3:2, "And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan:.." And Daniel 10:12, 13 says, "Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard and I am come for thy words.
"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me;..."
No, people, Satan ain't no joke! It is critical that we strive, in earnest, NOT to be ignorant of his devices. The Word of GOD states in 2 Timothy 3:13, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." With that being the truth, we of GOD's kingdom need to increasingly wax holy! Job 17:9, "The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." And Job 16:17, 19, "...my prayer is pure." Also, now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high."
We need to faithfully abide under the shadow of the Almighty - Psalm 91. There is no way that we can be victorious without obedience to the Word of GOD. We do NOT have, within us, anything near powerful enough to conquer Satan, except through GOD. Further, we do not want to be in positions where this happens to us as shown in The Acts 19:15,16, "And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?" And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled..."
When we walk with GOD, we have no need to fear Satan but we do need to respect that our Lord has allowed him to have a temporal kingdom - dark though it is.
Praise GOD that His kingdom is the only kingdom that cannot be destroyed. Daniel 7:27 says, "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him."
Here are some scriptures to encourage us in our righteous journeys:
2 Peter 2:9
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,...
John 14:17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Proverbs 16:4
The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
John 14:30
...for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
The Acts 28:5
And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Sandra
Written Sunday January 23, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
SPINACH IS ON THE MENU
Greetings -
Scriptures from the King James Bible
Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
This post is inspired by a Charisma magazine article that I received, via e-mail, this week. The article by Pastor Dennis Cramer is titled, "It's Time to Dust Off Your Bible." He mentioned that "Biblical ignorance is on the increase in the church, even to epidemic levels!" Pastor Cramer went on to elaborate about the spiritual dangers of biblical ignorance.
Here is what our Lord further shared with me about the matter:
Knowledge of His Word is vital to DO what it commands. Regular engagement with the Holy Bible is essential nourishment for our spirits. In Psalm 119, "thy word" is mentioned at least 35 times. That, among other Bible indications, clearly shows that regular communion with our Lord, through His Word, is mandatory for spiritual potency and profitability. Psalm 119:11 says, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
Some readers here are old enough to remember the Popeye the sailor man cartoon. Popeye was small in stature with muscular forearms. He would eat spinach and gain enormous strength from its digestion. Spinach was the source of his courageous character. Without spinach, Popeye was a mere mortal man.
Our Lord emphasized to me that Popeye was a military man - a sailor. A sailor man with a penchant for a spinach diet. He knew what gave him his edge and he regularly went for it. Spinach was a mainstay on soldier Popeye's menu. The anchor for the sailor man was iron-contained spinach.
I looked up spinach and found that it is high in nutritional value and extremely rich in antioxidants. Spinach is also considered a rich source of iron. Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."
We are soldiers in the army of GOD. His Word is our spinach. When the Holy Bible is a mainstay on our menus, as we steadfastly purpose to search through and to do it, we are NOT mere mortals, but supernatural vessels in the hands of our Lord fit for our Master's use. GOD'S Word is extremely rich and spiritually high in nutritional value. It is our anchor as we sail the stormy seas of life.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 6:19
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,...
Irregular or no engagement with GOD and His Word is akin to beached whales. Such disengagement renders us spiritually unprofitable and weak.
Continued existence "out of the water" results in death. Romans 8:6 says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
Let us sail the high seas with an abundance of spinach on the menu from which we faithfully select and digest with keen awareness of its rich properties.
____
A shout out to Popeye.
Sandra Renee Hicks
P.O. Box 1210
Washington, DC 20013
Written Thursday January 20, 2011
NOTE: This topic is also posted on my READ ONLY MAIN blog, LIONS SHARE MAJESTY at http://www.lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/. The bulk of the responses to this topic are found in the comment section on that blog. Here is the specific link to the subject topic there
http://lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/2011/01/spinach-is-on-menu.html
Scriptures from the King James Bible
Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
This post is inspired by a Charisma magazine article that I received, via e-mail, this week. The article by Pastor Dennis Cramer is titled, "It's Time to Dust Off Your Bible." He mentioned that "Biblical ignorance is on the increase in the church, even to epidemic levels!" Pastor Cramer went on to elaborate about the spiritual dangers of biblical ignorance.
Here is what our Lord further shared with me about the matter:
Knowledge of His Word is vital to DO what it commands. Regular engagement with the Holy Bible is essential nourishment for our spirits. In Psalm 119, "thy word" is mentioned at least 35 times. That, among other Bible indications, clearly shows that regular communion with our Lord, through His Word, is mandatory for spiritual potency and profitability. Psalm 119:11 says, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
Some readers here are old enough to remember the Popeye the sailor man cartoon. Popeye was small in stature with muscular forearms. He would eat spinach and gain enormous strength from its digestion. Spinach was the source of his courageous character. Without spinach, Popeye was a mere mortal man.
Our Lord emphasized to me that Popeye was a military man - a sailor. A sailor man with a penchant for a spinach diet. He knew what gave him his edge and he regularly went for it. Spinach was a mainstay on soldier Popeye's menu. The anchor for the sailor man was iron-contained spinach.
I looked up spinach and found that it is high in nutritional value and extremely rich in antioxidants. Spinach is also considered a rich source of iron. Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."
We are soldiers in the army of GOD. His Word is our spinach. When the Holy Bible is a mainstay on our menus, as we steadfastly purpose to search through and to do it, we are NOT mere mortals, but supernatural vessels in the hands of our Lord fit for our Master's use. GOD'S Word is extremely rich and spiritually high in nutritional value. It is our anchor as we sail the stormy seas of life.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 6:19
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,...
Irregular or no engagement with GOD and His Word is akin to beached whales. Such disengagement renders us spiritually unprofitable and weak.
Continued existence "out of the water" results in death. Romans 8:6 says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
Let us sail the high seas with an abundance of spinach on the menu from which we faithfully select and digest with keen awareness of its rich properties.
____
A shout out to Popeye.
Sandra Renee Hicks
P.O. Box 1210
Washington, DC 20013
Written Thursday January 20, 2011
NOTE: This topic is also posted on my READ ONLY MAIN blog, LIONS SHARE MAJESTY at http://www.lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/. The bulk of the responses to this topic are found in the comment section on that blog. Here is the specific link to the subject topic there
http://lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/2011/01/spinach-is-on-menu.html
Monday, January 17, 2011
FEAR FACTOR - YOKE DESTROYED
FEAR FACTOR - YOKE DESTROYED - ISAIAH 10:27
Scriptures from the King James Bible
Isaiah 10:27
...and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
Psalm 34:4
I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
One of the most effective weapons that Satan uses against Christians is fear. I speak as one who knows from experience.
There was a season when I was a Christian who had more faith in the devil than in our Lord. Satan had me scared on the regular. The Holy Bible was a great help, as was prayer, church, and fellowshipping with other Christians. But fear continued to grip me about various issues. The best way to describe it is that the Word of GOD was in my head but had NOT yet penetrated my heart in sufficient manner where I could regularly and effectively believe GOD over Satan. As a result, my faith was more in Satan's words, threats, and actions. I'm keeping it real here, people. There were times when I allowed Satan to deceive me into believing that he had more power than GOD - UNTIL - thanks be unto GOD, I learned through process channels designed by our Lord, how to regularly and effectively fight the devil from a place of victory.
I learned to triumph over Satan by refusing to unduly discuss what he is doing to oppose GOD's purposes. There are seasons when we need to vent about our challenges as there are seasons when it is justified to complain but, too often, some of GOD'S people invest overtime in venting and complaining about how Satan fights against us. To do such, glorifies Satan rather than GOD.
We are commanded to love our enemies. That is one of the most effective ways to fight the devil. Love the sinner - hate the sin.
Our Lord taught that we can fight Satan by quoting scripture as JESUS did in Matthew 4. We can be transformed by renewing our minds in GOD'S Word daily - Romans 12:2. We can sing and praise our Lord in song, dance, and prayer regularly with fervency. Most importantly, we are commanded to be doers of the Word of GOD. Those are GOD'S ways to fight and to resist the devil.
Yes, our Lord can root and ground us so powerfully that our mind sets and heart sets become one with Him. It is certainly possible that our automatic responses become increasingly GOD-minded. GOD can get us to places in Him where we are fully persuaded that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. There was a season in my life when I would quote that, and other scriptures but my heart was not rooted in those scriptural truths. My head believed but my heart just didn't get it.
I had to be processed by our Lord to obtain a rock solid belief system. After various tests and trials, the Lord has worked in me such certainty about His power over all, that it is rare that Satan frightens me. I say rare, rather than not at all because we know that our flesh makes appearances and we are charged to bring it under subjection.
I don't know if this is the case for anyone else this fresh new year but Satan has already come on strong against me. My spiritual sense indicates that his fury is fiercer. Does anyone else get that spiritual sense?
Well, this is a warning for us all. We are commanded NOT to fear the devil but we must be vigilant because his fury is on the increase because he knows that his time is shorter.
We Christians must fight against fear because the Word of GOD tells us in Matthew 25:25, 26, "And I was afraid, and went and hid..." "His Lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant,..."
Of course, baby Christians need to mature and it is understandable that they have more fear issues. But for some more experienced Christians who have been saved for lengthy periods of time yet still are regularly seized by fear, it is time to grow up. Otherwise, Satan will continue to wreak havoc on such minds and hearts.
Seek GOD, in earnest, for how to fight the devil and to win on the regular! Satan aims to devour and what often happens is that too many Christians give Satan ground and he seizes those opportunities to shake to the core. Truth be told - some Christians are terrified of Satan and have been for longer than the extent of our Lord's longsuffering. I was afraid a lot until our Lord taught me how to regularly overcome. After sufficient processes, the Lord told me - enough! He emphatically told me to stop whining and surrendering to the wiles of Satan, and to execute with GOD's full armour - Ephesians 6. Our Lord made it clear that He had sufficiently prepared me - now it was up to me to go to it and do it - habitually. GOD will NOT do it all.
1 Samuel 17:45 says, "Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied." And 1 Samuel 17:48, "...David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine."
Satan is NOT going to lay down his weapons. More Christians need to pick up theirs and FIGHT. Now is the time to fight and to know that, through JESUS, we have the victories. We are charged to fight the forces of darkness. If we refuse, Satan celebrates.
Demons and devils are here. Principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places - they are all here. Failure to deal with such will NOT make them disappear. In the Word of GOD, we read where JESUS rebuked, and cast out devils. He was NOT afraid of them. He had and has authority over all the power of the enemy. We have been given power and authority over all devils. It says so in GOD's Word. Luke 9:1, "...and gave them power and authority over all devils,..." And Luke 10:19, "Behold, I give unto you power...over all the power of the enemy:..."
We cannot afford to be spiritual punks, or wimps. Satan can consume only if we cease to yield to our Lord and resist the devil.
Nehemiah 4:14, "...Be not afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight..." Nehemiah 4:17, "...every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon." Jeremiah 51:20, "Thou art my battle ax and weapons of war:..." Joel 2:7, "They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks."
We can do this, people. We are built to last - not to faint.
The Word of GOD is quick and powerful and sharper than any twoedged sword - Hebrews 4:12. We are not our own - we are bought with a price - 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. JESUS did not shed his blood to purchase us to have his sheep as prey for the devil. He died and rose again for us to have Satan as our prey. We are NOT expected to be tormented by the devil. We are charged to torment him.
Let us live up to our Lord's purchase. Let us reign - in this life - so that we can hear Him say in the next life, "Well done, good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of the Lord." - Matthew 25:23.
1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Revelation 5:10
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Sandra Renee Hicks
P.O. Box 1210
Washington, DC 20013
Written Monday January 17, 2011
Scriptures from the King James Bible
Isaiah 10:27
...and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
Psalm 34:4
I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
One of the most effective weapons that Satan uses against Christians is fear. I speak as one who knows from experience.
There was a season when I was a Christian who had more faith in the devil than in our Lord. Satan had me scared on the regular. The Holy Bible was a great help, as was prayer, church, and fellowshipping with other Christians. But fear continued to grip me about various issues. The best way to describe it is that the Word of GOD was in my head but had NOT yet penetrated my heart in sufficient manner where I could regularly and effectively believe GOD over Satan. As a result, my faith was more in Satan's words, threats, and actions. I'm keeping it real here, people. There were times when I allowed Satan to deceive me into believing that he had more power than GOD - UNTIL - thanks be unto GOD, I learned through process channels designed by our Lord, how to regularly and effectively fight the devil from a place of victory.
I learned to triumph over Satan by refusing to unduly discuss what he is doing to oppose GOD's purposes. There are seasons when we need to vent about our challenges as there are seasons when it is justified to complain but, too often, some of GOD'S people invest overtime in venting and complaining about how Satan fights against us. To do such, glorifies Satan rather than GOD.
We are commanded to love our enemies. That is one of the most effective ways to fight the devil. Love the sinner - hate the sin.
Our Lord taught that we can fight Satan by quoting scripture as JESUS did in Matthew 4. We can be transformed by renewing our minds in GOD'S Word daily - Romans 12:2. We can sing and praise our Lord in song, dance, and prayer regularly with fervency. Most importantly, we are commanded to be doers of the Word of GOD. Those are GOD'S ways to fight and to resist the devil.
Yes, our Lord can root and ground us so powerfully that our mind sets and heart sets become one with Him. It is certainly possible that our automatic responses become increasingly GOD-minded. GOD can get us to places in Him where we are fully persuaded that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. There was a season in my life when I would quote that, and other scriptures but my heart was not rooted in those scriptural truths. My head believed but my heart just didn't get it.
I had to be processed by our Lord to obtain a rock solid belief system. After various tests and trials, the Lord has worked in me such certainty about His power over all, that it is rare that Satan frightens me. I say rare, rather than not at all because we know that our flesh makes appearances and we are charged to bring it under subjection.
I don't know if this is the case for anyone else this fresh new year but Satan has already come on strong against me. My spiritual sense indicates that his fury is fiercer. Does anyone else get that spiritual sense?
Well, this is a warning for us all. We are commanded NOT to fear the devil but we must be vigilant because his fury is on the increase because he knows that his time is shorter.
We Christians must fight against fear because the Word of GOD tells us in Matthew 25:25, 26, "And I was afraid, and went and hid..." "His Lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant,..."
Of course, baby Christians need to mature and it is understandable that they have more fear issues. But for some more experienced Christians who have been saved for lengthy periods of time yet still are regularly seized by fear, it is time to grow up. Otherwise, Satan will continue to wreak havoc on such minds and hearts.
Seek GOD, in earnest, for how to fight the devil and to win on the regular! Satan aims to devour and what often happens is that too many Christians give Satan ground and he seizes those opportunities to shake to the core. Truth be told - some Christians are terrified of Satan and have been for longer than the extent of our Lord's longsuffering. I was afraid a lot until our Lord taught me how to regularly overcome. After sufficient processes, the Lord told me - enough! He emphatically told me to stop whining and surrendering to the wiles of Satan, and to execute with GOD's full armour - Ephesians 6. Our Lord made it clear that He had sufficiently prepared me - now it was up to me to go to it and do it - habitually. GOD will NOT do it all.
1 Samuel 17:45 says, "Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied." And 1 Samuel 17:48, "...David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine."
Satan is NOT going to lay down his weapons. More Christians need to pick up theirs and FIGHT. Now is the time to fight and to know that, through JESUS, we have the victories. We are charged to fight the forces of darkness. If we refuse, Satan celebrates.
Demons and devils are here. Principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places - they are all here. Failure to deal with such will NOT make them disappear. In the Word of GOD, we read where JESUS rebuked, and cast out devils. He was NOT afraid of them. He had and has authority over all the power of the enemy. We have been given power and authority over all devils. It says so in GOD's Word. Luke 9:1, "...and gave them power and authority over all devils,..." And Luke 10:19, "Behold, I give unto you power...over all the power of the enemy:..."
We cannot afford to be spiritual punks, or wimps. Satan can consume only if we cease to yield to our Lord and resist the devil.
Nehemiah 4:14, "...Be not afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight..." Nehemiah 4:17, "...every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon." Jeremiah 51:20, "Thou art my battle ax and weapons of war:..." Joel 2:7, "They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks."
We can do this, people. We are built to last - not to faint.
The Word of GOD is quick and powerful and sharper than any twoedged sword - Hebrews 4:12. We are not our own - we are bought with a price - 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. JESUS did not shed his blood to purchase us to have his sheep as prey for the devil. He died and rose again for us to have Satan as our prey. We are NOT expected to be tormented by the devil. We are charged to torment him.
Let us live up to our Lord's purchase. Let us reign - in this life - so that we can hear Him say in the next life, "Well done, good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of the Lord." - Matthew 25:23.
1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Revelation 5:10
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Sandra Renee Hicks
P.O. Box 1210
Washington, DC 20013
Written Monday January 17, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
MIND RENEWAL
MIND RENEWAL
Recently I watched a sermon series by a pastor. The topic was renewing our minds. The series deeply affected and taught me. I am grateful for how the Lord used that pastor to teach on mind renewal.
Herein are some points that the Lord gave me about mind renewal. If we do NOT renew our minds daily through study of the Holy Bible and prayer to our Father with hearts that follow God’s Word, we allow the Devil to control our minds as his playground. If we do not daily renew our minds, we are snared by the devices of Satan. We give him permission to occupy places within us where he has no business.
Why are so many Christians weak in power?! It is largely due to failure to do daily mind renewal with steadfast obedience to GOD. Also, they allow more of the world within through media, technology, unholy alliances, and associations. The consequences are that less gospel centered things enter to renew their minds.
Change in character is dependent upon what we allow to enter and abide in us. When we renew our minds through righteous channels the result is that we demonstrate what is representative of holiness. In order to have the characteristics of GOD, we must spend daily meaningful time with Him. We cannot engage GOD in hit and miss mode or with swift administration. He is not to be squeezed in – He is to be focused in to our daily schedules. It is disrespectful to treat GOD as a mere inconvenience or nuisance distraction. He is sovereign and holy and mandates that He be revered as our FIRST love.
I cannot remember how many people that I have met who state that they are born again Christians but do NOT daily read the Holy Bible or know scriptures from memory. I have met more born again Christians who do NOT know the Word of GOD than I have those that do. It is spiritually dangerous to lack knowledge of the Holy Bible, the inerrant Word of GOD. It is more dangerous to know it and not be a doer of what it commands.
Born again Christians who do not know…are largely ineffective for the advancement of the kingdom of GOD. They have placed themselves whereas they are inadequate for what GOD expects them to do to have a profound impact on unbelievers. Also, we in the body of Christ are instructed to help, admonish, encourage, and correct one another. Spiritually, if GOD’s resources and means are not used, abilities are feeble in application to assist others.
Born again babes in Christ, of course, are not held to the same standards by GOD as those who have been born again for years. My experience is mostly with those who have been saved for years and are stuck, by selfish choices, in the dairy section. Those milk indulgers who should have long ago progressed to the meat realm. Plain and simple, some do NOT want renewed minds. For this cause, many are weak…1 Corinthians 11:30. Yes, dry bones can live - Ezekiel 37 – whosoever will, let him come.
Satan is assailing us from every angle. He is launching vicious attacks against the kingdom of GOD. He has elevated his game with his relentless wicked devices. He is in constant war mode against us. Too often, the response of scores of Christians is to be “on the ropes” while Satan and his cohorts pummel their weak spirits. The devil does not fight fair. He hits below the belt, behind the back, while opponents are sitting in the corner, when the bell rings for the end of rounds, and however else he can get his punches in. He does head shots, body blows, upper cuts, slugs, left and right hooks, and sucker punches. Too many Christians are left dazed, bloodied, and brain dead - in sum, out of commission for anything truly spiritually victorious.
Amos 6:1, “Woe, to them that are at ease in Zion…” True Christians do NOT have mind renewal as an option. It is a mandate. Demonic strong holds cannot be pulled down if Christians have not pulled UP to GOD through daily quality communion with Him. It is a sin to ignore GOD, and to relegate Him after anything or anyone else in our lives. His Word states in Isaiah 42:8, “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”
God loves us all - He does NOT respect all. He respects holiness. He loves righteousness and hates iniquity. Indeed He is a GOD of mercy but it is an insult to GOD to come to Him only in times of trouble and need. He grievingly observes other gods being served. He hurts when people use Him for self-centered purposes. Jeremiah 2:27 says, “…for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.” And Jeremiah 2:28 states, “But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble:…”
We are commanded to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We must strive to be without guile, blameless and above reproach. Righteous transformation is not possible without mind renewal through the means that GOD commands. If we desire true change to be acceptable to GOD, we must do as mandated in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Sandra Renee Hicks
P.O. Box 1210
Washington, DC 20013
Written Monday July 12, 2010
NOTE: This topic is also posted on my READ ONLY MAIN blog, LIONS SHARE MAJESTY at http://www.lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/. The bulk of the responses to this topic are found in the comment section on that blog. Here is the specific link to the subject topic there
NOTE: This topic is also posted on my READ ONLY MAIN blog, LIONS SHARE MAJESTY at http://www.lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/. The bulk of the responses to this topic are found in the comment section on that blog. Here is the specific link to the subject topic there
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