Tag: God

10 Traits of Spiritually Strong People

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When an armed robber burst through the door of a Christian store in Texas, the store owner didn’t submit to the threat. Instead, she told the robber to get out of her store “in the Name of Jesus.” The thief left the store immediately. The store owner was the epitome of a spiritually strong Christian. Below are ten traits of spiritually strong people.

1/ One characteristic evident in people who are spiritually strong is that they walk by faith, not by sight. They aren’t focused on circumstances; they’re only focused on God. They don’t worry about what’s going to happen because they fully trust God to take care of them. People who are spiritually weak, walk by sight. They focus on what they can make happen, instead of what God can make happen.

2/ Spiritually strong people carry the peace of God in their hearts. Spiritually strong people are not anxious. Anxiety has no agency over a spiritually strong person. The only force that has agency over a spiritually strong person is the Holy Spirit.

3/ The spiritually strong spend time with God. Moses was on the mountain with God for so long that the Israelites wondered what had become of him. Throughout Scripture we see men and women of God who dedicated themselves to prayer, worship and fasting for extended periods. David praised God seven times a day, and Daniel prayed at least three times a day – both were spiritually strong.

4/ Spiritually strong people have compassion for others. To be spiritually strong you have to have the Holy Spirit residing in you. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, and God loves people – John 3:16. The spiritually strong love others and they are kind, gentle, generous and patient.

5/ Spiritually strong people run TO God when they sin. In Psalm 51, David acknowledges his sins and pours out his heart before the Lord. David begs God to have mercy on him. Spiritually weak people run AWAY from God when they sin. But the spiritually strong run TO Him. The spiritually strong approach the throne of grace, believing fully in God’s mercy and love.

6/ Spiritually strong people are humble. Moses was very meek. Abraham and Joseph are also men of humility. Many of God’s servants throughout the Bible were humble.

7/ Spiritually strong people provoke others to jealousy. They are so close to God that others yearn for what they have spiritually. They cause others to want the fullness of the Holy Spirit operating in their lives. Yeshua provoked the Pharisees to jealousy. In the book of Acts, Stephen provoked the Sanhedrin to jealousy. Acts 6:15 states that the religious authorities saw that Stephen’s face was like the face of an angel. They became so jealous and enraged with Stephen that they killed him.

8/ Spiritually strong people are disciplined. Daniel decided that he was not going to partake in the King’s delicacies. Daniel was a disciplined man. (Daniel 1:8) Daniel didn’t allow the culture to dictate what was on his plate; he submitted to God in discipline and spiritual strength.

9/ Spiritually strong people are not afraid to take risks. We see this clearly in the book of Esther. Esther was afraid to approach the king, but she was willing to take the risk. Esther knew she needed spiritual strength. So Esther declared a three-day fast for herself and her servants. During the fast she increased her spiritual strength and took a risk that could’ve cost her life. She approached the king with the help of God.

10/ Spiritually strong people obey God rather than man. The spiritually strong don’t care what other people think of them. They are only concerned about whether or not they’ve pleased God. The disciples and apostles are great examples of spiritually strong people who obeyed God rather than man. The apostles preached Christ despite the opposition. They continued to be obedient to God despite the threats, imprisonments, and even death. Spiritually strong people are not afraid to die for the sake of the Gospel.

Let’s ask God to make us spiritually strong.

James 4:7 – A Strategy for Victory in Spiritual Warfare

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James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We often hear the phrase “victory over the devil” in Christian circles, but few realize that James 4:7 provides a strategy for complete victory. The strategy is simple. First, one is to submit to God. Submission is obedience. It is obeying the voice of God and being submissive to whatever it is that He wants for your life. Submission is shunning sin, and embracing righteousness. Submission is allowing God to plan your direction and future.

After Christians have fully submitted to God’s sovereignty, they are to resist Satan. The word resist in James 4:7 means to withstand, strive against or oppose in some manner. The word resist is from the Greek word anthístēmi, which means to “take a complete stand against” or a “contrary position” and “refusing to be moved.”

In other words, Christians are taking a defense stand against satan as if readying to engage in war. No one goes to war without proper armor. Ephesians 6:13-18 explains what the armor is and also teaches us that the weapon used in spiritual warfare is a Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Using scripture is another means of gaining victory over satan.

When we take a strong spiritual stand, with God on our side, satan flees. In the Greek, the word for ‘flee’ is the word pheugō, and whenever this word is used in scripture it’s often used to describe someone fleeing for their lives, terrified that they’ll perish if they don’t escape. The technical definition is to seek safety by flight and to escape out of danger. These words help us understand just how dangerous Christians become when they stand against the devil.

When Christians are prepared for spiritual battle, satan knows he cannot have victory, and so he runs for his life, rather than experience defeat.

Biblical Meditation: Romans 12:11

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Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 

Romans 12:11 is as simplistic as it sounds. Christians aren’t to be slothful or lazy in their zealousness. They are to be fervent in their spirit as they serve God. Sounds simple enough on the surface, but let’s dig deeper into the Greek!

In the Greek, the word used for zeal is the word spoude, which means earnestness and diligence. This word is used in reference to promoting an earnestness in promoting or striving after anything. In other words, Christians are not to be lazy in promoting and striving after God. Christians are to be active participants in a world that is growing darker by the day.

The second half of the sentence admonishes Christians to be fervent in spirit and serve the Lord. In the Greek, the word for fervent is Zeo, which translates as boiling with heat or to be hot. This phrase in Romans 12:11 is reminiscent of what we see in the book of Revelation when God tells the church of Laodicea that they are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. The church in Laodicea lacked the fervency in spirit spoken of in Romans 12:11.

Clarke’s Commentary and Barnes’ Notes eloquently state what is meant by Romans 12:11. Clark states that fervency in spirit is only doing at all times what is to the glory of God, and doing everything as unto Him with a fully engaged heart. He also writes that Christians should aim to please Him, living their lives with simplicity and purity.

Barnes says something slightly different. Barnes believes that this scripture reveals a few things: Barnes first explains that the scripture teaches the value of time. Romans 12:11 begins with the command to not be lazy. Indolence hasn’t just taken over the Western world but has also crept into the church. Many Christians are just as lazy as people who don’t know God – lazy in both their secular and spiritual affairs. Of course, God commands the opposite – telling us to work hard in every area of our lives. Barnes also explains that the scripture is a reminder of the numerous and important things that are to be done.

Our lives on the earth are filled with purpose. We are to live with a zeal for God and the things of God! And we are to be fervent in spirit. So, let’s increase our zeal and fervency. Consider the points below as you fulfill the mandate of Romans 12:11:

1. Pray, worship, fast, and read scripture. Those who lack zeal and fervency or those who feel far from God. Redevelop a deep relationship with the Creator through prayer, worship, fasting and the reading of Scripture.

2. Use your natural and spiritual talents. God has given every Christian both natural and spiritual gifts. No one is without a talent. Use the talents that God has given you to bless others.

3. Be consistent. Water doesn’t boil immediately, and zeal doesn’t always occur overnight, but awakens in the believer and grows as they draw near to Christ. Increase your spiritual temperature over time by staying consistent in using your gifts and talents and deepening your relationship with God.

Making Daily Appointments with God in 2016

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God desires to spend time with us. He wants us to live in His Presence. Many Christians are too busy for God – too busy with work obligations, family obligations, chores, errands, and entertainment. They are too busy to spend time with Him. Yet, time with the Father is so crucial to our spiritual well-being that throughout Scripture we are told to pray (communicate with Him), fast (draw closer to Him), and worship and fellowship both alone and with other believers (simply spend time with Him).

If you don’t make daily appointments with God, 2016 is a great year to start. Below is a simple How-to guide for spending more time in the Father’s presence.

– Make an appointment. Treat this appointment with respect and consistency. You aren’t just meeting with your Heavenly Father – You are meeting with the King of Kings. If the president wanted a meeting with you, you wouldn’t tell him you’re too busy to talk; instead, you’d rush to the meeting. When you make an appointment with the Creator of the Universe, keep it.

– Cancel and block out any distractions. You would never meet with a friend for coffee and then stare at your phone the entire time. Instead, you would be focused on your friend if you wanted the relationship to grow. If you want your relationship with God to grow, you need to focus on Him. I once heard Robert Morris illustrate just how important his time with the Father is. After one of Morris’ church members had given a very large donation, he requested a morning meeting with Pastor Morris. Robert explained that he was not going to meet with him because mornings was his daily appointment with God. Pastor Morris couldn’t be bought. Don’t let anything or anyone buy your time.

– Look forward to your time with Him. If you treat your appointments with God like a religious obligation, rather than a blessed, beautiful event, you’ll quickly burn out. It is an honor to sit in His Presence. If there is any part of you that dreads the thought of spending time with Him, pray that God would give you a longing and strong desire to spend time with Him. God CAN change the desires of your heart.

Making daily appointments with God will strengthen you spiritually. They will help you grow in faith. Your daily appointments are sources of joy and renewal. And remember that those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. Be blessed for 2016!

4 Beliefs You Need to Ditch if You Want to Be Happy

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Happiness experts all agree that it’s not what you have that makes you happy, but rather what you do and who you know. Despite evidence that things don’t make us happy, people still reach for stuff as if it might bring some joy to their lives. But the idea that stuff makes us happy isn’t the only belief that holds people back from happiness. There are a few other beliefs that keep people in a place of discontentment. Below are four beliefs that you need to ditch if you want to be happy.

The belief that you aren’t good enough. Low self-esteem and feelings of unworthiness bring unhappiness. In scripture, Satan is referred to as the “Accuser of the brethren.” He is a finger-pointer who attempts to bring shame and condemnation into the life of God’s children. If you want to be happy, you can’t live under condemnation. Instead, you must live in freedom, believing that the grace of God is sufficient for your weakness.

The belief that you aren’t loved. God loves you. You are loved. You are cherished by Him. You are not forgotten. We were created to be social creatures, and we are designed for relationships and love – so it is perfectly natural to yearn for love, approval, and acceptance. Thankfully, God loves, approves and accepts us.

The belief that your life needs to be perfect for you to be happy. Life will never be perfect. There will always be messes, bumps in the road, psychological fires to put out, and missteps. No one has a perfect life. If you wait for your life to be perfect before you choose happiness, then you’ll be waiting all your life. Choose to be happy even when life is a mess because perfection is unrealistic.

The belief that a bad past holds sway over your future. When people have a bad past, they are often fearful that their future has already been written, and that it won’t work out for their good. But scripture says the opposite: Romans 8:28 states that all things work together for the good to them that love God, and are called according to His purpose. Do you love God? Are you called to His purpose? Then things will work out for you, and your past has no sway over your future.

Is There a Simple Way to Live a Holy Life?

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The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us. – C.S. Lewis

Is there a simple way to live a holy life? Is holiness something that simply comes to us when we accept the gift of salvation or is holiness something that we must pursue? Hebrews 12:14 makes it clear that holiness isn’t something that simply drops out of the sky. It isn’t something that comes to us because we confess that Yeshua is the Messiah.

Holiness comes when we pursue it. Holiness comes with work. Hebrews 12:14 tells us to pursue two things: peace and holiness. If it were something that was inherently within us, then there would be no need to pursue it.

As we pursue holiness, it’s important to understand what holiness is. The technical definition of holiness is total devotion to God. And in scripture, we learn that God Himself isn’t just Holy… but Holy, Holy, Holy. God is so holy, that His Holiness is repetitive. And so, logically, we become holy when we become like God.

If you want to be holy, live as Yeshua lived. Walk, speak, give, think, and love like Yeshua.

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do- 1 Peter 1:15

God Doesn’t Show Favoritism – Acts 10:34

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Peter didn’t want to go to a Gentile home. It wasn’t customary for a Jewish person to visit the home of a non-Jew. It wasn’t how that society worked – but God had a different plan for His church. His church wasn’t going to be a restrictive club that was unwelcoming towards people who looked a certain way. He wanted His Church to be a group of people from every nation… from all backgrounds and ethnicities.

God changed Peter’s heart, and Peter went to the house of Cornelius.

Peter was no longer bound by social boundaries or ethnic and racial parameters – God gave both Peter and Cornelius visions of His love for all. His desire is that all are saved – both Jew and Gentile.

God loves people. He died (and rose) for people. He doesn’t just love nice, friendly people who are hospitable and care about animals. Or people who volunteer and go to church. Or people who work with children or the elderly. God loves everybody – including the grouchy people who kick dogs and curse at others in traffic.

God expects impartiality from His followers – He doesn’t want us to treat people according to worldly standards, but by righteous standards. We must ignore the appearance, influence, wealth, status, ethnicity, race, personality or any other factors that we use to judge people by worldly standards. Like God, we are to look at the heart.

 

Sleep Paralysis is Spiritual – 3 Things You Should Know

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Via StockSnap – Sleep Paralysis is a Demonic Attack

Several years ago, I suffered from an episode of sleep paralysis. I hadn’t suffered from an episode of sleep paralysis since I was a child, and even then the episodes were not frequent, but instead only occurred twice. Both episodes left vivid memories. When I was 11 or so I suffered two attacks on the living room couch. The first time that I suffered sleep paralysis, I knew there was a supernatural undercurrent. I understood that it wasn’t just my mind playing tricks on me and my brain hallucinating, but instead, it was something deeper and spiritual that I didn’t understand.

The only way that I could articulate to my mother what was happening to me was to explain it as a ghost.

Several years ago, I suffered from my third episode of sleep paralysis. This time, I understood the spiritual components of this attack a little better. At the time of the attack, I was in a season of Divine Rain. My walk with the Lord was intense and the spiritual attack at this time made sense.

During this episode of sleep paralysis, I was, of course, sleeping in my bed when I woke up and realized what was happening. I understood that the sleep paralysis that had taunted me those two times on the living room couch had returned. I could both see and feel the evil that permeated the room and then the most amazing thing happened. I had an out-of-body experience.

If you’ve ever dealt with sleep paralysis or if you’re currently dealing with sleep paralysis, there are a few things that you need to know.

1. Sleep paralysis isn’t just physical – it’s spiritual. There are countless testimonies of people who have suffered these attacks and found release only through prayer. There is power in the Name of Jesus, and speaking or even thinking His Name causes the attack to cease.

2. When you’re under spiritual attack, you are either doing something right or doing something wrong. There is little middle ground here. If you find yourself under attack during a time where you are praying, fasting, and reading the Bible more, then press in even further. If you are attacked while you are living a life of sin and plagued by guilt, it’s time to repent and stop the torment.

3. All demons are subject to God. Satan is powerless to do anything against God. God is greater, higher, and the Creator. He rules over all. If you believe in Christ and you are filled with the Holy Spirit – the Holy Spirit in you is greater than any demon in the world. Take comfort in knowing that God is greater.