The enemy of Christians

Our minds can be all over, busy worrying, planning, praying, processing –we easily lose focus on what is important. To keep our eyes on Jesus –the author and finisher of our faith. 

If we keep our focus clear we will not fall in a mind trap of worrying. When we worry we shift alignment, we side with the enemy instead of Christ. 

We read that our enemy walks about like a roaring lion seeking for prey.

The enemy cannot devour everyone in front of him – instead it says he is looking for someone he can devour. When he is looking for someone it means to me that person must have something others doesn’t have...something that makes them devourable...easy to devour. 

The writer depicts the adversary as a roaring lion... a roaring lion install fear BUT fear isn’t real it is just your reaction to a situation.  

 He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world. The enemy is no match for the Creator of the universe. The enemy is a created, defeated being. See him for what he is.  You need not fear, but keep your mind clear from worry and your heart free from anxiety. Know that God wants’ to do more for you than you can ever imagine on a good day!

 

Scriptures

1 Peter 5:8, 1 John 4:4

Prayer

Father, help me not to walk in fear and anxiety, but to put my trust in You.

To do

Make a willful decision not to give in to worry, but instead pray a positive minded prayer over everything.

 

 

 

Pray Hezekaih's prayer

Then Hezekiah went up to the Lord’s temple and spread it out before the Lord.

Hezekiah prayed before the Lord:“O Lord who commands armies, O God of Israel, who is enthroned on the cherubim! You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the sky and the earth.Pay attention, Lord, and hear! Open your eyes, Lord, and observe! Listen to this entire message Sennacherib sent and how he taunts the living God!... Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power, so all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.” Isaiah 37:14
Then the Lord answerd Hezekaih: 'Because you prayed to me' 37:21
Hezekaih may have many faults just like us, but he did one thing right... He prayed... He asked God to avenge the situation and because he did that God turned the whole situation around. He saved them and the enemy lost a significant portion of their army and their king died by the hand of his own children.

The new Testament says that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people, but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before him. Hand 10:34 What he did for Hezekaih he will do for you. Turn to Him and seek your help from him and He will turn the situation around.

Scriptures
Isaiah 37:14-30  Acts 10:34

Prayer
Lord, help me to trust in you and your ability to turn my situation around.

To do
Write your problem or situation down and put it before God in prayer.

Who is the Holy Spirit Part 2

The Holy Spirit is called many things in the bible. The most well known attribute is the Spirit of truth. The one who guides us in all truth that is in Christ. We can therefore trust in Him that we will not be misled by a false gospel. If we tune in to Him and trust his leading.

He is also the Spirit of holiness, the one who sanctifies us. Holiness means set apart. As a follower of God we need to be set apart from the world and it’s ways and walk by faith in God.

The Spirit of Life, the one who frees us from sin and death and renew us inwardly day by day. The Spirit of adoption, through whom we can call out Father. God makes us his own and call us his children.

The Spirit of grace, who gives us favour with God. Grace is God’s unmerited favour poured out in our lives. Nothing that we do can deserve this favour.   

 The Spirit of glory comforting us. Only by looking at the Holy Spirit we can be comforted in times of grief and heartache.  The eternal Spirit, who is forever with us.

Scriptures

 
Joh 16:13-14, 14:16,17  Rom 1:14  Rom 8:2,15 Hebr 10;29, 1 Pet 4:14,  Hebr 9:14 

Prayer

Holy Spirit I invite you to fill my life. Be the Spirit of truth that leads me in all truth. Help me to recognize you in my life and be in unity with you. Amen

To do

Make time to sit in the presence of the Holy Spirit and ask Him to manifest himself to you in whatever way He chooses.

Who is the Holy Spirit Part 1

The Holy Spirit is God. He is not only part of God, but is the third person in the Trinity. The Trinity consist of the Father, Jesus the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. In this Trinity, the word of God teaches us that they are ONE God. This means that they operate as a unity but each has a different function. After Jesus ascended to God the Father in heaven, he said to his disciples that he will send another helper.

Jesus is saying he will send another helper, in the original he use the word ‘another of the same kind’. It is interesting to note that the Holy Spirit and the women is the only two persons referred to as helper in the bible. When Jesus speaks of the helper he uses personal pronouns and personal titles. 

Calling the Spirit ‘him’ stating that he is not an impersonal force, but indeed a very real person. The Holy Spirit has a mind; he can express intelligence will and emotions. We also see in the word that the Spirit can be grieved and insulted, resisted and quenched. And the Spirit of God can be blasphemed.

Scripture

 

Deut 1:30, Matt 28:18, Rom 8:27, 1 Cor2: 10-13, Eph 4:30, 1 Cor12:11

Prayer

Father,  thank you for the Holy Spirit in my life. Thank you Holy Spirit for being my helper.

To do 

When you are in front of a difficult situation, ask the Holy Spirit to help you.

2020 going from bad to worse?

As I spoke to a friend the other day, I realised that this year is going from bad to worse for some people. Bad things flooding them, every time when they come up for air.

We all have been there – I have been there.

The key in these situations is not to keep focusing on what is happening – but to adjust our focus like adjusting a camera lens, blurring what is in front of the lens to focus on the background and see the goodness of God through all this and in every circumstance. It is not easy when your heart is hurting and your mind is reeling.

 To turn the key of this lock...we need to worship. And I don’t mean listening to worship music. I mean sing with your voice and focus on what you are singing and to whom. This has worked for Jehoshaphat facing an enormous army. And it has worked for Paul and Silas in jail as well. There is power in worship. So much power that worship will not end at this present age, but will continue into eternity. 

You don’t have to fight these battles out of your own strength – focus on God and trust him with your life and your circumstances. Trust Him with your family. Trust Him with your finances. And worship Him.

Scripture

2Ch 20:15  "Pay attention, everyone in Judah, in Jerusalem, and you, too, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Stop being afraid, and stop being discouraged because of this vast invasion force, because the battle doesn't belong to you, but to God.

2Ch 20:21,22  After he had consulted with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed some choir members to sing to the LORD and to praise him in sacred splendor as they marched out in front of the armed forces. They kept saying "Give thanks to the LORD, because his gracious love is eternal!" Right on time, as they began to sing and praise, the LORD ambushed the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who had attacked.

Prayer

Father, forgive me for taking my eyes off you. Give me the strength to focus on your goodness in my life.

To do

Put on those worship songs and SING with all your might!

Make a list of God’s blessings in your life. You can even list the times that He carried you through hard circumstances.