Author: Intern'l Christian Ed. Aux. (ICEA)

Fear, Anxiety, Death, and an Open Grave!


And the angel of the Lord suddenly stood
before them, and the glory of the Lord shone
around them; and they were terribly frightened.

Luke 2:9 (NASB)

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ICEA – “Church at Study”

Luke 2:9 is part of an account of foretelling our Lord’s birth. It explains the fearful nature of men who came in contact with the supernatural and the unknown. Two other Bible translations state: “fear came on them” and; “they were filled with great fear”. A third translation seems to stand out: stating they were simply “terrified”. Likewise, as humans, we often can be fearful of coming in contact with the supernatural. We are earthy…but we also have the capacity to be influenced by spirit, because God has given us a spirit (Job 32:8). God is a Spirit (Jn. 4:24). Angels are spirits (Heb. 1:13-14) and demons are spirits, also. There are spirit powers in realms around us. These “messengers” (whether good or bad) have the ability to influence our thinking. When coming in contact with satanic powers, the struggle in our spirits and minds can be so intense! The Bible compares the struggle to…wrestling…not with flesh, but wrestling with spiritual foes. We read where Jesus wrestled with satanic power, as He was led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil. We also see Jesus… (Heb. 2.9) who was made “a little lower than the angels” for the suffering of death…that He by the grace of God should experience death for every man. He not only experienced death, but (vs 14) destroyed him that had the power over death, that is the devil. And this is GOOD NEWS, because in time past (vs 15), many under the law were terrified at the thought and consequences of death but He has come and given us an understanding that death has no sting and the grave has no victory over those whose lives are preserved in Christ Jesus! So, we don’t have to live daily lives of fear. He was born, died, and rose from the grave to save us from the consequences of sin and adverse spiritual powers! Praise God that we live a life through the Spirit… springing up to eternal life!

The popular gospel artist, Cece Winans sung “but there is still a war that rages….” So…while we wait for eternal life, there are two main areas our Lord wants to preserve during every struggle: our hearts and our minds (Phil. 4:6-7). These are two main areas mankind’s enemy often attempts to attack and defeat with terror. God doesn’t want us terrified by our adversary because there is One who ever lives and we can live victorious lives through Him!

 

 

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A Modern Day Psalm of Praise!


A PCAF Member’s Praise!

Praise the Lord!
To the Saints of the Most High God.
A Modern Day Psalm of Remembrance.

 

I spent endless years without God.
And yet there was a presence at times.
It was a glimmer of light to the darkness of my soul.
Faintly revealing glimpses of His goodness.
Yet, through the darkness I went.
So dark!
It became oh, so dark!
Traveling without purpose.
Lost in the night.
Shivering in the cold.
The world…oh, so cold!
Afraid of the dark.
The days became as night.
Searching for help in the black.
So many voices, and yet, no answer.
Futile searching.
In desperation…I asked, “where am I going?”
No answer.
Lost…abiding time!
Waiting without hope.
Yet, I tried the darkness again and again…
Somehow searching for something.
Alone. Everything seems alone.
Afraid…
Trembling…
Lost.
Suddenly…as darkness came nearer, it clothed me.
In a moment, hell was taking me down!
I called…somehow knowing the power of God….
Somehow knowing the power of God!
Still…it covered me!
Now; unable to lift my voice.
In hell, I was unable to lift my voice.
Oh, hear my faint cry!

Through the darkest of black, God heard my impotent voice!
He overturned the darkest…with His voice.
Delivered me from the place of the underworld!

I hear  the joyful sound…
Jesus saves, Jesus saves!
I break forth in praise!
God has delivered my soul.
What a change in my life!
I break forth in praise!
I break forth in praise!

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Fighting Our Enemies!


ICEA – “Church At Study”

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

 

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Would you like to offer a seminar, training, group discussion, or panel discussion on spiritual warfare? Use our template to just fill in presenters’ names; everything else has been supplied with this simple handout.

 

Here are the topics:

Presenter #1 – Fighting to be Faithful
Presenter #2 – Fighting in Stressful Times
Presenter #3 – Fighting in Senior Years
Presenter #4 – Fighting the Enemy of Fear
Presenter #5 – Fighting for Our Children
Presenter #6 – Fighting the Enemy of Our Past
Presenter #7 – Fighting as a Man
Presenter #8 – Fighting as a Woman
Presenter #9 – Fighting and Knowing Your Enemy

CLICK BELOW FOR HANDOUT:

Fighting Our Enemies (blank form)

 

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Pray Daily with PCAF Members Around the Country


PCAF Prayer – Originating
at Unity Temple Detroit

Call the prayer line at
1-605-468-8008
Then press access code: 163869

Join Sis. Shirley Dew and PCAF members from
around the country for morning prayer.
(Request prayer and get on the prayer list.)

Daily from 6:00 a.m. – 7:15 a.m.
(Except Sundays)

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Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come: And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters. For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out. Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation. For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.       Jer. 9:17-21

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Short Inspiration from the Scriptures: The Lord is My Shepherd…He Is With Me!


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David, The Protector of Sheep

David, the writer of Psalms 23, was a man who loved his animals. He cared for them as a good shepherd would and, as a result, these animals had no want. David supplied all their needs. When they needed water, he gave them water. When they were sickly, he nurtured them to health. They…at times were afraid; he stayed near. They were in constant dangers from attacks; David diverted their attention while always on watch for their predators. He knew when they were stressed and he would seek out places of rest. He anticipated all of the changing environments and made the necessary adjustments to sustain his helpless creatures.

Identifying with David

In many ways…those of us who are domestic animal lovers and who have cared for animals have a greater appreciation for Psalms 23.  We are constantly concerned about our animals’ welfare — meaning their safety, their health, and what they will eat  (Prov. 12:10).  We spend years building relationships with our pets and understand them on levels that the casual observer would never understand. Real animal lovers can sense the heart of David, the true shepherd, as he met every need of those over his care.

God, The Ultimate Provider

Domestic animal lovers know how helpless their animals are. We go through the daily routines of looking after their needs. We also look upward and understand that God has been doing similar things for us! It is an appreciation we feel toward God, because we understand the relationship we have with our animals. The duty David had with his flock is what caused him to look internally and see the greater relationship God had with him. We see — as David did — the Master provider; the One who oversees our needs and doesn’t fail to mete-out at the appropriate times.

The Lord is my shepherd!
He is with me!

 

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