MEETING REAL LIFE ISSUES

It’s Not Just a Christmas or Easter Story: 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)

pexels-photo-111755.jpeg

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!

 

 

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Tis the Season for Forgiving!


Then said Jesus, Father, forgive
them; for they know not what they do.
And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
(Luke 23:34)

fingers-hand-reaching-1454797

Does the holidays have you stressed out because you don’t seem to have much to give?  Why don’t you give someone a wonderful gift this holiday season that may be valued more than money? Give forgiveness! This great gift that you have can, no doubt, bring joy to some troubled soul today. You may very well have the power to release someone of past offenses done to you or levelled at you. Release them and in turn, release yourself. You may find it to be the best gift you ever gave.

It is true that some people don’t accept gifts to well, but still give it in the spirit that Christ would (St. John 1:11). All of us have given quality gifts we thought people would like only to find it didn’t suit them, and that’s okay…but, give anyway!

There has never been a better time when Christmas and Easter come together so beautifully. We celebrate both Christ’s birth and resurrection as well as reflect on His death. His birth is a season for giving. His death is a time we reflect on Him giving himself for those who humiliated and wronged Him. They planned and schemed. They lied in wait for Him and finally, beat and put Him to death. Here is a quote from Luke 23;34, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.” In His humility, Christ was a VICTIM who became the world’s greatest OVERCOMER (Phil. 2:8-9)! He gave to those who hurt Him the most. His example is the true spirit of giving this holiday season!

Why don’t you, by the Spirit of the Lord, call someone and tell them you are sorry for what happened in the past and ask for forgiveness or maybe you need to tell them you forgive them. These make great gifts this time of year!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

An Imitation of Love!


Little children, we must stop expressing love merely by our words
and manner of speech; we must love also in action and in truth. 
(1 John 3:18)

heart-81864_1920.jpg

There is a movie titled: “The Imitation of Life”, that could have easily been named the Imitation of Love. The two main actors are a single black mother and her fair-skinned daughter, who conveniently passed as white. The daughter had struggles loving her mother because she wanted to “fit in” with white America during the 1950’s. The mother pursued the daughter with unconditional love. The daughter (suffering her own struggles with her skin color) rejected her mother’s love. She finally realized the depths of her love for her mother at the time of her mother’s death — which was too late. (This was a tragic story!) The movie should be seen by all people who have issues loving anyone because of internal and external pressures.

In many ways there are struggles we face with those who are considered different than who we have defined ourselves as. Many only want those type of people in their world. The church also struggles with loving certain members who are in the body. We all know that love can be expressed by words, but “I love you” means nothing if there are no actions that back up mere words. Take a moment and ask yourself how would you define love? What does it look like? Is it a nice feeling you have for someone and they, in-turn, have for you? How would you define it? Let’s go back to I Corinthians, chapter 13 and revisit the “love” chapter and see what love really is. Here is a good biblical definition of love, as well: For God so LOVED the world that He GAVE his only begotten son. The verse clearly suggests that love is a sacrifice. Forms of intense giving are expressions of love. Love means little to others if our flowery words are simply poured out on them. We must be careful because there is an imitation of love. It looks like love, and it often masquerades as love, but it can have its root in selfishness and indifference. True love cannot be imitated with just words of expressions.

God — help us to love — not just with words, but also in deeds! Amen!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

“Sincerity: Our Great Weapon” (Ephesians 6:14)


ICEA – “Church At Study”

“SUBJECTIVE TRUTH (Ps. 51:6)…MEANING SINCERITY,
INTEGRITY,  UPRIGHTNESS, HONESTY AND SIMILAR WORDS…
ARE GREAT WEAPONS AGAINST THE DEVIL’S WILES!
UNDERSTANDING THIS WILL KEEP YOU FROM
MANY AVENUES OF DECEIT THE ENEMY
WANTS TO TAKE YOU DOWN!”

SINCERITY: OUR GREAT WEAPON (Eph. 6:14)

SINCERITY is one of the greatest weapons we have against our enemy — Satan! Not only does the word TRUTH, in Ephesians 6:14 refer to having knowledge of the word of God, but (a little known fact is) the GREATER MEANING refers to the Christians’ SINCERITY and moral conduct.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with
TRUTH and having on the breastplate of righteousness.
(Eph. 6:14)

The biblical meaning of SINCERITY is…real; not feigned; pure; honest; without blame; truthfulness and integrity…having lack of deceit and trickery. This is not mainstream teaching on this verse, but it appears that this is what the Apostle Paul intended. Here are some different translations to try to prove this point:

AMPLIFIED BIBLE:
So stand firm and hold your ground, having
tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage)
around your waist and having put on the breastplate of
righteousness (an upright heart).

The Amplified Bible uses the actual words “personal integrity” and “moral courage” as phrases similar to the word TRUTH.

WYCLIFFE BIBLE:
Therefore stand ye, and be girded about your loins
in soothfastness [Therefore stand ye, girded about your loins in
soothfastness], and clothed with the habergeon of rightwiseness.

The Wycliffe Bible has translated the word “truth” as “soothfastness.” The origin of “soothfastness” is Old English. It means truthful, trustworthy, honest, righteous, sincere, genuine, and just.

The study above seems to shed more light on the meaning of “truth” found in Ephesians 6:14. The author of this article suggests verse 14 declares not so much a working knowledge and execution of the word of God, but readers are to be clothed or “girded” with the qualities aforementioned!

A BIBLE FOOTNOTE ON EPHESIANS 6:14

The footnote in the Ryrie Bible referring to Ephesians 6:14 reads:
Truth holds everything together and refers to the believer’s integrity.
Breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness practiced by the believer to protect the chest and heart from Satan.

OTHER BIBLICAL REFERENCES REFERRING TO
SUBJECTIVE TRUTH

Well-known teacher and author, John MacArthur refers to our verse and chapter of “truth” under consideration (Eph. 6:14) as an “attitude of truthfulness.” He distinguishes this truth from other definitions of truth (found in the Bible) which refer to one having an understanding of biblical knowledge. You may read his article by clicking on the following text:  http://www.gty.org/resources/bible-qna/BQ040612/how-do-believers-gird-themselves-with-truthfulness  or visit “Grace to You” website at: http://www.gty.org.

Henry Alford: Truth — not truth objective, which is rather the “word of God” below, ver. 17, but: ‘truthfulness,’ subjective truth: to be understood however as based upon the faith and standing of a Christian. (The New Testament for English Readers Online).
(The New Testament for English Readers: Containing the Authorized Version. By Henry Alford.)

THE SINCERITY OF NATHANAEL

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him,
Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
(John 1:47)

We understand the type of man Nathanael had matured into, by studying Jesus’ statement, that Nathanael was “…a man without deceit.” Nathanael had somehow become uncontaminated by the evils of his day. He did not allow his surroundings to negatively shape his being and his character. He was not a conformist. He had a heart of gold. His eye was single and he was full of light (Matt. 6:22-23). Thank God the psalmist said…IN HIS HASTE…that all men are liars (Ps. 116:11). There are men, like Nathanael, who are not liars, neither practice deceit and craft. Nathanael was an honest and sincere man when it came to his relationships with others.

THE SINCERITY OF PAUL

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience,
that in simplicity and godly SINCERITY, not with fleshly
wisdom, but by the grace of God,  we have had
our conversation in the world, and
more abundantly to you-ward.
(II Cor. 1:12)

This verse seems clear. It appears straight-forward. Paul used the words “our” rejoicing. While writing…Paul reflected on the history of his life and the life of those leaders who ministered to the Corinthians. They could rejoice because they had clear conscience. Their record among the Corinthians was sincerity. Their record among unbelievers and unsaved was sincerity, as well. What a testimony! What moral conduct! Not much for Satan to work with!

TRUTH – AS THE WORD OF GOD

If we are looking in context of Ephesian 6:10-18 for an objective and offensive working knowledge of TRUTH (the Word of God)…against Satan; you will find it in verse 17. It reads:

And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Our Lord Jesus used “the Sword” to confront and defeat Satan early in His ministry by proclaiming to him…”It is written…!” This is the definition of TRUTH that many are familiar with today, which is fighting Satan with the Word of God.

It is true that Christians need to know the word of God while engaging with satanic attacks! The author is not attempting to minimize this great offensive weapon of truth. Nevertheless, the focus of this article defines truth (from Eph. 6:14) as the Christians’ sincerity and moral character. Moral character is such an integral part of the Christians amour that almost the entirety of this article is devoted to extracting the meaning from this one verse.

FINAL THOUGHT

Anything other than biblical sincerity will leave the child of God vulnerable. The belt that is supposed to be girded is loose. The enemy knows that this part of our armor is lacking and he will attack this vulnerability. We must not allow ourselves to yield to compromising situations or the demons who do Satan’s bidding will seek to overthrow and eventually defeat us with fatal blows.

PRAYER

“Lord, may we come to see the importance of sincerity and moral character as weapons, tightly fastened…used in our struggle against the powers of darkness. Help us…also…to strive lawfully, that in the end, we may be victorious, having withstood every opponent. In Jesus name. Amen!”

HOMEWORK

Do a Bible search on the words “sincere” and “sincerity”.

 

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Teaching on Anxiety and Depression


pexels-kindel-media-8172287

– Teaching On Anxiety –

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not
lean on your own understanding.
(Proverbs 3:5)

3 The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect
peace, Because he trusts in You.
(Isaiah 26:3)

34 So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow
will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
(Matthew 6:34)

13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common
to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted
beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide
the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
(I Corinthians 10:13)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which
surpasses all comprehension, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6-7)

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty
hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
(I Peter 5:6-7)

0 CommentsLeave a comment