Posts Tagged ‘power’

Cooperating with the Holy Spirit

Posted: May 7, 2010 in Battle of the Mind, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Fellowship, Happiness, Inspiration, Money, Money Issue, Personal Growth, Uncategorized
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Let the Spirit change your way of thinking. Ephesians 4:23 by Rick Warren


Throughout the Bible we see an important truth illustrated over and over: the Holy Spirit releases his power the moment you take a step of faith.

When Joshua was faced with an impassible barrier, the floodwaters of the Jordan River receded only after the leaders stepped into the rushing current in obedience and faith. Obedience unlocks God’s power.

God waits for you to act first. Don’t wait to feel powerful or confident. Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of your fears and feelings. This is how you cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and it is how your character develops.

The Bible compares spiritual growth to a seed, a building, and a child growing up. Each metaphor requires active participation: seeds must be planted and cultivated, buildings must be built – they don’t just appear – and children must eat and exercise to grow.

While effort has nothing to do with your salvation, it has much to do with your spiritual growth. At least eight times in the New Testament we are told to “make every effort” in our growth toward becoming like Jesus. (Luke 13:24 NIV; Romans 14:19 NIV; Ephesians 4:3 NIV; 2 Timothy 2:15 NCV; Hebrews 4:11 NIV; Hebrews 12:14 NIV; 2 Peter 3:14 NIV)

You don’t just sit around and wait for it to happen.

Paul explains in Ephesians 4:22-24 our three responsibilities in becoming like Christ.

  • First, we must choose to let go of old ways of acting. “Everything . . . connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it!” (Ephesians 4:22 MSG)
  • Second, we must change the way we think. “Let the Spirit change your way of thinking.” (Ephesians 4:23 CEV) The Bible says we are “transformed” by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2) The Greek word for transformed, metamorphosis (used in Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18), is used today to describe the amazing change a caterpillar goes through in becoming a butterfly. It is a beautiful picture of what happens to us spiritually when we allow God to direct our thoughts: we are changed from the inside out, we become more beautiful, and we are set free to soar to new heights.

Third, we must put on the character of Christ by developing new, godly habits. Your character is essentially the sum of your habits; it is how you habitually act. The Bible says, “Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24 NIV)

The Church Family

Posted: March 22, 2010 in Acceptance, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Fellowship, Inspiration, Personal Growth, winning
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A church family is a laboratory for love
by Rick Warren
All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT)

You are not the Body of Christ on your own. You need others to express that. Together, not separated, we are his Body.

A church family moves you out of self-centered isolation. The local church is the classroom for learning how to get along in God’s family. It is a lab for practicing unselfish, sympathetic love.

As a participating member you learn to care about others and share the experiences of others: “If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of our body is honored, all the other parts share its honor.” (1 Corinthians 12:26 NCV)

Only in regular contact with ordinary, imperfect believers can we learn real fellowship and experience the New Testament truth of being connected and dependent on each other. (Ephesians 4:16, Romans 12:4-5, Colossians 2:19, 1 Corinthians 12:25)

Biblical fellowship is being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ. God expects us to give our lives for each other. Many Christians who know John 3:16 are unaware of 1 John 3:16: “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” (NIV)

This is the kind of sacrificial love God expects you to show other believers—a willingness to love them in the same way Jesus loves you.

Show you believe by belonging

Posted: March 22, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Fellowship, Happiness, Inspiration
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Show you believe by belonging
by Rick Warren
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35 (NLT)

The Bible says a Christian without a church home is like an organ without a body, a sheep without a flock, or a child without a family. It is an unnatural state. The Bible says, “You belong in God’s household with every other Christian.” (Ephesians 2:19b LB)

Today’s culture of independent individualism has created many spiritual orphans—”bunny believers” who hop around from one church to another without any identity, accountability, or commitment. Many believe it is possible to be a “good Christian” without joining (or even attending) a local church, but God would strongly disagree.

The church is so significant that Jesus died on the cross for it. “Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.” (Ephesians 5:25 GW)

Except for a few important exceptions referring to all believers throughout history, almost every time the word church is used in the Bible it refers to a local, visible congregation.

The New Testament assumes membership in a local congregation. The only Christians not members of a local fellowship were those under church discipline who had been removed from the fellowship because of gross public sin. (1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Galatians 6:1-5)

The Bible offers many compelling reasons why you need to be committed and active in a local fellowship.

A church family identifies you as a genuine believer. I can’t claim to be following Christ if I’m not committed to any specific group of disciples. Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35 NLT)

When we come together in love as a church family from different backgrounds, race, and social status, it is a witness to the world. (Galatians 3:28 MSG; see also John 17:21)

Trusting God when I don’t understand

Posted: March 22, 2010 in Acceptance, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Fellowship, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Uncategorized
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Trusting God when I don’t understand
by Rick Warren
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

When the children of Israel were finally set free from Egypt after 400 years of slavery, they started marching out to freedom and the first thing they came to was the Red Sea. There were impassable mountain ranges on two sides of them, the sea in front of them.

Behind them, in hot pursuit, was the Egyptian army because the Pharaoh had changed his mind about letting them go. The path before the Israelites looked like a dead end.

But God knew exactly what He wanted to do. He had not made a mistake. He could see what they could not see. He opened the Red Sea and they walked through to safety. Years later, the Israelites looked back and sang, “Your road led by a pathway through the sea—a pathway no one knew was there!” (Psalm 77:19 LB).

You may be facing a dead end right now—financial, emotional, relational—but God can see a path that you don’t know about. If you will trust God and keep on moving in faith, even when you don’t see a way, He will make a way.

It will become more understandable as you head down the path he sets before you, but understanding is not a requirement for you to start down the path. Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter till the full light of day” (NIV). One day you will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. You’ll see God’s purpose behind the path He specifically chose for you.

What do I do in the meantime? You do what Proverbs 3 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” What does He mean “don’t lean on your own understanding”? You don’t need to try to figure it out. In truth, you’re not going to understand most of the things that happen in your life until you get to heaven.

Be patient. God knows what He’s doing. God knows what’s best for you. He can see the end result. You can’t. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays — all the things that make you ask “why” — one day it will all be clear in the light of God’s love.

But for now, we’re learning to trust God.

Tuning in to God

Posted: March 22, 2010 in Bible Study, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Fellowship, Personal Growth, Uncategorized
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Tuning in to God
by Rick Warren
“God does speak—sometimes one way and sometimes another—even though people may not understand it.” Job 33:14 (NCV)

After we ask in faith for God’s guidance, we need to listen for God’s response!

Did you know that the room you are in right now is filled with radio waves? You can’t see them but if you had the right type of receiver – like a radio – to tune them in, you’d be able to hear them.

God designed you to hear His voice. There is a receiver in you that allows you to get guidance from God. Job 33:14 says, “God does speak—sometimes one way and sometimes another—even though people may not understand it.” We don’t understand when we’re not tuned in.

What channels does God use? The primary way that God speaks is through the Bible. The Bible is God’s guide book. It’s like a road map to guide us along the way. It helps you negotiate the mazes you face in life, giving you the directions you need. This is why we need to read the Bible very day. God’s will is found in God’s Word.

God also speaks through godly Bible teachers. Have you ever been in church or at a Bible study and you feel like the teacher is speaking directly to you? In that moment, God is speaking directly to you.

God not only speaks through teachers, he also speaks through every Christian. He even speaks through you. If you’ll stay in tune to Him and learn His Word, sometimes God will use you to say things to people that He wants to say to them. It’s not something special reserved only for pastors; God speaks through every believer at different times.

God also speaks through your circumstances and your pain. God whispers to us in our pleasure, but He shouts to us in our pain.

God is speaking all the time. But we must listen. Tune in to God and He will lead you on the right path.

Demons Confess Jesus Christ

Posted: March 22, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Uncategorized
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Rob Henry, Under Gods Command in the Army of Christ

Luke 4:40-41 When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.  Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.

(Whey didn’t Jesus want the demons to reveal who he was? (1) Jesus commanded them to remain silent to show his authority over them.  (2) Jesus wanted his listeners to believe he was the Messiah because of his words, not because of the demons’ words.  (3)  Jesus was going to reveal his identity according to God’s timetable, and he would not be pushed by Satan’s evil plans.  The demons called Jesus ‘Son of God’ or ‘the Holy one of God’ because they know he was the Christ.  But Jesus was going to show himself to be the suffering servant before he became the great King.  To reveal his identity as King too soon would stir up the crowds with the wrong expectations of what he had come to do.)

Jealous God

Posted: March 22, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Job Opportunity, Money, Money Issue, Scripture Memory, Uncategorized
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Deuteronomy 4:23-24 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden.  For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous GOD ( God is a consuming fire.  Because he is morally perfect, he hates sin and cannot accept those who practice it.  Moses’ sin kept him from entering the promised land, and no sacrifice could remove that judgment.  Sin kept us from entering God’s presence, but Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin and removed God’s judgment forever by his death.  Trusting in Jesus Christ will save you from God’s anger and will allow you to begin a personal relationship with him.  Jealousy is  a demand  for someone else’s exclusive affection or loyalty.  Some jealousy is bad.  It is destructive for a person to get upset when his or her spouse talks to someone of the opposite sex.  But other jealousy is good.  It is right for a man to demand that his wife treat him, and only him, as her husband.  Usually we use the word jealousy only for the bad reaction.  But God’s kind of jealousy is appropriate and good.  He is defending his word and guarding his high honor.  He makes a strong, exclusive demand on us: We must treat only the Lord, and no one else in all the universe as God.)

Activate the Power of Prayer

Posted: March 16, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Job Opportunity, Money, Money Issue, Scripture Memory, Uncategorized
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Activate The Power Of Prayer
Pastor Paula White

Do you need to tap into an intimate line of communication with God? The Bible instructs us to cast all our cares to God in prayer, making our requests known to Him with an attitude of thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6).

We are to request what we need and then trust Him to meet our needs. As we do that, God acts – imparting to us His peace, and providing all that is beneficial for our eternal good.

The power of prayer is immeasurable – and the more we reach out to God in intimate communication through prayer, the more we experience His transforming peace.

The peace of God that comes through prayer is one of the most valuable assets and gifts He gives us. It is a peace that transforms how we think. It enables us to answer calamity with calm reason, to see order in chaos, and to know the best direction to pursue.

By reaching out to God in prayer, we combat fears with faith. We experience God’s presence with us — an ally that is more powerful than any foe! His Holy Spirit girds us up, enabling us to function to the maximum of our ability and beyond.

I encourage people to experience the power of prayer and the calming effect it brings throughout the day. When are good times to pray? ALL THE TIME!

But at the very least, I recommend praying at these times:

Each morning when you awake. Morning prayer allows you to begin the day offering yourself to the Lord. As you greet the Lord in morning prayer, you are acknowledging His sovereignty over your life — believing in Him to guide, protect, and inspire you throughout the day.

During the course of the day. Whether you are a homemaker, work outside the home, or go to school, there will be a myriad of circumstances in which you will find yourself needing the peace of God that prayer brings. There is no better way to handle challenging moments than to call on God to guide your actions, thoughts and words.

Upon returning home for the evening. I encourage you to take a moment at some point to thank God for protecting yourself and your family. Ask Him to bring peace to your home surroundings for the evening, and to assist you and other family members in releasing any negative “remains of the day.”

Before going to sleep. While everyone sleeps, not everyone feels the benefits of a good night’s sleep. That is because often, even when the body is resting, the soul is not…it is a bundle of anxieties and insecurities. Praying before going to sleep, and asking God to empty your mind of anxiety and worry, promotes genuine rest for both the body and the soul.

Remember — any time is the “right time” to activate the power of prayer – your intimate line of communication to God!

Smoke Screen

Posted: March 16, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Uncategorized
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15 March 2010

Written by Rob Henry, Army of Christ, and Under GODS Command

Smoke Screen

How many times do people used another issue to get to what is really on their mind.  Does the term Stop Beating Around the Bush mean anything?   Let’s take a look at the Bible, and we will see an example of people who argue over minor disagreements, leaving the real issue untouched.  Such was the case when Miriam and Aaron came to Moses with a complaint.

Numbers 12: 1-2,

  1. 1. Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.  (It appears that they are concerned about his Cushite wife)
  2. 2. “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the LORD heard this. (Now they jump from his Cushite wife to a sign of Jealousy against Moses)

People often argue over minor disagreements, leaving the real issue untouched.  The real issue was their growing jealousy of Moses position and influence.  Since they could not find fault with the way Moses was leading the people, they chose to criticize his wife.  Rather than face the problem squarely by dealing with their envy and pride, they chose to create a diversion from the real issue.  When you are in a disagreement, stop and ask yourself if you are arguing over the real issue or have you introduced a smoke screen by attacking someone’s character.  If you’re unjustly criticized, remember that your critics may be afraid to face the real problem.  Ask God to help you identify the real issue and deal with it

You can’t decide without a guide

Posted: March 4, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Job Opportunity, Money, Money Issue, Scripture Memory, Uncategorized
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Thursday, March 04, 2010
You can’t decide without a guide
by Rick Warren
“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” Psalm 25:9 (NIV)

The Bible says there are several things we need to do to receive guidance from God, but the very first thing is this:

I need to admit I need a guide!

Sheep, by nature, tend to wander off the path. The Prophet Isaiah says, “All of us like sheep have strayed away! We have left God’s paths to follow our own.” (Isaiah 53:6 NLT)

This is why we often don’t know God’s will. The truth is most of the time we don’t want to follow God or anybody else. We want to go our own way. We don’t want to admit we need direction or that we need a guide.

Another thing about sheep is that they have poor vision. They can’t see very far ahead. That’s why, on a path, they don’t know if it is heading toward a cliff, and that’s why they need a shepherd. We can’t see the future. We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, much less next year or ten years from now. We don’t even know what’s going to happen this afternoon.

God made you so that you would not be able to see into the future no matter how much you try. Even with all the gimmicks to predict the future, you don’t really know what’s going to happen. Why did God do this? He did it so you would depend on Him.

Because we can’t see into the future, we often stumble.  Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (NIV). We’ve all made decisions that at the time seemed right but later on turned out to be wrong. Some paths lead to dead ends and we end up off track. That’s why we need to admit, “God, I need help.”
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