Blessings Beloved.
In the month of February many people take a day to pause and acknowledge the ones they love. Some take this month as an opportunity to show their love in a tangible way that requires some thought, planning, time, and resources (human and financial). And yet there are others who take one day of this month to express their love and becoming vulnerable enough to ask a bold, life changing question of their mate; “Will you marry me?” This month, my question to you is who do you love? How have you planned to show them your love in a tangible way? Do you love them enough to ask a bold and life changing question? Beloved, there are people in your life, spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, childhood and special friends who do not know Jesus in the pardon of their sins. People that you know if they were to die today, they would spend eternity in hell. I know that the devil has taken the “judge not” message from the Word of God out of context. I beg you to read Matthew 7 again to gain clarity of the heart of God in this message. Matthew 7:1-5 AMPC reads: 1 Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. 2 For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you. 3 Why do you stare from without at the very small particle that is in your brother’s eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam of timber that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, Let me get the tiny particle out of your eye, when there is the beam of timber in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye. Jesus is telling us not to judge as to put ourselves on a pedestal as if we are better than one who is facing a challenge with sin, but we are to love others to the point that we get ourselves together through faith and obedience to Jesus – the Word of God so that we can clearly see how to help others. We help others by encouraging them to trust Jesus and obey the Word of God. We accomplish this first and foremost by our life of faith and obedience to Jesus – the Word of God. In this same chapter of scripture Jesus tells us “Do not give that which is holy (the sacred thing) to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls before hogs, lest they trample upon them with their feet and turn and tear you in pieces.” (Matthew 7:6). How would we know who are the dogs and the hogs unless we used judgement? Remember, it is about the intent of the heart from which you judge. In Matthew 7:16, speaking of false prophets, Jesus tells us that “You will [l]fully recognize them by their fruits...…”. He goes on to tell how to inspect the fruit by which to make a proper judgement. For those who have the right intent to help (minister to gospel – good news to) others who are in sin, in Matthew 7:7-12 Jesus gives us the strategy. Matthew 7:7-12 AMPC It reads 7 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent? 11 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and[i]advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! 12 So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them, for this is (sums up) the Law and the Prophets. Oh…How I love Jesus! If you want to know how to reach your loved one and the enemy is trying to make you think that they are dogs and hogs, Jesus has the answers. I believe He is saying; Ask me, I’m the only one who knows. I’ll give you the answer. Seek me, I’ll give you strategy. You will find what you need to get the beam out of your eye so that you can help your loved one to get the speck out of their eyes. (Remember, we have to love others as we love ourselves. We cannot help others until we receive help from Jesus). I believe Jesus is saying; Keep on knocking, don’t give up; salvation is at hand. I will open the door so that you can deliver the gospel – the good news – the truth in love. I believe Jesus is saying; Trust me. Don’t give up on your loved ones. You know how much you want your loved ones to be saved, just think about, how much Jesus wants them to be saved. Jesus wants them to be saved so much that He gave His life for them. No man took His life, He laid it down for all of us. Jesus allowed them to beat Him unrecognizable so that by those stripes we are healed. Jesus allowed them put a crown of thorns on His head which caused Him to bleed. Jesus allowed them to put Him on the cross like a criminal, striking nails in His hands and feet to pay the price for all of our sin. Jesus allowed them to pierce Him in His side which cause blood and water to flow out of Him. Jesus’ blood washes away the sin of every believer in Him. Please Note: Believe in Him – those who believe to the point of faith – corresponding action to what you believe – making Jesus not only Savior, but LORD of your life – giving Him our obedience. I use the word allow because Jesus could have called on a legion of angels to deliver Him, but for the joy that was set before Him to please Father God by following His plan to redeem us; Jesus endure the cross and despised the shame and is now seated at the right hand of God (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus will help you to reach your loved one to minister the good news the gift of salvation. He has given you the promise of the Father – the Holy Spirit – Who will help you. However, you have to A.S.K. (Ask, Seek, Knock). Beloved, in Matthew 7:13-14 AMPC, Jesus gives us vital instructions. It reads: 13 Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. 14 But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it. Listen Beloved! To really be saved, it means that you have surrendered everything to follow Jesus, keep His commands which are not hard. It is only hard when we have not surrendered our will. God is not going to make you surrender; it your choice. However, if you want to spend eternity with Him, you are going to have to choose to love Him, follow Him, and obey Him. His ways lead to life eternal. Jesus also said in Matthew 7:15-20: 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves. 16 You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit. 18 A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit [worthy of admiration]. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. 20 Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits. Beloved, there are those who are speaking things that God never said. Therefore, it is important for you to A.S.K. (Ask God, Seek God, Knock reverently at God’s door as a vital necessity for direction, correction, instruction, redemption, protection, and provision). God’s way is the only way to the things that pertain unto life and godliness. Go after God through faith in Jesus Christ. Matthew 7:21-29 AMPC: 21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]. 24 So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock. 25 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand. 27 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great and complete was the fall of it. 28 When Jesus had finished these sayings [the Sermon on the Mount], the crowds were astonished andoverwhelmed with bewildered wonder at His teaching, 29 For He was teaching as One Who had [and was] authority, and not as [did] the scribes. Beloved, according to Jesus, there are going to be people in ministry who are doing many mighty works in His name, but He will say to them publicly “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].” Beloved, it doesn’t matter how popular the preacher/prophet and the number of people who are following them, if they are teaching things that are contradictory to the teaching and commands of Jesus; STOP following them. Paul said “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1). Beloved there are many of us who have loved ones who are not saved and we know it – that have told us. There are also many of us who have loved ones who are following false preachers/prophets you know them because of their fruits. I pray that this month we will pause to acknowledge the ones we love. Take time to make a list and A.S.K. God to empower/grace us to minister the gospel – the good news – the truth in love to our loved ones. I pray that we will take this month as an opportunity to show our loved ones that we love them in a tangible way by following God’s plan to share Jesus with them. I pray that we will love someone enough to be vulnerable and ask the bold, life changing questions…Have you made Jesus your Savior and LORD? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you’ve believed? But above all, I pray that we will take this month as an opportunity to surrender our lives to Jesus, allow Him to take the beam out of our eyes, remove the weighs and the sin that does so easily beset us so that we can be empowered to minister to our loved ones. In Jesus name. Love and Blessings We love you and invite you to pray with us. Click the link below for information about the Renewing In Christ Ministries Pray Room. Blessings! Renewing In Christ Ministries Prayer Room
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2 Timothy 1:7 AMPC
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.” Fear is timidity or cowardice lies resulting from a wrong belief system. Fear has been defined has False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear is a spirit. We are not warring or contending with natural things. The spirit of fear doesn’t come from God. It is an evil spirit that came into the natural realm after Eve and Adam sinned. Genesis 3:9-11 is your scripture reference. Fear is escorted into a person's life by ignorance. Example: Someone can be fearful of a noise until they learn the source of it. Where is it coming from? After finding the source, they find that there is nothing to be afraid of, the tree branch is hitting the window. Now that the person knows the source of the noise and they are no longer afraid. Fear comes in many forms. There are some who are challenged with the fear of death, loneliness, failure, lack, rejection, and the list goes on. No matter the fear, it’s rooted in a lie that we choose to believe based on ignorance to the truth. Lack of the knowledge of the truth will make you a victim. Knowledge of the truth will make you free and victorious! What is the truth? God's Word is Truth! The truth is that God loves us! The truth is that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, who came to pay the price for our sin debt and to give us an abundant life. The truth is that He is always with us. The truth is that we are accepted in the beloved. God is our loving Father, rooting for us, supporting us, and fixing every fight through Jesus Christ so that we always win. Jesus is our VICTORY! The truth is that God is our SOURCE. (The key to perpetual provision: He has to be our ONLY SOURCE! Psalms 23-24:1) The truth is that He is our ever present help! Don’t give your power and authority away by believing a lie. Read, study, and meditate on the Word of God that you may know and operate in the truth and the truth will make and keep you free. Romans 10:17 and John 8:32 are your scripture references. Know Who You Are! Fear is not natural for the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Every fear in our lives come from a lie we believed about ourselves, others, or even God. Beloved, you have to know that the moment we except the truth of God‘s love for us the lie is broken, fear loses the power of it's grip, and we go free! Hallelujah! Remember that you are loved by God, recreated in Christ Jesus unto good works, the works of your hands are blessed, you are divinely provided for and protected. You have a loving Heavenly Father who has intentional thoughts and plans that are good and created to bless you (Jeremiah 29:11-13). What about the "Fear of the Lord"? Now I know that someone is questioning “what about the fear of the Lord? “ God is a loving Father. He doesn't want His children to be afraid of Him. However, He does demand reverence and respect because of his love, kindness, and goodness. He is deserving of it because He is good ALL the time! God did not give us the spirit of fear. Fear in this scripture means reverence and respect for which God has given us love, so that we can reverence and respect Him, because we identify with His love, kindness, and goodness with gratitude. Think about it, we love God because He first loved us. God did not give us the spirit of fear. There is nothing for the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to fear. Jesus overcame the world, deprived, and stripped it of power to harm us! Then Jesus gave us power over serpents, scorpions, and all the power of the devil, as well as, the authority to use His Name. Your reference scriptures are John 16:33, Luke 10:19, Philippians 2:9-11, Mark 16:17-20. Beloved, use your power, use your authority, use your love, and use your soundness of mind, which is the mind of Christ - the humbling of yourself to agree with God on every thing. God says all throughout the Bible “FEAR NOT” agree with Him, learn His ways, and what He has provided for you and live free! In Jesus Name! Amen (So be it!) We love you and invite you to pray with us. Click the link below for information about the Renewing In Christ Ministries Pray Room. Blessings! Renewing In Christ Ministries Prayer Room |
AuthorSheri L. Cooks is a child of God who loves to pray and share the love of God with others. She believes in God's love for us express through Jesus Christ and His miracle working power. ArchivesCategories |