Victory Over Bitterness

Two sinners hung on crosses to the left and right of Jesus. One stayed bitter, the other got better. One is in hell today, one is with Jesus. Life is hard in this fallen world and people are always going to do evil. Understanding that you alone are responsible for how you react to the things they do and say to you, and that you have a choice gives you freedom. Without that choice to change and control yourself (the only one you can control) you would be in bondage to your environment, other people, and situations. If you don't feel you have any control over your emotions, then you need Jesus. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and during His darkest hour as He hung suspended between heaven and earth, He was loving and merciful to the thief who called out to Him. He will also free you from the bondage of sin and empower you by His Holy Spirit to walk in love, forgiveness, peace...victory. If you already have excepted Jesus and still feel you have no power over your emotions, then you need to renew your mind in the Word. The Word of God is the only truth we have to counter all of the negative and erroneous darkness and philosophy of this fallen world. 

"if we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us." (2 Timothy 2:12 NLT)

 "He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly." (1 Peter 2:23 NLT)

 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2 NIV)

Victory Over Sickness & Disease

"That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick." (Matthew 8:16 NLT)

     I like the way the New Living Translation words this scripture. Jesus cast out these evil spirits with just His words, a "simple command". Brothers and Sisters as the scripture says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 18:21) We do not have to deny that a sickness or disease is trying to come against us, but as Christians we are not to stop there, as the scripture says, "for we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinth. 5:7).
     There are seventeen times in the Gospels that Jesus healed all the sick who were present.
(Mt 4:23-24, 8:16-17, 9:35, 12:15, 14:14, 34-36, 15:30-31, 19:2, 21:14; Mr 1:32-34, 39, 6:56; Lu 4:40, 6:17-19, 7:21, 9:11; and 17:12-17). 
     There are forty-seven other times where He healed one or two people at a time (Mt 8:1-4, 5-13, 14-15, 28-34, 9:1-8, 20-33, 12:10-13, 22-23, 15:21-28, 17:14-18, 20:30-34; Mr 1:21-31, 40-45, 2:1-12, 3:1-5, 5:1-20, 25-43, 7:24-37, 8:22-26, 9:14-29, 10:46-52; Lu 4:33-39, 5:12-15, 17-26, 6:6-10, 7:1-17, 8:27-39, 43-56, 9:37-42, 11:14, 13:11-17, 14:1-5, 18:35-43, 22:51; Joh 4:46-54, 5:2-15, 9:6-7, and 11:43-44) 
     And there was even a time in His hometown when He could not heal many because of their doubt and unbelief spawned by their familiarity and contempt for Him (Mark 6:4); but even in this case it was Jesus' desire to heal them all. 
     Jesus said that He could do nothing of Himself but only what He saw the Father do (John 5:19 and 8:28-29). So in light of the fact that Jesus never once refused to heal anyone, we must conclude that it is always God's will to heal. In fact, as the scripture says, "by whose stripes you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:5) -past tense- meaning all of our healing has already been provided for through Christ by grace, and now we are to obtain it by faith. This starts with being born-again, allowing our minds to be renewed by His Word, using our imagination as God intended to see the promises of His word being fulfilled in our lives, and speaking words of faith and not doubt or unbelief.

   Brothers and sisters, begin to strengthen your faith muscles by believing God for healing in your body. As you begin to walk in victory over sickness and disease, your trust in the Lord will increase and He will show you more and more as the scripture says, "call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known" (Jeremiah 33:3 ESV). There is no greater adventure than knowing  God and walking in relationship with Jesus by the power of His Holy Spirit. It starts now...have fun...be blessed...He loves you more than you know.

 Will

     
   

PURSUE PEACE

When we agree we are powerful, but when we allow strife to enter into our lives (home, marriage, workplace, church...) we open a door to the enemy of our soul. If you are at odds with someone about twenty things, find the one thing you do agree on and build on that. Instead of desiring to always be right, make it your goal to always be reconciled. Give God a place to work in the relationship. You will not be sorry.
"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:3)
"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3)
"The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them." (Genesis 11:6)
"Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." (Psalm 34:14)
"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." (James 3:16)
"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." (Romans 14:19)