Work it out!

Happy Sunday!

God is amazing!  He knows exactly what we need and gives it to us at just the right time!  I woke up this morning after a night full of crazy dreams.  My daughter Crystal, reminded me that I took Advil before bed for knee pain.  I generally don't take them and thank God I don't even have any daily medications.  Laying still trying to remember the details of the dreams, I thought about all the things that have been happening in our world.  Our enemy wants us to be afraid!  He replays the videos over, and over again in an attempt to make us feel fearful, helpless, and hopeless.  We think these tragedies are so terrible, what can I do about it? That's a great question!

What can you do about all the evil in this world?  Jesus gave us the answer.  Matthew 18:18 says, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth shall have [already]been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful]on earth shall have [already] been loosed in heaven." (Amplified)  Did you get that?  We have a part to play in all this.  God gave Adam dominion on earth.  Adam committed high treason and gave his dominion and authority to Satan.  Satan became the god of this world. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."(New Living Translation)  BUT Jesus came in human flesh as a man, and LEGALLY took back everything Adam lost.  "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18 (KJV)  Wait!  Hold the presses! It didn't end there! Jesus gave us permission to use his Name, his blood, and his authority in the earth!  We have dominion, we just have to learn to use it.

We are NOT powerless, and we are NOT helpless, BUT we are IGNORANT!  I know it hurts, but we have to face it!  It is not funny! It is not cute! We are perishing because we don't know who we really are.  2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (KJV)  Did you get that? When we study the Word we won't be ashamed!  Dr. Bill Winston talked about his time in the military.  As a fighter pilot, there were standards that had to be met! Every year, their ability to fly the jets properly and accurately was measured.  Everyone did not automatically pass.  There was no trophy for everyone just for participating!  Your hard work and effort speak for you.  Just in case you don't think God is concerned about your performance, 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 says, "And the quality of each person's work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone's work; the fire will test it and show its real quality. If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward. But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it; but you yourself will be saved, as if you had escaped through the fire." (Good News Translation)

Even though we are saved by Grace, and our salvation is not based on our works...we are still expected to run this race and work out our soul salvation.  The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Philippians 2:12 (KJV)  And the Apostle James said, "So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good works is no faith at all—it is dead and useless. But someone may well argue, “You say the way to God is by faith alone, plus nothing; well, I say that good works are important too, for without good works you can’t prove whether you have faith or not; but anyone can see that I have faith by the way I act.” James 2:17-18 (Living Bible)

Dr. Bill Winston continued his series, "The Power of Love" with the subtitle, "Possessing Your Mountain".  He talked about how we have three and four churches in a city block, but murders and destruction are happening every day.  This has happened because so many our churches are carnal; waiting for a feeling.  If you never get that fuzzy feeling again, but you believe, rely on, and trust the Word of God you can change your family, your community, and your world!  It's not about a feeling or an emotion. The enemy has used our emotions against us for years!  Don't let him fool you!  "We walk by faith, not by sight!" 2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)  

Get in the Word!  Learn more about your authority and the weapons God has given you to fight the enemy!  Don't wait for a terrorist to get to your front door!  Learn to use your weapons now!  Prayer is a mighty weapon!  Here's a link to a prayer that I pray for my city.  Change the name of the city and use it to pray for your own city!     http://www.livingwd.org/uploadedFiles/City%20of%20Chicago.pdf

​Love and prayers, Cynthia