Preach, Reprove, Rebuke, and Exhort

 Happy Sunday!

"I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with INTENSITY; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple. You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant."(2 Timothy 4:1-5 Message).

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to his son in the ministry, Timothy.  BUT God inspired them to be written so that we could also benefit from them.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be PERFECT, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."(KJV).

Verse 2 in the King James Version says, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine."(2 Timothy 4:2).  Four instructions for all of us.  First PREACH.  Jesus said, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and TEACH them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world."(Matthew 28:18-20 CEV).  Second REPROVE.  Reprove is defined as "To charge with a fault to the face; to chide; to reprehend".  Proverbs 13:24 says, "He who withholds the rod [of discipline] hates his son, But he who LOVES him disciplines and trains him diligently and appropriately [with wisdom and love]."(Amplified).  Don't miss this!  If you truly love someone you will tell them the truth!  Love always involves hate.  When you love people, you will hate what is killing them, hurting them, or sending them to Hell!

Third REBUKE.  Matthew 8:26 is a good example of the word rebuke.   It says, "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and REBUKED the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."(KJV).  The storm was out of order!  Jesus didn't debate with it, He told it to "Shut Up"!    Fourth EXHORT.  Exhort is defined as, "to encourage, to embolden, to cheer, to advise. The primary sense seems to be to excite or to give strength, spirit or courage."(Websters Dictionary 1828).  Hebrews 12:6 says, "The Lord corrects the people he loves and disciplines those he calls his own."(CEV).  Because He loves us he corrects us, but he doesn't leave us there sad and broken!  He encourages us to do better.  He gives us boldness to obey.  He cheers us up, and gives us courage.

That's GOOD News!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Getting It All Back!

 Happy Sunday!

"And I will restore or replace for you the YEARS that the locust has eaten—the hopping locust, the stripping locust, and the crawling locust, My great army which I sent among you.  And you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord, your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you. And My people shall never be put to shame."(Joel 2:25-26 Amplified).

I love the WORD!  But that's no secret to you!  I really enjoy these scriptures in the KJV.  It made me look up the various insects that are mentioned.  The Cankerworm, the Caterpillar, and the Palmerworm are insects who one after another would fully decimate a garden, and crops.  Most of us are so far removed from agriculture.  But before produce reaches the Piggly Wiggly it has to be planted, nourished, watered, protected from too much sun and bad weather, and protected from pests.  So God used these agricultural terms that the people were familiar with to describe what they had experienced in life.

In John 10:10, Jesus says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."(KJV).  Don't miss this!  Three attacks from the enemy, and three insects devouring the harvest.  Can't you just see it in life?  Time eaten up by illness, time wasted on strife and unforgiveness, and time spoiled by poverty!  BUT Fear Not!  No matter what has been stolen from you it can ALL be restored! How much is a year worth?  Can you do the Math?  We may not be able to quantify it, BUT God can!  Matthew 10:30 says, "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered."(KJV).  Numbered, not counted!  He knows exactly what is happening with hair #101,230 at this very moment!

In 2 Kings 8:4-6 we are given an example of Restoration of Years!  "And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done.  And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life. And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, RESTORE all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now."(KJV).  The Living Bible for verse 6 says, "everything she had owned was RESTORED to her, plus the VALUE of any crops that had been harvested during her absence."  Now, that's GOOD NEWS!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Walk By Faith

 Happy Sunday!

"So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever."(2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Message).

Just for a moment, think of the most stressful time in your life.  During that period of time you may have felt there was no way you could make it, and no way for you to survive.  BUT thankfully here you are today!  You made it!  You didn't give up!  Everything we are experiencing now is temporary, subject to change, guaranteed to change.  Change is inevitable!  My employer says, "Change Energizes Us!" 

The Psalmist experienced many things.  Even in the Psalms that begin in despair, suddenly the writer remembers the Goodness of God and immediately the tone changes.  Psalm 27:13 says, "I am expecting the Lord to RESCUE me again, so that ONCE AGAIN I will see his goodness to me HERE in the land of the living."(Living Bible).  Don't miss this!  God desires for us to enjoy life here on earth!  He created everything for His Children, not for the Devil and his agents. 

Psalm 84:11 is a good scripture to memorize and confess, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: NO GOOD THING will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."(KJV).    Hebrews 11:1 says, "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the CERTAINTY that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead."(Living Bible).  2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight:"(KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

P.S. - I laughed with my Best Friend about how people say that they  are praying for you.  Most of it is just a praying hands emojis! LOL!  I really do pray for everyone that reads this blog and I know that God hears me.  1 John 5:14-15 says, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we KNOW that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."(KJV).  My prayer for you is general; that you will know the Lord, accept His plan for your life, be healed, and prosper.  If you would like for me to agree with you on specific concerns, let me know. I'm just a comment away.

Hold Fast!

 Happy Sunday!

"So, my dear brothers, since future VICTORY is sure, be Strong and Steady, always abounding in the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is EVER wasted as it would be if there were no resurrection."(1 Corinthians 15:58 Living Bible).  Have you ever wasted time?  Are you wasting time now?  The Apostle Paul encourages us to use our time wisely!  He assures us that nothing we ever do for the Lord is ever wasted. 

Don't give up!  Hold on!  HOLD FAST!

"Prove all things; HOLD FAST that which is good." - (1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV)

"Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and HOLD the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." - (2 Thessalonians 2:15 KJV)

"HOLD FAST the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." - (2 Timothy 1:13 KJV)

"HOLDing FAST the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers."(Titus 1:9 KJV)

"But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we HOLD FAST the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."(Hebrews 3:6 KJV)

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us HOLD FAST our profession."(Hebrews 4:14 KJV)

"Let us HOLD FAST the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)"(Hebrews 10:23 KJV)

"HOLD FAST till I come."(Revelation 2:25 KJV)

"Behold, I come quickly: HOLD that FAST which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."(Revelation 3:11 KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Don't Be Deceived

 Happy Sunday!

"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God."(Philippians 4:6 Amplified).

How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.  LOL!  It may seem funny but there is a great wisdom in that saying.  The Bible can seem overwhelming and complicated, but it's not!  Just take it one scripture, and one revelation at a time. Jesus said, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."(Matthew 11:30 KJV).  The Easy-to-Read Version of this same scripture says, "Yes, the teaching that I ask you to ACCEPT is easy. The load I give you to carry is light.”

If Jesus said we can do it, or accomplish it, then we most certainly can!  We can live in health, and wealth if we accept His teaching and apply it in our daily life!  Job said, "I have not refused his commandments but have enjoyed them more than my daily food."(Job 23:12 Living Bible).  Don't miss this!  Job said he enjoyed the Word of God more than his daily food! The Word had priority in his life, and he valued it more than eating! 

We are in a battle.  Not against other human beings. Our enemy is the Devil and his cohorts.  The Apostle Paul said, "For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organisations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil."(Ephesians 6:12 Phillips).  Each day we can choose to fight with the weapon we've been given, the Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit.  Or we can allow the Devil to run over us and get the best of us.  How does he fight us?  So glad you asked.  The ONLY weapon the Devil has is Deception.  Just like he deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden, he comes to us with lies, and half truths.

Adam and Eve had EVERYTHING good!  Think about it!  They had no mortgage, no electric bill, no student loans, no illness, no property taxes, and no insurance payments.  BUT the enemy came and made them think they were missing out on something.  He convinced Eve that what GOD said couldn't be true.  He tricked them into thinking they could be like God, when in fact they were already like God. Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."(KJV).

The way to be anxiety free is to Trust the Word of God!  Agree that He loves you, and love Him back.  Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."(John 14:15 KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Expect BIG

Happy Sunday!

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my EXPECTATION is from him."(Psalm 62:5 KJV).

What are you expecting?  Are you expecting prosperity?  Can you see yourself helping others financially?  Are you expecting healing?  Can you see yourself well and doing the things you love?  Do you expect to be happy and full of joy?  Can you see yourself strengthened and encouraged, lifting others out of depression and despair?  We get what we Expect!  Hebrews 11:1-2 in the Message Translation says, "The fundamental fact of existence is that this TRUST in God, this FAITH, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd".  We are probably more familiar with the KJV Version of this scripture, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."(Hebrews 11:1 KJV). 

Acts 3:1-3 says, "One day Peter and John went to the Temple area. It was three o’clock in the afternoon, which was the time for the daily Temple prayer service. As they were entering the Temple area, a man was there who had been crippled all his life. He was being carried by some friends who brought him to the Temple every day. They put him by one of the gates outside the Temple. It was called Beautiful Gate. There he begged for money from the people going to the Temple. That day he saw Peter and John going into the Temple area. He asked them for money."(Easy-to-Read Version).  The KJV Version of verse 5 says, "And he gave heed unto them, EXPECTING to receive something of them."(Acts 3:5 KJV).

Peter and John didn't give him any money although it was customary to carry money to the temple for offerings, and to give to the poor.  Peter took authority in the Name of JESUS, and commanded the man to rise up and walk!  "And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God."(Acts 3:7-8 KJV).  Don't miss this!  A man who had been crippled ALL of his life is now immediately healed, and is walking, leaping, and praising God!  The man expected money, but received far more!  That's the way God works!  Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do FAR MORE than we would ever dare to ASK or even DREAM of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes."(Living Bible).

I pray that you EXPECT Big Things this week and receive them! 

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Say What You Want

 Happy Sunday!

"You will live a very long life, and your body will be strong until the day you die."(Job 5:26 CEV).

Read that scripture again if you need too!  The Word of God is so wonderful!  He thought of everything!  BUT it only works if you believe it, and speak it!  Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue can speak words that bring LIFE or Death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings."(Easy-to-Read Version).

Brother Kenneth E. Hagin once told the story of going to pray for a young man that was in Intensive Care. He prayed and prayed, then he heard the Lord say, "Stop praying for him!" He was shocked!  He asked, "Lord, why would you say that?"  The Lord told him, "There are other things in motion here." He was puzzled but he stopped praying. The 39 year old young man died.  At the funeral, the family members mentioned how the young man always used to say, "I won't live to see 40."  He'd said it so much, and for so long it came to pass.  Ouch!

Your spirit and your body hear your words and respond to them.  It's important to only say what you want, and base what you say on the Truth of God's Word.  You can choose Life by choosing to speak the Word.  Have you ever heard a recording of your voice and thought it sounded strange?  When you speak you hear it in your inner ear and outer ear, but a recording only picks up one aspect of this.  You hear what you say with double impact!  So what are some good things we can say?  Great Question!  I'm so glad you asked.  Psalm 92:12-15 says, "But good people will grow like palm trees; they will be tall like the cedars of Lebanon. Like trees planted in the Temple of the Lord, they will grow strong in the courtyards of our God.  When they are old, they will still produce fruit; they will be HEALTHY and FRESH. They will say that the Lord is GOOD. He is my Rock, and there is no wrong in him."(NCV).

Deuteronomy 34:7 says, "Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyesight was SHARP; he still walked with a SPRING in his step."(Message).  In Joshua 14:10-11, Caleb gives his testimony, "Now the Lord has kept me alive for 45 more years—as he said he would. During that time we all wandered in the desert. Now, here I am, 85 years old.  I am still as STRONG today as I was the day Moses sent me out. I am as READY to fight as I was then."(Easy-to Read Version).  Psalm 91:15-16 says, "He will call on Me, and I will answer.  I’ll be with him through hard times;  I’ll rescue him and grant him honor.  I’ll REWARD him with MANY GOOD YEARS on this earth and let him witness My salvation.”(Voice).

Ephesians 3:20 says, "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working WITHIN us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."(Message).  God's Word will remain forever. 

Love and prayers, Cynthia