Don't Take the Bait!

Happy Sunday!

I hope this Happy Sunday finds you well!  This is a Repost from December 2015, BUT it's so appropriate for today!  Enjoy!

Pastor David Winston preached, "Don't Take the Bait!  Overcoming Offense with Forgiveness!"  His father, Dr. Bill Winston has been preaching on receiving our inheritance and enjoying the Blessing of Abraham.  Do you know when Matthew 5:11 says you are truly blessed?  Just in case you missed it, here it is!  "BLESSED are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."(KJV).   What?  Doesn't being blessed mean no more hard times?  Doesn't BLESSED mean everything is perfect?  No, when Abraham was BLESSED it caused others to envy him and want to destroy him!  It won't be any different with you!  When you are blessed spiritually, physically, emotionally, and financially their will be enemies sent to take you out!  God is your protector, you never have to fear externally...BUT you must be cautious internally!  Makes sense that Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life."(Amplified).  Just as Love keeps the Blessing active in our lives, offense can lead to unforgiveness that can stall, delay, or stop our breakthrough.

Pastor David said, "Offense is an event, but being offended is a position!"  Let that sink in for a moment!  Even Jesus said, it is impossible to get through this life without something or someone giving us the opportunity to be offended!(Luke 17:1).   But you don't have to take the BAIT!  You can repel offense with Love!  Quickly forgive those that offend you because it is the strategy of the enemy to keep you from progressing.  John 10:10 says, "The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."(Living Bible).

There are three steps to forgiveness...

1)  Repentance  -  The word repent means to turn away from.  When we repent we stop doing what we are doing and return to God's way of doing and being right.  God's way is always love!  1 John 4:8 says, "But if a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God—for God is love."(Living Bible).  We are not discounting the fact that you have been wronged, but we are identifying the source and strategy of the enemy.  We are short-circuiting his ability to block our blessings by choosing to forgive.  Unforgiveness is sin!  1 John 1:9 was written to Christians, it says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."(KJV).

2)  Decide to Forgive and Release It -  Colossians 3:12-13 says, "Since you are all set apart by God, made holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a holy way of life: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Put up with one another. Forgive. Pardon any offenses against one another, as the Lord has pardoned you, because you should act in kind."(Voice).  Matthew 18:21-22 says, "At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”  Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven."(Message).  Jesus said we must forgive the same person for doing the same thing 490 times!  It's a decision...a life or death decision...choose life!

3)  Receive Healing for any Pain Suffered - There is a reason we should forgive and forget!  I know what you are thinking, I've thought it myself!  You say, "I can forgive them, but I will never forget!"  That's the trap the enemy wants to get you tangled up in!  Our minds are the battleground!  If you think you have forgiven, you may have said you have forgiven, but the moment the enemy can get you THINKING about the event again...he's got you!  If you don't believe me, do me a favor...tell me what emotions you feel when you think about that event, hurt, or offense?  Does remembering how they treated you bring you joy?  Does remembering what they did to you cause you to love them more?  Does recounting the event and the hurtful words make you want to pray for their well-being?  Be honest!  Pastor David used the example of a woman that has been hurt in a relationship.  That hurt colors the interactions she has with others.  Even though she is happy for a friend that is getting married, she still inserts bits of her offense in the conversation.  She may say, "Girl, all men are dogs!  You can't trust anybody!  You better protect yourself!"   NO, ALL men are not dogs!  If you don't like dogs, don't be a dog catcher! Stop looking for a man where dogs live and play!  NO, you can trust godly people and you can definitely trust God!  NO, you cannot protect yourself!  The Word says, "Unless the Lord builds a house, the builders’ work is useless. Unless the Lord protects a city, sentries do no good."(Living Bible).

When will you know you have truly forgiven?  Great question, so glad you asked!  Pastor David said, "Your Love Assignment is not fulfilled until you can PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMY!"  Not a quick, God bless them prayer...but a prayer you would pray for your closest friend!  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "We must develop and maintain the capacity to FORGIVE. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies."

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Get On With It!

 Happy Sunday!

"And these men of faith, though they trusted God and won his approval, none of them received all that God had promised them; for God wanted them to wait and share the even BETTER rewards that were prepared for us."(Hebrews 11:39-40 Living Bible).

Hebrews 11 and 12 are great chapters to read and read again!  Not only do they remind us of how important Faith is, they also give us examples of people just like us that were approved of by God.  Hebrews 11:6 says, "You can never please God without FAITH, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him."(Living Bible).

Hebrew 12:1-3 says, "Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better GET ON WITH IT.  Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your EYES on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. STUDY how he did it. Because he never lost SIGHT of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with ANYTHING along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"(Message).

Hebrews 12:12-13 says, "So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!"(Message).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Do It Now!!!

 Happy Sunday!

"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." (John 9:4 KJV).

The Holy Spirit ministered to me about the word Procrastination.  By definition it means to put off intentionally and habitually; to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.   What was Jesus talking about? That's what I asked myself.  The Living Bible Translation says, "All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, for there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end".  The Voice Translation makes it even clearer, "While it is daytime, we must do the works of the One who sent Me. But when the sun sets and night falls, this work is impossible".  I know what you may be thinking...we live in a 24 hour society! People work all night long.  I've even worked the night shift myself.  Jesus couldn't have been talking about night time only, but he was talking about the end of our time, and perhaps even the end of the world as we know it.

Pablo Picasso said, "Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone". WOW!  Now, don't get me wrong this is not a good-bye letter.  I expect to live to be 120 years old, unless Jesus returns before that.  I also pray that you live a long, healthy, and prosperous life.  I'm just encouraging myself to do those things I have been putting off.  Mary Kay Makeup leaders used to encourage their new representatives with this, "You have something that the world can't live without!"  You do and I do too!  What if that something needs to be presented or released today?  That would mean that the world will have to wait.  A great leader once said, "God gives several people an idea, because most will do nothing with it!"  Think about it! Tell the truth...haven't you been watching television and seen a product or service that you thought about years ago?  You and I procrastinated and missed the opportunity.  Deuteronomy 8:18 says, "Remember that God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today."(Message). God gives us power and strength to get wealth!  We have a part to play in it!  That part involves moving forward with the dreams, goals, and assignments he has given us.  God is not raining money down from the sky, he is not making any money!  But he will give us money making, ideas, talents, inventions, products, and services.  He also gives us supernatural favor..."If you want FAVOR with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself.-Proverbs 3:4."(Living Bible).

Why do we procrastinate? Good question!  FEAR is the number one reason.  We fear what others will think, we fear that it will not work, we fear that our idea will not be good enough, and we fear that maybe we didn't really hear God say do it.  2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.-(KJV)".  If you are afraid, God didn't give you that fear!  Your enemy, the one who wants you to hide that talent in the ground is lying to you! Don't let him cheat you! Don't let him cheat the world!

Love and Prayers, Cynthia

Bad friends will destroy you

 Happy Sunday!

"Don't fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you."(1 Corinthians 15:33 CEV).

Some say that we are the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with.  Whether it's 3 or 5, the Bible echoes the fact that who we surround ourselves with will influence our thoughts and behaviors.  How many people have been with their friends in the wrong place at the wrong time only to see their lives changed for the worst?

King Rehoboam was the son of the wisest King in history, Solomon.  King Solomon wrote Proverbs, and throughout it he begged his son(s) to follow wisdom and get understanding.  In Proverbs 1:32-33 he says, "Sin and self-satisfaction bring destruction and death to STUPID fools.  But if you listen to me, you will be SAFE and SECURE without fear of disaster.”

1 Kings 12:6-8 says, "And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?  And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. BUT he FORSOOK the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:"(KJV).  Rehoboam refused to listen to the wise men, and listened to his childhood friends.  1 King 14:30 says, "And there was WAR between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days."(KJV).  Don't miss this!  Listening to his friends caused trouble for him all the days of his life.

Proverbs 22:24-25 says, "Keep away from angry, short-tempered men, lest you learn to be like them and endanger your soul."(TLB).  Proverbs 27:17 say, "As one piece of iron sharpens another, so friends keep each other SHARP."(ERV).  Jesus said, "Ye are my FRIENDS, if ye do whatsoever I command you.(John 15:14 KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

More Than Just Words

 Happy Sunday!

Thanks for always reading and responding!  I look forward to your comments, and input!  This excerpt is from Andrew Wommack.  It blessed me!  Have a Great Week!

Matthew 5:37 says, "But let your communication be, Yea, yea: Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."(KJV).

"A person who has to swear or make a promise to validate his statements is a person whose word is no good. The thrust of Jesus' teaching here is that we should live in such a manner that no one would ever have to have additional proof that we are telling the truth. Our word should be our bond.

We have all heard the story of the young shepherd boy who cried wolf when there was no wolf until finally no one believed him when the wolf really came. Our lack of integrity in performing our word has the same effect on people today.

Very few people conduct business anymore with their word and a handshake. Even contracts are not sacred if an individual can afford a good enough lawyer. But this is not the way God intended it.

God has fulfilled every word He has ever spoken. We were created in His IMAGE and He planned for us to be the same way. Even our physical bodies respond adversely when we lie. That's why lie detectors work.

Today, commit yourself to be a new man or woman of your word. You will not only experience a new respect from others, but you will find the joy of a clear heart and mind." - Andrew Wommack

Love and prayers, Cynthia

EVERY PART

 Happy Sunday!

"May the God of peace set you apart for Himself. May EVERY part of you be set apart for God. May your spirit and your soul and your body be kept complete. May you be without blame when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again." (1 Thessalonians 5:23 New Life Version) 

This scripture makes it clear that we are tripartite beings, we have three parts.  

The body is very obvious.  When I talk to you face to face, I'm looking at your body, but I am talking to your soul.  The soul is your mental emotional part.  Some people define the soul as the mind, the will, and the emotions.  The soul also includes your conscience, and your personality.  If I touch your physical body, you can feel that, but I can also touch you by my words.  You can say words, and hurt a person. Many of us are still suffering because of words that were spoken to us in our childhood.  The words didn't hurt our body, but they hurt our soul.  The body and the soul are easier to understand, but the spirit tends to be misunderstood.

John 3:5-6 says, "Jesus answered, “For sure, I tell you, unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit of God, he cannot get into the holy nation of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh. Whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit."(New Life Version).  Jesus was attempting to explain the "Born Again" experience to Nicodemus. He wanted Nicodemus to know that you cannot feel your spirit in a physical natural way.  The spirit is different from the body.  If you want to know how your body is, you can just think and your body will tell you. You can feel whether you are tired, energized, or sick.  You can do an inventory on your soul as well, whether you are glad, afraid, depressed, or sad. The spirit however cannot be contacted through feelings. The spirit cannot be accessed in any natural way!

This is the problem! The spirit is the part of us that was changed, the spirit is the part of us that God communicates with, and the spirit is the part of us that all of the life and the power of God flows through. It's important that we understand that we cannot feel, or discern spiritual reality through our normal senses.  If you can't taste, hear, see, or feel what the Word of God says, then immediately there is a conflict.  It may make you think the Bible is hard to understand.  Many times we give up and think the Word must not be true because we can't relate to it with our senses. John 6:63 says, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (KJV). The Word of God is spirit.  In order to know what our spirit is like we must go to the Word of God.

James 1:23-25 says, "If you hear the message and don’t obey it, you are like people who stare at themselves in a mirror and forget what they look like as soon as they leave. But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget."(CEV).  This scripture compares the Bible to a mirror.  Not a mirror used to see your physical face, but a mirror to see your spiritual face. Do you realize, you have never seen your face?  You have only seen a reflection of your face.  Even though you have never seen your own face, you have come to a place where you trust the reflection you see in the mirror. It's the same thing with the Word of God! The Word of God gives you a perfect picture of your spirit, and it's the only way you can know your spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."(KJV).  This scripture is not talking about your physical body!  If you were fat before you got saved, you will still be fat after you get saved.  Your body didn't pass away and become new!  This scripture is not talking about your soul either!  If you were ignorant before you got saved, your will still be ignorant after you get saved unless you renew your mind. Thank God, he can empower us to change our physical and mental state, but it's important to know it was our spirit that was made new.

The change takes place in the spirit, and has to work it's way out into the soul and the body! If we don't understand this it can cause us to doubt whether we were ever really saved. Everything you will ever need in your Christian life is already in your spirit!  We aren't trying to get anything from God. God has already given us ALL we could ever need! 2 Peter 1:3 says, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness," (KJV).  In our Born Again spirit, everything is complete.  The rest of our lives is spent learning to believe this Fact. As we get our soul in agreement with what is already in our spirit our lives and bodies will change. 

Pastor Duane Sheriff describes it like this, "2/3 of you is going to rule your life! Your spirit is fixed by God Almighty, born-again, and in union with Christ himself. Your flesh is decaying it ain't any good, and never will get any better. There's one guy that gets the final vote! If this guy votes with the spirit, the soul and the spirit, (the heart) override the body. But if this guy votes with the body, the body and the soul will override the spirit."  The Apostle Paul described the struggle like this, "So you see how it is: my new life(spirit) tells me to do right, but the old nature(soul) that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free." (Romans 7:23-25 Living Bible).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Wiser Than Mere Human Wisdom

 Happy Sunday!

"For people who are stumbling toward ruin, the message of the cross is nothing but a TALL TALE for fools by a fool. BUT for those of us who are already experiencing the REALITY of being RESCUED and made right, it is nothing short of God’s POWER.

This is why the Scripture says:

I will put an end to the wisdom of the so-called wise,
    and I will invalidate the insight of your so-called experts.

So now, where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the skilled debater, the best of your time? Step up, if you dare. Hasn’t God made fools out of those who count on the wisdom of this rebellious, broken world? For in God’s DEEP wisdom, He made it so that the world could not even begin to COMPREHEND Him through its own style of wisdom; in fact, God took immense pleasure in RESCUING people of FAITH through the foolishness of the message we PREACH.  It seems the Jews are always asking for signs and the Greeks are always on the prowl for wisdom. But we tell a different story. We proclaim a crucified JESUS, God’s Anointed. For Jews this is scandalous, for outsiders this is moronic, BUT for those of us living out God’s call—regardless of our Jewish or Greek heritage—we know the Anointed embodies God’s dynamic power and God’s deep wisdom.

You can COUNT on this: God’s foolishness will always be WISER than mere human wisdom, and God’s weakness will always be STRONGER than mere human strength."(1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Voice).

Love and prayers, Cynthia