Thursday, October 23, 2014

Shalom,

I know that there is a tremendous amount of evil going on in our world today. At times even born again spirit-filled believers have fallen into fear over what is happening. I want to encourage you all today that we have been given the promise that we DO have what it takes to overcome in every situation and live a life that brings glory to HIM! Look at 2 Peter 1:1-4:
Simon Peter, a servant and apostle (special messenger) of Jesus Christ, to those who have received (obtained an equal privilege of) like precious faith with ourselves in and through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.

When Jesus prayed to the Father on our behalf (John 17:11-17), He said that we are to be IN the world, in order to present HIM to them, but not OF the world, blending in and being unrecognizable as followers of Jesus! Make sure that YOU are staying filled with the Spirit and full of His Word so that when You open YOUR mouth, HE can fill it with LIFE to reach the lost and hurting! THEY are the only reason we are still here instead of in Heaven with Jesus, which Paul told us is a far better place to be (Philippians 1:23)! Peter goes on here to say this in verses 12-15:
12 So I intend always to remind you about these things, although indeed you know them and are firm in the truth that [you] now [hold]. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle (tent, body), to stir you up by way of remembrance, 14 Since I know that the laying aside of this body of mine will come speedily, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 Moreover, I will diligently endeavor [to see to it] that [even] after my departure (decease) you may be able at all times to call these things to mind.

AMEN! THESE are the things to keep foremost in our minds and hearts, especially when we hear of evil in the world! Remind yourself that where sin abounds, grace MUCH MORE abounds (Romans 5:20)! There is ALWAYS more that be with us than those that be with the enemy! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "God Is Able":

"God Is Able"
[Verse 1]
God is able
He will never fail
He is almighty God
Greater than all we seek
Greater than all we ask
He has done great things

[Chorus]
Lifted up
He defeated the grave
Raised to life
Our God is able
In His name
We overcome
For the Lord
Our God is able

[Verse 2]
God is with us
God is on our side
He will make a way
Far above all we know
Far above all we hope
He has done great things

[Chorus]
Lifted up
He defeated the grave
Raised to life
Our God is able
In His name
We overcome
For the Lord
Our God is able

[Bridge]
God is with us
He will go before
He will never leave us
He will never leave us
God is for us
He has open arms
He will never fail us
He will never fail us

[Chorus (x2)]
Lifted up
He defeated the grave
Raised to life
Our God is able
In His name
We overcome
For the Lord
Our God is able

For the Lord
Our God is able
For the Lord
Our God is able

Shalom in Him!