Nov. 14, 2008 My Second Article
It’s time as Christians to step up to the plate to think about what we are, and who we are, to the people that are around us everyday. We are called to a higher standard then the world. We are called to a different place than the world. Yet, more Christians live in worldliness, than they live in the place to where God has called them to. Quite often, Christians act no different than Non-Christians.
Romans 12:1-2(Message) Place Your Life before God
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
We have to realize the time that we are in. We are not to worry about tomorrow, and what it will bring. We are to understand these times that we are in, and not stress about them. This is the time, this is the now. We have to be Christians of the greatest CHARACTER then ever before. We have to be setting the bar high.
Matthew 6:24-26 (Amplified Bible)
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in).
25Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?
26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?
I want people to look at me and see my peace, my joy, and my confidence, so that when they ask I can tell them were my confidence comes from. I am tired of this battle that I am in, being tossed to and from by Satan. It is time that we all stand on our own two feet and proclaim the glory of the Lord. It is time to be the persons that God called us to be.
1 Thessalonians 1:4-6 (Amplified Bible)
[O] brethren beloved by God, we recognize and know that He has selected (chosen) you;
5For our [preaching of the] glad tidings (the Gospel) came to you not only in word, but also in [its own inherent] power and in the Holy Spirit and with great conviction and absolute certainty [on our part]. You know what kind of men we proved [ourselves] to be among you for your good.
6And you [set yourselves to] become imitators of us and [through us] of the Lord Himself, for you welcomed our message in [spite of] much persecution, with joy [inspired] by the Holy Spirit;
It is time to do the things that God has placed us on the earth to do. We can no longer say; I will do it tomorrow. We know that God created us for this time, and this day. We also know that God has a plan for us. If we don’t know what that plan is then it is time for us to spend time in the Word, in prayer and listening to God’s Voice.
MEASURING UP
Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Remember, He is a good God and He gave us free will, He will NEVER make us do anything. Each of us knows when we aren’t happy. Many times we just go from thing to thing or from place to place looking for happiness that only God’s plan for your life can ever fill. Only in the place that God has called you, will you find the greatest joy you have ever felt.
As I sit here and think about what it is that I do that causes others look at me and think; “she is a Christian”, I realize the importance of seeing the threat of the deceiver. He will find things that draw us away from our time with God. He will also fill our time with what ever appeals to our weaknesses, in order to keep us away from God.
Let’s really think about how much each of us doing in reality are good things such as doing for people helping people and all these good tasks. We must ask ourselves, is the deceiver making us so busy that we can’t think of the last time we read our Bible or when we last spent time talking to our Heavenly Father, studying His Word, listening to His plans or soaking in His Presence.
We have to be so careful. We need this “God time”. God has a plan for our lives. Many times we think that it’s not so far from what we are presently doing. However, there are big differences in the worlds busy and God’s busy. In the world’s agenda, there’s just never enough time to get it all done. But if we do God’s Way, He will teach us how to get it all done. He may even bring in the right person to help us get it done faster. He will help us plan our time, not only will it all get done, it will be done better and faster then if we had done it the worlds way.
If we simply ask God for “His Plan,” He will provide us with answers and in ways we never thought possible. If we don’t spend time with Him, we will not want to hear from Him.
Joshua 1:7-9 (Message)
Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take."
Let’s just think about the people around us and what they see in our lives. Do they see peace, joy and love? Or do they see stress, sadness and unkindness. Do they see us spending too much time watching TV, on the computer, or wasting time? Be assured, people are watching us, and needing us more today then ever before.
I have come to the conclusion, that normal and powerless is no longer good enough. I want people to see Jesus all over me, in everything I do, in everything I say. I want them to see the peace of God in my life and His glory on my face so that they will have no other choice but to walk up to me and ask for prayer. I want to sense His presence so strongly that whenever I walk into a place, He will reveal a person’s needs and strengthen me so that I might pray effectively for that individual, so that they too, will experience His power moving and working in their life.
STANDING UP
What will it take for the body of Christ to desire this in our every day lives? What will it take for us to desire more than the “norms” we have become used to? I feel that it’s time to stop worrying about what someone else might think, and just do what God has asked us to do. Just think about having the power of God over us and working through us and changing someone’s life each and every day.
Imagine experiencing “His Abundance” to where all your needs are met. Again, just imagine the joy of sharing this wonderful experience and blessing the needy person in front of you. Just think about walking into Wal-Mart and seeing a person in a wheelchair and having God tell you to set that person free. Just imagine walking the down town of your area, setting the young people free from Satan’s traps and healing them of their addictions. Then again, imagine helping that man or women that has been on the street for years and laying hands on them and setting them free of the bondages they have been fighting for so long.
Matthew 28:16-20 (NLT)
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Where will the hunger come from? What will it take for us to realize the power of the God we serve, who He really is and what He wants to do for us. This is the time! This is the place! This is the now! Let’s get up and take our place! Let’s do the things that our Heavenly Father has called us to do! Let’s be who he has called us to be and let’s give “HIM” the Glory at our every turn!
Matthew 10:7, 8(NKJV)
And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
By Teresa R. Martin
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Aug. 10, 2008 My first Article.
"KEEP STANDING"
By: TERESA P. MARTIN
Ephesians 6:10-20 AMP; In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. 11 Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. 13 Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. 14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, 15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. 16Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. 18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people). 19 And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),
20For which I am an ambassador in a coupling chain [in prison. Pray] that I may declare it boldly and courageously, as I ought to do.
Ephesians was written by Paul to the family of God. Paul wants to warn us of the battle ahead. If your question to me is what battle, then your Christian walk has little effect on the Spiritual realm. That realm is where Satan and his fallen angels are.
I want to talk about standing. The reason I feel God had laid this so deeply in my heart, is because if you’re like me, standing which I want you to see, is a part of your everyday walk with God. All these acts, prayer, reading your Bible, devotions, studying the Word and worship, are to be done daily.
This is where a bit of my story, my struggle comes in. I was not raised in a Christian home; I did not have people in my life that were examples of a Christian lifestyle. I gave my heart to the Lord at age 25, after finding out I had cancer. Cancer is the attack of the devil, John 10:10 AMP says: The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). At that point in my life I didn’t know that.
I was given a little red New Testament Bible and I ‘tried’ to read and understand it. I knew nothing of Christian Music, Christian TV. I didn’t even know there was a Christian Store. You get the picture. I didn’t even know that there were amazing ministries out there that taught on healing and who offered downloads of so many teachings and great CD’s for a price that you couldn’t go wrong if you needed a personal miracle. Somehow in that little New Testament I got the word “LIFE” and that “life” was mine. The next amazing thing that I realized was that “NO ONE” was allowed to talk death around me. This just shows the grace and power of God. Keep in mind, my doctors held out little hope for me making it.
Now we are going to fast forward 13 years to today. My new fight is “STANDING”. See I was raised and grew up “in the world” and “of the world”. I had very little Sunday school teaching, and so very little of what God teaches as sin. My walk with God had been a long one to the “here and now”. From the very beginning of my walk with HIM, God blessed me with a Pastor who taught the “TRUTH IN GOD’S WORD”, even if it meant people leaving his church. At least he planted the seed of truth in them before they left; God will honour him for that. My walk with God in the beginning was in church. However, as I look back, while outside the church on a number of occasions, I now realize how I’ve always longed for more truth and more of God. With the birth of our precious daughter, I knew the “in and out” of church had to stop. I wanted the truth of God planted deep in her heart. I found that growing up in the world made for a lot of, “habits” to brake, and new ways of doing things to learn.
A CHANGE OF WORDS & THOUGHTS
I also found that changing my words and thoughts were an on going battle such as: making it a habit to bless our meal, to pray every day, and to pray all the time for every occasion and in every season like Ephesians 6:18 says. AMP Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).
I also stopped saying to people “I’ll pray for you”, unless I really meant it. I would then write it down to make sure I remembered. I also learned when people asked for prayer, I would ask then “What are you believing for?” Not all of us believe in a good God. For me, to pray for healing when people believe in surgery or doctors... then they won’t be healed. There are many factors here. One major factor is we have to start and realized that “WE” play a very big factor in what happens to us, not God, “US”. My amazing husband is in the Canadian Forces and can be gone from home a lot. I used to be in fear all the time. Calling my parents at 2:00 am, or later, because of the storm or noise outside. Then I learned that fear is not being in faith and that Satan will use fear, discouragement, frustration, confusion, to drive me from God. I now can cast down that fear when it rises, just like that.
Worship, prayer and devotions, these are the next new habit I am working hard at forming. I have to do these things daily if I am going to be strong in the Lord. This is how I am going to draw my strength from Him. Ephesians 6:10 AMP In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. As Christians, we can’t make it, just being a “Sunday Christian” and maybe adding a Bible Study during the week. We need to daily draw unto to Him, to take the time to honour Him, and pour our love out on Him in worship. To read our Bible, to learn the stories we never heard growing up and to find a great Devotional. One thing that I’ve always found so amazing about God is that my daily devotional is so on the mark that day. If it’s not for me that day, then it’s for the person who calls or the person who crosses my path that day. One of my biggest struggles is still getting “QUIET” with the Lord, so that I give Him time to speak to me. We must learn to hear that inward voice.
I am a mom and home school our daughter and go to Bible School part-time because of that inward voice. That small inward voice has given me the desires of my heart. I have kept that desire inside me and in the process God will send someone to pray over me confirming those desires. Psalm 37:4, 5 NKJV 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. Philippians 2:12, 13 AMP Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). 13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.
Then, we as Christians have to learn and accept we have an enemy. Ephesians 6:12 NKJV For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places. It took me a while to wrap my mind around this truth. . We have to understand that our enemy is not our husband/wife, boss/teacher, “NOT FLESH AND BLOOD”. We have to bind Satan daily to protect our family and home. We also have to bind him every time he tries to place bad thoughts or lies in our minds. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NKJV For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. We also have to make sure that there are no open doors of sin in our lives to let Satan in. A lie, offence, unforgiveness, gossip or even being paid under the table, are all open doors. There are a lot of things to learn as a New Christian and so many NEW habits to form like letting go of the world. Every day is a battle. Remember we must pray always. Make sure you have the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Praying in other tongues is one of your greatest weapons because there are going to be times when you won’t know what to pray, but your spirit will. Romans 8:26 AMP So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.
"SOAKING" IN HIS PRESENCE
Praying in other tongues is such a great weapon. For when your spirit is praying to God your mind will not understand, but God and your spirit do. Remember that Satan is a fallen angle and he will not understand your prayer in tongues. It makes Satan so mad when you know your power and your authority over him. Keep Standing! 1 Corinthians 14:2 AMP For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].
Never get discouraged in your growth with God, as long as you are growing then you are doing things for God. No matter where you are, be doing for God’s kingdom. At work ALWAYS be of strong character, even if your friends are taking an extra five minutes for break… you don‘t. If you are a stay at home mom, raise your children to fear the Lord and to have a wholesome dread of displeasing Him. Where ever and what ever God has called you to, know that 1 Corinthians 15:58 is so true Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].
Never stop standing and keep fighting. I have heard the comment, “Being a Christian is the hardest thing you will ever do” I have to agree. Standing for the Kingdom of God and fighting an unseen enemy is the hardest thing I have ever done. I have considered walking away again and again and to give up the battle but I can’t. I think of life before and how lonely I felt. There is no love like the Father’s love, no peace nor joy like His. I have decided to put on the whole armor of God that I may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13) Let me encourage you to keep standing, to submit and draw near to God, to resist the devil. James 4:7-8a NKJV Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Remember all the people that went before you and always know that you are not alone. Go to God in prayer, or call a sister/brother in Christ that is stronger in the Lord than you. Have them pray with you. Most importantly you must make sure that “This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.” Joshua 1:8 AMP
Become an everyday Christian. Make it a lifestyle to spend time with the Lord. Be with Him every day. Make time for the Lord even if that means writing in your day planner everyday and don’t break that appointment with Him. Your time with Him will change your life forever and once it becomes a habit, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Your time with the Lord will fill you with so much peace, joy and love that people will see that change in you. The first step to standing, is knowing our role. God can do nothing without you, but you have to do your part and you have to put the Word of God in your heart, read His Word daily, and worship Him. Doing this will make standing that much easier. Doing your part will make every part of life easier. If you have children, teach them the same thing. This will make them on fire for the kingdom of God. Remember King David, he was not the best man in the Bible but he was a man after God’s heart, and God made him great because of it.
Give it all to God! Lay it all before Him! He can handle it. He will make you strong and you will feel His love. The favourite part of your day will be when you are standing with your daddy....NEVER STOP STANDING!
* http://www.kcmcanada.ca http://www.rhemacanada.org http://www.moorelife.org/mlmindex.php
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