Forgiveness is Our Most Powerful Weapon

 

  

The root of bitterness, which grows in our soul with each trauma we experience in life, causes trouble and defiles our life as well as many in our family, church and friendships (Hebrews 12:16).

However, once we are Born Again, we are able to commune with God through our spirit, which was originally dead is sin (Ephesians 2:1). We have the King of kings dwelling within us by His Spirit (Colossians 1:27).

The presence of the Trinity abiding in us helps us to forgive past hurts, and helps us to put our future hurts into proper perspective. Until we forgive our self and others, Satan gains the advantage over us (2 Corinthians 2:10-11).

If we refuse to forgive, we give Satan permission to control that part of our soul, and to inflict his demons on our body and spirit as well. Satan holds us captive as slaves to His lies through our thoughts and emotions.

( www.theophostic.com )

The fruit of the Holy Spirit cannot manifest in those areas of our soul, and we limit God's Spirit from using us according to God's will. Our human efforts, actions and self-righteousness gain us nothing. Once we forgive our self and others, all of this changes.

Although we continue to experience occasional oppression by the rulers, authorities, spiritual forces of evil and powers of darkness in this world, the blood of Jesus sets us free from the bondage of sin and death (Leviticus 17:11; Roman 8:2; Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 21:4).

Forgiveness is the most powerful weapon in our arsenal against Satan's influence in our life. It takes the offender off our hook and puts that person squarely on God's hook, where He promises to deal with that person in His way and timing (Romans 12:19).

Prayer:

Father God, please help us to break Satan's bondage over our life by giving us the strength to forgive our self and others. Thank You for the blood of Christ, which paves our way to a victorious life. As we humble our self to You and resist the devil, he has to flee from our midst (James 4:7).

Then allow us to help those in our life who need love, acceptance, healing and restoration in their relationship with You. We present our self to You as a living sacrifice to do Your will for each moment of our day (Romans 12:1; Ephesians 2:10). Inspire and guide us by Your Spirit today and always.

Thought for the Day:

In Christ we have redemption through His blood and forgiveness for all of our sins, because of the riches of His mercy and grace toward us. - Ephesians 1:7

God is Infinite

 

 

The Trinity of God is a confusing concept when we attempt to understand it in human terms. It is one of those facts, which prove to us that God’s ways are infinitely more advanced than our finite mind can comprehend (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Many people attribute super-human qualities to space aliens that may or may not exist; yet, they refuse to believe that God is infinitely more superior than we are. They reduce Him to a genie to grant their wishes.

God often makes no human sense, but that is why we serve Him. He is eternal in the heavens (1 Timothy 1:17). We cannot contain Him in our little human box, because He is immeasurably greater.

God uses human terms to describe spiritual functions, so that our finite mind can understand them to the best of our ability. Yet, these infinite spiritual concepts do not quite fit into our limited understanding.  

This causes people to doubt God, the validity of the Bible and the sanity of Christ's followers. They attribute our belief to gullibility or an emotional crutch. Their spirit is dead and they cannot understand the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:14).

For instance, the Trinity is actually one God who has three functions: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Galatians 1:1; John 1:1-18; Matthew 28:19). God functioned as Creator, Jesus serves as Savior, and the Holy Spirit inspires, comforts and guides us.

In the same manner that water is liquid, steam and solid, but still water; God is Father, Son and Spirit, but still one God. The finite discord comes in when we read that the Son is obedient to the Father, or that the Father and Son sent and direct the Holy Spirit (Luke 22:42; John 16:15).

The three are distinct, but one. Jesus made it clear that He and the Father are one (John 10:38, 14:11; 17:11, 21). Yet, He also spent much time in devotion to the Father and receiving direction from the Father.

Another instance is that God sent His only Son, the first born among many children of God, into the world to be a sacrifice for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:20). Yet, Jesus made it clear that He laid down His own life and took it up again (John 10:18, 15:13; 1 John 3:16).

Since these ideas do not make sense in human terms, and appear to be a contradiction, then people dismiss them as rantings of male chauvinists who attempted to deceive the masses. They refuse to believe that God transcends human understanding.

Prayer:

Father God, humans tend to strain at a gnat and swallow a camel (Matthew 23:24). We make issues harder for our self than they really are. We are so glad that You are greater than we will ever humanly understand; otherwise, why would we bother to serve, glorify and honor You with our life?

We can never have enough time to praise You for all You do for us, even the tiny love notes You provide, which we take for granted. Remind us to be grateful for who You are and what You provide for us every day.

Thought for the Day:

God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit exists in perfect unity as one, yet are three distinct entities. – Gospel of John, chapters 14-16

God's Hand in Our Life

 

Are you traversing a season of sorrow in your life? Have earthly comforts failed you? Are you in financial difficulty? Only when we turn to Christ do we obtain everlasting solace and limitless supplies (2 Thessalonians 2:16,17; Philippians 4:19). When someone or something comes against God’s beloved, He takes it very personally (Zechariah 2:8). We are precious in His sight (Isaiah 43:3). He enriches us in every way because of His love for those who dedicate their life to Him (1 Corinthians 1:5). We trust Him because He always helps those who seek Him (Psalm 9:10). 

God’s will is not an objective to achieve, but a lifestyle to live. When we develop this type of relationship with the living Lord, where our only desire is to do His will, we move into the realm of an eternal viewpoint. Focalizing our vision on God’s desires, we pause to find His will before embarking in a new direction or activity. Recognizing that we are already dead in Christ to our sinful nature, we no longer allow sin any sway over our choices nor do we fall prey to Satan’s temptations (Galatians 5:19-21; Colossians 3:3-4). Self-centered ambitions play no part in our life.

Jesus disarmed all authority in the kingdom of darkness by His death and resurrection (Colossians 2:15). Now all authority on earth and in Heaven belongs to Christ (Matthew 28:18). As we recognize this truth in our life, we realize that we no longer live in bondage to the flesh, to the world or to Satan. The thoughts, choices and emotions of our soul are now centered in Christ. Satan’s attempts to threaten and inflict us with His demonic influence no longer have any hold over the authentic Born Again Believer. We are alive with Christ now, and seated with Him in the spiritual realm (Ephesians 2:5-6).

We submit to human authority as unto the Lord, unless they require that we disobey God’s principles. The freedom we receive as Christians does not call us to indulge in sinful behavior, but to reign supreme over the devil and his minions. No matter what we do in life as a housewife, a financial planner, a pastor, a car mechanic, a missionary, a medical professional, a church planter, a beautician, etc, we all serve Him with our life. He draws us to Himself and sanctifies our soul until His divinity reigns supreme in our life. If we choose to submit our life to our carnal impulses, we lose our fellowship with and our protection by the divine Trinity.

Prayer:

Father God, show us the evidence of Your hand in our life. Make us aware of the little love letters You give us each day. Remind us to bring our needs to You and to dress in Your armor before we do Your will each day of our life (Ephesians 6:11-13; Ephesians 2:10). Help us to draw near to You and to resist Satan’s allurement to draw us back into the flesh and carnality. When we see a negative emotion in our life, help us to identify the idol causing that discord in our life, which is standing between us and You. Produce Your fruit in us so we can shine as stars in the heavens for your glory (Philippians 2:15; Galatians 5:22-23).

Thought for the Day:

Rather than to involve yourself in sinful activity and willful disobedience to Christ, draw nearer to God and Satan will have to flee from you. – James 4:7