SATAN’S TOOL: Discouragement!

{Proverbs 15:23} A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! We read parables in the Bible that were used to make a point. Let us use a contemporary or modern parable that has been written about the apparatus and tools of the enemy, our adversary, Satan himself, that I believe we can really learn from. Here is the parable: "Some time ago, an advertisement appeared in which the devil was putting all his tools up for sale. On the day of public inspection, each one of his tools was marked with its selling price: Hatred, Envy, Jealousy, Doubt, Lying, Pride, and so on, were each on the selling block to be sold. But set apart, on the other hand, from all the rest of the heap, was a harmless-looking implement, well-worn, but priced very high -- it was discouragement! Someone asked the devil, 'why is that one priced so high?' He replied, 'Ah, that one is more useful to me than all the rest. With it I can pry open a man's heart and enter, when I cannot get near him with any other tools. Once inside, I can lead him any way I choose. The tool is very worn because I use it on almost everyone, since few people know it belongs to me." Our adversary loves to sow discouragement. What is discouragement? It is depression despair, disappointment, discomfiture, dismay, downheartedness, hopelessness, loss of confidence, low spirits, melancholy, pessimism, sadness, the blues, but as believers we have a tool much more powerful than what Satan has. It is called encouragement! We have the support and backup of our Lord Jesus Christ and our brothers and sisters in the Lord. We can speak a word into the lives of those who desperately need to hear it: to the man or women who has lost their job and cannot find one; to the man and his wife who are about to lose their home to foreclosure; to the disillusioned , to the newly saved; to the forgotten servants of God who labor in an obscure, not well known, and often a difficult ministry; to the orphans and the widows; to all those who need to hear a word in due season! We have the power in our lips to revive and encourage a discouraged soul. Let's encourage one another with words of encouragement! It costs nothing, and reaps an eternal reward. We are facing hard times not only with the economy, but with a federal government that has turned their back on God and His Son, but, also in many other areas of our daily life. I'm reminded in God's Word that we are to encourage one another.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful

that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;

but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

{Hebrews 10:23,24,25}

Even though the devil has come against me and my kids {By the way he has unload both barrels} I'm not going to be discouraged about these earthly things. My eyes is on Jesus and I know that he watches over me. I want to encourage each and everyone who reads this that God is in control and He will not forsake you. We must encourage each other with these words and urge the brethren strongly to keep the faith, because we can all see the day approaching and we are so close to the Lord's coming. Don't let Satan use his tool of discouragement on you, but be encouraged as I am. I'm looking for that city who's maker is God, were there will be not more heartaches, no more hunger, no more wars. I believe with all my heart that day is near. God Bless All.

Your Mourning Will Be Turned Into Dancing!

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever.  { Psalms 30:11-12 }



This is one of the promises in the Bible that we as Christians should really think about: that God turns mourning into dancing! Not the kind of rock and roll dance and similar dances that are in the world today, but a Holy dance, a dance of victory. Remember when David danced before the Lord with all his might? God takes away the anguish, the sorrow, the torment, and the agony of being clothed in sadness and sorrow. He replaces the misery and depression with gladness and happiness. However notice this, notice what God does not do: He does not simply stop your mourning and grief. He does not simply make it disappear. No, not by a long shot. He transforms it, into joy! He turns your sorrow and grief into gladness. He takes your failure, your letdown and creates success! He will give you victory. We serve an awesome and mighty God, who says, "all things work together for good to them that love Him, and to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) Let us, as a child of the King, take time to meditate and dwell on this promise. Our sorrows, disappointments, tragedies and failures are very real– but they are also "raw and unrefined material" for a divine transformation and change that our Lord will accomplish and bring about in His time for His glory. And we will dance, before the lord just like David! God will do it. Our part is simply to wait, believe in His Holy Word, and cling and embrace tightly this magnificent promise!

We are all going through very tough times right now. Some of us may not even know where our next dime is coming from, but God does. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches over me. I have found out in my life time [and I'm getting pretty old} the closer you get to the Lord the more the devil will try to fight you. Remember he is going around this old world like a raging lion seeking who he can destroy. Keep your guard up, pray often, and stand on the promises of God our Savior. The devil will attack you with sickness, you may lose your job, your home, your car, and it may seem that all is lost, but hold on to that unchanging hand, never doubt, only believe.

Don't Dilute God’s Word!

{2 Peter 2:8-9} For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

   

When  Jesus was attacked by Satan during His temptation in the wilderness, He was ready when  every attack  came with the Word of God. But let us take notice in Satan's second attack – the devil himself quoted the Scriptures, saying, "If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written, 'He shall give his angels charge over thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.'" (Matthew 4:6 was a quote from Psalm 91:11, but the phrase, "to keep thee in all thy ways" was absent from Satan's quote). If we learn anything from this at all, we must realize and understand that Satan has knowledge and some understanding of Scripture, and that he will use God's Word attempting to deceive us with it to go into wrong actions. He is sneaky! This tactic goes back even as far as the Garden of Eden where our adversary turned God's word around saying, "Did God really say you shall not eat from every tree in the garden?" He is still using the same tactics in today's world. We must never Water down or reduce the strength of God's Holy Word

So it is today, that all around us we are hearing constant abuses, questions and attacks against the truth and reliability of God's Word. Did God really create the world in six days, like the Bible said ? Did God really say that marriage consists of a union between a man and a woman, or was it Adam and Steve? Is God really going to judge the world and destroy it with fire or are we to take these words as just a story? Has God really defined what the absolute, pure, perfect, moral truth is or do we water it down? Does God really mean we are not to kill or is it okay to murder unborn babies in the mother's womb. Is Jesus the only Son of God or do we look in other places. Is Jesus the only way to heaven or is there another way? We hear all these questions in the world today. We must be firm in the truths of the Bible and know what God says.

The enemy is constant in his attempts to erode and destroy the foundational truths of God's word using distortions, corruptions, half-truths, and modern "interpretations", for he knows that "if the true foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3) In these last days we cannot be weak, because as always Satan goes around like a roaring lion seeking who he can devour. Don't let it be you. Stand firm in your faith.

Let's not be deceived and fooled by these subtle ploys and sneaky ways of Satan. If we agree and think it is okay to alter or dilute the Word of God to accommodate our circumstances or natural inclinations, we will end up exactly where the devil, that serpent wants us; in disobedience, sin, and sorrow. You know, Satan has been using religious language to tempt the saints since the beginning of time, even to the point of trying to persuade people that he doesn't even exist. We must be discerning. If we want to live and walk in the truth then we will believe God's Word undiluted without compromise or without anybodies private interpretation, We seek to understand The word of God with the help of The Holy Spirit, Who is the only perfect interpreter. If we do, the enemy's deceptions and lies will fail, and we will be delivered from every temptation! REMEMBER THE FINIAL WORD WILL BE GOD'S WORD!

Multiply Your Talents

(Matthew 25:26-29) His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

As I read this parable, I can see by the serious cost of failing to produce fruit for the Kingdom. We must bear fruit. But there's something I want to particularly point out that struck me as I read this scripture again. Sometimes when hidden things are seen they bring the scriptures to a new light. Many of the great men and women, such as, people like Moses, Mary {The mother of our Lord} and David, were not given immense responsibilities right away. Each of these men first served as a lowly shepherd, tending sheep or as with Mary a young unknown woman. They were first tested in this humble occupation, God then felt sure He could lift them up to positions of importance. But as we read their stories we find out that it all started with a small step! It is the same with a baby. They have to take a first step and sometimes they stumble or fall, but the great thing is they get right back up on their feet and go again. We as God's people should do the same thing. We all have fell, sometime in our life, I know I have, but we must get back on our feet and bear fruit. Remember no small thing, not even the sparrows, are over looked by God.

God will test His saints in the little things and as we pass our initial tests, the Lord will encourage and advance us to bigger and greater things. Don't look down on and hate the day of small things because, as we can see and read in the Bible, just one talent invested intelligently and wisely can bring into being a abundant harvest for the Lord. And we must remember that it begins with faithful stewardship of whatever gift or talent that God has allocated and given us as His child. We must not hid our faith or talent, that God has given us, but we must put our talent and faith out there for people to see.

We must be wise stewards in these last days, using our God given abilities for His glory and for His purposes so that we can generate an plentiful return on the Lord's investment in our lives. We must take note of and pay attention to the warning and the encouragement and support that Jesus gives us in this parable.

HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS

{Proverbs 22:3} A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Remember the song back in the early 1960's: "He has got the whole word in His hands"? I remember it and I use to sing it along with a lot of other kids. Never paying any attention to the meaning of the words and what I was singing. But now that very song comes back to me in my mine and I see the meaning of those words. The Lord truly has the whole world in His hands. He has got you and me in His hands.

What do you think might happen in the near future? Could we have large scale terrorist attacks, famine, not being allowed to worship our Lord and many other things. How do you think we should prepare? I was reading the comments on what John Calvin had to say about the matter. I really think that what he has to say is true words of wisdom and we all should take note of the words. "When the light of divine providence has once shone upon a godly man, he is then relieved and set free not only from the extreme anxiety and fear that were pressing him before, but from every care … Ignorance of providence is the ultimate misery; the highest blessedness lies in knowing it… It gives incredible freedom from worry about the future." It is great to be wise and prepare for the days ahead -- saving, storing, wisely investing. I have stored food, ammunition, Bibles, different things a person might need, and a outside well that you pump by hand. I think all theses are good ideas and sound thinking But I think there is a much more important preparation we often forget and it comes first! It is to make certain that we are saved and covered by the Blood of Christ, the Lord IS FIRST in our life and make sure we are trusting in Him alone, not our own strength and wisdom, not the government or a president whole makes promises that he does not keep. We need only to stand on the promises of God. So that when these trials and tribulations come upon us, (and they are coming) we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we rest securely in His hands! BECAUSE HE DOES HAVE YOU AND ME IN HIS HANDS! I do not know about you, but I'm standing on the promises of Christ my Saviour.

The Promise

(Galatians 3:29) And if ye be Christ's,

then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs

according to the promise.

This amazing passage defines and says that all true believers in the Messiah are "Abraham's seed and heirs according to God's promise". Abraham was known as the first Hebrew – actually, "one who crosses over!" Before he crossed over into the promised land, we know from the scriptures that Abraham lived in a extremely idolatrous society {just like it is in today's world and growing worse} His own earthly father was an idol worshiper. (Joshua 24:2) But one noteworthy day, a call came to Abraham, a call from the Most High God, The Lord spoke and he "crossed over" from idolatrous polytheism into a personal knowledge of the one true God. So after leaving his past behind, he entered a new life of spiritual truth and holiness and a new land of promise; a profound transformation and change, and for us, a beautiful picture of our own "crossing over" into the new life in the Lord. He was looking for that city of light were there will be no more heart ache, no more pain, no worries, no hunger, only peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Oh what a glorious day that will be. He believed in that promise and praise God I do too!

As we look at the story of Abraham, we see that his life was not free of obstacles and troubles {just as our lives are not} once he reached his destination in Caanan? No it was not! It was not pie in the sky! Here are a few important facts about his life: he felt forced to go into Egypt to escape a famine, where his wife, Sarah, was held captive in Pharaoh's harem for an unrevealed amount of time; after being set free, Sarah continued barren until old age; then, Abraham was required by his own deep loyalty, to rescue his worldly nephew Lot and his family, risking his own life and the lives of his men; again he was tested. When taking and following Sarah's advice, Abraham conceived a son with Hagar, whom he deeply loved but was compelled to send him into the desert with his Egyptian wife who was the boy's mother. And of course, he probably faced the greatest test of faith when God asked Abraham to sacrifice the son of promise, Isaac, Sarah's only son, for whom they both had waited all their lives! What testing this man had, but in the end he still, "Believed God for the promise". I find it very interesting that we know nothing of Abraham's life trials before he crossed over into Canaan? Only after he crossed over do we read of the continuous testing and trails of faith that following one after another. This man was really tested. Testing of this great man of faith and because of those tests Abraham is considered the "father" of faith. (Romans 4:16) We are face with many problems in this world today. The loss of jobs, no money to pay our monthly bills, the price of gas sky high, less food on the table, false leaders in the government and some even behind the pulpit. Through it all we are called to bear our crosses daily, and also to respond with faith to whatever may come our way. And, praise God when we do, we also will be known as those who have "crossed over" and overcame every obstacle and trial of faith...having held firm to every great promise of God! In this day, more than ever, as we face many hardships in our personal lives and we are seeing our country go backwards because of the leadership, a leadership that does not put their faith in God. Our faith must be in the Lord!

Through many dangers, toils and snares we as God's people have already come and he has upheld us and was with us and always will be with us. In closing, let us be like Abraham and keep our eyes on the promise.

The Right Foundation

Therefore whosoever heareth these

sayings of mine, and doeth them, I

will liken him unto a wise man, which 3

built his house upon a rock.

Some unbelievers, who do not know Jesus as their savior, build beautiful mansions with their lives, others build shacks. The same thing can be said of believers, there are shacks and mansions among the believer also. As I studied this passage of scriptures and then narrowed down to this one verse something really stood out to me. Nowhere in this verse does Jesus talk about the quality of the house. He talks only about the foundation of that house. Guess what; If the foundation of that house is not good the quality of rest of that house does not matter. It will crumble and wash away. There must be the right ground work.

The world looks at many non believers who have done many wonderful and great works of kindness, how they give much money to charity, demonstrated acts of kindness, believed in many different types of religion with all their heart and came up with their constructive theories, ideals, with their own set of values and ideas. They wonder how can the Bible can say they do not have salvation apart from Christ. These people have a theory, but it is far from being what is actually right. The Lords answer to that was this: The foundation was wrong. Million dollar mansions and all the thrills that go with it are worthless and worth nothing unless they are built on solid {rock-hard} ground. On the solid rock we must stand, all other is sinking sand! That is what they must know and believe!

We as Christians must also apply this to our life also. Of course if you are a Christian you have already made the right choice, because we have chosen the right foundation. But astonishingly some Christians have a tendency to build elsewhere. We settle the foundation of Christ in our minds, but we move from that foundation as we go through our life building our lives. Whatever we build on other sites will wash away when the storms come. For many Christians very little has been added to their foundation, but a lot has been added to everything else.

There are all types of houses in this world. Large and small, gorgeous and basic, sophisticated and simple, extravagant and humble. No matter what the style is the key question is about the foundation underneath. That is a question a lot of Christians answer in an informal way. Are Jesus' words our foundation for our work, for our attitudes, for our habits, for our use of money and time, for our relationships? If they are not, we build our houses in vain. If they are then whatever we build will be solid. You can say on the solid rock I stand.