Wonderful Jesus!

Tag: Christian

• Don’t Count Yourself Out!

  Posted at 3:38 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 21, 2020

  “2 Chronicles 32:8 -With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. NKJV

  As I mentioned in my previous post, a lot is going on in this battle. I have already mentioned that Hezekiah was a righteous king, doing all that he could to restore the statutes of the Lord in Israel. He tore down everything that was contrary to the Lord, and rebuilt all that was destroyed in an attempt to stomp Him out.

  I like what verse 1 in this chapter of the Bible let’s us know. “After these deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah…” I wrote about this in my last post, but here we see in the word that the attack came after his righteous stand. Just like it does with us today! And at first he compromises with the enemy to try and get him to back off from the battle, but verse two lets us know that Sennacherib had come with a purpose to make war against Jerusalem.

  Each telling of the battle has some really interesting points, but tonight I want to deal with what happened after the compromise. According to verses 3-8, Hezekiah came up with a plan. That plan was not to give in and let Sennacherib totally destroy all that he had accomplished, but to prepare for battle!

  First, Hezekiah realizes that the Assyrians came to battle and he consults with his leaders and commanders. Can I stop for a moment and say that Hezekiah was wise enough to know that he didn’t know everything, or that he could accomplish far more with his team alongside him? Too many leaders in the church and in the world have a complex about what greatness looks like. For some reason they feel that because they are the leader, they know better than anybody else what to do. They need to go back to the school of feet washing so that they can understand that in His kingdom we are to be servants first. I have known a lot of bad leaders and only a few really good leaders. I tip my hat to them! Can I also point out that he recognized that the Assyrians came to battle. It’s time we recognize that every time the devil shows up, he comes prepared to do so battle. So we need to make sure that we are prepared, also.

  Together they decided three things: to shut off the water supply, to rebuild the walls, and to rebuild and equip their forces. There were springs near Jerusalem and a brook that ran nearby. All of this was stopped up to keep the Assyrians from having an ample water supply. They rebuilt the walls, and even built an extra wall outside of that one. Archaeologists have discovered a portion of wall that they think is from this time frame that was strong enough to withstand the battering rams and enclosed a reservoir of water. And lastly, they made weapons and shields to fight the battle.

  But the most important thing that happened was that Hezekiah took courage and talked to his military commanders. He encouraged them to be strong and courageous; to not be afraid, nor to be discouraged. Then he reminds them that the One who was with them, was greater than the one coming against them, and that He would be with them.

  Now how does this help us in the battles of life? After you compromise with the devil, the enemy wants you to think that it’s over for you. You gave up on God, or trusted in your flesh, or your money, or whatever, and now you are on your own. But Hezekiah realized that he was about to face a serious battle and he needed help from God! And so will you!

  One thing that you can do to get ready for war is to get over yourself. You messed up, now get up, repent and prepare for battle!

  Then, you shut off anything that will aid the enemy’s attack on you. That could be an ungodly relationship, or unforgiveness, or idolatry, hatred or selfish ambitions, or drunkenness to name a few. Just shut the door to those things, that the enemy will not have a place to get comfortable and habitat in your life.

  Rebuild the walls. Fix whatever is broken. Get things in order. Repent and recommit your life to Jesus. Get re-established in your church. Let go of ungodly soul ties. Restore godly relationships! Move in the direction that encourages a healthy life in Christ!

  Lastly, get those weapons ready! You have weapons of warfare that are mighty in God (2 Corinthians 4:10)! Those weapons include praise, the name of Jesus, the Blood of the Lamb, the living word of God, and prayer. You will not win this in the flesh. That’s what Hezekiah said that Sennacherib had, the arm of the flesh, but he and Judah had the Lord! So do you!! So see yourself as a winner, and not as a loser.

  And after you have done all of that, you stand! Stand knowing that greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world! (1 John 4:4) Stand knowing that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it. (Philippians 1:6). Stand because the word said, and having done all, you stand! (Ephesians 6:13). Don’t let the devil ever convince you that it is impossible to regain your place with God. In some cases, things could actually get better because you could actually be more committed than you were before having gone through a bad experience. Keep your head up and don’t count yourself out! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Battle plans, Believers, Christian, Victorious Living | 2 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, encouragement, Faith, God, hard times, Hezekiah, Judah, Prayer, Sennacherib, Spiritual warfare, Victorious Living, victory

• The Battle For Family!

  Posted at 5:58 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on February 8, 2020

  Genesis 14:14 – “Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.” NKJV

  Family creates an interesting dynamic to the lives of believers. Some of our family members keep us on our knees praying, confessing, and believing God for their deliverance. If it wasn’t for the fact that we know worry is a sin, some of us would live in the place of worry. But this is nothing new! And there is some great news ahead!

  Abram had been given a directive from God to leave his country, his family, and his heritage to go to a place chosen by God (Genesis 12). And he did! Kinda sorta! He took his nephew, Lot, with him. It wasn’t that Lot was some little kid that needed Abram to raise him, but when Terah left Ur, he had taken Lot, so maybe Abram felt responsible for Lot. Whatever the reason, whatever the case, they are together.

  Both men are prosperous. Verse 2, of chapter 13 lets us know that Abram was very rich in livestock, silver and gold. And we find that Lot is prosperous when the herdsmen of Abram and Lot begin arguing over the water and the land. Not only do they have to share with each other this land and water, but we are told that they have to share with the Canaanites and the Perizzites as well.

  This causes them to have to separate from each other. Lot was given a choice by Abram in verse 9, “Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” Lot chooses to go to Sodom. Some translations of the Bible states that Lot moved near Sodom, while others refer to him moving into Sodom. Which ever way it really was, he eventually ended up living in Sodom.

  In chapter 14, a battle is gearing up, and Sodom and Gomorrah joins with three other kings to fight, five agains four. During the battle, Sodom and Gomorrah are overtaken, along with Lot and his goods. Someone escapes and tells Abram, and he gears up for battle. If you have not read this in its entirety, you should do so, because I can only give highlights. In our key verse, Abram, with his trained men, go in pursuit of Lot to recover him and his goods.

  It doesn’t matter to Abram that Lot made his own choice to live in Sodom. It doesn’t matter to Abram that five kings lost to four. It doesn’t even matter to Abram that in helping Lot, he will end up helping Sodom and Gomorrah, whom I am sure he understood the nature of their lives. No! The only thing that mattered to Abram was that his beloved nephew was in trouble and needed his help!

  I’ve lived long enough to know that we all have that family member that can get into some situations. Not always of their own making, it just seems that trouble follows him or her. But family is family! And if you are a believer, your heart for your family is to see every one of them delivered from the enemy, as Abram felt. Abram pursued those kings, rescued Lot and his positions, and all the prisoners and possessions. In other words, they went into that battle and recovered all, returning quite victorious!

  I am from a large family. I had seven sisters and two brothers. All with families of their own. So we have seen some things. I also married into a good sized family. My husband had five siblings. So our families combined with siblings, with nieces, nephews and cousins are quite extensive. We’ve fought many battles over the year. We’ve lost some (seemingly in the natural), we’ve won all (in the spirit), and we find that we have become trained warriors. There is no sitting back on our family members saying that they got themselves into that, or it’s their lifestyle, or we are tired of them. We fight for our family!

  My mother died from lupus while in her forties, leaving all of us very young. Many years later when my sister was in her forties, they diagnosed her with lupus. She called me and told me about it, saying that she was going die in her forties like mama. Something rose up on the inside of me, we know it was the Holy Ghost, and I decreed the devil is a liar! I prayed for her on that phone and continued to pray until I felt the victory. She went back to the doctor and they couldn’t find it! Glory!!! She’s in her sixties. Another time, she was about to lose her job (not sure why she keeps coming to mind) because a patient lied on her. I want you to know we got to praying and she never did lose that job! Years later, she is still on it!! God is such a good God! We’ve gone to battle against sickness and diseases, financial attacks, legal battles, setups, and put downs, and we find that there is nothing God won’t do!

  I have friends, church members, acquaintances, with similar victories. As a believer, I have noticed that when the devil really gets messy, he starts attacking our family members when he wants to get at us. But we have to have the same mind Abram had, “not my family” knowing that God will go with us! Abram had no fear of losing his life or the battle. God had made a promise to him about inheriting the land of Canaan. He couldn’t inherit it if he was dead. So he went out sure of his victory. God has made us similar promises. Promises of victory! Promises that greater is He that is with us, then he that is in the world! A promise that we are more than a conqueror! A promise of household salvation! A promise of generational blessings!

  Don’t you quit on your family! Even if you believe or know you are the only one praying, the only one standing on the promises, the only one who believes! God cares about your family, because He loves them more than you do! I believe this is the first physical battle mentioned in the Bible and it’s about family! What does that say? God is aware that family can get into some altercations, but He is for you and your family! Don’t accept drug addiction, alcohol addiction, unemployment, sickness and disease, and no other lying attack the devil comes up with! This is your family! Fight, for you are inked in as the winner! Wonderful Jesus!!

  Posted in Battle plans, Believers, Christian, Spiritual warfare, Victorious Living | 4 Comments | Tagged Abraham, Believer, Christian, consequences, encouragement, Family, Genesis 14:14, hard times, Prayer, Spiritual warfare, Victorious Living, victory

• Free From Bondage

  Posted at 2:43 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 3, 2020

  Romans 8:3 – For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh” NKJV

  I thought that I had concluded the matter on being torn between living for God and not quite living for God. I thought I had made the point clear that Paul was not struggling in his flesh. Nor was he writing to say that he understood that we would have struggles in the flesh and that was to be expected. But I may not have been as clear as I originally thought. Or maybe I just feel like I need to say one more thing!

  If we look at Romans 8, reading it without seeing the chapter and verses, we will clearly see that Paul is continuing his thinking from chapter 7. As I have read and reread these chapters I’ve added to my thinking. And I am thinking that maybe, just maybe, Paul addressed this issue in 6-8 because some of them were struggling in their walk with the Lord. Probably some of these Roman Christians had the same problems that some Christians we know seem to have. An inability to live a life of victory!

  So Paul has taken time to explain in Romans 6 that sin should not reign in our lives, for the wages of sin is death. That since we have died to sin, and have been raised to newness of life, that we should no longer live in sin. In Romans 7, Paul shared how before we came to Christ, our life was a struggle because sin had control over us. Even when we wanted to do right, because of our sinful nature, we were powerless to do right. But then he concludes chapter 7, (as we know it) saying that God, through Jesus Christ, broke the power of sin by giving us a new nature! His nature! And sin should no longer have this same hold over our lives that it had prior to us coming to know Jesus as our personal Savior!

  In the first verse of chapter 8, Paul tells us that there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus when we are walking according to the Spirit; but if we are walking according to the flesh, then condemnation is obviously our constant friend. It’s not too often I bring a lot of scriptures in to play because I want to make a quick point, but today I will refer to just a couple other scriptures.

  In Galatians 5:19-22, Paul mentions the works of the flesh: adultery, fornication, idolatry, hatred, jealousies, selfish ambitions, drunkenness (to name a few). And it is easy to see that these are unfamiliar sins, but sins that some of us could easily identify with. But Paul is informing us that when we are doing these things, we are in our flesh, and operating as if our nature has not been changed. And when we do it repeatedly, it’s difficult for us to believe that grace has been given to us, and we feel condemned. And to make sure we are thinking alike, the type of condemnation I am referring to is a feeling that someone strongly disapproves of what you do. So in this case, you should feel condemnation. God strongly disapproves of His people acting as if the crucifixion and the Blood of Jesus was a small thing. As if it wasn’t enough! But I can assure that it was!

  However, the word condemnation in verse 1, is the Greek word, “katakrima”, and it means that a sentence has been pronounced and you are judged. But there is no judgment against the people who are walking after the Spirit, only those walking after the flesh! And since that judgment was paid in full by Christ Jesus, Paul is reminding us that His Blood still works!

  Galatians 5:1, a personal favorite of mine, states: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Paul is the author of these words. In writing to the Galatians he tells them that Christ made them free and they should stand in that freedom and not get tangled again in the bondage of sin. Getting tangled in the bondage of sin again is a choice! Getting set free is a privilege. And all too often Christians are found living beneath their privileges!

  This verse brings us right back to Romans 8, verse 2: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Again, reminding us that we are free from the dictates of sin and death through Christ Jesus! That’s why verse 3 basically refers to chapter 7 when it says, “For what the law could no do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

  Many people believe that they can’t live free from sin. This must disappoint the heart of God because His blood is sufficient for us to live free. We just have to believe that we can live free and trust Him to assist us in doing it! You are free if you are a Christian! You just have to take God at His word that you can live it!

  Charle Finney, in his autobiography, wrote about his salvation experience. He was first interested in the Bible because he was studying law and many of the laws referred to the Bible. Then he started attending church and a prayer meeting. But much to his dismay, he was not impressed, for it seemed that the people prayed, but without much expectation to seeing their prayers answered. He discovered that what was in the Bible and what Christians actually lived was not the same. But one day he decide that the Bible would be his point of reference and sought the Lord for salvation. When he received salvation, he was made completely free of his sin. He never looked back. Does God free some and not others? I think He frees all who believe! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Acts 8:3, Believers, Christian, Romans 7:15, Victorious Living | 4 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, condemnation, freedom, Galatians, Jesus, Paul, Romans 7:15, Romans 8:3, Salvation, Sin, Victorious Living

• Who Will Deliver Me?

  Posted at 1:00 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on January 30, 2020

  Romans 7:15 – I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. NIV

  Today, I want to actually delve into my key text. Paul wrote, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” And traditionally, it is believed that Paul was confessing to having struggles in his life as a Christian that he couldn’t overcome. Nothing could be farther from the truth!

  Paul begins talking about the flesh. Actually, he talks about the spirit and the flesh throughout the book, and we will look at this word today. The Greek word for flesh is “sarx”. In the book of Romans, Paul uses this word frequently. Sarx was used literally to mean our physical body, it was rendered “according to the flesh”, and it was also used to mean “from a human point of view.” But in Romans 7, Paul used it in reference to us being “in the flesh”. In this reference he is actually referring to our sinful human nature, apart from Christ.

  It is to this nature that Paul is referring as he writes in verse 14 (but I am a creature of the flesh, sold into slavery to sin) because it is in our state before Christ that we are slaves to sin. When he gets to verse 15 and states, “I do not understand what. For what I want to do I do not do but what I hate I do,” it is because when we are bound in sin, we do things that God knows we don’t always want to do. Some of those things we hate, but we find ourselves yielding to them again and again.

  How many people do you know, who are bound in their sin, often crying afterwards because deep down in their heart they don’t like the way they are living? They feel as if they have no escape from this desperate and hopeless state that their lives are in and want out of it, by any means necessary! This is what Paul is referring to! Our Pastor likes to say that sin will take you farther than you wanted to go and keep you longer than you wanted to stay. How? Because you are in bondage to sin! Sin is your master!

  Paul states that as a sinner, as an unbeliever, in his sinful state, there was nothing good that lived in him; because even when he was willing to do good, it was not always what he did. And in fact, it wasn’t so much him, as it was his sin nature which dominated his thinking, his actions, his behavior, and basically the way he lived. Before Christ! After all, when he was known as Saul, he was known as a persecutor of the believers, and was in agreement with Stephen being stoned to death. That surely qualifies as no good thing!

  Paul tells the believers in Rome that he discovered that a law was at work in him, a law that evil was present in him when he was trying to do good. Paul, as a Jewish rabbi loved the law, but he saw a lack in his life that the law could not fulfill. He found that even though the law was wonderful, it didn’t have the power to influence his actions and to keep sin at bay. And neither will anyone else’s sins be kept at bay outside of Jesus! He forgives them, then He casts them into the sea of forgetfulness! Glory to God!

  That’s when Paul makes the statement that he is a wretched man and asks, “Who will deliver me from this state of sin, this spiritual death?” People are still asking this question. And it’s a necessary one, because it’s this question that opens a heart to the gospel of Jesus Christ. But again, I believe that Paul is not speaking in a present tense of his state, but more in a reflective sense of where he was at before his Damascus Road experience and how he got to where he was after it!

  Really, in all honest, chapter 8 breaks it down further and makes it clearer that Paul was not speaking as a believer who struggled with his flesh. He actually answers his own question by saying, “Thanks be to God (for my deliverance) through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (AMP)

  Paul was giving God praise for delivering him from that state of warring in his soul: trying to be good when in actuality what he did was evil. There are many today who think that because they do good, that is an entrance way to God, but your righteous or good deeds are as filthy rags before the Father and therefore unacceptable. Basically, that was Paul’s message in chapter 7. The law, even though it is spiritual cannot and will not save you from your sin nature. It only has the power to reveal your sin, the penalty of sin, and a loving Father who says, you can’t do enough in the flesh to be free from sin.

  When I read this chapter, I understand that without chapters 6 and 8, it could easily sound like Paul had a hard time being a Christian. However, if you read the rest of the New Testament, there is no evidence that Paul struggled with his flesh, incapable of living the life that Jesus required of him. Of us all! This is Paul who emphatically stated that he was ready to die for the cause of Christ. A man with this type of dedication isn’t flaky with his lifestyle. He isn’t struggling day in and day out to live for God!

  But here’s the most profound part of it all! If you believe that this chapter is actually about Paul struggling as a believer and therefore, of course you will; then you have bought into the lie of the devil that you can’t live a holy life for God. And that’s the biggest tragedy of the lie! Because the answer to “who can deliver you” is the same for you as it was for Paul, “Jesus!” His blood is sufficient to redeem you! His blood is sufficient to free you! And His blood is sufficient to keep you! There’s so much more than I can say, but I will end here with this parting word: He is well able to deliver you! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, freedom, Romans 7:15, Satan, Victorious Living | 4 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, encouragement, freedom, hard times, Jesus, righteousness, Romans 7:15, Salvation, Sin, Sinner, Victorious Living, victory

• Torn Between Two Worlds-Part 2

  Posted at 1:00 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on January 28, 2020

  Romans 7:15 – “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

  Paul begins his discourse in chapter 7 referencing the jurisdiction of the law over a person for as long as he lives. He uses the example of a wife’s commitment to her husband until his departure as an example of the legal binding of the law. He continues by reminding the readers that if a wife was to become involved with a man while her husband is alive, she will be an adulteress. This principle is still in affect today!

  In verse 4, Paul tells the believers in the Roman church that they died to the Law through the crucified body of Christ, so that they might belong to Him and bear fruit for God. In verse 5, Paul tells them that when we were living in the flesh, (not our physical bodies, but our spiritually dead state), we were trapped in sinful passions, a fact that the Law made known to us. And because we were in that state, we were separated from God and our sinful ways led to our being spiritually dead.

  When we read verse 6, Paul reminds the Roman believers that we have been released from the Law and the penalty of the Law, to which we had been held captive, so that we could now serve God in the newness of the Spirit. Paul is warming up to his subject. He is getting ready to make a point, and in doing so, he is laying the ground work. Since he is probably talking to Jewish converts, (because he mentioned that they knew the Law) he is using that which they already understand, to help them to understand something equally as important. Their freedom in Christ Jesus!

  Looking at verse 7, Paul asks the question, “Is the Law sin?” Then, he answers it by stating, “Certainly not!” Paul goes on to tell the Roman believers that without the Law we wouldn’t know what sin is. In the Law we learned coveting was sin, because the Law told us not to covet that which belongs to another. In the law we learned that we are not to lie, to steal, or commit murder because it is sin, and therefore, when we do these things we sin. The Law taught us this! However, Paul states, that sin found an opportunity to make itself known by stirring up every sinful desire that the Law spoke against. Before the Law was given, we didn’t even know or recognize sin because it was dead to us; but once we understood the law, we died to it because it became alive in us.

  In verse 10, Paul again writes and says that the Law which was intended to bring life, actually proved to bring us death. Still, in answering his question, “Is the Law sin?,” Paul lets us know that the Law is holy, righteous and good! And that through the Law sin is revealed as sinful! Paul is making the point that he is not trying to say that Law is sinful, because it is not, but that the Law revealed that mankind by nature, is sinful.

  Now let’s just stop a minute and think about all of this. In order for any of us to become saved, redeemed, born again, or a child of God (pick your term), we must come to grips with the nature of sin that is within all of us before Christ. In verses 1-13, Paul is just breaking down for us the nature of sin as revealed through the Law. We understand that the Law is God’s word to mankind and as such is holy, righteous, and good. Yet, we also understand that before He gave the law and revealed what sin was, there was no accountability between man and God for that sin.

  Through the Law, God established a system, whereby His people were now made accountable of the things that they did or did not do. When they wronged another it was sin. When they lied, it was sinned. When they worked on the Sabbath, it was sin. When they worshipped another God, again, it was sin. Even today, before we can lead anyone to the cross for salvation, we have to help them to understand that their life prior to God was a life filled with sin. That God Himself declared that it was a life a sin, separated from Him, and that if we died in this sin, we would live a Christ-less eternity. All of this that Paul is teaching, would be a lesson or sermon taught to even new believers to help them to understand theologically their salvation.

  And with all of this revelation of what sin was came an understanding that we must pay for sin. God’s judgment is that the payment was death! Something or someone was to shed blood to cover the sin. Therefore, in the Law, where God revealed sin, He also revealed the method of dealing with sin. If you murdered someone, you had to die. If you stole, you had to repay. If you sinned against Him, you had to provide a sacrifice. All of this teaching that Paul is giving to the Roman believers is leading to a point. Join me next time, as I bring the point home. Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, God, Romans 7:15, Sin, Victorious Living | 0 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, consequences, God, holy, Jesus, John 15:7, Salvation, Sin, word of God

• Torn Between Two Worlds?

  Posted at 6:15 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on January 25, 2020

  Romans 7:15 – I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

  I’ve been contemplating this chapter for years, as have many. And for some reason, when I read chapter 7, I walk away with an entirely different point of view than many Christians. As a matter of fact, I have often heard people use this passage (verses 14-25) to justify their inability to live the Christian life.

  These individuals explain, quite passionately, that if Paul, the great Apostle, struggled in his flesh, well, all the more reason they should struggle! Well, I don’t believe this is what Paul was saying at all! And it’s impossible to go into depth about all he did say with a blog, but I will do my best!

  Let me remind you that Paul was indeed writing a letter to the Roman believers, actually to the church in Rome. When I looked up the history of the book of Romans, (bible.org) I read these words and liked what the author had to say:

  “Romans is placed first among Paul’s letters in the New Testament not only because it is his longest work, but because it also furnishes a massive and basic theological frame-work for the whole collection of the apostle’s writings.”

  Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that we understand the theological principles set forth in the book of Romans and especially, in my opinion, in Romans 7. It lays a real groundwork for our belief system. And this book, one of my personal favorites, is where Paul takes time to break down the theology of Christianity.

  Keeping Romans 7 in context, when chapters 6 and 8 are read along with it, there’s no way to walk away thinking that Paul was saying that he was struggling in his flesh as a Christian, and that it was simply the way of life. If you read the entire New Testament, there is no other place where you can find scripture and verse to show Paul as such, a struggling believer. As a matter of fact, after reading the New Testament, most people I know walk away feeling that Paul was over the top in his faith and relationship with Jesus, and in a league of his own! So not a struggler!

  Romans 6 ends with Paul making a foundational point about redemption. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And in making this point, he continues in chapter 7 to express the power of sin, and our inability outside of Christ to get the victory over sin. Furthermore, in the outline on Bible.org, this chapter is listed under the section of sanctification and titled, “Freedom in the New Life.” Now that doesn’t sound like an individual who can’t live for Jesus because his flesh is too strong. God forbid! Then in chapter 8 he writes of the power of walking after the Spirit! Paul is talking, not about a defeated life of dealing with the weaknesses of our flesh, but the Spirit’s ability to deliver us and to lead us in a life of victory!

  So for now, I just want to say to you, if you have been struggling in your walk with the Lord, and you have been using this chapter as your crutch, in the next couple of blogs I am snatching that crutch away! God’s heart for us is not that we live life between two worlds. He has not redeemed us from sin that sin may still reign in our mortal bodies. Paul mentions this in chapter 6, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” Proof positive that we are not to continually struggle over sin. The battle over sin was won at Calvary, and the Holy Spirit is at work in us to maintain that victory! But we have to stop seeing ourselves as wretched, struggling sinners, and begin to see ourselves as Christ sees us!

  Join me for the next few blogs as I endeavor to explain some of what is being addressed in this chapter. I believe the devil likes it when we think that sin is more power than the cross of Calvary. And that’s just not true! Jesus defeated Satan and the power of sin, once and for all, and it was that we might live life free of the power of sin! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, freedom, Romans 7:15, Sin | 4 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, encouragement, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Romans 7:15, Salvation, Sin, Sinner, Victorious Living, victory

• Under the Influence!

  Posted at 3:15 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 24, 2020

  Luke 4:1 – “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,”

  Today, we are influenced by many things. When someone is stopped by the police and that individual has been drinking, we say they are under the influence of the alcohol. When people are flying high and acting out of character, we say that they are under the influence of a drug, or a demon.

  Unfortunately, we can be under the influence of so much more! Influence is the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc. of others. Every where you look and everywhere you go, someone is trying to influence you.

  Whether that influence is for good or for evil; or whether that influence is direct or indirect, make no mistake, we are affected by the people and things around us. Other powerful influences on mankind include the music we listen to, the movies and shows we watch, the books we read. For example, when a young man wants to propose to his love, he sets the mood with music, flowers, and a meal to influence her decision positively. When in the store, different types of music is played to influence your spending. When you read the word of God your faith in Him grows. When you are in a church service, soft quiet music is played to put you in a reverential mood, and so forth and so on.

  But in our verse for today, Jesus is influenced by the Spirit of God and led to a destination. Luke wrote that Jesus was so full of the Holy Ghost that He led Jesus from Jordan and to the wilderness (Luke 4). The devil thought He had Jesus over a barrel. After all, He had been fasting for quite some time. But the Spirit of God led Him to fast and led Him to the wilderness to meet up with the devil, when the devil thought he was setting up the meeting. And because He was led of the Spirit, He whipped up on the devil with the Word of God!

  Jesus’ victory was assured because of the leading of the Holy Spirit. We can learn a very important lesson from this verse: If God leads us to a place or in a situation, our victory is guaranteed! And if He doesn’t lead us, and we find ourselves in a tough spot, we can turn to Him for direction to come out victorious! Hallelujah!

  Let’s return to the definition of the word influence and put the Holy Ghost in strategic places. When the Holy Spirit’s influence is upon your life, He is a compelling force on your behavior, your actions, your opinions, your words, and even your thoughts. His influence produces the desired effects upon every area of your life that you can name. He governs where you go, or don’t go; what you do or don’t do, what you say or don’t say, because you are under the influence. People worry about how to obey God’s rules. I like to say if we trust His leading, the rules will be taken care of! He will never lead us astray!

  Under the influence of the Holy Spirit we are able to live by faith as the word declares. Under the influence we are able to forgive others! Under the influence we can live a life free of sin! Under the influence we can operate in the supernatural. Under the influence we can do what God says we can do, we can have what He says we can have, and we can be all that He calls us to be! Under the influence!

  Don’t settle for a cheap imitation of influence when you can be influenced by the Spirit of God! Make up your mind today that His influence will have the greatest impact on your life, on your behavior, on your conversation, on your walk. The word tells us that those who are led by His Spirit are the children of God! Looking for proof that you belong to the Lord? Well, are you under His influence? Wonderful Jesus!!

  Posted in Attitude, Christian, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Luke 4:1, Victorious Living | 2 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, Faith, Forgiveness, Holy Spirit, Jesus, led by the Spirit, Luke 4, obedience, victory, word of God

• Bearing the Mark!

  Posted at 1:00 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on January 21, 2020

  Galatians 6:17 -From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

  It’s amazing to me how I can read the Bible and after so many years, and so many times reading it, can find something interesting, something that stands out or speak to me, as if I have never read it before. Such was the case with this scripture.

  I wrote a blog on the thorn in Paul’s flesh during my first year of blogging. I’ve often wondered how people read that and feel that Paul was referring to some sickness that would not go away. And when I read this chapter, I often wondered why Paul said that the Galatians would have plucked out their eyes to give to him (4:16). But as I read it a couple nights ago, I had a different thought that I wanted to share with you.

  For some reason when I read this scripture I thought of the famous picture of the slave that was flogged, and how they had photographed his back to show the marks of his beatings. It resembles vines to me. And I don’t even want to think about the pain he obviously endured.

  

  As I read the above verse, and I thought of this picture, it was if I understood these words and what Paul was trying to convey. Let me explain:

  In 2 Corinthians 11:23, Paul shares a long list of many of the things he suffered. Things that are not talked about in detail in the Bible. But Paul mentions that he was beaten by the Jews five times with 39 lashes, three times he was beaten with rods, and he was even stoned. Look at this man’s back. We are clueless as to how many times he was whipped, but the scars are there, evidence of what he had to bear.

  After Jesus was beaten, before His crucifixion, it is said of Him that there was no beauty in Him that we should desire Him (Isaiah 53). What do you suppose that Paul looked like after 5 beatings with cords, three beatings with rods, and a stoning? I would say, that he was scarred pretty badly. Especially immediately following one of these beatings when he was probably bloody, swollen, and barely able to move. I can well imagine if you had seen him after one of these beatings, you would have turned away from looking at him, as would most people. As they did to Jesus! And if you knew him, you would have wanted to offer him whatever you could, even you eyes, if you thought it would ease the pain that he was carrying.

  When he was stoned, dragged out of the city, and thrown outside the gates, because they thought he was dead; he had to be pretty bad off. But the disciples gathered around him, and probably prayed, and God raised him up!

  Even in that, he was probably pretty scarred up. And in his thinking, I am sure, for him, they were the marks of Christ that he bore in his body. Marks, that in some ways, caused others to be offended by his presence, but marks that were a testament of the sufferings he endured for the Lord, sufferings Jesus warned him about. (See Acts 9:13).

  I believe Paul’s body was healed multiple times by the Lord, but that doesn’t mean that He removed the scars from His body. Could He have done that? Yes, of course He could! But did He do that? I’m not so sure.

  If you read Galatians from beginning to end, this book’s theme could easily be about circumcision as we know it was the mark of Judaism. But in this verse, Paul is basically stating that he doesn’t want to keep answering to circumcision when he carries the marks of Jesus in his body.

  Someone once said to me that they wanted to have a scripture tattooed on their body so that people would know that they loved Jesus. But the word says that God will write them in our hearts. (Hebrews 8:10) We don’t need to intentionally mark up our bodies to show that we love and honor God. But sometimes, scars are left after the battle!

  You see, I got to thinking about the scars, or marks of the Lord Jesus that we as Christians can bear. I would venture to say that those who are persecuted for their faith in Pakistan, Russia, Syria, Tanzania, India and many other countries, could easily identify with Paul. They too have suffered greatly for the faith in the Lord. They have hidden in secret meetings to have fellowship. They have been dragged out of their homes, thrown into prison, beaten, killed, stoned, and all sorts of heartrending experiences for the cause of Christ. But I have no such story, no such pain. So I won’t belittle what they experience and try to glorify what I have experienced to say that I too bear marks in my body for the gospel! I salute their courage in the face of adversity and their stand for the Lord! May God send protecting and ministering spirits to assist them in their walk!

  But the scars in my soul I can talk about! And maybe, just maybe you can identify with them both! It is for you, my fellow believers around the world, who know firsthand what Paul went through, because you are living it every day, that I write this blog. I am thinking of you, praying for you this day! And I just wanted to take some time and let you know that you are not forgotten! You are on the Father’s heart, and He has placed you on the hearts of so many others! Be encouraged and stand in the faith! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, encouragement, Galatians 6:17, persecution, Victorious Living | 0 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, encouragement, encouragemnt, Galatians 6:17, hard times, Jesus, Kingdom of God, protection, Victorious Living

• Serious Business!

  Posted at 1:00 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on January 14, 2020

  Ezra 8:22-23 -For I was ashamed to request troops and horsemen from the king to protect us from the enemy along the way, because we had told the king, “The hand of our God is favorable toward all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who abandon (turn away from) Him.” So we fasted and sought [help from] our God concerning this [matter], and He heard our plea.” AMP

  At the beginning of the year, many churches take time to do extended fasting. Our church is right there with them. On yesterday, I had to preach on fasting and prayer, and as I sought the Lord, His word to me was that fasting is “serious business!” Now technically, we all know that already, but in reality we may not fast and pray as if it is serious business.

  Ezra understood the power of fasting and prayer. He was leading a group of Israelites from Babylon back to Jerusalem. The king had given him much favor and many possessions for his travel and the work in Jerusalem. He had also given him the artifacts that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple. So Ezra had a lot of people in his care and much wealth.

  When it was time to leave, Ezra said that he was embarrassed to ask the king for an escort to protect them from bandits along the way. After all, he had told the king that His God knows how to look after His people! That’s why he said that he felt as if he couldn’t ask the king’s help in getting safely to Jerusalem. So he did what he knew to do, he called a fast and they prayed. And God heard.

  This was serious business. After his testimony to the goodness of God, he needed to act on his faith and trust that God would be faithful! I am pretty sure that no one was sneaking off to get food to eat or to socialize during this time. Every one knew the seriousness of the hour and everyone got involved in the fast!

  This reminds me of Nineveh. In the book of Jonah, Jonah was upset that God asked him to go warn the city of Nineveh that He would destroy them in 40 days. So he took off and ended up in the belly of a great fish. (I believe it was last summer that I learned of a whale shark that grows to the size of school bus and doesn’t eat meat. I wondered if that was the offspring of Jonah’s whale). Anyway, when Jonah was free again, he went to Nineveh as instructed. As soon as the people heard the proclamation, they began fasting. And when the king heard, he decreed that not only were the people to fast, but the animals and children as well. These people were not the children of God, but the king thought that if they fasted and repented that maybe God wouldn’t destroy them. That got God’s attention and He abandoned His plans to destroy the city.

  What do you do when you are in a tight place? Do you automatically think it’s time to fast? A lot of the time I do, but sometimes it doesn’t cross my mind. I just react in my flesh. I whine, I complain, and I even become frustrated having to fight discouragement. One would think that if I know the solution that works that I would always apply it. But I don’t! How about you? Do you automatically fast and pray when difficulty arises? Do you think of God coming through or how you can figure this out? Do you cry out to God with your whole heart knowing that the answer you need is in Him? Well, I can assure you that I have missed it to! If the ungodly can fast and pray and see God move, surely His children can!

  This year I plan to do so much better in trusting Him. I plan to spend much more time fasting and praying this year than I have in quite some time. Not only for the difficult times or when I have to preach, but for situations that wont’ change but need to change. For attitudes and thinking that cause His heart to hurt. For people I know who need to be saved, or healed, or set free. Yep, this year will find me seeking God as if I know that things are serious and fasting and praying is serious business! I invite you to do the same. Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Attitude, Believers, Christian, Ezra 8:22-23, Fasting, Victorious Living | 0 Comments | Tagged Attitude, Christian, Ezra, Ezra 8:22-23, Faith, Fasting, Jonah, Nineveh, Prayer

• Sins, Transgressions, and Iniquities

  Posted at 1:00 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on January 10, 2020

  Psalm 32:5 – I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

  In a conversation with someone, I was asked if I could share what the differences was between sins, transgressions and iniquities. I felt that I understood iniquity, but was not really sure about how the others lined up, so I did a little study.

  First, I had to find a verse that uses more than one of these terms in it to show that they were somehow different. In this particular psalm, David begins by rejoicing over forgiveness. But as he continues, he acknowledges with this psalm that there are different types of sin. So I just want to share what I have discovered and maybe help clarify it for us.

  The first word for sin is “chattath”. It means a “coming short” or “falling short” of a mark. In my Logos commentary it describes “chattath” like the sport of archery, where the individual releases the arrow but it falls short of the target. In this case, the target is God’s law and we as human beings can fail to measure up to it, even as believers. So this sin is in relationship to the word of God.

  What could that look like? I think this could involve those sins that are directly spoken of in the word of God: adultery, fornication, lying, stealing, etc. These things are sins, and they definitely affect humanity, but they are sins against the word of God. Thus when committed we have fallen short of the mark of what God’s word says to us.

  The next word for sin is “transgression” which in Hebrew is “peshah”, and it’s literal meaning is “a going away or “departure” or “a rebellion”. This would be sin that directly affects our relationship with God.

  What is this rebellion all about? If we are turning away, could this be backsliding? How about atheism and other cults where we are in obvious rebellion to the One who sent His Son for us? I’m just trying to make a correlation! And could some of those “chattath” sins be included when we just make up mind that we don’t care what God said about a thing, we are going to do what we want? Just wondering! David seemed to feel that he had done them all, maybe in the same setting at the same time. It’s possible!

  The last word for sin in this verse is iniquity, derived from the Hebrew word “hawon”. It means “corrupt,” ”twisted,” or “crooked.” And in the Hebrew interlinear bible it is translated depravity. This is the type of sin that relates to humanity. We know that man can get into depravity. I choose not to mention things that are considered depravity. But we can all recognize the corrupt, twisted, and crooked things that people do. And when people are involved in these types of things it can get pretty devastating to humanity. Committing adultery and having someone’s husband killed qualifies in my book as twisted.

  Well, I don’t know if I have helped the discussion or made it more confusing; I’ll have to study it some more. But I couldn’t get away from the question and therefore I knew that I had to explore it!! One final thought, make no mistake about it, all of these sins are forgivable! And whether you can identify them or not, be sure to repent of them and receive the blessedness of forgiveness! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, Forgiveness, Psalm 32:5, Sin, Victorious Living | 4 Comments | Tagged Christian, Forgiveness, iniquity, Psalm 32:5, Sin, transgression

• Search for:

• Recent Posts

  • Don’t Count Yourself Out!
  • Don’t Compromise With the Enemy!
  • I’m Melting, I’m Melting!
  • The Shout of Victory!
  • The Battle For Family!

• Categories

  • Victorious Living (90)
  • Christian (47)
  • Believers (37)
  • Faith (29)
  • encouragement (26)
  • Jesus (20)
  • testimony (19)
  • Uncategorized (16)
  • Healing (12)
  • the Word of God (11)