The Joys of Trusting God

Psalm 40:1-5

We see so many Christian people that seem so sad and they feel beat down by the pressures and the problems of this life, Facing Trials and temptations on every hand.

King David gives us a firsthand personal witness of the benefits and joys of trusting God with all the problems of life. No matter what he faced, David had the privilege of taking everything to God and then fully trusting Him with the problems in his life. In the first 3 verses David tells us the benefits of confidence in God.

In Psalms 40:1-3 (NLT) ¹ I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. ² He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. ³ He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

 David  gives us a report of how God delivered him from all his troubles. V:1 The first benefit is patience! David says he had learned to wait on God to move and help him.

David could even have patience while waiting for God to help him. Then David says God turned to face him and inclined His ear (bent down to hear) his request. God promises that He will hear us when we continue to ask, seek and knock, with continuous praying. Matthew 7:7 (NLT) “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 

V:2 The next benefit of having confidence in God is His answer. David says he was going through a time of despair or hopelessness. He felt the pressure of his many enemies and He was in helpless in the mud and mire of guilt for his sins before God. But when he prayed to God out of his pitiful state, God changed his guilt of sin to pardon. He changed his corruption to holiness, his despair to joy. God had now set David’s feet on solid ground by giving power over sin to where he could walk steadily in the paths of God’s leading.

V:3 Another benefit of confidence on God is a new song of praise to God for His goodness. God will bring a new song to your heart when He delivers you. We are to tell others about God’s mercy and grace in delivering us from our hopeless problems and troubles. When we do we will see another benefit of our confidence in God and that is people will see what He has done and they will put their trust in God as well.

In the next two verses David gives us encouragement to commit our troubles and our lives to God.  Psalms 40:4-5 (NLT) ⁴ Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols.

V:4 In this verse we see the joys and blessedness of trusting God. We will have no confidence in arrogant people (those who are full of self and think they know it all) and those that brag about what they can do; God says the arm of flesh will always fail you. Jeremiah 17:5 (NLT) ⁵ This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.

Neither will we trust in idols. Idols are anything that takes up more of our time then God does! People look to everything the world has to offer (idols) trying to escape from their despair and hopelessness. We Christians will look only to God!

V:5 ⁵ O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

We are filled with joy when we remember the wonders God has performed for us. Count your many blessings, name then one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done. Look at the wonders of creation, the vastness and order of the universe and beyond. Look at the wonders here on earth, Food, clothing, houses, cars, TVs, luxury items!  Nature itself is a wonder of God. God’s wonders happen every day. As a pastor, I have seen many miracles and wonders that God has performed in people’s lives. They are too numerous to mention, we would forget some. One of the joys and blessings of trusting God is there is no one equal to Him. Many people fear the devil instead of God. The devil is not omnipotent, omniscient, he cannot create. He came to deceive, steal, kill, and destroy. Let’s take David’s personal witness and take everything to the highest authority there is. God invites us come to Him day or night. We have a High Priest who understands our need and presents our case.Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT) ¹⁴ So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. ¹⁵ This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Invitation: Have you experienced the joys of trusting God lately? Take your worries, fears and doubts to God right now as He gives you this invitation to come to Him.  Have you fully trusted Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? Ask Him to forgive your sins against God and invite Him into your heart. Come to Him while He is near and experience the joys of trusting God!

The Hope of Glory

Intro: I have two questions for you! Are you a saint or sinner? Now in God’s eyes, are you a saint or sinner? God calls us saints 101 times in the K.J.V. How many Christians do you know who have been forgiven of their sins but still do not see themselves as a saint, but a sinner  still struggling with the past and unable to forgive themselves..                                                                                                       

Some Christians feel condemned in themselves because they have let God down in some way.

And they go on trying to please God by their works and efforts to keep His laws.  But the bible plainly states that:

Romans 3:20 (NLT)  No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. Romans 5:20-21 (NLT)
²⁰ But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.
²¹ So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We are made right with God by His wonderful grace through Jesus Christ.

The bible says in Colossians 1:26-28 (NKJV) ²⁶ The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. ²⁷ To them [saints] God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope [confident expectation] of glory. ²⁸ Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

The mystery is that Christ actually lives within the believer. When God looks at you, He sees Christ in you. He is our hope of spending eternity in glory.

This is the truth of the Indwelling Christ—that Christ actually lives within the hearts and lives of believers and that His presence is their guarantee of living forever in glory and being righteous in our standing before God. The presence of Jesus is a living, eternal presence. He died, but He did not stay dead. He arose and conquered death; He arose to live forever. Now think: if Jesus Christ is living forever and He dwells within the believer, then that means the believer lives eternally. He never dies.                          Everyone who has Christ dwelling within will be presented as perfect before the Father God.

Romans 8:1 (NLT)  So now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Because we are in Christ & He is in us, we are no longer condemned in God’s eyes.

  We must see ourselves as God does. Don’t condemn what God has forgiven in Christ.                 

Romans 6:1-14 (NLT)
¹ Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?
² Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?
³ Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?
⁴ For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
⁵ Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.
⁶ We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.
⁷ For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
⁸ And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.
⁹ We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.
¹⁰ When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God.
¹¹ So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
¹² Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.
¹³ Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
¹⁴ Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

We are not to see ourselves as sinners, but because of Christ in us we are dead to sin. It no longer has power over us because we have been crucified with Christ. We have died to sin and are to consider [think through the truth of] ourselves as crucified with Christ and therefore dead to sin and alive to God through Jesus Christ. Galatians 2:20 (NLT) My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. We are to live daily in Christ Jesus as we surrender our lives daily to Him and pursue Him through time alone in prayer, bible reading, study and meditation. We should be thankful and surrender our lives to Jesus and be obedient to Him. Jesus in you is the hope of glory.

This is the way to be fully pleasing to God the Father.

Invitation: Is Christ in you? Do you have the hope of glory! Pray and ask Jesus to forgive your sins and invite Him into your life right now to give you the hope of glory and eternity in Heaven!

Do Not Fret

Psalms 37:1-11 (NKJV)

¹ A Psalm of David. Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 

² For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 

³ Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 

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. 

⁶ He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 

⁷ Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 

⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret--it only causes harm. 

⁹ For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. 

¹⁰ For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.

¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 

Intro: As we look and listen to the people around us, we see people that live as they want; they are arrogant, rude and never recognize that God exists. They seem to prosper. If we aren’t careful we begin to envy them and begin to fret and be troubled at what we see. God has a word for us His people.

37:1. Do not fret because of evildoers. This psalm begins with the first great lesson on how to live in light of the wicked who prosper around us. That lesson is, Fret not. Don’t agonize, be troubled or concerned. It would not be a sin for one who only knows God as Creator to fret, be worried, troubled or concerned. They doubt God’s love and purposes for them. But we who know Jesus as our Savior and Lord, We know God as our Father, for us to fret and doubt God’s purpose and saving power and tender love is wrong indeed. The verses that follow explain that we, God’s people, are in a much better position than the wicked.

V:2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass. As the book of Job says, “the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment” (Job 20:5). Why should God’s righteous children be envious of that? What’s the sure cure for fretting?

V:3. Trust in the Lord. Have confidence and dependence on God. If you are concerned with those around you who live wickedly and prosper, here is the second lesson that the psalmist would teach us. The cure for fretting is faith. Regardless of the circumstances around us, we must still trust in the Lord. But there is more, and do good. True faith always produces good works. A faith that trusts in the Lord will find active outlet. And feed on His faithfulness. We feed our mind and spirit with God’s promises to us. The Good Shepherd is always present to care for His sheep. He is ever faithful. Feed on this thought, and you will fret not. V:4. Delight yourself also in the Lord. Means have pleasure and joy in the Lord. Here is the third lesson we must learn. If we make the Lord God the object of our affection, His word our meditation, and then our activity, then we will find ourselves rejoicing in the Spirit. Evildoers delight in their position in this world; but as a child of God, if you delight in yours, you will never envy theirs. And He shall give you the desires of your heart. When we find pleasure in the Lord God, we will then be rewarded with our innermost desires; we will have all that God intends for us to have.

VS:5–6. Commit your way unto the Lord. The psalmist now teaches us a fourth lesson in understanding why the wicked apparently prosper while we are afflicted. To have that peace and understanding, we must cast ourselves and our lives unreservedly upon God, yield ourselves wholly to Him, and cultivate the habit of placing our lives in His hands. There can be no better medicine to dispel envy and fretting. And He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light. If the prosperity of the wicked causes us to fret, we can always be assured that God will ultimately make things right. Our righteous living will be brought to light. Our justice, honesty and integrity will shine bright as the noonday sun.

V:7. And now the fifth lesson that the psalmist would teach: Rest- [relax] in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Wait patiently does not mean inactivity, but literally, this means to be silent, not to murmur as you wait for God to move. That is, do not make any complaint when the wicked prosper around us. To fulfill this lesson requires a special unction of grace. We must trust and recognize that God is fully in control of the situation and simply wait for Him to work it out to our good and His glory. Synchronize your life with His timetable, and you will have learned how this lesson well.

VS:8–10. In these verses is God’s  advice concerning the inheritance of the wicked, as opposed to the inheritance of the righteous. As we cease fretting about those who prosper around us and forsake our wrath and anger, we can see more clearly that evildoers shall be cut off. Those who are evildoers will certainly, sooner or later, be cut down, as the grass of the field. Although we may only partially see this prophecy fulfilled in our lifetime, it will find its complete fulfillment in “…Revelation 20:11-15 (NKJV)
¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. ¹⁴ Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
¹⁵ And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. The wicked shall be thrown into the lake of fire. The next verse tells us what will happen to God’s righteous people.

V:11. But the meek shall inherit the earth. This prophecy was reiterated by the Lord Jesus.                                               Matthew 5:5 (NKJV) ⁵ Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Meek; means to have a strong, but tender and humble, life. It is a strong yet teachable spirit. It is not being weak, bowing or spineless. It is a person who is strong, very strong, yet is humble and tender. It is a person with all the emotions and ability to take and conquer, but is able to control himself. It is discipline—a person disciplined because he is God-controlled. Revelation 20:6 (NKJV) ⁶ Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.                    And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. There may not be an abundance of peace now on this earth, but an abundance of peace is ours when we fret not and trust God. We relax in Him and wait for Him to move. We God’s righteous people do not have to fret. The wicked face God’s judgment and we will inherit the earth and we shall forever delight ourselves in the abundance of peace as we rule and reign with Christ.

Invitation: Have you ever trusted the Jesus to save your soul? Romans 3:23 says we have all fallen short of God’s glory. Have you ever confessed your sins and asked Jesus to forgive you? If not you will never have peace and you will never enter God’s kingdom. Why won’t you do that now in the privacy of your own home, office, or wherever you are reading this? You don’t want to put it off. Death is certain, and Hell is hot!

A Prayer For You

I pray God will bless all those who visit this page. This webpage is designed to bring you closer to God. He alone brings us the joy and contentment that we all seek. May you discover more wisdom and knowledge of God as you read these articles. And may you experience Him more and more in your daily lives.

From Old to New

John 2:1-11 (NKJV) 

¹ On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 

² Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 

³ And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." 

⁴ Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." 

⁵ His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."

⁶ Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 

⁷ Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 

⁸ And He said to them,"Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it.

⁹ When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 

¹⁰ And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"  

¹¹ This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. 

This is the first miracle or sign of seven John would record in his gospel account. Jesus used this wedding to reveal His glory which was His power over nature, death, sin, and who He was, the promised Messiah. His mission, to change old spiritually dead men into new born again saints. By this miracle Jesus would demonstrate He was sent from God to save mankind.

I. The wedding reminds us of our relationship with Jesus. When we were saved, We became betrothed to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2 (NKJV) For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Romans 7:4 (NKJV) Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. We are spiritually united as one with Christ.

II. The wedding reminds us of the bride price Jesus paid for us to be His bride. 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NKJV) ¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed, [payed for, bought back from satan], with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

III. The marriage celebration reminds us of our celebration to come at the marriage of the Lamb when our marriage to Jesus will be consummated or finalized. Revelation 19:7 (NKJV) Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."                                                                       IV. The 6 water pots symbolized the O.T. Covenant of law and works. Man's attempts to work his way to God thru the keeping of 10 commandments. A covenant that they could not keep. The water pots were for Ceremonial cleansing and remind us of man's attempt to please God from outward cleansing and appearance. The Ten Commandments were given to show all mankind the impossibility of their efforts to please God. There must be a heart change to please God and the turning of water into wine symbolizes that change that can only be brought about by the power of Jesus Christ at salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The new wine symbolizes the joy salvation brings and the new wine symbolizes the blood which Jesus shed to purchase the new covenant. Just as Jesus changed the elements of water to wine, Jesus changes a mans spirit from lost to saved, from the old man dead in sin to a new man alive in the spirit. It changes a man's spirit form fleshly, worldly thinking to spiritual and heavenly thinking. Jesus changes mankind’s direction from hell to heaven. As the new wine brought joy, Jesus brings joy to our spirit and soul. Just as wine was used to affirm marriage covenant between husband and wife, it also affirms the covenant between Jesus and us. We celebrate and affirm that covenant each time we participate in Lord's Supper.      V. In verse 10 the new wine Jesus made was better than the old aged wine. God saved the best for last and we are recipients of that new covenant which we celebrated every time we observe communion or the "Lord's Supper."                                                                        VI. The new covenant of grace we have with God through the blood of Jesus, is much better than the old covenant of law which no one could keep and was broken time and time again by the Jews. God gave the old covenant first to show mankind they could not please Him by their efforts to keep His laws and to turn them to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. God promised to change that old covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-33 (NKJV) 

³¹ "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- ³² not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. ³³ But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

VII. In performing this miracle of changing water into wine, Jesus was saying that He was the One thru which the new covenant would come. By His Holy Spirit that comes in at rebirth, God would put His law in their minds and hearts. His Spirit would speak directly to our minds and hearts. This miracle was the beginning of many more that Jesus would perform while on this earth.

Many have wondered why Jesus would “waste” his powers on performing a miracle of providing wine for a wedding feast, a party. But all of Jesus’ miracles had a purpose beyond alleviating suffering; they were a display of his glory. The miracles recorded in John’s Gospel (and indeed all the miracles recorded by the other Gospel writers) demonstrated God’s great love for people and his concern for their individual needs. But on a deeper level, Jesus’ unique, divine nature was portrayed in such a way as to claim our loyalty and reverence. The sign of turning water into wine was a partial unveiling of Jesus’ full identity. His power over nature, death, sin, and evil revealed him to be the promised Messiah.

The One who would bring mankind forgiveness of their sins and change mankind from an old sinner to a new saint.

INVITATION: John says that when the disciples saw the miracle, they believed in him. God may confront us in any number of ways with our need to believe in his Son. We will be held accountable for whether or not we have believed. Have you believed what God says about His Son? Have you asked Jesus to forgive you and have you invited Him into your heart to take charge of your life? If not, now is the time. Today is the day of salvation to all who will believe.

Power From Above

 There is a power that comes to us from God. In Ephesians 3:16 Paul says, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power"—dia pneumatos—"through his Spirit in your inner being." It is the power of the Spirit of the living God who dwells in every believer. So Ephesians 5:18 exhorts us, "Be filled with the Spirit." The Holy Spirit dwells in us to animate us, empower us, direct us, and strengthen us to do what we need to do.
There is a popular teaching today that says Jesus Christ can be Savior but not Lord. But this teaching that we can have this salvation without any responsibility is a lie. We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12-13 tells us, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. . . ." Our responsibility is to do what God wants us to do. But that is not the end of the sentence. It continues, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do according to his good pleasure." God will empower us to do his work.
This divine, exceedingly great, resurrection power of God dwells in us. But how can we appropriate it? Ephesians 1:19 gives the answer: "this incomparably great power for us who believe." It is by faith and trust in God that we access and appropriate this mighty power of God. There is no other way. Unbelief cuts us off from it. Our anger, our murmuring, our sin of every kind cuts us off from it.Faith accesses this power that is resident in us. Little faith means little power. Growing faith means growing power. Great faith means great power. Jesus said, "All things are possible for those who believe." Mark 10:27

The Purpose of Power 
Why do we need this power? We need it because we have enemies. The first enemy is the world. We face opposition, not only from corrupt people in the world who oppose God and the gospel, but from the spirit of the world—its values and philosophies. In today’s society we are bombarded with worldly values and images portrayed in newspapers and books, on television and, above all, through the new technology of the Internet. As we go to school or work, we are being corrupted by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boasting of things. Worldliness will creep into us, and we will begin to talk, think, and act like the world, if we are not careful.
Second, we have an enemy in ourselves called the flesh. Our sin nature is not exterminated when we are regenerated; it remains in us, though we are given a new nature. It manifests itself, not only in gross sin, but in laziness, procrastination, and various other sins of omission. Our flesh is frail and weak; we experience sickness and pain, and finally we must die. Death is the last enemy, and we need the power of God to face it.Third, there is the devil, and we must not ignore him. This personal, very powerful devil and his demons are a reality that are directed against us every day. The Bible warns us that the devil, like a roaring lion, is among us, if possible, to swallow us up. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV)
⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. We are told to resist the devil.
That is why we need the mighty power of God working in our mind, our will and our emotions daily. Directed by the word and empowered by the Spirit, we can do good works every day. The Spirit of God will speak to us and empower us on the basis of the Scripture. So we must read God’s word, pray effectually, go to worship acceptably, work productively, resist temptation, love God’s people, bless our enemies, keep God’s moral commands, love our spouses, train our children, bless those who curse us, forgive freely, serve God’s people, resist the devil, praise God in pain and face the last enemy, death itself, in triumph. May God help us to pray and believe and appropriate his power for living, that we can say with Paul, "I can all things through Jesus Christ who gives me strength"! Philippians 4:19
If you don't have Jesus in your life, you do not have power over the devil. You are at his mercy and he has no mercy. The bible says that "Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy." [John 10:10b] But the first part of that same verse says that "Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly." Jesus is waiting to forgive your sins and give you this abundant life if you will confess your sins to Him and ask Him to forgive and save you. Then you will experience that Power from above! 

Putting on the New Man

The apostle Paul speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit of God tells us Christians we are to put off the old man and put on the new man which was created in Christ Jesus for good works. Eph. 2:10. Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT) ²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. We put on the new man by first renewing our minds. How we do this.

I. What we put into our minds determines what comes out. Proverbs 23:7 ⁷ For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Jesus said in Luke 6:45 (NKJV)  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. The word heart here refers to the mind because we don’t think with our heart but our mind.

The following scriptures tell us to fix our thoughts on these kinds of things. Philippians 4:8 (NLT) ⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

II. Putting on the new man requires surrendering all we are to God. Read Rom. 12:1-2 tells us to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice and be transformed by the renewing of our mind. We renew our minds by reading God’s word to find His will and by prayer to communicate with Him.

God has given intellectual powers to man. Man thinks, reasons, and understands. Christ says that our minds and thoughts are to be centered upon God. We are to love God "with all our mind." When men push God out of their minds, their minds are void and empty of God and of His truth and morality and filled with evil thoughts.

III. We are to have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:13-16 (NLT) ¹³ When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. ¹⁴ But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. ¹⁵ Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. ¹⁶ For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

Believers understand fully, as did Christ himself, the significance of the cross and what it meant for mankind’s salvation. We understand the importance of reading God’s word and praying. God speaks to us thru His word and praying is communicating with God. Praying is for listening as God speaks to our hearts.

No one can completely comprehend God (Romans 11:34), but through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, believers can understand spiritual truths that He chooses to reveal to us. Believers have insight into some of God’s plans, thoughts, and actions because, with the Spirit within, we have access thru God’s word and prayer to the mind of Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, believers can begin to know God’s thoughts, talk with him, and expect his answers to their prayers. Through His Sprit we can grow in putting on the new man.

what we put into it determines what comes out

how to renew yours

how to have the mind of Christ

 IV. Must control your mind—every thought. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV)⁴ 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. Worldly weapons—wealth, fame, and political might—may wield some power on this earth, but they are useless in spiritual battles. The Devil’s strongholds include every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God and rebellious ideas. God has given us the power through His Spirit to control our thoughts.

When we pause and ask ourselves, where did this thought come from, we are bringing those thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Does what I am thinking glorify God and Jesus? Would I want Jesus to see me do this thing I am thinking? We have been given weapons to fight against the devil and his angels!

According to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, I have underlined in the following passage God’s mighty weapons. They are faith, truth, righteousness, the gospel message, and the word of God. The Holy Spirit equips Christians for the struggle, providing the weapons they need to be strong in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT) ¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News –Gospel message so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

 Conclusion: As we put on the new man Christ created us to be we will see how victorious we can be against the attacks of the devil. This new man requires a renewed mind that the word of God brings to us. We must read God’s word daily and pray to Him. God says in His word when we seek Him with all our hearts, we will find Him. And when we find Him by reading His word, we will have the power to live victoriously the new life we have been given over self, sin, and the world. Let’s live who we were created to be.

INVITATION: If you have never asked Jesus to save you, you are totally lost forever. But you can change that by asking the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to forgive your sins against a Holy God and invite Him to live in you and take charge of your life. When you do that you will become a new creation in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  You will also be given a home in Heaven with God the Father and Jesus Christ His Holy Son for an eternity.

THE WORD OF GOD

The word of God has the answer to every problem we face in this world. If every one read and obeyed this word what a different world this would be. The word of God tells us what God thinks of us and His plan to save mankind from his sins. There is not a more powerful thing in this world than the word of God when you decide to put it to work and live by it. There is nothing more important to mankind than the word of God. The bible says in:Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? God wants every man to hear what His word says about His Son Jesus Christ. That is why this website exists. The bible says in: 1 Timothy 2:4 That God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. That is why I use this website to help the spread the word of God all over the world by using this available means. My prayer to God is that this website and many like it will be used of Him to spread His love for people all over the world. Website’s like this one are strictly volunteer. I ask for no man’s money. I use my own as an offering to God. Through websites like mine, we have a chance to help reach the world for Jesus Christ. The bible says in Rom. 10:17 “that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” People must be able to hear what God has to say about them. Some are struggling to please God by their actions. But the only way to really please the Father God is found in His word. In Romans 10:4-15 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them."6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, " 'Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" Do you see the simplicity of the gospel? This is how you please God, by believing in His Son Jesus Christ as the payment for your sins. Keeping riles will not change our hearts, but Jesus can. Your life can change the moment you believe Jesus died for your sins. You will be saved. JESUS by His Spirit will come into your life and take charge of you and care for you and protect you from the evil one for the rest of your life on this earth. Then He will take you home to be with Him and Father God for an eternity. CONCLUSION:When people read or hear this word and act on it there life is changed forever for the glory of God and His Son Jesus Christ. INVITATION: Let me ask you, have you confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus and then believed in your heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead? The promise is that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Would you be saved today? The choice is yours and your decision is eternal.