Overcoming Anxiety And Fear

 Overcoming Anxiety And Fear

It is a demon. Cast it out 

 

 

Jesus said, “Fear Not” (Matt. 10:31)

He said it many times.  Actually, it’s a theme throughout scripture.

Fear at its most basic level, is a lack of trust in God and His promises.

That is a harsh saying, especially when we are dealing with anxiety. Because, often times anxiety occurs without any real grounded reason. Or sometimes, it happens without any practical realistic reason, at all.

Sometimes, anxiety is over nothing. You just have a feeling of dread.

Battling anxiety is tough. But, please realize that it is a spiritual battle. 

The Word says God has “not given us a spirit of fear, but if power, love and a sound mind.”( 2 Tim. 1:7)

So, let’s rightly divide what this is saying.

First, there is a spirit of fear. It is not from God. We are His children and He is with us. 

He has given us a Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. We already have it, if we know Him. It’s the Holy Spirit.

We forget this, and let the enemy overcome us. But, we must remind ourselves who we are in Christ, and that He dwells in us. It’s a spiritual battle. A Spirit of fear is trying to take us, and lead us down a dark path. So, we speak truth into the world to combat it.

Speak it out loud to yourself.

“I am saved and the Holy Spirit dwells in me. Power, love and a sound mind dwells in me. Begone, spirit of fear in Jesus name.”

This is a promise from God. He is promising us that He did not give us this fear. We speak it out loud and believe it to remind ourselves and inform the spirit of fear, what the truth is. The promise empowers us.

Ok, consider this. If we speak negative hateful things to a child its whole life, the child will be impacted by that. It is a fact that the things we hear go into our mind and soul and settle there whether we want it to or not. So speaking truth out loud, serves many purposes at the same time. It gets truth into the world for the enemy to know, and it penetrates the mind, and it acts as a prayer to God.

“…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”—Rom. 10:17

Speaking God’s Word out loud builds our faith. It strengthens us. It is the Sword of the Spirit, and drives out demons.

Speak God’s promises out loud in faith and watch them manifest in your life. Here are a few good ones. Speak them. Believe the promise in Jesus name.

Verse: “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.”— 2 Thess. 3:3

Say: “God is faithful. He will establish me and keep me from evil, in Jesus name!”

Verse: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”—Isa. 54:17

Say: ” No weapon will hurt me and whatever they say against me God will deal with. I am a child of God. I believe His Word and He’s got this in Jesus name!”

Verse: “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”— John 14:13

Say: “Jesus said ‘whatsoever I ask in His name, He will do’ I have prayed in Jesus name! God is moving. I trust Him. He is coming. In Jesus name.”

Learn more promises. Memorize them. Believe them. Believe God. Trust Him, and speak His Truth.

Let’s break this verse down more.

1. Power.

The Spirit in us allows us to speak to the Father. We have power in prayer and praise. The Spirit translates our concerns into words for us and intercedes for us. 

He gives us the power to cast out demons and have faith in the promises of God. Cast out those demons in Jesus name. Speak out loud and stand on the promises of God.

That’s power.

2. Love. 

“Perfect love casts out fear.”  ( 1 John 4:18 )

Remember God is Love. The Holy Spirit is God, so we have love dwelling in us. 

Often times we have anxiety because we are focused on our desires instead of God’s. We want our way, not God’s. 

When we die to self and love God and others, a lot of our anxiety will go away.

Course, sometimes we don’t know what God wants. We can’t accept His will because we don’t know it.

Imagine you are one of the Israelites, coming out of Egypt. You don’t know where you are going, or what’s going to happen. It’s scary.

All you see is a pillar of fire and smoke. When it moves you must move and follow it. You have everything in your life. Ready to grab and go to follow Him.

And it’s concerning. You might be tempted to murmur and complain about going back to your old life. You might think it was easier when you lived in the world, without Christ.

But, if you wait and trust you will see God move and know that He loves you and will come through. He will provide and protect as you wait upon the Lord.

That Love drives out fear. Remember when He has moved, and loved you. By remembering the things He has done for you in the past, you can speak these things and drive out fear.

3. A Sound Mind.

The Holy Spirit leads us into ALL truth. ( John 16:13) That helps us to see clearly through the deception, the spirit of fear is casting into our hearts and minds. The Holy Spirit can bring verses and the good things of God to our remembrance.

Is there a rational reason to be concerned? Is this fear even possible? What is the worst case scenario? What are God’s promises? God has protected us before and will again. But, even if He doesn’t, He is with us.

What is the Truth? Jesus Christ is Truth and He rules ALL.

Anxiety is an attack by the enemy. Fear is not from God. But, neither are accusations. Satan is the accuser of the brethren.

So, anyone accusing you because of your anxiety is serving the enemy. If they were serving God, they would love you, and that love would drive out fear.

Ultimately, turn to God and let Him work in you and through you. He is with you and in you. Remember this.

The enemy will try to get you to turn from God, and not trust Him. Remember, Satan is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. ” ( 1 Peter 5:8)

A lion roars, and it causes fear in the Sheep. So it causes some to run and separate from the Shepherd. This spirit of fear is a roar trying to drive us away from God. God is our only real protection.

We turn to all kinds of things to help alleviate this fear. Drugs, philosophies and distractions.

But always turn to God. He is our only hope. 

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The Thief On The Cross

 The Thief On The Cross

It's a picture of us all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The thief on the cross, spoken of in the Gospels of our Lord Jesus, stands as an extreme view of salvation in the eyes of some.  The man who did what appears to be absolutely nothing, yet Jesus himself saved him declaring, “Today you shall be with me in paradise”.  But, it is my belief that the thief is not an extreme example, but that he is the norm.  We are all thieves on the cross; we just refuse to see it as such. (Luke  23:26-43)

     
     Every one of us stands condemned before God.  We know this in our hearts.  Whether we understand it or not, we know that something is wrong and that we need help.  We desire to know the one who made us, yet we cannot.  It is because we are filled with the plague of Sin from birth, which causes us to live lives apart from God.  It causes us to do the things we do, that we know are wrong.  Like a plague, it works in us to bring about symptoms of evil.  It causes us to knowingly rebel against God, and to reject the helping hand He offers us. 
     
     Therefore, we stand condemned, whether we think it is fair or understand it or not.  We have been nailed to a cross to die like condemned criminals, dangling above the fiery pit of eternity. We are like the thief on the cross.   ( The Book Of Romans)                        
    
      When Jesus was crucified, he was executed along with two thieves; one on each side of  Him.  This event was prophesied hundreds of years before when Isaiah said “…because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered among the transgressors” (Isa.53:12b)
    
      So, how does this apply to us? We are all thieves on the cross.  God Almighty came to Earth in the form of Jesus Christ and was crucified with us in our sin and wretchedness.  He took it all upon His shoulders, and paid the price for us; so that we would not be eternally condemned.  We are to suffer death in this life, but not eternal damnation.
     
     We see our salvation experience in the crucifixion. Jesus Christ was made sin for us. (2 Cor.5: 19-21) This is symbolized when the soldiers put a scarlet (red) robe upon him and a crown of thorns upon His head. Both are symbols for Sin. (Matt. 27: 27-38) This shows that Sin itself was crucified. Sin was judged, while sinners were set free.
     
     He was crucified between two thieves; One on the right and one on the left. Both of the thieves mocked Him, at first. This is how all humans are. We reject God.  We reject His love and His Lordship of our lives. We choose Sin and the World system. We choose Satan, whether we know it or not. We make Lucifer our Lord, and reject the salvation that God freely offers.
      
     But, one of the thieves comes to the realization of who Jesus really is. The Holy Spirit spoke truth to his heart and he believed the Word given to him. The thief was mocking, but suddenly a change occurs. He saw the truth. He believed. That is faith. God called Him by His grace, and through faith the thief believed and was made righteous, at that instant. That is the same with us. We live our lives, and something happens that wakes us up. God comes to us and calls us and speaks to our hearts and we believe. We are saved at that instant.(Eph. 2:8-10)
       
     Next, we see the awakened thief witnessing to the unsaved thief.  He tells him that Jesus is not worthy of death but the thieves are. Just like when we witness of Jesus Christ we tell people that Jesus came to die for us, the innocent for the guilty. Jesus said “If you confess me before men, I will confess you before my father” ( Matt. 10:31-33 ) This thief was confessing Jesus before men.
       
     Next we see the thief speak to Jesus and he says “Lord”.  He confesses Jesus is The Lord. As it says in Romans 10:9-10.  “ that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”  He believed that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah and confessed Him as Lord. This is what each of us is called to do. (Acts 8:26-40)
      
     The thief said, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  The thief believed upon Jesus, and put his future hope in Him, for a better day. A hope for something greater beyond this life, and wicked world. This hope is the same hope the prophets, the great men of old, believed in. It is the same hope we have. (Heb. 11:8-16, 11:32-40)
     
     Jesus Himself, said “Verily I say unto you, that today, you shall be with me in paradise.” Many take this to mean that since they died that day, they went to Paradise together. This is certainly true. But, it also means that on this day, in this instant, you are saved. You will be with me in Paradise, or heaven, forever. This is the same with us. We are saved forever, the second we first believe, and confess Him as Lord.
      
     The thief was not baptized. He did not go to church. He did not give money to charity or churches. He did not behave himself perfectly for 80 years of his life. He did absolutely nothing, but believe in Him, Confess Him as His Lord, and witness to the lost. That’s it. That’s all that is needed for salvation. After our salvation we seek to know God’s will for our lives by studying His Word. We are baptized, take communion, and gather with other believers. We give, and show love to others, as God works in our lives. We learn of the gifts He has given us, and we use them to build His kingdom. We struggle with our old nature, letting the new man come forth as God works. We deny the world system of Satan, and build God’s kingdom.
    
     We are all thieves on the cross. We are wretched sinners, just one step from death and destruction. The only thing saving us is Jesus Christ. Believe it, and Tell others. 

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Photo by the author. 

God's Goodness

 

God's Goodness

He Does Not Leave Us Alone In Darkness

 

 There are times in my walk with God, when I am just beat down.

Times when I feel like nobody hears what I’m saying. Times when nothing seems to work and everything is against me.

It’s during these times, that I just want to quit. Quit everything.

But, then God comes.

He shows up and speaks.

It might be a word of encouragement. A person who pops up out of the blue and says, “What you said, helped me.”

It might be a verse of scripture that comes to life in me.

It could be a blessing, or an answered prayer, like cool drink on a hot day.

Things that let me know I’m not wasting my time. That I’m where God wants me to be, and is using me.

And that’s God.

Paul said, …”that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

And it is.

If God was a hateful, judging monster, nobody would turn to Him.

But, He is not. 

He works with us in this corrupted world, and in our weakness and failures to provide light and love at the exact moment to help us go forward a little more.

He told Abraham, “come unto a place that I will show you.” (Gen. 12:1)

And Abraham trusted God. He believed His Word, and he went. Not knowing exactly where.

But, I’m sure that God gave him blessings and encouragement and light. Just when Abraham needed it.

And it built faith. 

We are saved by God’s Grace, through faith. And even our faith is grown by God.

There is no such thing as blind faith with God. He prepares us. He walks with us, and encourages us.

He appears and brings the sweet blessings of His presence into our lives. We know He is there. We can almost touch Him.

And that peace comes. The peace that defies all understanding.

“ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."..(Romans 8:28)

If you know God, you were called. He desires to commune with you. He seeks to have a relationship with you.

He brings goodness into our lives, in the midst of the darkness and it’s at those times that real praise and real worship spring forth. Not because we desire it. But, because He creates it in us.

And it’s then. In His presence. and in the light of His goodness and love, that I see how wretched I am.

I see the awful things I’ve said. The mean things I’ve thought. The unkindness I’ve displayed.

And I see that I don’t deserve good things. I don’t deserve love.

But, God comes anyway. 

He loves me anyway, and it makes me want to do better for Him. It makes me want to be like Him, and serve Him. It makes me want to love others and drive back the darkness of this world so others, can experience that love, joy, goodness and peace which comes from Him.

It’s not rules, and hell fire preaching, and accountability from men that drives me to God.

It is God Himself and His awesome goodness.

The One who came down to pull me from the pit of death.

Am I reflecting Him?

Am I a vessel for His goodness and love?

I fail.

But, in my failure and weakness He still comes and pours out His Grace.

Taste and see that the Lord is Good.

He is the greatest thing.

There is nothing to compare.

He calls you to know him.

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Are You Really Following Jesus?

 Are You Really Following Jesus?

Make Sure

 

What does it mean to follow the real Jesus?

Well, let’s look and see.

Jesus’s ministry was a ministry of healing. This should tell us something about what we believe in regards to the Gospel and how we are to serve God.

Because we want to be like Him. That is real godliness.

After Jesus fasted in the wilderness and was tempted of the devil.

“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”— Luke 4:16-21

Is this how you are following Jesus? Are you preaching the Gospel to the poor? Are you healing the blind and broken-hearted? Are you setting the captives free? Are you fulfilling this mission in His footsteps? Are you letting the Holy Spirit do this work through you?

Let me show you something.

In the book of Matthew Chapter 25, Jesus tells us what will happen when He returns. One of the stories is the the Judgement of the Nations.

He asks about what we did for the hungry, naked, thirsty, strangers and those in jail?

Then He says, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”—Matt 25:40

He doesn’t ask about your sin. He doesn’t ask about your sexual immorality or your politics. Because if you know Him, those things are washed away. He asks about what you did with your talents, and your gifts. Did you serve others? Did you tell others about Jesus? Did you show love and help people? Did you help those people everyone else rejected?

Because when we know Him, that is what we do.

If we live our lives in church and never know Him we are virgins without oil. We never put our faith in Him.

Do you really follow Him?

Jesus gave most of his condemnation to the religious leaders who were all about forcing people to obey the law, but did nothing to help or love others.

He says,

“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”—Matt 23:13-15

He spoke consistently against the religious leaders while healing the sinners.

He drove out the money changers from the temple. Twice.

This is prophecy and shows us the persecutions of the early church and of these latter days, where the Lord will cleanse His temple of those who do not believe.

Jesus came to heal people and set them free. He did not come to preach the law, and condemn sinners.

When you understand what sin really is, your mindset will change to match what Jesus came to do.

Sin is a corruption that get into us and makes us commit sins. It came from Adam, it corrupts our nature and makes us totally depraved. There is nothing good in us because of this spiritual plague.

And it is a plague. We can look at the law and see the description of leprosy. Leprosy, blindness, and all of these diseases are pictures of our corrupted nature.

Leprosy like sin, is contagious. It makes us unclean and filthy. It rots our flesh and kills us slowly, and we no longer go around healthy people and cannot go to the temple.

Look at how the pharisees treated the lepers, and blind and poor. They treated all of them as sinners punished by God. Is that how your church leads you to treat people? Is that how you view others who are not as good as you? Be honest with yourself. This is important.

When was the last time you sat down and talked with a dirty, smelly foul mouthed sinner? When was the last time you gave money to help someone in need. Not sterilized giving, where you are twice removed from the wicked. But, actually helping someone? Looking them in the eye as they lie to you, and you love them anyway and give them money without judgement?

Just like Jesus gives to you.

Jesus came to heal us and set people free from the bondage of Satan and Sin.

He died for us, who do not deserve it.

Jesus said “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

That is what following Jesus looks like.

It’s a daily self sacrifice, to live to help others and tell them about Jesus. It’s a daily mission to fulfill what Jesus came to do. Save others, help others, and set them free.

Is that what your church leads you to do? Or do you just sit around singing songs?

There is no song singing crown in glory.

Our worship is based upon what He has done for us, it leads us to want to help others.

Time is drawing short. The Lord is coming.

Listen to the Holy Spirit as he guides you.

“My sheep hear my voice” Jesus said.

He will lead us into all truth and help us to know how to serve and follow. We often hear His voice, then let the devil or fear talk us out of what Jesus is calling us to do. He might want us to do something to help people. Then, we tell others and they talk us out of it, or discourage us.

We are at war. The devil doesn’t want you to follow Jesus. He wants you to sit at church and do nothing. Listen to that still small voice. That urging to help or speak or serve. Learn to hear Him and follow.

We are saved and called to be a part of His mission.

Are you really following Him?

or are you following the pharisees?

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