“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”(John 12:24, NKJV)
We all face difficulties and challenges in life. But you have to remember, as a believer in Jesus, you have the life-giving seed of Almighty God on the inside of you. When you go through disappointments or tough times, you may feel like you’ve been buried. You may feel like you’re in a dark, lonely place. You may feel like it’s the end; but in reality, it’s only the beginning. The fact is, you haven’t been buried; you have been planted. That means you’re coming back. And not only are you coming back, but you’re coming back in increase, better and stronger than before! In those tough times, you’ve got to draw the line in the sand. Make a declaration, “This difficulty is not going to bury me. This loss, this disappointment, this injustice is not going to cause me to give up on my dreams. I refuse to live in self-pity. I know I am a seed. That means I cannot be buried. I can only be planted. I may be down, but it’s only temporary. I know I’m not only coming back, I’m coming back even better than I was before!” Father in heaven, thank You for filling me with Your life-giving seed. I choose today to focus on the potential for my future. I know that I will overcome every obstacle by Your power that is at work in me in Jesus’ name. Amen.— Joel & Victoria Osteen “Do you swear to speak the whole truth, and nothing by the truth, so help you God?”
That’s an oath used here in the United States that is asked to those who are going to give a testimony in a court of law. We’d like to ask you a similar question, “Do you want to LIVE BY the whole truth, and nothing but the truth as it pertains to marriage, so help you God?” There are a lot of myths we can grab onto that need to be exposed to the truth of the God’s Word, the Bible. So for this Marriage Message we’d like to share with you 10 of the myths and truths (backed up by scripture) concerning marriage that are listed in the book, “Marriage! The Journey,” written by Anne Trippe. Anne includes in the book more explanations concerning these myths, but this is a good start (you can read more, if you can obtain the book). And that way you will know if you are living by “the whole truth” and not just something you assume is true. Here’s what Anne wrote: 10 MYTHS VS. TRUTH: 1. MYTH: I am responsible for my spouse’s or another’s emotional well-being. I must apologize if he or she isn’t okay or if they do something wrong (or) I am accountable to God for my spouse. TRUTH: Each one shall give account of himself to God (Romans 14:12). I cannot rescue my brother by any means. Each person eats the fruit of his own way (Proverbs 1:31). (Psalm 49:7) 2. MYTH: Real men do not show they need help. TRUTH: When I humble myself before God, in due time He exalts me (1 Peter 5:6). Pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). 3. MYTH: I must get respect from my mate and others to know I am of worth. TRUTH: I am called to love and to serve others and consider them better than myself (Philippians 2:3). Pride comes before destruction and shame (Proverbs 11:2; Proverbs 16:18). I am to become of “no reputation” and be a servant (Philippians 2:5-8). He has made me accepted and perfect (Ephesians 1:6; Hebrews 10:14). 4. MYTH: My peace is tied to my spouse’s and/or others’ opinions and to my being treated fairly. To be fulfilled, I am entitled to my spouse treating me the way the Lord commands him/her to. TRUTH: Jesus Christ is my peace and gives me peace (John 14:2). I am in perfect peace as my mind is fixed on Him. As I humble myself, I’ll enjoy peace (Psalm 37:11; Isaiah 26:3). I will remain lonely unless I die to my own way of trying to make things work for me (John 12:24). He wants to fill me, and my loneliness with Himself. I am to find my completeness in Christ (Colossians 3:3, Ephesians 5:17, 18). I’m not entitled to others meeting my needs. My needs are met in Christ. I am complete in Him. He will fill me (Philippians 4:19; Ephesians 5:17, 18; Colossians 2:10). 5. MYTH: Husbands and wives should complete each other. TRUTH: Each has been made complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10). 6. MYTH: I can’t help being depressed and without hope if my circumstances don’t change. TRUTH: Christ gives me hope and a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness (Psalm 16:11, 27:14, 31:24; Isaiah 61:3; Romans 15:13). Hope is not based on circumstances, but is only in Christ (Romans 15:13; 1 Timothy 1:1; Colossians 1:27). 7. MYTH: If I am treated unfairly, it makes me a doormat. TRUTH: Even though trials and unfairness will come to all, the Lord has made me who I am. Tribulation and trials will come to all, beginning with God’s people. But Christ has overcome these things on my behalf (1 Peter 1:6; 4:12, John16:33). He has plans for my good and desires to satisfy me with good things (Psalm 103:5; Jeremiah 29:11). After I have experienced a trial, trusting Him, He will establish, strengthen and perfect me (1 Peter 5:10). Those reviling my good behavior shall be put to shame (1 Peter 3:17). As I walk in righteousness, no weapon formed against me shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). I am perfect in Christ; one Spirit with Him (Hebrews 10:14; 1 Corinthians6:17). I have been made accepted by Him (Ephesians 1:6). Christ died that I would be the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). 8. MYTH: If I punish my spouse or others, then they will love me and give me what I need. TRUTH: I will eat the fruit of my own way. I will reap what I sow. If I sow to the flesh, I will reap corruption! As I am unselfish and love my spouse and others (sow to the Spirit), I will reap that eternal life of Christ’s sufficiency for me. (Matthew 5:46; Galatians 6:7, 8; Proverbs 1:31) 9. MYTH: I must “fix and direct” if things are to go right for me, and if I am going to be secure and at peace. (I must control interactions and circumstances.) TRUTH: God will work all things together for me if I love Him and am called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). He is faithful and will cause it to happen (1 Thessalonians 5:24). God works His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth (Daniel 4:35); God will accomplish that which concerns me (Psalm 138:8). 10. MYTH: If the Lord cared about me, He would give me a person to fill my loneliness —make me complete and fulfilled. I need a person to complete me. TRUTH: I will remain lonely unless I die to my own way of trying to make things work for me (John 12:24). He wants to fill me, and my loneliness with Himself. I am to find my completeness in Christ (Colossians 3:3, Ephesians 5:17, 18). We hope the Lord exposed the myths you may have held in the past and ministered in His Truth. Today can be a new beginning in your marriage as you allow the truth of God to set you free to become the spouse God knew you could live up to all along. Cindy and Steve Wright “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”
(Romans 5:3–4, NLT) The way you handle adversities has a huge impact on your success in life? If you shrink back, choose to get bitter and lose your enthusiasm, then you are allowing the difficulties of life to bury you. You are allowing hardship to keep you from your God-given destiny. But if you choose to keep pressing forward with a smile on your face, rejoicing even in the hard times, you are allowing God’s character to be developed inside of you. You are setting yourself up for promotion. Think about this: the only difference between a piece of black coal and a priceless diamond is the amount of pressure that it’s endured. When you stand strong in the midst of the trials and difficulties in life, when you allow God to shape and mold your character, it’s like going from a piece of coal to a priceless diamond. Those difficulties are going to give way to new growth, new potential, new talent, new friendships, new opportunities, new vision. You’re going to see your life blossom in ways that you’ve never even dreamed! Father in heaven, thank You for giving me strength to overcome every obstacle in life. I choose to rejoice no matter what may come against me. I know You are working all things together for my good in Jesus’ name! Amen. — Joel & Victoria Osteen EPHESIANS 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
Some Christians believe that although you have forgiveness of sins, you are not free from the penalties of your sins. In other words, you can still expect punishment from God. For example, some married Christian couples have been told that they are childless because God is punishing them for having had pre-marital sex. So although God has forgiven them of that sin, He still has to punish them for it. I am certainly not for pre-marital sex, but I want you to know that God, who is the only one who can fully appreciate the full value of His Son’s blood and who is completely satisfied by His Son’s sacrifice, is at rest in His heart today concerning your sins! That is why He is not against you even when you fail. Neither is He out to punish you when you sin. No, He still loves you, is for you and wants to help you overcome that sin. In the Old Testament, the blood of bulls and goats could only “cover” sins and not take them away. (Hebrews 10:4) But the blood of Jesus is not like the blood of animals! For by one sacrifice, the eternal blood of the Son of God has forever removed your sins (Psalm 103:12) and cleansed you of all unrighteousness! (1 John 1:9) In fact, God is so satisfied with His Son’s perfect work that He says to you today, “Your sins and lawless deeds I will by no means remember!” (Hebrews 10:17) And if God does not remember them, why would He punish you for them? Beloved, you have “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”. Because Jesus’ work is complete, all your sins have been completely forgiven. And complete forgiveness means that the penalties for your sins can no longer fall on you because they had already fallen on Jesus at the cross. (Isaiah 53:5) So don’t think for one moment that God is punishing you for some sin just because something bad happened to you. Look to the cross and know that all your sins have already been punished fully in the body of Christ. Believe that God is for you and expect victory! Genesis 28:15
'I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.' - God remains our faithful God. - He is with you and He is watching over you. - He has promised never to leave you nor forsake you. - It is His intention to fulfill every promise that He has given you. PRAYER: Lord, thank You for this great reassurance. You are the One who is the great restorer and I trust You with my life and my future. Amen. So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God. 1 CORINTHIANS 2 : 5
YOU ARE THE FIRST-FRUITS OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION !! And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is mere delusion [futile, fruitless], and you are still in your sins [under the control and penalty of sin] .. 1 Corinthians 15 : 17 What A Depressing Notion .. If Jesus had not been raised, your faith would be pointless and in vein. If the resurrection of Jesus Christ had never occurred, you would have not one shred of proof that faith in God’s Word works .. that faith in God’s Word is eternal .. and .. that faith in God’s Word conquers All !! Your personal fellowship and worship would both be without foundation !! However !! .. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, You Can Rest Assured In The Knowledge That Faith In God’s Word Does Work !! .. And For You This Means .. You have something incredible and extremely miraculous to shout about !! 19 .. If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hope only in this life and that is all, then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied. 20 .. But the fact is that Christ (the Messiah) has been raised from the dead, and He became the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep [in death] .. 1 Corinthians 15 : 19 – 20 So .. How Is It That You Became The First-Fruits Of His Resurrection ? And .. How Is It That You Can Know With Absolute Certainty That You Will Live In Eternity And Be Raised From Death To Rule And Reign With Jesus Forever ? Well .. It Is Not because of who you are .. and .. It Is Not because of your own human faith !! It Is Because You Now have Jesus Christ Dwelling In You .. and .. It Is By His Faith And His Word That You Will Be Raised !! The faith that you have within you today is Not your faith alone .. But .. His Faith !! .. Jesus’ most excellent, proven, perfected, enduring, dynamic, eternal faith !! For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your poets have said, For we are also His offspring .. Acts 17 : 28 Jesus’ Faith Has Been Proven !! You look at the resurrection today and without a doubt you can say .. Jesus’ Faith Works !! .. Jesus’ Faith Conquers Death !! It Is Jesus’ Faith That Operates Inside Of You .. and .. His Faith Will Never Cease To Operate !! Do you realise that you, as God’s beloved child, would have absolutely nothing to preach or teach if you did not have the resurrection to back you up. If Jesus had not risen up out of the grave, you would have no hope .. But .. Because He Rose, You Now Have Endless Hope !! The Power Of The Resurrection .. Knowing that Jesus is alive forevermore, should fill you with the rock-solid confidence and faith to accept that what God has spoken will come to pass !! 54 .. And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then shall be fulfilled the Scripture that says, Death is swallowed up (utterly vanquished forever) in and unto victory. 55 .. O death, where is your victory ? O death, where is your sting ? .. 1 Corinthians 15 : 54 – 55 When you received Christ Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit indwelt you !! Well .. It is the faith of Jesus that is the very driving force of His Spirit !! It is His faith that motivates you to keep pushing on !! It is His faith that overwhelms you with the knowledge that His Word is absolute, unchanging, and eternal !! It is His faith that allows you to be immovable, steadfast, abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that Jesus in you is greater than anything you encounter here on this earth !! Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world .. 1 John 4 : 4 You Are Blessed To Worship God Because Of The Faith Of Jesus Christ In You !! It Is Resurrection Faith !! It Is Unshakable Faith !! It Is Faith That Abounds And Overflows And Conquers !! It Is Faith That Produces And Continues To Produce !! It Is Faith That Continues To Believe Because It Is The Faith Of God Himself !! EAGLES ARE BIRTHED IN SMALL PLACES .. BUT ..BORN FOR THE ENDLESS SKIES !! What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?" Romans8:31
We are all inspired by people who faced great challenges and setbacks in their lives, who fought hard and achieved amazing comebacks. There is a long list of people who have done this, both today as well as biblical, and from centuries in the past, as well as recent heroes. These comebacks are not just for people you read about in the history books or in the News. This very day, God is in the business of turning your setbacks into comebacks! Note what Paul wrote to the Christians being persecuted: “…we are being put to death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Realize that God doesn’t say, “I’ll arrange it where you can just squeak by!” Neither does He say, “I’ll arrange it where you can just barely endure.” But what He does say is: “In ALL these things, we overwhelmingly conquer!” We don’t just conquer, we overwhelmingly conquer, through the power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And it is this amazing power – the power of the Creator of the universe – that will help you pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and turn your setback into an overwhelming victory. ‘n Vrou vertel van ‘n senior-oomblik:
‘n Paar dae gelede het ek na afloop van 'n vergadering in ‘n hotel desperaat na my motorsleutels gesoek. Hulle was nie in my handsak nie. 'n Vinnige soektog in die lokaal het ook niks opgelewer nie. Skielik het ek besef dat ek hulle in die motor gelos het. My man was al by tye baie kwaad omdat ek die sleutels in die aansitter los. My teorie is, die beste plek om sleutels nie te verloor nie, is om hulle in die aansitter te los. My man se teorie is dat die motor gesteel kan word. Oorhaastig het ek na die parkeerplek gestorm. Toe ek deur die deur van die parkeergarage bars, ek het tot 'n skrikwekkende gevolgtrekking gekom. Sy teorie was reg. Die parkeerplek was leeg!!! Ek het dadelik die polisie gebel. Ek het hulle van my ramp vertel en bely dat ek die sleutels in die motor gelos het, en dat dit gesteel is. Toe het ek die moeilikste oproep van almal gemaak, "My liefie," het ek gestamel, ek noem hom altyd "my liefie" in tye soos hierdie…. "Ek het my sleutels in die motor gelos en dit is gesteel." Daar was 'n paar oomblikke van stilte. Ek het gedink ek het die oproep verloor, maar toe hoor ek sy stem: "Maak jy dalk ‘n grap?", blaf hy, "ek het jou afgelaai!” Nou was dit my beurt om stil te bly. Na ‘n rukkie sê ek skaam, "Wel, jy kan my nou maar kom haal." Hy antwoord, "Ek sal, sodra ek hierdie polisieman kan oortuig dat ek nie jou motor gesteel het nie!" Galatians 6:1-3 quickly reveals how we should respond to the weaknesses we observe in others. It sets forth the mental attitude we are to maintain within ourselves. We must have a “Holy fear” of pride and be very careful of judging others or being critical of them.
Mark 11:23-25
“I tell you the truth if anyone says to this mountain, go throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart and believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. If you pray and you hold something against someone, forgive him so that your father in heaven may forgive you’ Does God want you to succeed, it’s a definite. The problem is because of our human nature, we tend to question things, doubt, not believe. Faith becomes difficult thing to reach for. The answer is that it is a choice, choose to believe that what you praying for you already received, start thanking the Lord today for things not yet seen but believe they are yet to come |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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