Showing posts with label God's Word. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

4 Key Characteristics of a Faithful Christian - SHANE IDLEMAN CHARISMA NEWS

A faithful Christian keeps God's Word despite setbacks. (Unsplash/Priscilla Du Preez)

4 Key Characteristics of a Faithful Christian

1/10/2018 SHANE IDLEMAN CHARISMA NEWS

Although many godly traits are attributed to faithfulness, these four are vitally important. How can we increase faith and serve God with all of our heart? Here are just four ways:

1. Holiness is a priority. Charles Spurgeon rightly noted, "There will be three effects of nearness to Jesus—humility, happiness and holiness." If these three are not present, hard questions need to be asked: "Do I have a rebellious spirit? Do I love the things of the world more than the things of God? Have I let bitterness and pride set in?" We have to fight for holiness; our relationship with God is dependent upon it. Holiness produces faith and spiritual power; carnality produces faithlessness and a life void of spiritual power

Carnality gives God "His due"—a few hours on Sunday—but forgets His call to "come out from among them (the world) and be separate." Holiness is a fire burning deep within. Do we stoke the flames and increase the heat or continually put them out? We are so "stoked" when it comes to the things of the world, but why not the things of God?

Carnality quenches the fire of the Spirit and dries up the rivers of living water. We cannot love both Christ and this world. A carnal Christian does not pray, really pray and seek the heart of God. A deep prayer life exposes facades and crushes hypocrisy. A carnal Christian does not worship, really worship in total abandonment. Deep, penetrating worship cannot take place in a carnal heart until repentance takes place.

You won't find those who are carnal at prayer nights or worship mornings, but you will find them spending much of their time at Cinemark and the Mall. Check your calendar and checkbook. Where are your priorities?

If this is you, allow God to awaken and restore: "Therefore repent and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19).

Do you desire peace and joy again? Simply return to God: "You shall seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jer. 29:13). Full surrender is the fertile ground for seeds of joy and peace.

2. God's Word is the source of authority. A faithful Christian is not continually looking for advice outside of God's Word. Too often. we look to Merrill Lynch for financial advice, a local nail salon for marriage counseling and guys at work about how to prioritize our lives. Look to God for the final say; He is the "wonderful Counselor."

3. Reliance on God's strength, not man's."My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9b). God will often break us down in order to build us up. He'll take away our strength (what we have been trusting in) so we look to Him and Him alone. The refiner's fire involves fire and heat. The waves of change involve being plummeted, tossed and turned: "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed" (2 Cor. 4:8-9).

God reminds, "When you pass through waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame kindle on you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior" (Isa. 43:2-3a). God is always the fourth man in the fire (see Dan. 3:25).

4. Keep His Word despite setbacks. Faithful Christians keep the course regardless of the storm, regardless of the criticism, regardless of the heat. We must teach perseverance. Many theologians are divided on the timing of the rapture, or if it will occur at all. Telling people, "Don't worry. You'll be out of here before it gets hard," is inconsistent with those who are suffering in other countries. And it does not prepare people for tribulation, challenges and difficult times. One thing we do know for certain is that Christ will return. In Rev. 3:11, He says, "Look, I am coming quickly. Hold firmly to what you have, so that no one may take your crown." The message of hope is always urgent.

Christian Heritage Fellowship offers a riveting example of why we should not wait to share the good news: On Sunday night, Oct. 8, 1871, D. L. Moody, preached to the largest congregation that he had yet addressed in Chicago. His text that evening was, "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?" At the conclusion of his sermon he said, "I wish you would take this text home with you and turn it over in your minds during the week, and next Sabbath we will come to Calvary and the cross, and we will decide what to do with Jesus of Nazareth." Then his song evangelist, Ira D. Sankey, whose hymns are sprinkled throughout most evangelical hymnbooks, began to lead in singing the hymn, but Sankey never finished the hymn, for while he was singing, the rush and roar of fire engines whistled by the church on the street outside, and before morning, much of the city of Chicago lay in ashes. To his dying day, Mr. Moody deeply regretted that he had told that congregation to come next Sabbath and decide what to do with Jesus.

Turn, or return, to Him today. We are not even guaranteed tomorrow.

Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Leona Valley, California, just north of Los Angeles. He recently released his seventh book, Desperate for More of God at shaneidleman.com. Shane's sermons, articles, books and radio program can all be found at wcfav.org. Follow him on Facebook at: facebook.com/confusedchurch.

Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Leona Valley, California, just North of Los Angeles. He recently released his seventh book, Desperate for More of God at shaneidleman.com. Shane's sermons, articles, books, and radio program can all be found at wcfav.org. Follow him on Facebook at:facebook.com/confusedchurch.

Friday, January 5, 2018

More Words for 2018 - The Jim Bakker Show

Watch here: More Words for 2018 - The Jim Bakker Show

Jim Bakker Show 2018 | Show# 3395 | Aired on January 5, 2018

2018, End Times, God's Word, Last Days, New Year, Special Message
A Morningside Studios Production

Pastor Jim and Lori Bakker continue to share a special message from the Lord for 2018.

Quotes

We need to pray for the blessing of God to stay upon America. -Pastor Jim Bakker

I worked my whole life to bring God’s people together of all races and I feel today it has been set back further than ever that I’ve been alive on earth. -Pastor Jim Bakker

Scriptures

Matthew 24:8 MEV All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Matthew 24:37 MEV As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 25:35 MEV For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 MEV When they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.

Luke 21:25 MEV There will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring.

Proverbs 6:33 MEV A wound and dishonor will he get, and his reproach will not be wiped away.

Joel 3:2 MEV I will gather all the nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. I will enter into judgment with them there regarding My people and My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.

Matthew 24:29 MEV Immediately after the tribulation of those days, ‘the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’

1 Peter 5:6 MEV Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

Revelation 12:10 KJV And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

John 3:16 MEV For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 10:10 MEV The thief does not come, except to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Hebrews 12:6 MEV For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and scourges every son whom He receives.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 MEV Do not let anyone deceive you in any way. For that Day will not come unless a falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction.

Headlines

Anti-Semitism in France: Facing Reality -Huffington Post

These stocks have popped more than 75% since Trump was elected -Market Watch

Is 2018 the end of the road for Sears or Toys R Us? -USA Today

Horror show just won’t end for Macy’s and Nordstrom -CNN

Will 2018 Be the Year of the Bank of Amazon? Experts Weigh In -Bloomberg

Canary island La Palma experiences 352 earthquakes in ten days as scientists continue to monitor its active volcano -Daily Mail

Volcano warning: Canary Islands panic as earthquakes hit La Palma – 40 tremors in 48 hours -Express

North Korea preparing for ANOTHER nuclear test as Kim Jong-un expands base -Daily Star

Friday, October 20, 2017

Will Jesus Find Faith on the Earth When He Returns? - BERT FARIAS CHARISMA NEWS

When Jesus returns, let Him find faith in you. (qimono/Pixabay/Public Domain)

"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8b).

You can't have faith without the truth of God's Word holding final authority in your life. Faith is based on the truth and authority of the Scriptures. The end of your faith is when you begin doubting the Word of God, and it stops carrying authority in your life. The end of your faith is when you no longer live by the Word of God. Multitudes of professing Christians in the church system today have departed from the real faith. Many no longer even believe the Scriptures are inspired of God.

Eye-Opening Statistics

A few years ago in another national poll on Christianity in the churches of America these telling statistics were revealed.

Studies showed that even though 79 percent of those who actually attend evangelical churches find their faith "very important", only 36 percent of them actually believe that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life. What? That one is hard to believe. The slightly larger majority believe that many religions can lead to eternal life. And these are church members.

The drop in percentages among mainline churches is even more telling. Only 14 percent believe that Jesus Christ exclusively provides the only way to eternal life, while 83 percent think many religions lead there. Only 22 percent of this group even believe that the Bible is fully inspired while another 28 percent believe that it is just a book written by men, not the word of God. Compare this to evangelical churches, where only 7 percent do not believe the Bible is a divinely inspired book.

The great tragedy and deception is that many think they can be Christians while rejecting the Word of God and every major doctrine and practice of the true Christian faith.

The most disturbing trend, however, is in America's 18-35 group. While some polls show roughly 9 in 10 Americans still maintain belief in a god or gods, the trend of religious young Americans is toward a conglomeration of varied religious beliefs, including atheism. A 2010 USA survey revealed that 72 percent of the nation's young people identify themselves as "more spiritual than religious."

Furthermore, with an increasing majority of younger Americans accepting evolution as fact, Christianity for many under 35 is becoming a watered-down hybrid version of Eastern philosophy and biblical teachings. This trend among our young people towards being "spiritual but not religious" points further to the declining belief and practice of Christian doctrine and the embracing of a broader relationship with all other religions and beliefs.

This explains most of the above statistics, doesn't it?

Falsehood is increasing at an alarming rate in our land. The true word of the Lord is becoming rare, and there is a famine of it. It is the reason God led me to write on The Real Salvation, The Real Gospel, The Real Jesus and The Real Spirit of Revival. Readers think these books are radical, but they're really not. It's just that we've had the watered-down version of the gospel for so long that these books seem radical. They are normal. They are filled with truth. When falsehood slips in, the plain, unadulterated truth seems radical. The day is upon us now when truth must be trumpeted loud and clear.

The prophet Isaiah lamented a defiled nation submerged in injustice, oppression, sin, and falsehood.

"Justice is turned backward, and righteousness stands far off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey" (Is. 59:14-15).

Without truth, there is no justice, righteousness or equity. He who stands for truth in this evil day will be the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule. They will be as prey that are hunted and killed.

Doubt: Satan's Greatest Weapon

Satan's greatest weapon is disseminating doubtful reasonings into humanity as he did at the beginning, which led to man's fall.

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God said, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit from the trees of the garden; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You will not eat of it, nor will you touch it, or else you will die.' " Then the serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Gen. 3:1-5).

Notice how Lucifer, now Satan, deceived Eve. He made her doubt the Word of God by making these three core statements:

"Has God said, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden'?"

"You surely will not die!"

"You will be like God."

Jesus said that Satan is a liar and the father of lies. "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44).

Notice the progression of Satan's fatal suggestions:

First, he injected doubt into Eve's mind through deception concerning what God had said.

Secondly, he then outright denied to Eve's face what God said.

Thirdly, he deified man and told her that she would be as God.

Therein those three statements lay the deification of man: the gradual dethroning of God and the exaltation of man.

First, Eve began to doubt the absolute authority of the Word of God. Unless the Bible becomes the basis and authority of our total belief system, we will give place to lies, heresies and doctrines of demons. Satan asked Eve a question that amounted to: "Did God really mean what He said?" That subtle questioning of God's Word then turned into a bold contradiction of it: "You surely will not die." And finally, it ended with a false promise: "You will be like God."

It was when Adam and Eve acted on Satan's subtle suggestion that sin was birthed. Then with sin came death, sickness, disease, poverty, hatred, strife and suffering. It all began in Lucifer's heart and was then injected into God's first creation before being passed on throughout every generation.

The fall of man started with doubt. Doubt always brings death. Faith always produces life.

"For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness'" (Rom. 4:3).

The greatest heroes of the faith have always been those who believed the Word of God (Heb. 11). Don't be a part of the apostate church and the unbelieving world. Do not be deceived by the devil's chicanery and subtle lies. Rise up, resist the devil's lies and stand strong in the truth of God's Word.

When Jesus returns, let Him find faith in you.

Bert M. Farias, revivalist and founder of Holy Fire Ministries, has authored several books with an emphasis on helping to restore the true spirit of Christianity in the Church today, including the newly released, Passing on The Move of God to The Next Generation and the highly sacred book, The Journal Of A Journey To His Holiness. An anointing of fire marks his ministry with frequent demonstrations of the Spirit and power of God. He ministers interdenominationally and cross-culturally in nations, churches, conferences, on the streets and in homes. He and his wife Carolyn also host The Holy Ghost Forum – a school of the Spirit. Follow him at Bert Farias and Holy Fire Ministries on Facebook and @Bertfarias1 on Twitter.

Readers are Leaders! Subscribe now and get 3 magazines for the price of 1. Get Charisma, Ministry Today and SpiritLed Woman all for $24. YES - Sign me up!

3 Reasons Why you should read Life in the Spirit. 1) Get to know the Holy Spirit. 2) Learn to enter God's presence 3) Hear God's voice clearly! Click here to draw closer to God!

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Killing of the Innocents - Charles Gardner ISRAEL TODAY

Killing of the Innocents

Sunday, October 01, 2017 | Charles Gardner ISRAEL TODAY

Topics:

Israel

As the earth is ravaged by an unprecedented series of natural disasters, accompanied with threats of war and terror, world leaders have been presented with a heavenly vision.

In challenging the “fake history” of those who deny Jewish links with Israel’s holiest sites, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu has sounded a clarion call for the United Nations to acknowledge the divine authority of the world’s greatest book – the Bible.

Three times he referenced the Bible in a powerful speech to the UN in which he claimed that Israel’s right to exist and prosper as a nation rooted in God’s Word.

Referring to July’s declaration of Hebron’s Tomb of the Patriarchs as a Palestinian World Heritage site, he said you won’t read the true facts of its history in the latest UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) report.

“But you can read about it in a somewhat weightier publication – it’s called the Bible,” he mocked, adding that it was “a great read”, that he read it every week, and that they could purchase it from Amazon.

How refreshing that at least one nation’s leader takes his stand on the Bible, though it is entirely appropriate as Bibi leads the people who gave it to us! As well as a sacred book written by divine authority, it is also an historical record which validates Israel’s claim to the Promised Land they now occupy.

But in making such a divine claim for the territory, Bibi must also seek to apply the Law – that is, the Lord’s teaching on ethical matters – to his domain.

He is right in saying that the words of the prophet Isaiah – that God called Israel to be a light to the nations – is being fulfilled as the tiny Jewish state becomes a rising power. But their call “to bring salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49.6) must mean more than hi-tech innovation and being good neighbours through their search-and-rescue teams sent to disaster areas and medics tending to wounded Syrians on their northern border, though we praise God for all that.

Israel is nevertheless rife with immorality – and I am thinking particularly about abortion, a killing of innocents that echoes previous turning points in Israel’s (and the world’s) history at the time of Moses and of Jesus. I appreciate that its practice in modern Israel is less prevalent than in most parts of the West, but some 650,000 children have nevertheless been denied life in a country that gave God’s law to the world, including the commandment ‘Thou shall not kill’.

In the UK, shockingly, nine million babies have been murdered in the 50 years since the passing of the Abortion Act, originally designed to prevent backstreet abortions and meant to apply only where a mother’s life was threatened. Now it is virtually a case of abortion on demand as further calls are made for relaxing the law. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president Lesley Regan believes terminations should be the same as any other medical procedure, requiring consent from only one doctor, just as if they were having a bunion removed. But the fact that 650 doctors have signed a petition against it is very encouraging.

Paradoxically, the killing of innocents has accompanied the greatest rescues mankind has witnessed. Moses survived the edict of the Egyptian Pharaoh calling for the slaughter of all Hebrew babies to lead his people out of slavery to the Promised Land. Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah, survived King Herod’s massacre of infants – ironically by fleeing with his family to Egypt in response to God’s warning – to bring salvation to the world through his sacrificial death on a Roman cross outside Jerusalem.

Moses also received the Law of God; now Jesus writes the Law on our hearts (Ezekiel 36.26, Jeremiah 31.33). Moses was hidden among the bulrushes of the Nile and became the saviour of his people; Jesus was raised in the backwaters of Nazareth but became the Saviour of the world as he brought true freedom to all who would trust in his redeeming blood (John 8.36).

My colleague, Clifford Denton, tells me of a conference held in Israel in 1996 at which Messianic leaders gathered to discuss the Jewish roots of Christianity. “Unknown to me until afterwards,” he said, “it turned out that the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) was voting on an abortion law at the very same time that we were discussing Torah (the Law of Moses). In fact the Knesset was struck by lightning at that very time.”

With innocents around the world being butchered as never before, the Messiah is about to be revealed to the nations. Jesus indicated that his coming again would be as in the days of Noah (Luke 17.26) when the world was full of violence (Genesis 6.13). Terrorism stalks the planet as unbelievable cruelty mars even supposedly enlightened societies while nuclear holocausts have become a distinct possibility, with both North Korea and Iran making ominous noises. And all this while nations reel under the ferocious effects of earthquakes and hurricanes – also spoken of as signs of the Messiah’s imminent return (Luke 21.25-28), especially when they follow in rapid succession and increasing severity, as on a woman with labour pains. (Matthew 24.8)

Of the three major Jewish feasts, Jesus has fulfilled both Passover and Shavuot (Pentecost). Many Bible commentators believe he will soon fulfill the Feast of Tabernacles (shortly to be celebrated throughout the Jewish world) when he returns to reign from Jerusalem. The One who protects his people, and provides for them, as he did in the wilderness so long ago, will finally bring in the harvest of those who believe in him as he comes to ‘tabernacle’ (or live/make his dwelling) among us. (See John 1.14)

The day is coming – very soon, it seems – when the killing of the innocents will give way to the glorious return of the Son of Man “coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21.27) to avenge every wrong as he passes judgment on a cruel world.

Israel – you are truly called to be a light to the nations, and indeed you have impressed so far with many marvellous inventions. But the brightest light is the fulfillment of the Law through Yeshua HaMashiach, who brings hope, not despair; and life, not death.

Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates

Sunday, June 4, 2017

3 Countercultural Ways Jesus Dealt With Satanic Activity - DR. CAROL PETERS-TANKSLEY CHARISMA NEWS

Jesus modeled this authority for effectively overcoming wickedness. (Tim Trad)

3 Countercultural Ways Jesus Dealt With Satanic Activity

6/4/2017 DR. CAROL PETERS-TANKSLEY CHARISMA NEWS

Jesus's life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension defeated the kingdom of darkness. His victory in the spiritual realm is vital for our lives both now and in eternity. But evil is still present in our world. How Jesus dealt with evil while on Earth is an example of how we can and should deal with evil as His followers.

As difficult as our lives may seem and as much demonic opposition as we may feel we are facing, we will never see Satan and his whole kingdom of darkness arrayed against us to the degree that Jesus personally experienced. In order to save humanity Jesus had to accomplish the destruction of Satan's kingdom. The incarnation was, along with all its other aspects, an invasion into enemy territory.

For Satan and his realm, Jesus presence here was an ultimate declaration: "This means war!"

Yet Jesus seemed completely unruffled by such strong opposition. He never showed fear or anxiety when He encountered demons or those controlled by them, or even Satan himself. In the Gospels, we never see Him on a hunt for demonic activity; His focus on being about His Father's business of saving humanity seemed unshakable.

But whenever Satan or his demons showed up, Jesus responded with calmness and absolute authority over them.

Jesus' Encounters With Evil

Jesus frequently encountered those who were under the control of demons. The Gospels make several summary statements about Jesus healing those who were possessed or tormented. (Examples include Matt. 4:24; 8:16; Mark 1:32–34; and Luke 4:41.) We have many stories of individuals Jesus set free:

The sick woman whom "Satan bound for eighteen years," healed on the Sabbath (Luke 13:16).
The epileptic boy brought by his father for healing when His disciples could not accomplish the task (Mark 9:25–27).
The demon-possessed man who had been relegated to living in the tombs (Luke 8:26–40).

Jesus comes across as calm and composed, while the demons respond with desperate cries and fear of torment.

This was so very different from what those around Jesus were used to. Ancient Jewish literature recounts how the people of Jesus' day lived in certain fear of demons. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain a number of prayers and liturgies that were used to try to bring relief from demonic oppression. Josephus describes an elaborate ritual involving roots and incantations and spells by which one Jewish exorcist Eleazar attempted to cast out demons. Both the people in general and those who attempted to get rid of demons approached the whole idea with much fear and anxiety.

And here comes Jesus. He has no incantations, no spells, no rituals, no stylized prayers, no sacred objects, no angst, no fear and He doesn't get all worked up. Sometimes casting out demons became dramatic only because of their resistance to Jesus's words. The summary Gospel passages make most such encounters seem almost commonplace and likely no more dramatic than a simple "Get out!" (Mark 1:34).

No wonder the people were astonished (Mark 1:27).

The Authority in Jesus' Words

Every time He encountered Satan or his demons, Jesus responded with calm, authoritative words. This began at His initial encounter with Satan when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Each time Jesus defeated him not with a display of power, but with His words—words from the Old Testament Scriptures (Matt. 4:3-10).

Every time after this that Jesus encountered evil, He responded the same way. He spoke with authority and the demons had to leave. If the demons were causing any sickness or disease, it had to leave along with them. The Roman centurion understood this: "Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But speak the word only, and my servant will be healed" (Matt. 8:8).

Keep in mind as you contemplate Jesus's words that this was not some magic show. God spoke the worlds into existence with His Word. Jesus is called the eternal Word of God (John 1:1). The power and authority of God Himself was present in those words Jesus spoke. That's why He spoke as He did to Satan in the wilderness. God's power is present in His Word—in Scripture, as Jesus spoke it, and as you and I speak it as well.

You Can Do It Too!

Can you imagine the awed excitement with which Jesus' disciples heard Him say, "You want to do the same things you've seen Me do? You want to preach the good news, heal people, cast our demons and raise the dead? Yes, you can! It's time for you to go out and do it" (See Matt. 10:8).

I can picture them going out two by two, perhaps wondering if it would really work. John says to Peter, "Did you hear Him say what I heard Him say? Do you really think we can do it?" And Peter responds, "You bet! And I'm going to the very first chance I get!"

On their way to the first village Peter, John, and the others would have rehearsed over and over again exactly what they had seen Jesus do and how He had done it. They would have remembered the words He used, the look on His face and even the feeling in His voice. They would have determined to do it exactly as their Master had done. The results were spectacular!

They must have had a predetermined time and meeting place to catch up with Jesus again. When they got there they exclaimed, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us through Your name" (Luke 10:17b). They would have acted as Jesus did, with no fear, no rituals, no anxiety, no long stylized prayers. They just spoke in Jesus' name.

How should you and I deal with evil?

So what does this mean for you and me? What does Jesus as our divine example show us about dealing with evil?

Have no fear or anxiety. We have absolutely no need to experience fear or anxiety in our encounters with Satan or his kingdom of darkness. We don't go out looking for "a devil behind every bush"; there will be opportunity enough to exercise the authority Jesus has given us when evil presents itself. We are to be alert and firm, but not anxious. (See 1 Pet. 5:8.)
Fill your mind and heart with God's Word. If Jesus needed Scripture to successfully resist temptation and Satan, you will need it too. Spend time reading, studying and memorizing the Bible. If those words are in your heart, the Holy Spirit will bring them back to your mind when you need them as you encounter evil.
Remain focused on what God gives you to do. Jesus and His disciples remained focused on ministering to the hearts, minds and bodies of people. The fact that doing so aroused Satan's opposition was almost secondary. Remain focused on what God has given you to do and nothing more nor less. If accomplishing that mission stirs up the devil's opposition, so be it.

Maintaining your focus is important. C.S. Lewis wisely opined that thinking too much or too little about Satan and his kind are equally dangerous traps: "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors."

It's your focus that's important.

Jesus encountered evil more than any of us ever will. You and I can face the kingdom of darkness with the same calmness and authority He did.

Dr. Carol Peters-Tanksley is both a board-certified OB-GYN physician and an ordained Doctor of Ministry. As an author and speaker, she loves helping people discover the Fully Alive kind of life Jesus came to bring us. Visit her website at drcarolministries.com

Charisma's Special Anointing Bundle. Get Charisma magazine plus these 2 Books - The Deborah Anointing & The Esther Anointing for only $24.97. Subscribe Now!

Hearing God's voice changes everything. You'll gain clarity, purpose and direction for your life. Start your journey to live your Life in the Spirit. Click here to draw closer to God!

Contents List

Wednesday, January 10, 2018