Showing posts with label unforgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unforgiveness. Show all posts

Monday, June 6, 2016

3 More Reasons Why Many Christians Are Broke - KYLE MILLER CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Are you struggling to pay your bills? This may be some of the reasons.
Are you struggling to pay your bills? These may be some of the reasons why. (Flickr )
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On Thursday, we covered two reasons why many Christians are broke, living a life of lack. That type of life is contrary to what Jesus wants for us, as he says in John 10:10:
"I came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (MEV).
Here are three more reasons why many Christians are broke:
3. Christians who are lazy are broke. The Scriptures admonish us as believers to be diligent in everything that we do. The Scriptures also promise us that if we are lazy, we will suffer poverty. Here are some Scriptures from Proverbs that warn us about being lazy:
  • "The sluggard will not plow because of the cold; therefore he will beg during harvest and have nothing(Prov. 20:4).
  • "He becomes poor who deals with a slack hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich(Prov. 10:4).
  • "The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent will be made fat" (Prov. 13:4).
  • "How long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—so will your poverty come upon you like a stalker, and your need as an armed man" (Prov. 6:9-11).
  • "He also who is slothful in his work is brother to him who is a great waster(Prov. 18:9).
And in the New Testament it says this: "For when we were with you, we commanded you that if any will not work, neither shall he eat" (2 Thess. 3:10).
Remember this as well, procrastination is a first cousin to laziness because it puts off today what should be done today until tomorrow. When God gives us directions to do something, we should be immediately obedient to what He says.
4. Many Christians who are disobedient are broke. In Deuteronomy 28, God gives us a promise of wealth and prosperity when we do what He asks us to do. But when we disobey His commands, the Scriptures promise use that we will be cursed and live a life of poverty. "Now it will be, if you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I am commanding you today, then the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth"(Deut. 28:1).
Isaiah 1:19 states, "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land."God has promised us blessings and prosperity when we are faithful to do what He has told us. However, we can expect poverty, lack, and insufficiency when we disobey Him.
5. Many Christians who walk in unforgiveness are broke. Unforgiveness is probably the most common transgression that people commit. This is primarily because not forgiving someone feels good to our flesh. When we do not forgive people in our flesh, we feel vindicated because that (those) person(s) hurt us. Not forgiving makes us feel that we are getting back at that person.
What's so deceptive about unforgiveness is this: Not forgiving somebody does not hurt the other person. Usually the person who hurt you has no knowledge that they hurt you. And if they do, most of the time, they do not care. Holding on to unforgiveness only hurts you because God says if you do not forgive the person who offended you, He is going to judge you—not the other person.
When Jesus asked His disciples, "How many times should you forgive somebody?" Peter replied "Seven times!" Peter thought he had really said something profound. However Jesus corrected him and said, "No. You forgive 70 times seven" (paraphrase of Matt. 18:22). In essence, Jesus was saying that we need to forgive people unto infinity. Jesus then gave a warning about people who refused to forgive others. He said that those who refuse to forgive will be delivered to the tormentors (Matt. 18:24).
This word "tormentors" may also include demonization. In 15 years of facilitating deliverances, I have seen many, many cases of people who were tormented by demons because they refused to forgive someone. In this Scripture, Jesus is very clear on this issue: People who walk in unforgiveness will not be forgiven their debts. "His master was angry and delivered him to the jailers until he should pay all his debt"(Matt. 18:34).God is saying here that He will allow us to remain in debt until we forgive. Have you been praying for supernatural debt cancellation? According to the Scriptures, it won't happen until you remove all unforgiveness.
Conclusion
These five reasons for why Christians are broke are by no means exhaustive. If you have been an offender of one, some or all of these reasons, repent. Repentance is not just saying you are sorry, but making a conscientious decision to do better. So if you were moving down and you are supposed to be going up, you move in the opposite direction. Or if God has told you to go east, and you are moving west, you turn around and go east.
God says in His Word that He wants to prosper you: "But you must remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to get wealth, so that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is today" (Deut. 8:18).
When we are prosperous, we demonstrate to the world that God is real. When we are wealthy, we establish God's covenant (promise) in the Earth. God has promised us that He wants to bless us to produce wealth. So be it! 
Kyle T. Miller has been called to the marketplace as a musician, play producer, and educator. Kyle has been prophesying and interpreting dreams for almost 15 years. Kyle is also a scholar, obtaining a Masters of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). Kyle's theatre production company, Positive Images in Christ, has directed and produced over a dozen shows since it was founded in 2004. Please visit his website at prophetkyle.com.
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Monday, December 28, 2015

"Making the Climb – to the Mountain of the Lord" Julie Meyer, Santa Maria, CA - The Elijah List

Dream: The Mountain of the Lord
Psalm 24:3-4 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His Holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart...
I had a dream, and it was as if I was "within" Psalm 24 walking up the Mountain of the Lord.
I had to set my heart for the journey. It was a steep and narrow path, though it was a path well-trodden, and I pondered the patriarchs of old who had walked this same path. (Photo via Julie Meyer)
In the dream, I was carrying baggage with me. I realized I would never make it to the top of the Mountain carrying it, so I took it off and laid it aside.
There were many people on this path walking alongside me, however I noticed that several on this same trek up the Mountain didn't want to remove their baggage. The higher they began to climb, the heavier the baggage became; still they held on tight, not wanting to set any of it down, not even the smallest of bags. They became so pre-occupied with what they were carrying, they were unable to ascend. So, tightly clinging onto their baggage, they simply stopped, turned around, and started walking back down the Mountain.
There was Only One Path to the top. I began to notice whispers and grumbling because the Mountain was real, the path was narrow, and it was steep. It required endurance and diligence to stay steady and to stay focused on the small narrow path.
I came upon an elderly man with a long wooden rod in his right hand. He had a long, white beard and long, wild, white hair that fell down over his shoulders. His face was set looking onward and upward. He was not looking to the left or the right. He was not turning around or even grumbling about the steepness of the path. He was not carrying any baggage; he was walking in one direction with a face that was set on arriving at the peak and nothing less. He looked as if he knew where he was going and how to get there, so I found my stride right with his. He had authority upon him, yet a deep, humble spirit.
Out of the corner of my eye, I began to see people looking for shortcuts or different, possibly-easier ways to reach the top. The elderly man would say to each one, "There are no shortcuts and there are no other paths. There is only one way, and it is this path. If you stay on it, it will lead you straight to the top; and to make the climb, you have to lay down all your baggage." (Photo via Pixabay)
As he spoke, his words penetrated the very core of my heart, and I kept telling myself, "Stay on the path, lay down all the baggage, and there are no shortcuts. Just keep walking, stay steady."
I happened to look up just in time to see a road sign: The Pathway of Humility. At that exact moment it was as if I was transported back in time, and I realized the man in front of me was Moses; in an instant, my eyes were open to see humility, diligence, steadiness, and zeal.
He continued up the Mountain, saying over and over, "There are no short cuts and there are no other paths. There is only one way and it is this path. If you stay on it, it will lead you straight to the top. It will also change you from the inside out. This journey will do a work of humility within. If you stay steady in the midst of the steep climb, it will produce diligence and endurance for your next season."
ElijahList Prophetic Resources
There Are No Shortcuts
Finally, we ascended to the very top of the magnificent Mountain. Very few men and women actually endured for the whole climb. But those who laid it all down were standing at the very top and crying out Psalm 24:7"Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in."
I realized that I was standing in a place of great authority. This is the place where we have the authority to cry out, "Lift up your heads, O you gates!"
Many people get this invitation, but few make the whole journey. For many start the climb yet want to keep their baggage and are unable to continue up the Mountain. Some people wandered off the trodden path for other adventures that looked better to the eyes but were worthless to the soul.
I saw clearly there are no shortcuts to the top of this Mountain. It is easier to stay on the path. It is easier to keep walking. This Mountain, this climb, is an invitation of the Lord to climb His Holy Mountain with clean hands and a pure heart, and all the while embracing humility which produces great authority. 
Though some people start with baggage, or offenses, or unforgiveness – we all have the opportunity to lay it down. In order to continue upward, you have to lay everything down, otherwise it is impossible to make the climb, for the weight of these will make the climb too burdensome. (Photo via Pixabay)
The pathway called Humility is a steep climb, but it produces an inward life, a steadiness that you can only get if you stay on the path. No pain, no gain – but this trek is a place of great gain, living from the inside out...and if you can make it to the very peak, it's a place of new authority. Those who laid it all down and just did the journey, they began to proclaim in authority: "Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in" (Psalm 24:7).
Where are you in this climb? Is the path too steep and hard because you need to lay down some baggage? Do you find yourself looking for easier paths, easier ways to reach the peak? Maybe you have become distracted with the pleasures of this age, they might have caught your eye...
For we are all invited. We all receive the invitation to lay down our baggage, to stay on the path. We all get to be a part of this great climb up the Mountain of the Lord.
This is the season to lay it all down and to stay on the path: Lay down offenses, lay down unforgiveness, lay it all down and stay steady for the journey. You can do it...the Patriarchs of old walked this path. Jesus walked this path. Paul walked this path. Will you? (Photo by Jennifer Page "Forgiven"via elijahshopper.com)
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Julie Meyer
Julie Meyer Ministries

Email: click here
Website: juliemeyerministries.com
Julie Meyer has spent over 15 years in Kansas City working alongside Mike Bickle to help establish the International House of Prayer. She is part of the leadership team overseeing the Global Prayer Room, she is a worship leader, song writer, author, and has also been a part of the staff at Forerunner Music Academy teaching vocal lessons and pouring into the next generation of worship leaders, singers, and musicians.
She attended Kansas State University and studied music. Julie is ordained with Encounters Network. She is a popular conference speaker and singer. She is the author of two books and many CDs, and she travels internationally, ministering at churches and conferences, leading worship and sharing on revival, God's heart for raising up the house of prayer, and worship.
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Throughout our lives, God keeps His hand on our shoulders and nudges us on to more than what we could ever realize. 

I am excited to share how He did it this with me, and am confident mine will be a story you’ll be able to relate to. As I unveil my story, think back to those times when you knew there was some¬thing more but you just couldn’t put your finger on it. You knew deep down that life wasn’t what the TV sitcoms portrayed it to be. In our souls there is the hope, the cry for more, that someday questions will be answered and promises fulfilled if we just kept plugging away at what we know to do. 

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Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People
Charlotte, NC

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Sunday, October 11, 2015

7 Weapons the Enemy Uses to Defeat You - CHARISMA NEWS

The powers of darkness will use a variety of methods to oppress man's basic nature seeking to gain a foothold of intimidation, domination and control.

The powers of darkness will use a variety of methods to oppress man's basic nature seeking to gain a foothold of intimidation, domination and control. (Charisma archives)

7 Weapons the Enemy Uses to Defeat You




There are seven mighty weapons the enemy primarily uses from his arsenal.
1. Pride
The kingdom of darkness was birthed in the pride that filled Satan's heart (Is. 14:12-18). Satan's arrogance had its roots in his physical beauty (Ezek. 28:12-18). The original sin took place in the Garden of Eden, as a result of the serpent's appeal to the pride of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:1-7). Pride is one of the three root sins of mankind.
"For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:16). Satan will use pride to keep people from seeking God (Ps. 10:4). Jesus said pride comes out of the heart of a person and defiles them (Mark 7:22). Pride is the root of all contention and strife (Prov. 13:10). The Apostle John wrote of the dangers pride and how Satan will use it to fight against the church.
"I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to put himself first among them, did not accept us. Because of this, if I come, I will bring up what kinds of works he does: ranting against us with malicious words. Not content with that, he does not accept the brothers, and stops those who want to, and throws them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. Whoever does good is from God, but whoever does evil has not seen God" (3 John 9-11).
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18).
 2. Greed
Satan's heart is not only filled with pride but with greed.
"You were the anointed cherub that covers, and I set you there; you were upon the holy mountain of God; you walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until iniquity was found in you. By the multitude of your merchandise, you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; therefore I have cast you as profane out of the mountain of God; and I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire" (Ezek. 28:14-16).
Satan tempted Balaam to prophesy against the people of God for great wealth (Num. 22-23). The apostle Peter warned the church in 2 Peter 2:1-16 of the demonic strategies used against Balaam. Jude warned of these same strategies in Jude 1-11.
Jesus also warned the church at Pergamos of these satanic strategies (Rev. 2:14). The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. He gave five dangers of greed in 1 Timothy 6:9-10. It makes a person more vulnerable to temptation, it sets a spiritual snare, it creates foolish and hurtful lusts which will drown a person in destruction and perdition, it causes a person to err from the faith, and it pierces a person through with many sorrows.
Jericho was the tithe city of the promise land, set apart by God. No one was to take spoil for themselves, it was all to go into the treasury of the Lord (Josh. 6:17-19). One greedy man took some of the spoil bringing judgment upon himself, his family and the nation of Israel (Josh. 7:1-21).
Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit when they told the Apostle Peter in Acts 5:1-10 that they were bringing the whole price of their land as an offering to God. They kept part of the money for themselves, lying to the Holy Spirit and the apostles. Judgment was both swift and deadly.
3. Appetites of the Flesh
Demonic forces corrupted the early generations of mankind through sexual sins (Gen. 6:1-5). Satan trapped the Israelites by tempting them with sexual sins in Numbers 25:1-8 and 31:16. Satan took down Samson in Judges 16:5-20 by enticing him through the appetites of the flesh.
The apostle Paul warned the church at Thessalonica of this powerful weapon of the enemy (1 Thess. 4:1-8), and also warned his spiritual son, Timothy, of the strong snare these appetites are to men of God who want to be vessels of honor in the house of the Lord in 2 Timothy 2:19-26.
4. and 5. Rebellion and Stubbornness
Satan is the author of rebellion. He planned an attempted overthrow of heaven as described in Isaiah 14:13-15. He prompted a rebellion against Moses and Aaron by Korah and Dathan in Numbers 16:1-50. Saul was a self-willed and rebellious king over Israel, animated by powers of darkness (1 Sam. 13:1-14, 15:1-11).
We read in 1 Samuel 15:23 that rebellion is like witchcraft and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry. The apostle Paul warned the church in 2 Timothy 2:23-3:9 of the dangers of rebellion and stubbornness. 

6. Bitterness
Unforgiveness gives the enemy a foothold (Eph. 4:26-27). "Give place to the devil" in Ephesians 4:27 means to give him an area of jurisdiction.
Jesus declared in Matthew 18:21-25 that unforgiveness in a person's heart causes God to have to turn you over to tormentors. Bitterness will bring defiling into every area of a person's life, relationships and endeavor (Heb. 12:14-16).
 7. Condemnation
Satan was the accuser against Job (Job 1:1-12, 2:1-7). He is called "the accuser of the brethren" in Revelation 12:10 and accuses the believer to God day and night. The tactics he uses are domination, intimidation and control. The Midianites used these tactics to keep Israel in bondage to their tyrannical rule in Judges 6:1-5.
In 1 Samuel 17:1-24 we read that the Philistines used this same tactic against Israel with Goliath. The enemy has used this mighty weapon to control people, groups and nations for centuries. The following are some examples of the means used by the enemy in history.
In his book Western Civilizations, Edward McNall Burns says that the Assyrians "depended upon frightfulness as a means of overcoming their enemies. Upon soldiers captured in battle, and some upon noncombatants as well, they inflicted unspeakable cruelties such as, skinning them alive, impaling them on stakes, cutting off ears, noses and sex organs, and then exhibiting the mutilated victims in cages for the benefit of cities that had not yet surrendered. The accounts of these cruelties come from the records of the Assyrians themselves. Their chronicles boasted of them as evidence of their valor."
The Roman Empire used crucifixion and other means of cruelty to intimidate their subjects. John Foxe, in his book Foxe's Book of Martyrs, says: "'In so much that (as Eusebius recordeth) one might then see cities full of men's bodies, the old there lying together with the young, and the dead bodies of women cast out naked, without all reverence of that sex in the open streets.'"
The Nazi's used open cruelty to bring intimidation, domination and control. Kazimierz Smolen, in his book Auschwitz 1940-1945: Guide-Book Through the Museum, says: "The prisoners then recalled scraps of information so nightmarish that it could hardly be believed. They went back to the period just after the end of World War I, when the name of Corporal Adolph Hitler had begun to appear ... his storm troops (SA), the main purpose of which was to spread terror ... demonstrations occurred in Berlin in 1932. ... Reich Stag was set on fire. ... Unused factories were changed into the first concentration camps. The Nazis had put thousands of Germans behind wires and bars. 250,000 anti-fascists were sent to concentration camps up till 1939, and 32,000 among them were executed with the ax."

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Sunday, September 20, 2015

4 Unfailing Defenses to Combat Torment in the Night

Here's how you can sleep peacefully in victory over Satan.

Here's how you can sleep peacefully in victory over Satan. (iStock photo )

4 Unfailing Defenses to Combat Torment in the Night




Satan isn't creative, but he is predictable. He operates from a playbook of strategies, which he launches systematically on person after person.
But, don't mistake predictability for stupidity: He's certainly cunning and knows just when to attack. Many of his plays are set in motion—not when we're alert and strong—but when our defenses are down. It's no surprise, then, that one of the most popular questions I receive regarding spiritual warfare relates to how to combat torment in the night—persistent nightmares, sexual dreams or even the presence of hovering figures.
Nighttime Attacks in Scripture
Satan's work under the cloak of the night isn't without biblical precedent. To be certain, it's what led to the near-destruction of Job. Allow me to elaborate. Job was considered by God to be "blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil" (Job 1:1).
But unbeknownst to Job, a wager was made in the heavens, instigated by Satan. The devil argued that if God's blessings were removed, Job wouldn't maintain his righteousness. And God allowed, then Satan immediately went to work attacking Job's character, stealing his property, children and health. Eventually, when word got around of Job's tribulations, his friends came to determine just what was going on. They remained quiet, for the most part, seeking to properly discern the situation. But it all radically changed after an attack in the night.
In the midst of deep sleep, Job's best friend, Eliphaz, reported, "A word was brought to me secretly" (Job 4:12–13). It was an experience so intense, in fact, that he was overcome with dread and shaken to his core (Job 4:14). Shortly after, Eliphaz felt a spirit glide across his face, causing his hair to bristle. When a form stood before him, he heard a voice:
"Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?" (Job 4:17).
These were no innocent questions about humanity's position compared to God. No, this spirit was planting impure thoughts to put into question the very declaration God had previously made about Job. That is, it questioned Job's righteousness. And it worked. Eliphaz quickly broke his silence to indict Job for his own distress.
So many of us have experienced something similar—dread and trembling in the night that shakes our very cores. What should be a new day filled with God's new mercies (see Lamentations 3:22), turns into a day of feeling dirty and defeated.
Your 4 Defenses
Thankfully, God never leaves anyone to be the devil's doormat. And even in your sleep, you don't have to be defenseless. Nighttime is a crucial time to trust in God's power to combat the enemy on your behalf. And I've learned four unfailing ways to do so—sure to end nighttime attacks for good.
1. Close open doors. Yes, you may sleep more peacefully if you close—and lock!—your bedroom door. But that's not what I'm talking about here. There may be spiritual doors left open in your life, welcoming the enemy in to attack. These often include lifestyle sins such as offense and unforgiveness, occult practices or sexual promiscuity. To close these doors, simply acknowledge the sin and thank God for His finished work on the cross that removed it. Then ask Him to manifest the power of the cross in your life to sever the sin's hold on you.
2. Plead Jesus' blood. Speaking of the accuser, John wrote that we overcome him "by the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 12:11). I've found that invoking the power of Jesus' blood is especially critical to ending attacks in the night. Before you go to bed, speak aloud, "I cover myself in the blood of  Jesus." I believe this places a spiritual force field around you that the enemy can't penetrate. The blood of Jesus freshly applied on you repels Satan with a reminder of his defeat at Christ's cross.
3. Ask God to surround you with leagues of angels. Within God's heavenly hierarchy are hosts of angel armies that He charges to guard and protect us in everything that we do (Psalm 91:11). Many find it particularly effective to pray aloud before retiring for bed, "God, I ask you to send leagues of angels to protect me as I sleep." You probably won't see them, but be assured that an angelic line of defense will report to duty to surround you in your slumber.
4. Meditate on God's Word. God gives us His Word as a weapon in spiritual warfare. In fact, God's Word is the final piece Paul lists in the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:17). To keep the enemy at bay, maintain a practice of running God's Word through your mind and your mouth. Additionally, many find it helpful to saturate their environments with the Word by playing Scripture set to music. My new Experience Freedom album (available on CD and iTunes) is a powerful resource for this. It guides you in speaking the Word over yourself, and is useful to set a peaceful environment while you work or sleep. One thing is certain: The father of lies has no power when the truth of the Father is present.
It's easy to get into battle mode, believing that we must fight Satan in our own efforts. But God revealed to me that spiritual warfare isn't about having a bloodbath with a devil that's defeated.
No, it's about standing in the victory of the One who defeated him. And in this case, you can sleep soundly in victory by activating God's defenses on your behalf: His cross, His blood, His angels and His Word.
Kyle Winkler teaches people how to live in victory. His mobile app, Shut Up, Devil!, is the No. 1 spiritual warfare app; and his recent book, Silence Satan, has helped thousands shut down the enemy's attacks, threats, lies and accusations. Kyle holds a Master of Divinity degree in biblical studies from Regent University. Get daily encouragement from Kyle on Facebook and Twitter.
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Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Filled to Overflowing or Lost for Words by Elaine Tavolacci

Filled to Overflowing or Lost for Words 

by Elaine Tavolacci

Identity Network
 
The Holy Spirit showed me a metaphor of "speech balloons."  A speech balloon (or word balloon) is a graphic used most commonly in comic strips. They reveal the words representing the speech and thoughts given by the character.
 
The Lord showed me speech balloons coming out of people's mouths, but they had no words in them. The Lord said, "Some people are lost for words because they are spiritually barren. They are stunting their spiritual growth and maturity by not filling themselves with spiritual things. As they fill their thoughts with My word, their minds will be renewed from their old nature. As they fill their mouths and hearts with prayer and intercession, their lives will be transformed as well as the lives of those for whom they are interceding. Their conversation will always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that they may know how to answer and minister to others."
 
The Second Group
 
Then I saw a second group of people. They had the speech balloons proceeding out of their mouths that were filled with negative words. Their words were filled with criticism and judgment, as well as anger, jealousy and regret. They had unforgiveness in their hearts from people that had hurt them, and plans that did not go as they had desired. Some had bitterness that was caused by past relationships, which they are having a difficult time letting go of. When they hear something familiar from their past, it triggers something inside of them that makes them respond and react in a negative way.
 
The Third Group
 
The third group that I saw were people who had word balloons filled with words of encouragement, edification and exaltation. Words of thanksgiving and praise were on their lips. Although many of them were facing difficult situations in their lives, they refused to give in to defeat. They would not come into agreement with the accuser by acknowledging his lies with their words. They would not repeat the words of the enemy as they refused to give voice to his plans and strategies. They spoke words of blessing to those who cursed them, and prayed for those who despitefully used them. The words of their mouths and the meditation of their hearts were pleasing to the Lord.
 
Don't Nullify My Word
 
The Lord says, "Do not speak anything that would nullify or devalue My word. Never speak what is contrary to what you believe. Don't contradict that which I am birthing within you with words of doubt or dishonor. Store up My words within your heart as a treasure. As you do this, you will soon discover that you are bringing glory to me through ordering your conversation aright. Although you don't see things manifested in the natural yet, continue to speak My word. Speak words of life, and speak words in love. Let the words of your mouth and the mediation of your heart be pleasing to Me. Your words will define you as you speak words of faith and put your trust in Me," says the Lord.
 
Proverbs 12:18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
 
Isaiah 50:4 The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.
 
Matthew 12:37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
 
Luke 6:45 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.
 
Elaine Tavolacci

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Friday, March 6, 2015

When Christians Turn Mean and Hateful by Lee Grady

When Christians Turn Mean and Hateful by Lee Grady (Identity Network)

People have always been rude, thanks to human nature. But have you noticed that rudeness has gone to a whole new level since the advent of social media? What people were ashamed to say to someone's face can now be easily posted on Facebook, or tweeted, or typed anonymously on a blog or web forum.

Why are we so mean today? Maybe people have watched too many angry political slugfests on television or read too much hateful banter online. Maybe all this toxic dialogue has desensitized us, and we just don't know how to bite our lips and say anything kind. And while I'd love to say that Christians are immune to this epidemic of harsh conversation, that's not the case. Sometimes we are just as mean as everyone else, even if we don't drop F-bombs as often.

 I recently visited a web forum that specifically caters to Christians, but I had to exit quickly because the tone of the discussion was so caustic. Christians were skewering each other, name-calling and judging people they've never met in person. There used to be rules for arguing, but today - at least on the Internet - the gloves are off, all weapons are allowed and there are no referees. It's a bloody free-for-all.

The father of the modern Pentecostal movement, William "Daddy" Seymour, knew that there is a direct correlation between the level of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the way we treat people. He said: "Pentecostal power, when you sum it all up, is just more of God's love. If it does not bring more love, it is simply a counterfeit."

Ouch!

A Revival of Genuine Love

What we need today in the church is a revival of genuine love. If you want to see such a revival in your own heart, start by taking these steps:

  • Let go of all unforgiveness. The No. 1 reason people have anger seething under the surface of their hearts is they have not forgiven people who hurt them. Holding resentment in your heart is not only unhealthy for you (it can cause disease); it is also toxic for those around you, because they are subjected to your bitter venom when you speak. Forgive people quickly and allow the sweetness of God's love to neutralize the poison.

  • Get healing from past abuse. Many people are verbal abusers because they were abused, bullied, rejected or judged in the past. If that was your story, you can break the cycle through the power of Christ. Let Him teach you how to love people, even if no one in your past knew how. Also, open your life to a mature mentor who can model Christian love to you, and take the risk of building healthy friendships.

  • Go on a fast from negative words. Many Christians fast at the beginning of each year to ask God for personal revival. But you can fast from sweets, carbs and proteins for 21 days and still be spiritually unchanged if you are complaining, grumbling, criticizing or spewing hateful words from your mouth every day. Ask God to set a guard over your mouth to instantly convict you of unkind words and actions that quench the Holy Spirit.

  • Stop bashing the church. Today there are a growing number of disillusioned Christians who have given up on the church because they were hurt by a pastor or a fellow believer. These so-called "dones" (people who are "done" with organized churches) sometimes feel compelled to vent in public forums about how the church has failed them. Yet bashing the church is never going to make anyone feel better; it will only drive them farther from God and His reconciling power.

We must remember what British preacher Charles Spurgeon said: "You are no lover of Christ if you do not love His children....Love Christ and you will soon love all that love Him." God loves His church with all of its flaws, and so should you.
  • Let God stretch your love. The apostle Peter wrote: "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart" (1 Peter 1:22 NASB). The Greek word for "fervently," ektenos, means "stretched." It implies that if we want to love people like God loves them, we will be stretched to the max. Stretching hurts, but in a good way!

God wants to put His very heart inside you, but He can't until you make room by getting rid of every hateful attitude. Open your heart wide, and let His love invade the places you have closed. His fervent love can change a bitter, angry, cynical critic into a kind, gentle, affectionate lover of people.

Lee Grady


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