Friday, March 20, 2020

CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE



CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE

We are created in the image of God.  We are a resemblance of God created to manifest His glory throughout the earth.  When God created Adam and Eve, it appeared that He wanted to share His love and be loved, and He loved mankind so much that He gave him a will of his own.  God did not create robots but people with a free will who would choose right from wrong and also choose to love or be loved by their Creator God.
God has a plan and it started at creation when he created Adam and Eve.  He made us in His own image and made us male and female.  He has a plan and a purpose for our lives giving us a free will to love Him and serve Him.
Marriage, as stated in the Bible, is between one man and one woman.  That is God’s plan and we, as His creation, should not doubt our Creator and question His plan.  We are the creation and He is the Creator.  He is a loving God who only wants what is best for us.  Satan has always tried to steal our identity and it started in the Garden of Eden.  All he had to do was to put a small doubt into Eve’s mind by asking her, “......Can it really be that God has said, you shall not eat from every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1
Satan not only tricked Eve into doubting what God had told her not to do (eat of the tree of knowledge) but he continues to this day, if not by  corrupting humanity in the flesh like the Nephilim, but by assaulting our identities as a woman or a man.  A man’s identity has been bashed by the progressive left and feminist movement.  They want to destroy God’s plan by using gender confusion or a new definition of gender based solely on who I think I am rather than who I was created to be.  If the evil one can tear down who we are, then he can try to tear down who God is and make Him obsolete.
The conspiracy to “corrupt the seed of woman” is also evident in the conspiracy to change gender.  If we can change our gender, than there really is no purpose for marriage.  If a man’s sperm can be used to impregnate an egg for procreation there’s no need for a man and a woman to be joined together for a child to be born.
Owen Strachan stated in an article entitled “Transgender Identity—Wishing Away God’s Design said, “We should celebrate the beauty of God’s creative design.  The Christian Church and the godly family should be a festival of happiness.  We should rejoice that God in His sovereign wisdom has opened our eyes to see that He has made us according to His perfect design.  Manhood and womanhood aren’t Plan B.  God Himself has made us as we are.  We are the pinnacle of His creation.”

Don't be deceived by the world.  Don't let the world tell you who you are.  Stand up for who you are in Christ.  We are who Almighty God says we are!!
 
BIBLICAL IDENTITY DECLARATIONS:

1.  I am chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world that I may be holy and blameless before the Father.  Ephesians 1:4
2.  The Father has accepted me in the beloved.  Ephesians 1:6 
3.  I have redemption through Jesus Christ’s blood and the forgiveness of sins.  Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14
4.  I am saved by grace through faith.  I am not saved by my own works.  Ephesians 2:8-9
5.  I am God's masterpiece.  He created me anew in Christ Jesus, so I can do all the good things He planned for me long ago.  Ephesians 2:10
6.  I am strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man according to the riches of His glory.  Ephesians 3:16
7.  Christ dwells in my heart by faith.  I am rooted and grounded in love.  Ephesians 3:17
8.  God gives me the victory through Jesus Christ my Lord.  I Cor. 16:57
9.  I have the mind of Christ.  I Cor. 2:16
10.  I am in Christ Jesus and therefore I am a new creation.  Old things have passed away and all things have become new.  II Cor. 5:17  (Igniting Hope Ministries, June 10, 2015)

We are not who the world is telling us who we are!  We do not think the way the world thinks.  We do not live the way the world wants us to live.  We ARE who God says that we are.  We do have the mind of Christ.  We WILL live the way Christ wants us to live.  We need to take a stand and not let our voices be silenced anymore.  Our true identity is being eroded by the anti-christ spirit living and moving in our politicians, media and sadly to say in some churches.






Saturday, March 14, 2020

THE PERFECT STORM




                                               THE PERFECT STORM

Why is it that sometimes the most dangerous things that surround us are things that we cannot see?  Can we see the wind?  No, we cannot see it but we can feel it and see what it causes by seeing the movement that it creates in the trees and earth and living things that move because of it.  It can be devastating like a tornado or a hurricane.

How is it that a powerful country or countries can be brought to their knees when a virus, that cannot be seen by the naked eye, invades a country through unwilling hosts that may not even know that this uninvited pathogen is dwelling inside of someone unseen until it rears its ugly head.

There are vaccines and medicine to combat disease and we should all be aware of protecting ourselves from this contagion.  But how many of us are protecting ourselves against the unseen of the demonic world that seeks to attack our souls at every turn.

I believe that the COVID-19 virus is the enemy from the pit of hell that is attacking the world with fear.  Fear, more than anything else is the driving force of this virus more so than the virus itself.  Actually, it has been stated by the medical profession that fear, in and of itself, can actually weaken the immune system.  So is fear working hand in hand with this virus and probably having more of an impact on the situation we are facing now?  Are many of the media and politicians also instigating this fear for evil reasons?

In the Word of God it says,
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

There are more than 365 verses in the Bible about fear.  It’s as if God has given us a verse for each and every day.

We need to start taking the authority that we have received, through Jesus Christ, at the cross.  We need not surrender to the corona virus.  It is not of God.  Let us not panic because we know that God is in control.  We need to pray and trust God. 

The evil one, the enemy, has used this corona virus as a “perfect storm” to cause people to be afraid.  How convenient that Churches are closing their doors to decrease the spread of the virus!  We should be praying together and not let the enemy dictate what we should and should not do!!

Church arise and come against this virus!!  Yes we should use common sense but we need not be afraid.  Fear is the fuel that is fueling this with something so microscopic that it cannot be seen with the naked eye.  Let’s also realize that evil things that are not seen are there to instigate fear but we, as Christians, need to take a stand and not fear because in Psalm 91:5-6 it says, “You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day.  Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.  Psalm 91:9-10, “Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, There shall no evil befall you, nor an y plague or calamity come near your tent.”  (Everyday Life Bible, Amp.)

A Daily Prayer for Protection
Lord God, I pray for Your protection as I begin this day. You are my hiding place, and under Your wings I can always find refuge. Protect me from trouble wherever I go, and keep evil far from me. No matter where I am, I will look to You as my Protector, the One Who fights for me every day. Your love and faithfulness, along with Your goodness and mercy, surround me daily, so I will not fear whatever might come against me. My trust is in You, God, and I give thanks to You for Your love and protection. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Prayer for Good Health and Protection from Harm
We bless You, Lord, for You are our Jehovah Rapha, the Healer of all our diseases. Our body is the temple of Your Spirit, so we pray for protection from that which could bring harm to us physically. Guard us from stresses that steal our emotional strength and lower our immunity to fight infection. Heal us of past traumas that may affect our present or future health. Teach us how to discipline our bodies so we can grow stronger and increase our physical stamina. When challenges arise, we need not fear, for You have given us a spirit of power, of love, and a sound mind.
As the Great Physician, You know us so well. You ordained every part of our body even before we were born. Help us to treat our bodies with respect as Your beloved creations. We want to serve You with excellence, so in our weakness, grant us strength and good health so that nothing will prevent Your plan for our lives. Protect us from contagions and disease that can riddle the body and bring dangerous results. Safeguard us with wisdom to use well the rest You provide as we wait on You and with You daily. Our lives and our health are in Your hands, Lord, and our trust and faith are in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
  • Rebecca Barlow Jordan www.rebeccabarlowjordan.com

Friday, March 6, 2020

CULTURAL CHRISTIANITY



CULTURAL CHRISTIANITY

Is Christianity shaping our culture or is the culture shaping our Christianity?  Are you a Biblical Christian or a cultural Christian?  Are you trying to have the best of both worlds by compromising your beliefs as a Christian?  

Sadly to say, we seem to be adopting some of the values of the world.  We have been exchanging the truth and the absolutes of God with the lies of the enemy.  We have become saturated in the material world and have sought after fleshly desires. 

We use God as an ATM.  God I want this.  God I want that.  We make God Who we want Him to be, not Who He is.  How many of us who call ourselves Christians are born again and read and know the scriptures?

In the parable of the sower, Jesus says, in Matthew 13:19, “While anyone is hearing the Word of the kingdom and does not grasp and comprehend it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is what was sown along the roadside.”  Jesus is making it clear that not everyone who hears the Word of God accepts it.

The cultural Christian is the one who is living a counterfeit faith because he or she is not living out the true Gospel.  It is not genuine.  They are Christian in name only because they think that just going to church and filling up a pew qualifies them to be a Christian but when they go home “they live like the devil.”  Remember, even the devil shows up at church!!  He can also quote the gospel such as when Jesus was being tempted by the devil when Jesus had been fasting in the desert.

In many instances, there appears to be little difference between some Christians and other people in the world.  The temptations of the world are sought out more than the fruits of the Spirit.  They seem more influenced by what the world is saying than what God is saying in His Word.  They may have faith but have not made Jesus Lord over their lives.

Who is the true Christian, the Biblical Christian so to speak?  He or she is a person who has surrendered their life to Christ.  They are obedient to the Word of God.  They stand up to the world and are not afraid to speak out against laws or ideas that are not Biblically based.  They are not afraid to speak truth in love.  They do not fear back lash and give in to popular beliefs for fear that they will lose their job or that others will ridicule them.  There have been brave people who have stood such as the baker who refused to bake a cake for a gay couple because he did not want to be forced to do something that his faith did not support.  

We live in a world that is rapidly losing its way.  Universities and colleges and even high schools are rewriting history.  If they can rewrite history, then the Bible becomes a myth and ancient history in which people can ignore it or redefine it with their own agenda and dogma.

Don’t get sucked in to the world.  Jesus talked a lot about being in the world but not being of the world.  Jesus came down from heaven to show us how to be.  We need to be who He made us to be.  We are not robots being programed by the world but we are sons and daughters of the most High King of the Universe.  We need to act as such.  We have authority over the evil one.  Jesus came so we could take back our authority that was stolen from us at the Garden.  We have authority in and through Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Live the Word.  Be the Word to others.  Stand and don’t become a cultural Christian.  Just remember that people are being martyred every day because they will not renounce their faith and some of us are afraid to speak out for the Kingdom.  Let us look, act, and speak like Jesus and we will truly be able to stand against those that would have us cave in to their agenda and beliefs.

For those of you who would like to give your life to Jesus or those of you who want to rekindle your commitment to the Lord, say this prayer out loud with me:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus to die on the Cross for my sins
Forgive me for my sins.
Wash them away with the Blood of Jesus
Jesus, take over my life. 
I give it to you
Reign in my heart and my soul
Change me and make me whole
I ask all of these things in Jesus Name
Amen

                                                                               HOPE AND JUSTICE   Marcella Ward November 20, 2024 REVE...