God’s Word is Powerful
Jeremiah 23:29 (New King James Version)
29 “ Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD,
“ And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
Have you ever tried to break a huge rock with a hammer? Sometimes it takes many blows with the hammer before you even see a small crack in the huge stone. Then it seems, all at once the rock falls apart.
Was it the last blow that broke the rock? Of course not; little by little the stone was weakened till it finally gave way to the last blow. The person with the hammer in his hands did not know that this particular blow would be the one that caused the stone to fall apart, but he believed that if he continued to use the hammer that it would give way to the hammer.
Is God telling us a great truth here in this small verse of scripture?
I think so.
When you are using the Word of God to defeat a huge test in your life, don’t give up when it looks like it’s not working; by faith, continue using the Word, sooner or later you will see the problem give way to the Word. “Is not His word like a hammer that breaks the rock?” (Jer23: 29b)
THE HAMMER HAS TO HAVE SOMEONE USING IT!!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
How not to worry
How not to worry
Matthew 6:34
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Most of the stuff we worry about never happens. Worry, like faith is a spiritual force; it is like a magnet it attracts the very things we worry about. Worry clouds our judgment.
Want to overcome worry?
#1 Replace it; Telling someone not to worry doesn’t work The only way to overcome it is to replace it.
Philipians 4:8
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Php4:8
#2 Dissect it; Fear involves torment 1Jn 4:18
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
worry torments you, your imagination gets out of control; you conjure up all kinds of scary scenes. It’s also illogical; when you take it apart, it doesn’t make any sense at all. That’s when it loses it’s power to control you.
Isaiah 40:31
31 But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Matthew 6:34
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Most of the stuff we worry about never happens. Worry, like faith is a spiritual force; it is like a magnet it attracts the very things we worry about. Worry clouds our judgment.
Want to overcome worry?
#1 Replace it; Telling someone not to worry doesn’t work The only way to overcome it is to replace it.
Philipians 4:8
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Php4:8
#2 Dissect it; Fear involves torment 1Jn 4:18
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
worry torments you, your imagination gets out of control; you conjure up all kinds of scary scenes. It’s also illogical; when you take it apart, it doesn’t make any sense at all. That’s when it loses it’s power to control you.
Isaiah 40:31
31 But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Thou shall not quit
. Scripture doesn’t designate a retirement age for believers. But there is an end product for our service—one unrelated to age. In describing the results of the efforts of “pastors and teachers,” Paul says their purpose is to equip “the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12). And that “work of ministry,” which is the job of all believers, can lead to “the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (v.13). Building the body of Christ by what every member (joint) supplies, each one doing their part; (full time) This task should “keep us going” for the rest of our lives. Ephesians 4:16
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Start where you are in serving the Lord,
Claim His sure promise and trust in His Word;
God simply asks you to do what you can—
He’ll use your efforts to further His plan. —Anon.
Young or old—God can use you if you’re willing
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Start where you are in serving the Lord,
Claim His sure promise and trust in His Word;
God simply asks you to do what you can—
He’ll use your efforts to further His plan. —Anon.
Young or old—God can use you if you’re willing
Monday, October 18, 2010
Want Peace?
Psalm 34:12-14 seek peace
12 Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.
Isaiah 26:3Keep peace
3 You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Colossians 3:15 Peace of Christ
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Hebrews 12:14Pursue peace
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
Colossians 3:15
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (NKJV)
Monday, October 4, 2010
God has a better idea
God has a better idea
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
"If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. (James 4:15 NIV) "
Have you noticed that things don't always turn out the way you want them to? That sometimes God has a better idea?
The Bible says in Proverbs 27:1, "Don't boast about tomorrow. You don't know what tomorrow's going to bring." (ESV)
It's okay to make your plans, but remember that life is unpredictable and God says we shouldn't presume on it. On the other hand, we shouldn't worry about it because God is in control.
James 4 tells us the proper attitude to have: "Now listen you who say 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.' Why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. ... Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" (vv. 13-15, NIV)
James is saying it's OK to make plans, but just realize that ultimately God has the final word.
The right attitude is to always keep your plans submitted to God. Make your plans but say, "God, if this is what You want, this is the direction I'm going to go. I'm doing this with flexible faith."
Proverbs 16:9 says, "We should make our plans counting on God to direct us." How do you do that? By praying. When you get up in the morning and have your quiet time, say, "God, what do You want to do with this day?"
Then when interruptions come, you'll remember God is in control. It will dramatically lower the frustration level in your life as you remember it is not all up to you.
excerpt from
Rick Warren
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
"If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. (James 4:15 NIV) "
Have you noticed that things don't always turn out the way you want them to? That sometimes God has a better idea?
The Bible says in Proverbs 27:1, "Don't boast about tomorrow. You don't know what tomorrow's going to bring." (ESV)
It's okay to make your plans, but remember that life is unpredictable and God says we shouldn't presume on it. On the other hand, we shouldn't worry about it because God is in control.
James 4 tells us the proper attitude to have: "Now listen you who say 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.' Why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. ... Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" (vv. 13-15, NIV)
James is saying it's OK to make plans, but just realize that ultimately God has the final word.
The right attitude is to always keep your plans submitted to God. Make your plans but say, "God, if this is what You want, this is the direction I'm going to go. I'm doing this with flexible faith."
Proverbs 16:9 says, "We should make our plans counting on God to direct us." How do you do that? By praying. When you get up in the morning and have your quiet time, say, "God, what do You want to do with this day?"
Then when interruptions come, you'll remember God is in control. It will dramatically lower the frustration level in your life as you remember it is not all up to you.
excerpt from
Rick Warren
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