Slanderers and Liars

(Prov 19:9 NLT) A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will be destroyed.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “The Power of Proverbs - the Wisdom of God.” Yesterday Solomon told us that we basically do ourselves a favor when we learn all we can and then retain what we learn. In this verse Solomon goes back to a reoccurring theme of his teachings: telling the truth and avoiding lies, deceit, and slander.

Let me give you just a few of the previous mentions. In chapter two Solomon said this of God: "He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity" (2:7). In chapter eight God said this through Solomon: "For I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge" (8:7-9); and "I walk in ways that are honest. I take paths that are right. I leave riches to those who love me. I give them more than they have room for" (8:20,21).

It's not hard to figure out the fact that our heavenly Father is completely honest and that He expects us, as His children, to be the same. Furthermore, honesty and truthfulness directly contrast satan's characteristics. Not only is the devil a liar, but he is the father of lies; lying is his native tongue (see John 8:42-44). You don’t want to be associated with satan and his ways.
In this verse and in 19:5 Solomon lists bearing false witness and lying separately. To explain why I will quote something I said previously in this series: “You, like God, are a tri-partite being; meaning that there are three parts of you. You are a spirit, you possess a soul, and you live in a body. If your spirit desires one thing, but your soul another, and yet your body is pulling you in a third direction, then you are not fully integrated. This inward struggle will eventually lead to a conflict and hence, a violation of your integrity. If you can learn to control your tongue then you will literally learn to control your life, because what comes out of your tongue is an outward representation of what is going on inside of you. Believers who lie are people who are losing the battle on the inside." God is against lying because He wants us to walk in integrity (to be fully integrated). Walking in integrity is a matter of controlling yourself and overcoming the inward struggle. However, bearing false witness is different because it involves someone else. There are three main categories of faults: Iniquity (inward), transgression (outward), and sin (upward).

When you bear false witness – when you intentionally lie about the actions of another – you are committing all three at the same time. You are sinning (upward) against God, you are committing a transgression (outward) against man, and it is all because of your inward flaws.

It is one thing to lie and violate yourself, but quite another to lie on someone else and attempt to bring them down. Slander is an attempt to defame someone's good name. Jehovah hates this because it shows that you clearly don't value the life of the other person. You are not the creator. You don't know what God wants to do with that person. You don't know their destiny. You don't know the plans that God has for them. When you speak lies against someone you may very well be coming up against God's purpose for their life. When you come up against them, you are coming up against all that God wants to do in and through them.

So what does this mean to you? Simply put, it means that you are called to walk in integrity (which will benefit you) and truth/honesty (which will benefit all those around you). If you don't, this scripture promises that you will pay the price!

Father, I thank You for the reminder this morning. I declare, by faith, that I will use my tongue to build up and never to tear down. I take control of my thought life and I bring all wayward thoughts into subjection. I force my entire being – spirit, soul, and body – to align with what You desire to accomplish in my life. In so doing I make myself a person of integrity. Furthermore, I refuse to violate others. I will not "put my mouth" on anyone. I will use my words to bless and not to curse. I am not the Creator, You are. I don't know what You want to do in their lives, You do. Therefore, I will be careful to not negatively interfere with Your plans and purposes for others! I speak the truth in love every day and in every way! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Are You Growing?

(Prov 19:8 NLT) To acquire wisdom is to love oneself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.

This morning we get back to Proverbs series. I started this series almost a year years ago now and it has taken us this long to get to chapter 19. The last verse we covered in this series, before taking "Warrior Spirit" detour was 19:7. So, let's pick up where we left off.

The Good News Bible translation of this verse reads: "Do yourself a favor and learn all you can; then remember what you learn and you will prosper."

Here Solomon emphasizes two things:

1. You love yourself when you do what it takes to acquire wisdom: Our God makes His wisdom available to all His children (see James 1:5). However, a great many believers never truly access and benefit from the wisdom of God because of laziness and lethargy. Don't make the mistake of thinking that God's wisdom will leap from the pages of His Word into your heart by osmosis or that His Holy Spirit will pour the precious and eternal truths He knows into your spirit without provocation. No, the pursuit of God's wisdom must be intentional and persistent. But while it will cost you something, the cost pales in comparison to the benefit. If you love yourself, Solomon says, you will pay the cost, you will make the investment in yourself, you will do what it takes to tap into God's invaluable wisdom. Once you develop in His wisdom - and His Word and ways become the foundation for your decision-make-process - you will be well on your way to experiencing God's best for your life. Pursue divine wisdom with all your might. Put in the work it takes to acquire it and you will never be the same. Oliver Wendell Holmes said, "Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions." Stretch your mind and spirit daily.

2. You put yourself in a position to prosper when you properly esteeming understanding: How many times have you heard an awesome sermon that was chock-full of divine wisdom, only to forget about it a week later? Or how many times has God spoken a powerful Word to you - whether it was in prayer, through someone else, through a situation, etc. - only for you to forget it a few days later? You properly esteem divine understanding when you do all you can to retain the wisdom, hold fast to the instruction, keep it before you day and night, commit to applying its lessons, abide by its doctrine, adhere to its standards, keep its ordinances, and use it as the ruler by which you judge your decisions. Learning a truth and then forgetting it is no better than never having learned the truth in the first place. As a believer you must be committed to lifelong learning and especially to retaining what you learn so that it can have the maximum effect on your life.

So what does this mean to you? It means that God has already done His part in providing you His wisdom. The rest is now up to you. You can either put in the time, energy, and effort required to grow in God and in His Wisdom or your can lazily meander your way through life, without truly growing, developing or doing anything of any significance with and for God.

President Abraham Lincoln said, "I don't think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday." Would he think much of you? Are you growing daily? If not you are hurting yourself and all the people you could be influencing.

Father, I love You and myself enough to do what it takes to grow and develop in You and in Your Wisdom. You have made Your wisdom available for me and I refuse to allow laziness and lethargy to keep me from becoming all that You have destined, designed and desired for me to be. I acquire wisdom and I also do all that I can to retain what I learn. I keep it before me daily. I speak it from my lips repeatedly. I hide it down in my heart. And I apply all that I learn. I grow in grace in the knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ daily. In Jesus' name. Amen!

The Conclusion (Part II)

1. Remember, God is looking for Faith: When Jesus encountered a Roman man who possessed exceptional faith and He said, "Most certainly I tell you, I haven't found so great a faith, not even in Israel" (Mat 8:10). The words "I haven't found" tell me that faith is what Jesus was looking for. So when you are looking for answers, remember God is looking for faith! In His estimation, there is nothing is impossible to him that believes. If you supply the faith, God will get involved in your situation.

2. God wants your Cooperation: Paul said, "By God's grace I am what I am." But he knew that he could not stop there, because that sounds like he had no part in the matter. Someone could read that and say, "Well, my life is all up to God." No, Paul went on to say, "I worked harder than all the others." This made it clear Paul had a part in the matter, but that does not sound good either. Someone might think he was being arrogant. So Paul continued and said, "Not I, of course, but God's grace that was with me" (1st Cor 15:10). This shows that Paul had part and God had a part. God will not force Himself on you. For God to fully operate in your life, He is looking for your cooperation. Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not. It is God + man making a difference in the world.

3. God also expects you to Trust Him: Never question God's ability. There is nothing that God cannot do. While you may not be sure if He WILL, you must be convinced that He CAN! But even if He doesn't, you must never throw in the towel. Faith says, "I believe God will do it." But trust says, "Even if He doesn't, He is still my God and I will still worship Him!" You are not always going to get what you want from God and things are not always going to go your way, but you must continue to trust God, no matter the circumstances.

4. Maintain an attitude of Thanksgiving: In Paul's first letter to the church in Thessalonica he was teaching them how to live a life that is pleasing to God. In his closing remarks Paul said: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thes 5:16-18). How do we live a life that is pleasing to God? By maintaining our joy, by keeping an active prayer life, and by giving thanks to God IN all circumstances. Notice that he said "IN" all circumstances and not "FOR" all circumstances. Not everything that happens is good and we will not like everything that we face, but we should have the confidence in God, because of our relationship with Him, to know that 'at the end of the day' we will still come out on top. It is because we know that God can get good out of any situation that we are able to give Him thanks IN it, although we don't always give Him thanks FOR it.

5. Never lose heart: Paul said, "Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart" (2 Cor 4:1). When you think about the mercy of God (how you should have been consumed by now) and the assignment God has for your life (with all that He expects from you), you just CAN'T give up. The Greek word used here for "lost heart" means: to turn out a coward; to lose one's courage; then to be fainthearted, to faint, or to despond in view of trial, difficulty, etc. Paul was not disheartened, discouraged, or deterred by the difficulties he faced and neither must you. The consciousness of being entrusted with such a ministry animated him and the mercy and grace of God sustained him. The same can and should be said of you!

Father, I know You are looking for faith and I will supply it. I live by faith, I see every situation through the lens of faith, and I speak the language of faith daily. I cooperate with all You desire to do in my life. My faith believes that You WILL do all that I am believing You for. However, even if things don't turn out the way that I expect them to, I will never throw in the towel and walk away from You. You saved me from hell, You changed me from the inside out, and I will worship You forever. I trust You wholeheartedly. My faith and trust help me to maintain an attitude of thanksgiving daily and since I keep praise on my lips, trust in my heart, and faith as my foundation, I never lose heart! I am a believer and not a doubter and I operate in faith and not fear, because I have a Warrior Spirit! In Jesus' name. Amen.

The Conclusion (Part I)

Today and tomorrow we will bring this series to a close. We have only been involved in it for a couple of months now, but it seems like we have covered a lot of ground and I pray you have developed a Strong/Warrior Spirit along the way. The reality is that we need a strong spirit because we do face a real enemy who comes at us in real ways. The good news is, however, that we also have a real God who will work in, with, and through us in real ways, if we have the faith to cooperate with Him.

What I will do over the next couple of days is highlight a few of the lessons we have learned and I trust this recap will help to 'seal' the message of this series in your heart.

1. Never quit: James said, "Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end" (5:10,11). Paul said, "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up" (Gal 6:9). This has been the reoccurring theme of this series, so I listed it first. Simply put: Warriors simply refuse to quit!

2. Don't cast away your confidence: The writer of Hebrews said, "Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised" (10:35,36). Once you lose your confidence it is only a matter of time before you drift into fear, doubt, and unbelief. Once you get into fear, doubt, and unbelief you will not be able to stand very long. Once you can no longer stand, you will make fear-filled (and not faith-filled) decisions. Fear-filled decisions will not produce results that are pleasing to God; therefore they will not be pleasing to you either.

3. Keep the faith 'till the end: In Paul's last letter he said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2nd Tim 4:7). Paul could not claimed to finish his course if he did not know what it was. Paul found, followed, and finished the course the Father had designed for his life. You must be determined to do the same. Paul's course was not an easy one and while I seriously doubt yours will be as hard as his, yours will involve your fair share of challenges. But no matter what you face on the road to your destiny, don't allow anything to keep you from arriving there. Keep the faith - which means that you must remain 'in-faith' along the way - and finish your course!

4. Be strong in God's grace: In Paul's last letter he also said the following to his spiritual son Timothy: "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus... Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2nd Tim 2:3). Like Timothy, you will have to endure hardship as a good solider of Christ Jesus, but you don't have to endure it with your power alone. Summon God's grace and rely on it. God's ability on your ability will enable you to do what you could never accomplish alone!

Father, I thank You for helping me to develop a strong/warrior spirit. I declare, by faith, that I will never quit. No matter what I face on the road to Your expected end for my life, I will face it head-on, in faith, and with complete confidence. I trust in You with my whole heart and I am not afraid. Fear has no power over me. I feed my faith and starve my doubts daily and my steady diet of Your Word enables me to have STAYING POWER. I am in this thing to the end and I am determined to enjoy the ride. I am strong in Your Grace. Your grace enables me to do what I could never do all alone. You are on me, in me, with me, and for me! Glory! I am excited about my future! In Jesus' name. Amen.

A Strong Spirit

Prov 17:22 and 18:14 NLT) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength... The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?

This morning we continue to wind down the A Warrior Spirit" series. As we prepare to close this series out and transition back to the book of Proverbs I thought it fitting to tie in a few Proverbs that have to do with a "Warrior Spirit." I have been using the term "Warrior Spirit," but I could have just as easily used "Strong Spirit" in its stead.

When it comes down to it, many believers - and many humans for that matter - don't understand that we are actually spirits. Like God, we are tripartite beings. God is Father, Son, and Spirit. We are spirit, soul, and body. Our spirit is who we actually are. Our soul is comprised of our mind (the way we think), emotions (the way we feel), and will (the way we choose). And then our body is basically our earth suit; the housing we live in while we are in the earth. Our body will eventually fail, but we (our Spirit and soul) will live on forever - in one place or another (we know what those two places are).

Our inner man, our Spirit, is who we 'really' are and when our spirit is weak our soul will be weak (we will think, feel, and choose poorly) and our body will be weak (physically sapped).

Solomon compares a cheerful heart (or inner man) to a broken spirit. The cheerful heart is like medicine. When your spirit is strong, enlightened, and inspired, your entire man (spirit, soul, and body) is alert, awake, responsive, and ready. However, when your spirit is weak or broken it saps your strength through and through. Solomon went on to say, "The human spirit can endure a sick body;" meaning that when your outer man is weak and sick, it is uncomfortable but not unbearable. However, when your spirit is crushed, weak and despondent Solomon asks, "Who can bear it?" I am no clinical psychologist, but in my personal opinion I believe many have fallen into the pits of depression because of a crushed spirit.

In the 12th chapter of Proverbs Solomon said, "An anxious heart weighs a man down" (12:25). Once again, this is a reference to your inner man. In the 15th chapter gives the other side of the story and says, "A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face" (15:13).

So you may be thinking, "Ok so what can I do about it? How do I maintain a strong spirit?" My answer is twofold. First, tap into the power of the Holy Spirit. When you were Born-Again the Holy Spirit Himself came to live inside of you and He connects with your spirit to make you a child of God.
The Holy Spirit is an inexhaustible reservoir of hope from which we can draw whenever we feel like we are at the end of our rope.

Secondly, read and feed from the Word of God. God's Word feeds our spirit, making it strong and resilient. The more Word you have down inside of you, the more equipped you will be to battle the negative thoughts of the enemy and to resist every urge to fall into depression.

So what does this mean to you? It means that you want to build up a strong spirit so that you can live the life the Father desires for you to live. Your heavenly Father wants you to have and enjoy His life, the God-type of life; and not just when you make it to heaven, but right now while you are in the earth. You can't do that if your spirit is weak, crushed, despondent and in despair.

Allow the Holy Spirit and God's Word to build you up from the inside out and your entire man will be strong - spirit, soul, and body!

Father, I thank You for this revelation. This series has taught me the importance of having and maintaining a strong spirit. Your precious Holy Spirit lives in me and He bears witness with my spirit that I am Your child. I tap into His boundless reservoir of hope. I am never hopeless, because in Christ I am never helpless. The Holy Spirit is with me every step of my journey. I also feed on a daily regimen of the Word of God. Your Word helps build up my spirit. I declare, by faith, that I have a strong spirit and I am able to resist every negative thought, impulse, and attack from the enemy. Depression will never overtake me, because I am strong from the inside out and my strong spirit has a positive impact on my soul and my body. In Jesus' name. Amen!

Guard Your Heart (Spirit) Above All Else

(Prov 4:20-23 NLT) My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

This morning we continue to wind down the " Warrior Spirit" series. Yesterday we learned that your spirit is who you really are, that it is hard to recover from a crushed/wounded spirit, and that one of the ways to maintain a strong spirit is to feed on a steady diet of the Word of God. Today we seek to learn more from Solomon.

These four verses are so power-packed that if I attempted to teach them all I would have to prolong the series. So in an attempt to keep it short and sweet, I will summarize what I believe Solomon is saying and how it pertains to maintaining a Strong/Warrior Spirit.

1. Give attention to the Word: Solomon wants us to take his words (God's Words) seriously. He knows that humans have a tendency to listen without truly listening and to read without truly reading. Solomon urges us to peak up our senses and our attention when we are in the Word of God. He wants us to be in strict listening/receiving mode. Too many believers approach the Word of God with a laissez faire attitude, which results in wasted opportunities to truly learn and receive from God, through His Word.

2. Allow the to penetrate deep into your heart: What you repeatedly allow through your eye and ear gates will get down into your heart (spirit). It's not good enough to wear God's Word ON your heart like a charm on a necklace. God wants you to take His Word and put it IN your heart where it can reside as a rule. So it can become the ruler by which you judge every decision.

3. The Word will produce results in your life: God wants you to be spiritually attuned and attentive, mentally astute and alert, psychologically stable and sound, emotionally under control, and physically fit and strong. This is the type of life that God's Words can unlock for those that find them, apply them, and ascribe to them for life!

4. Guard your heart (spirit) above all else: Solomon urges us to protect our inner man; to put up a wall of defense against the errors of undisciplined conduct. It is utterly dangerous to allow your mind to stray or remain idle, to allow your emotions to fluctuate unchecked, to allow your will to choose what you know is wrong, or to allow your spirit to wander without direction. All these things happen in your heart (your inner man). It is in your inner man that decisions are made at forks in the road, chances are taken at divine opportunities, and 'the-faith-line' is crossed at life-changing moments.

So what does this mean to you ? It means that, in general, all the actions of life flow from the heart, not the blood-pump, but the inner man. So if you want to become the person that God desires for you to be, if you want to arrive at the final destination He envisions for your life, if you want to enjoy Godly success in life, then you will have to develop the discipline required to keep/guard/protect your inner man. It's in your inner man that the course of your life is determined. It's in your inner man that you either thrive or starve in God. It's in your inner man that you either overcome or succumb to the temptations of the enemy and the flesh. You may fool others by being a big, strong, and physically fit imposing specimen, but God looks past the outward appearance and He judges the heart (1st Sam 16:7) How do you look on the inside? How fit is your inner man? How do you look to God?

Father, I thank You for teaching me the importance of both physical and inner fitness! I keep my heart - my inner man - with all diligence, because I know that that's where true discipline is needed. I keep my mind sharp and alert. I read and study to keep it crisp and ready. I ruler over my emotions and keep them in check. I train my will to line up with Yours. And I submit my spirit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. My inner man is fit, firm, and focused. I will arrive at the final destination You have planned for me! I am confident of this because my heart is right before You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

What Does My Yesterday Mean About My Tomorrow?

(Joshua 4:4-7 NIV) So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."

This week we will bring this series (Warrior Spirit) to and end and get back to teaching from the book of Proverbs. I trust that this series has been as much a blessing to you as it has been to me. I have been encouraged, inspired and uplifted as we have studied the resiliency of many Biblical characters. Their ability to persevere has served as fuel for my own ability to do the same and I pray it has had a similar effect on you.

I am back at work this morning after returning from my trip to Huston. I want to thank each of you who send me words of encouragement and covered me with your prayers it was truly very much needed and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. While sitting with my grandson the Father gave me a message to teach it is entitled, "What Does My Yesterday Mean About My Tomorrow?" I will be teaching my life group a message from Joshua chapters three and four. I have shared a portion of the text with you here this morning and I feel led to share just a few of the thoughts from the message.

For us to truly operate with a Warrior Spirit, that will withstand every attack of the enemy, we must develop the ability to look back in order to properly look forward. The answer to the question - What Does My Yesterday Mean About My Tomorrow? - would be "Nothing" if our lives were nothing but a series of disconnected events.

However, our past is part of our story. Our past victories and failures are part of our makeup and we need to understand the lessons of our past if we are going to be prepared to face the challenges of our future. Joshua understood this and since he was charged with leading the nation of Israel into the Promised Land, he took full advantage of this principal as God performed a miracle for them.

The Father caused the waters of the River Jordan to stop so that the Israelite could walk across on dry ground. When the miracle was over Joshua had one member from each tribe - so that everyone was included - grab a stone from the middle of the river. The 12 stones were used to create an altar that would serve as a memorial of what God did for them for generations to come.

We too would do well in establishing altars in our lives. Now, I don't mean physical altars, but I do mean 'altars of remembrance.' When we establish an altar we show God how appreciative we are of what He did and we ensure that we will not quickly forget it.

The altar also served as a source of encouragement. See, the land of Promise (Canaan) was still inhabited. If the Israelites were going to take the land they were going to have to fight seven different nations for it (the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites). Joshua's point was that while they were fighting these nations they could always look back and remember the miracle the Father performed on their way into the Promised Land. Their past miracle would fuel their future successes.

I can't share all the points of my message, but let me just share a few closing thoughts. When you build an altar it serves as a place of worship (where you appreciate what God did), a venue for evangelism (where you openly brag on God), a tool for legacy (your children need to know the true source of your strength) and a source of personal encouragement (where you can 'Brace Yourself,' 'Trace Yourself,' and 'Pace Yourself').

Father, I thank You for all my past experiences - successes and failures. My past is part of my story. My yesterday has prepared me for my tomorrow. When You do mighty things in my life I will not take them lightly. I will establish altars of remembrance that will help me share the experience with others, share the lessons with my children, and serve as a source of personal encouragement when I am feeling low. You are a God of progression and not regression. I know that what lies before me is greater than what is behind me so when I look back I get excited about looking forward. I have great expectations! In Jesus' name. Amen!

This is Today's Word! Apply it and Prosper!

What’s ‘Really’ Important?

(2 Cor 4:17, 18 NLT) For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever

This morning we continue by continuing to walk through the fourth chapter of Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth. This is a powerful passage and the message Paul relays to us here is one that is truly needed if we are going to develop and operate in a Warrior Spirit. Paul was no superman, so I am sure he had his times of frustration; we all do. I can imagine Paul, during one of his times of incarceration, thinking, “How did I get myself into this mess?” Or maybe while he was recovering from one of his physical punishments (lashings, beating, stonings, etc.) he thought, “Is this really worthy it?” Now this is merely speculation on my part, but it is not something that is hard to imagine. Being a strong believer and even one with a Warrior Spirit does not mean that you will never have thoughts of fear, doubt, or unbelief; what is means is that you are strong enough to resist them and to focus on things that really matter.

As we close out this passage and this chapter, let’s look at the last sentence:
For the things we see now will soon be gone: As I drove to work yesterday this series truly ministered to me. I was stuck in traffic, an accident made the freeway a parking lot, and a terrible storm did not make matters any better. My iphone was going off as several of my coworkers let everyone know that they were going to be late. As I sat on the highway I could see the frustration on the faces of people in other cars. Many were visibly upset. I took the opportunity to listen to worship music As I was listening to my music I thought of how temporary the situation was. Sure, the traffic was terrible, but at the end of the day all it cost us was about an half an hour. That’s it, BIG DEAL! And that’s how it is with many things down here in the earth. We make minor things MAJOR, but most of them are just temporary. BIG DEAL! This too shall pass.

But the things we cannot see will last forever: As I sat in traffic yesterday I thought, “You know, Jesus is still on the throne, the Father is still sitting on the circle of the earth, and He still has all things in and under control. Why should I get upset over something that really doesn’t matter in the big scheme of things?” Sure, the traffic situation was the “hot topic” yesterday morning at work, but by the afternoon no one even remembered it. We were too busy moving on to other things. We live on an ever-changing planet and our situations are always evolving. If we get too focused on the temporary we will never have any semblance of normalcy. The only true constant is God. If you develop a Warrior Spirit you will be able to remain fixed and focused while everything and everyone else is scurrying around as a slave to every whim.

Father, I thank You for being the only constant we have in an ever changing world. I look past the shakiness of a world that is always in flux and I look to Your constant nature for stability and strength. I don’t get overly concerned about things that will not matter in a couple of days. I focus on the eternal, not the temporary, and my focus empowers me to shine as light in the midst of darkness, as calmness in the midst of chaos, and as hope in he midst of despair! I know what is really important and I focus my efforts therein – today and every day! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

What Are You Looking At?

(2 Cor 4:17, 18 NLT) For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

This morning we by continuing to walk through the fourth chapter of Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth. Paul has already explained that, in his estimation, the troubles he faced were both temporary and light. However, when we think of some of the harrowing things he endured for the cause of Christ many modern-day believers would be hard-pressed to call them “light.” While the “light” comment is one of opinion the “temporary” comment is more factual matter. The two are related and I will explain how. Twice in this passage Paul uses the words “will last forever” in referring to our impending eternal glory. Paul juxtaposes (to place close together or side by side) the awesomeness of the glory –

I have already explained how the Greek language he used literally reads eminent unto eminence; excess unto excess; hyperbole unto hyperbole – against whatever level of pain we experience as we face challenges on the road to God’s expected end for our lives. His aim is to make the suffering pale in comparison with the glory. Further, not only does he juxtapose the level of difficulty with the glory, but he also does the same for the duration of the matter. So while we do face challenges down here, whatever we do face for minutes, hours, days, months or even years, is nothing to be compared with the eternity we will spend with the Father. After laying this out, Paul says:

So we don't look at the troubles we can see now: Paul had a choice and so do we. In many ways your attitude will determine your altitude; your perspective will have a direct impact on your progression (or lack thereof).

Paul could have easily focused his time, energy and effort on mulling over all the negative things that he faced on the road to his destiny. However, he simply chose not focus his energies there. Like Abraham, Paul staggered not, because he considered not (See Romans 4:17-21). If you spend your time considering the wrong things, you will become the wrong person. Why focus on something that is only temporary? This too shall pass.

Rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen: Paul chose to focus his attention on the things that you cannot see with your natural eyes. This gave Paul Godly vision. Vision is more insight than sight. Paul kept his Godly vision before him and it became the wind beneath his wings. Even while he was facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, Paul was able to persevere, overcome, and triumph, because he had the ability to see beyond where his eyes could look. Do you? Do you have a Godly vision? If so, is that vision the “aim point” of your life? If it is you too will be able to overcome every challenge and hindrance on the road to your destiny.

Now, getting back to my previous point. Paul was able to call the challenges he faced “light” because he was not focusing on them. He was so focused on the eternal that whatever temporary challenges he faced were “light” in his eyes. Had Paul put more attention on his troubles he probably would not have accomplished all that he did for the Kingdom of God.
So what does this mean to you? It means that you have a choice. You can either focus your attention on the negative and temporary challenges you are facing, or you can focus it on the God-given vision the Father has placed in you that will culminate with an eternal glory.

Make no mistake, whatever you chose to give your attention to WILL affect your quality-of-life!

Father, I thank You for this revelation. I now better understand the importance of my thought life. I take control of every thought and bring them into the obedience of Christ. I focus on the eternal and not the temporary. You impart into me vision, insight, revelation and understanding and I allow that vision to be the aim-point of my life. I know where I am going and I will not allow anything to stop me. With You in me and with me, I cannot lose. My perspective, from this day forward, will fuel my progression and I will never be the same! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Looking Forward to Heaven

(Rom 8:17,18) And if children, heirs also: heirs of God, and Christ's joint heirs; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us.

This morning we continue by continuing to walk through the fourth chapter of Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth. Yesterday we focused in on the fact that our present challenges are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. The actual verbiage we were looking at was:

“For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”

This reminds me of something Paul said in his letter to the church in Rome. After explaining that the Holy Spirit Himself – who lives “in” every Born-Again believer – bears witness with our Spirit that we are the actual children of God, Paul said,

“And if children, heirs also: heirs of God, and Christ's joint heirs; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us.”

The concept of being an heir of God, and yes, even a joint-heir with Jesus Himself, was a hard one for me to wrap my head around initially. But once I did it truly helped me to see myself the way I believe the Father wants me to see myself. When you realize who Christ died to make you and who you actually became when His blood was applied to your life (sin and all), you begin to see life through a different lens.

However, life in Christ, here in the earth, is not supposed to be a perpetual picnic either. Paul explains that while we will definitely be glorified with Jesus, while we are here we will also suffer with Him. If we are going to take one we unfortunately also have to take the other. But once again, the two are not worthy to be compared to one another.

The glory which shall be revealed in us makes whatever challenges we face here in the earth pale in comparison.

Listen, I understand that some have ascribed to the Doctrine of Escapism, which lends itself to the idea that our life in heaven is going to be exceedingly wonderful, while our life here in the earth is going to be exceedingly challenging. Hence, the emphasis on escaping the rigors of this world for the bliss of the next. Don’t misunderstand these messages to be a series of doom and gloom. While I have taken my time highlighting the fact that we, as believers, will face challenges in this present age, if you have been a reader of Word of the Day for any length of time you will know that I also truly believe (in accordance with the scriptures) that the Father not only wants us to make it to heaven, but He wants us to also enjoy the ride.

When you have a Warrior Spirit and you build up a resiliency to persevere through whatever challenges may come your way, then that is exactly what will happen. While Paul endured many challenges, no one can convince me that he did not enjoy his time in the earth. His personal disposition was evident as he encouraged believers time and time again; and his writings continue to encourage us thousands of years later.

So what does this mean to you? Two things:
1. Heaven is going to be exceeding magnificent. No doubt about it, what is waiting for us on the ‘other side’ is far greater than anything we could ever experience here.
2. Don’t be so focused on heaven that you fail to maximize your earthly assignment. And the Father does not just want you to maximize your time in the earth either; He wants you to enjoy yourself as you do it. That’s what the Warrior Spirit enables you to do.

Father, I thank You for outlining the magnificence of heaven in Your Word. I know that my eternity with You will be far greater than anything I could ever imagine. My imagination falls short of grasping the awesomeness I will experience in Your direct presence. I am truly looking forward to it. However, I know You have things for me to do now, down here in the earth, so I will get busy doing them. I am determined to maximize my purpose and potential and I will not allow anyone or anything to stop me! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

The Pleasure in the Pain

(2 Cor 4:17, 18 NLT) For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

This morning we continue by continuing to walk through this passage. Yesterday we learned that our challenges, in Paul’s estimation, are both temporary and light. No matter how big they seem to us as we are facing them, in hindsight, they are but a small thing in the overall story of our lives. Moreover, they are nothing to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom 8:17,18). With that in mind, let’s pick up where we left off yesterday:

Yet they produce for us: Have you ever thought of your troubles as actually working for you? I taught a message one time entitled, “The Pleasure in the Pain.” While none of us truly enjoy facing difficult situations – at least not those of us who are sane (smile) – the truth is that we would not be the persons we are today without them.

If you would be honest with yourself you would admit that you have grown significantly from the many challenges you have faced in life. The issue of Christian maturity is not one of whether or not we will face challenges, because we all do; it is one of how you face them. The more you mature the more you are able to learn from every challenge you face; allowing the challenge to produce for you, not just take away from you.

That vastly outweighs them: This is a reference to the glory that is actually being worked in and for us as we face certain challenges and more importantly, as we mature in Christ. The traditional King James Version reads, “A far more exceeding.” In the original Greek language the words used are: kath' huperbole eis huperbole.

Albert Barnes said the following of this phrase: “There is not to be found any where a more energetic expression than this. The word huperbole (where we get our word “hyperbole”) means properly a throwing, casting, or throwing beyond. In the New Testament it means excess, excellence, eminence (see 2Cor 4:7 “The excellency of the power”). The phrase kath' huperbole means: exceedingly or supereminently. This expression would have been by itself intensive in a high degree. But this was not sufficient to express Paul’s sense of the glory which was laid up for Christians. It was not enough for him to use the ordinary highest expression for the superlative to denote the value of the object in his eye. He therefore coins an expression, and adds eis huperbole. It is not merely eminent; but it is eminent unto eminence; excess unto excess; a hyperbole unto hyperbole - one hyperbole heaped upon another; and the expression means that it is “exceeding exceedingly” glorious; glorious in the highest possible degree. All hyperboles fail of expressing that eternal glory which remains for the just. It is infinite and boundless. You may pass from one degree to another; from one sublime height to another; but still an infinity remains beyond. Nothing can describe the uppermost height of that glory; nothing can express its infinitude.”
So what does this mean to you ? Two things:
1. You can find purpose and promise in anything. Yes, even in challenging situations. So no matter what you are facing, seek to allow it to produce for you.

2. There is nothing (literally nothing) that can be compared with that glory that shall be revealed in us. No earthly superlatives can truly express the bliss we will enjoy as we commune with the Father for eternity. Remember that the next time you are feeling low.

Father, I thank You for helping me to see the big picture this morning. I am not overwhelmed by anything I face, because in the big scheme of things they are both temporary and light. You have brought me through many challenges and You will continue to do so. Instead of allowing the challenges to get me down, I will allow them to work for me as I mature into the person You have called, destined, designed and desired for me to be. Whenever I am feeling low, I think of the glory which shall be revealed in me and I am restored, revived, and rejuvenated, so that I can be ready to face my day! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Focus

(2 Cor 4:17, 18 NLT) For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

This morning we continue by continuing to discuss Paul: his life and his teachings. We have been walking through 2nd Corinthians chapter four for a couple of weeks now. This is a power-packed passage. Today we finally arrive at the culmination of the chapter and these last two verses might take me another week to go through all by themselves. With that in mind, let’s break this passage down into pieces.

For this morning we will simply look at the first sentence where Paul said, “For our present troubles are small and won't last very long.” Other translations read: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment.” We know by now that Paul faced many arduous challenges, but in his estimation these challenges were both temporary and light.

Albert Barnes, the American theologian, said the following about this sentence: “This verse, with the following, is designed to show further the sources of consolation and support which Paul and his fellow-laborers had in their many trials. The passage abounds with intensive and emphatic expressions, and manifests that the mind of the writer was laboring to convey ideas which language, even after all the energy of expression which he could command, would very imperfectly communicate.

The trials which Paul endured, to many persons would have seemed to be anything else but light.

They consisted of want, and danger, and contempt, and stoning, and toil, and weariness, and the scorn of the world, and constant exposure to death by land or by sea (see 2 Cor 4:7-10 and 2 Cor 11:23-27). Yet these trials, though continued through many years, and constituting, as it were, his very life, he speaks of as the lightest conceivable thing when compared with that eternal glory which awaited him. He strives to get an expression as emphatic as possible, to show that in his estimation they were not worthy to be named in comparison with the eternal weight of glory. It is not sufficient to say that the affliction was “light” or was a mere trifle; but he says that it was to endure but for a moment. Though trials had followed him ever since he began to make known the Redeemer, and though he had the firmest expectation that they would follow him to the end of life and everywhere (see Acts 20:23), yet all this was a momentary trifle compared with the eternal glory before him. The word rendered “light” (elaphron) means that which is easy to bear, and is usually applied to a burden (see Mat 11:30 and 2 Cor 1:17).”

Who he definitely said a mouthful. What Paul faced is almost inconceivable, but he faced it with an eternal focus that enabled him to endure, persevere, and eventually overcome. Paul was able to look past every problem and to focus on the promise of eternal life. His eternal focus gave him earthly strength.

So what does this mean to you? A few things:


1. Life in Christ is not without challenges.


2. Whatever challenges you do face, you can face with the grace and power of God. While Christ gives us a burden, His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Mat 11:30).


3. To overcome you must maintain an eternal focus. Your perspective will determine the level of your perseverance. Look past every problem and focus on God’s promises!

Father, I look at the lives of David, Elijah, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul, Jesus and others and I realize the great price they paid for fulfilling their earthly assignment. In spite of challenges, they were fixed and focused in their determination to die empty; and they did. They had an eternal focus and so do I. I look past every problem and I focus on Your promises. I am convinced that whatever I face in this present time will be both temporary and light; nothing that can be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in and through me. I am a child of the Most High God and I will live like it every day. Nothing the enemy brings my way will stop me! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

--

The Spirit of Faith

(2 Cro 4:13,14 NIV) It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.

In the last verse we dealt with from this passage Paul was telling the believers in Corinth that death was a definite possibility for them. But he also told them that their life in Christ (an eternal life) was also certainty. Paul then goes on to quote the psalmist who spoke in accordance with what he believed. "With that same sprit of faith," Paul says, the spirit of faith that speaks what it believes, he also spoke what he believed and he urged the believers in Corinth to do the same. While the threat of death for preaching the gospel was a distinct possibility, the belief in Jesus' resurrection and someday their own resurrection, enabled the believers to overcome the fear of death and to continue to share the gospel with the lost. What was Paul's point? I believe his point was that we most often speak what we truly believe.

Have you ever visited someone in the hospital? It only takes a few minutes to realize what they believe the outcome of their sickness will be. How can you find out so quickly? By simply listening to what they say. Their words tell us what their expectation is. Their words expose the content of their heart. What's in you abundantly will come out of your eventually. I draw this point from something Jesus said in Matthew 12. He said, "A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad... For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart" (verses 33-35). Another translation says, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." Your words are very important, for many reasons, but one of the greatest reasons why your words are so important is because they are an indicator of the condition of your inner man. Just like the quality or character of a fruit is an indication of the quality or character of the tree, your words tell us (outwardly) where you truly stand (inwardly).

If we read the 13th verse we will see Paul's point clearly But having the same spirit of faith, as it is said in the Writings, The words of my mouth came from the faith in my heart; in the same way, our words are the outcome of our faith." I could not possibly say it any better than that!

So what does this mean to you? A few things:

1. What you believe the most is what will come out of your mouth. Your words tell on you.

2. The Spirit of Faith speaks faith-filled words. This is only possible because you have built up your faith to the point where you truly believe God's best will be manifested in your situation.

3. When you truly believe you are not afraid to take God public, declaring what you believe He WILL do well before He actually does it!

Father, I thank You. My faith is being built up and stirred to the point where I truly believe Your best will be manifested in my life. Even when I face challenges, I face them with the reality of Your Word alive in my heart. I stand on Your Word and Your promises to the point where they freely flow from my lips. If others hang out with me for any period of time, even while I am in the midst of my challenge, all they will hear from me are faith-filled words. I don't speak words of fear, doubt and unbelief because that is NOT what I believe. I believe You and my belief will be evident in my speech. I take You public and I declare openly what I believe You will do in my life, well before You actually do it! I will say it, even at the risk of looking foolish, because I say what I believe! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Tell Your Story

(Rom 8:28 NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose


I have been using Paul as an example for many days now, but today I want to use a modern day example of someone who has a Warrior Spirit and who epitomizes Paul's teachings. I am currently listening to the radio and I am listening to a story about a young lady. The young lady who opened up, by singing a song on eagles wings and by giving her testimony, immediately reminded me of this series when she shared her story. Her name is Theresa and she was an up and coming singer/songwriter when an impaired driver changed her life forever by driving his vehicle into her. She woke up a month later in the hospital and was given the devastating news that one of her legs had to be amputated. Theresa did not remember the accident, so all she new was that she was standing on the street corner one minute and the next thing she remembers is waking up in the hospital, only to be told she had lost her leg. She admittedly struggled with the situation. She had many questions and she thought her career (and quite possibly her life) was over. But her faith in God saw her through. Her relationship with the Father enabled her to realize that her life was not over and that it was about to head down a different direction.

Fast forward to today and Theresa is a staple on the NYC singer/songwriter circuit, she has performed throughout Europe (including Germany, Spain, England and Italy), she is a frequent visitor/performer at Walter Reed Army Hospital and other military installations, and she is an in-demand public speaker who has appeared with Hillary Clinton on health care issues. Those are just a few of the doors the Father has opened for her.

Theresa could have easily given up. I can only imagine what it is like to lose a leg. But instead of getting bitter Theresa chose to get better. She persevered, she continued on, she kept on living. Now, she admits that her life is not always easy. There are days when the reality of her loss is still hard to deal with, but she seeks inner strength from God, and by faith she continues on. Theresa has a sense of purpose and she is seeking to maximize her purpose and potential while she is in the land of the living.

Theresa also sang "Anyway" by Martina McBride. I was truly moved by her singing and I could feel the anointing on it. In many ways I can tell that she sees this as her ministry. She sang from her heart. One of the verses in the song says: "God is great, but sometimes life ain't good, and when I pray, it doesn't always turn out like I think it should, but I do it anyway, I do it anyway!"

While she was singing that song I thought of Paul when he said, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." God does not do the bad things, but He can sure use them for His glory!

So what does this mean to you? It means that you have a choice. When "life happens" and you get hit with a blow that was unexpected and maybe even devastating, you can either choose to get bitter or better.

If you decide to persevere, then God can take the bad and use it for good, for His glory and it will become part of your story!

Father, I too have a story to tell and in many ways it is still being written. I declare, by faith, that my story will be a story of faith, toughness, perseverance, and purpose. No matter what comes my way, I refuse to quit. You can take the bad and turn it around for my good and I believe that You will. I press on by faith and I am determined to maximize my purpose and potential before I die. I won't allow anyone or anything to keep me from arriving at Your desired destination for my life. Moreover, I am also determined to enjoy the ride. I will tell my story everywhere I go and I will tell it with a smile on my face! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Get Back Up Again!

(2 Cor 4:8,9 NLT) We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

This morning we continue by continuing to discuss Paul: his life and his teachings. Since I have started this series I have talked to many believers who are facing significant challenges. I guess that could be said all the time, but it seems like the challenges have been highlighted lately. Since I am teaching on this I have been able to share many of the life-lessons from this series and it has truly been a blessing. Moreover, in each and every situation the person was able to look back and realize that they had grown because of the experience.

Now, I am an advocate for challenges? No way. I am convinced that the Father does not need to put us 'through the fire' to teach us something. He is more than able to teach us through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Eph 4:11); through the Holy Spirit and through His Word. However, the enemy is the one that constantly seeks to attack us and God then takes those attacks and turns them around for His good.

Paul's life is a vivid example of a person who came up against tremendous opposition, only to persevere through it so that God's purpose could be accomplished. We have been walking through this passage for a few days and this morning we get to the last phrase where Paul said, "We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed." Was Paul knocked down? Many times. Was it always a pleasant process? Absolutely not! Did he sit there and blame God? No! Did he sit around and wallow in pity? No. So what did Paul do? Every time the enemy knocked him down, he got up, dusted himself off, and kept on going. Other translations of this phrase read:

"We are knocked down. But we are not knocked out" and "When we are knocked down, we get up again."

I am convinced that the enemy is frustrated when we refuse to quit. The devil tries his best to get us to the point where we throw in the towel. The sad reality is that many believers crumble under the pressure and they do give up. However, for those of us (you included) who are determined to keep going, there is a blessing waiting for us on the other side of the storm. You can believe that!

Solomon said, "No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don't stay down long; Soon they're up on their feet, while the wicked end up flat on their faces" (Prov 24:16). Solomon's father David said, "The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. If he stumbles, he's not down for long; GOD has a grip on his hand" (Psalm 37:23,24).

Notice that Paul, David and Solomon all give us a picture of Godly people stumbling, but getting right back up again. The enemy's attacks may be partially successful, but the only way they can be fully successful is if we allow them to. Just as long as we are determined to get back up again, the enemy will never truly triumph over us. The prophet Isaiah said to the Israelites:

"No weapon that is used against you will succeed" (Is 54:17).

Notice that he did not say that the weapon would not be formed and he didn't even say that it would not be employed. However, he did say that it would not succeed!

So what does this mean to you ? It simply means that you must be determined to get up after every 'knock down' experience in life.

The only way you can truly lose is if you allow yourself to stay down.


Father, the more I read this series the more my faith is stirred and the more my resiliency is built up. I am fired up for today. I am convinced that no weapon formed against me will truly succeed. It may be formed and it might even be used against me, but it will not succeed because I won't allow it to. Even when the enemy knocks me down, I refuse to stay down. I will get up, dust myself off, and continue on in my pursuit of Your Purpose. I am determined to die empty. I will arrive at Your desired destination for my life, before I die, and I won't allow anyone or anything to keep me from getting there! Thank You Father for walking WITH me every step of my journey. In Jesus' name. Amen!

Never Driven to Despair!

(2 Cor 4:8,9 NLT) We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

This morning we continue by continuing to discuss Paul: his life and his teachings. This is a very powerful passage. As I read these two verses over and over this morning I was reminded of the fact that I preached my first 'official' sermon (known as my "trial sermon") from it. I talked about the Timex watch company and their slogan, "They can take a lickin' and keep on tickin'."

In many ways that is what this series is all about. As believers we are not looking for trouble. We love God and when we honor Him we can fully expect to experience His best. However, even when we are walking upright, sometimes trouble comes looking for us. On those occasions, we must have the resiliency to persevere through every challenge and to overcome every obstacle. As long as we refuse to quit, the Father can see to it that the enemy's attacks backfire and work out for our good.

In the last message we looked at the words: "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed." The Greek word translated "crushed" is also translated: distressed, suffocated and beat down. In essence Paul was saying that even if trouble comes at us from every possible side, we don't ever get to our wit's end. We are never at the point where we can't take it anymore.

Actually, in Paul's previous letter to the church in Corinth he explained to them that the Father will not allow us to face something that we can't handle (1st Cor 10:13). So if that is true (and it is), then the mere fact that we are facing something is evidence that we can handle it; that the Father trusts us with it. Glory to God for that!

Paul goes on to say, "We are perplexed, but not driven to despair." Do you know what the word perplexed means? It's kind of like watching a cartoon when you see a question mark pop up over the head of the cartoon character. When you are perplexed you basically don't understand what is going on. Now, if we develop the intimacy that we should with the Holy Spirit and if we commune with Him daily He will let us know what is going on. But the reality is that most believers don't ALWAYS hear from God. I know I don't. There are times when many of us simply don't understand what is going on. But even when we don't know what and we don't understand the why, Paul says that we can still resist despair. Webster's dictionary says that despair means: to lose all hope or confidence.

Wow! That is exactly what the devil wants us to do and exactly what the Father wants us not to do.

So what does this mean to you? A few things:

1. As a believer you must be able to take a lickin' and keep on tickin'. Even when you are knocked down, you must get right back up again. You may be knocked down, but if you persevere you will never be knocked-out!

2. There will be times when you don't understand it all. You are not sovereign or omniscient so there will be times when you simply don't understand. But even in those times you must continue to trust God so that you don't lose your hope or confidence!

3. You can handle it! The mere fact that you are facing the challenge is evidence that you can handle it, because the Father would not have allowed you to face it otherwise. So be encouraged, the Father trusts you with it! Now make Him proud by refusing to give up!

Father, I thank You for developing my spirit to be a Warrior Spirit. My resiliency is being developed daily. Even when I am knocked down, I refuse to be knocked out. I get right back up again and I continue going, I press on, I persevere.

Even if I take a lickin', I keep on tickin', because You are on me, in me, with me, and for me. You are more than the entire world against me. And Father, even when I don't know what is going on or why what is happening is happening, I resist every temptation to lose my hope and confidence. I trust You even when I don't understand. I will never get to the point of despair. I am continually encouraged by Your Word and Your Spirit! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Pressed on Every Side!

2 Cor 4:8,9 NLT) We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

This morning we continue by continuing to discuss Paul: his life and his teachings. The passage we are walking through in 2nd Corinthians chapter four is very powerful, especially as it relates to remaining strong while facing challenges. Friday we learned Paul's secret to persevering through adversity. He told us that the "great power" actually comes from God and not from ourselves. Paul was referring to the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. As Born-Again believers, we would do well in tapping into and relying on this power. After making such a statement, after identifying God is the true power source, Paul goes on to tell us why we need that power. He says:

"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed."

Make no mistake, this was not an easy time to be a Christian. First century believers were jailed, beaten, tortured and even killed. Under Emperor Nero coliseums were packed with onlookers as believers (followers of Jesus the Christ) were thrown into the arena with lions and tigers to be eaten alive. So to say that things were hard for them (especially when all they were asked to do is DENY Christ) would be an understatement.

For believers back then to hold on to their faith, to refuse to back down, to continue to preach and share the Gospel at the threat of death, and to have a smile on their face while they did it is truly amazing.

These were people with a Warrior Spirit. I am sure they had thoughts of giving up, we all do, but they never allowed themselves to give in to those thoughts. They relied on God's power, they tapped into it continually, and they were therefore able to endure and overcome things that would have consumed the average believer today. I run into people today that say, I am being persecuted at work. My boss won't let me play Christian music or pray in the workplace. That is not persecution... not by a long shot! In many ways we have become 'wimpy' Christians who whine and complain about any and everything.

I believe the Father has me teaching on this because He wants us to get back to the point where we are not shaken by the storms of life. The Father is looking for believers who will not turn coward when things get tough. On the other hand, the enemy loves it when we quit at the first sign of trouble. Once we do that the devil knows that all he needs to do is send a little trouble our way and we will give up on our faith. We need to get back to the attitude of Paul. When he said, "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed," he was basically saying, "Look, we have trouble coming at us from the North, South, East, West, Northeast, Southwest... etc.; but we refuse to give up!"

So what does this mean to you? It means that you must be strong. But the Father is not looking for you to JUST be strong in your own power, because that can only take you so far. No, He wants you to be strong in the power of His might! If you tap into the endless power of the Holy Spirit, you will be able to face challenges - even when they come from every side - without quitting! The only way you can lose is if you quit! If you refuse to quit, eventually you will come through every challenge on top.

Develop a Warrior Spirit and PRESS ON with God!

Father, I use the first century believers as an example and my faith is stirred this morning. They endured much more than I am facing and they were able to press on, because of Your power. Just like You did it for them, You will do it for me. I tap into Your power this morning and I declare that I am made strong in the power of Your might. With You on me, in me, with me, and for me, I am able to face every challenge with a smile on my face and an unrelenting determination, because I know I will come out on top. I refuse to quit, cave in, or turn coward. I am a believer and not a doubter, and I operate in faith and fear, therefore I shall win and not lose! In Jesus' name. Amen!


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