Many Christians struggle with unhealthy or sinful thoughts and feelings. Like thoughts and feelings of guilt, worthlessness, anger, lust, worry etc.
The Bible tells us how to overcome destructive thoughts like these.
Cast sinful or unhealthy thoughts down and put them under subjection to Christ
2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
How to do this:
Command the thought to go away in the Name of Jesus Christ
This is the initial casting down and subjecting the bad thought to the obedience of Christ.
As Christians we have power over sin and the Devil in the Name of Jesus. Most bad thoughts are just lies that the Devil is telling us, especially when it comes to self destructive thoughts like guilt or worthlessness.
The Devil wants to destroy us. the Bible says that he walks around like a lion looking for people to devour. ( 1 Peter 5:8) He does not want us to be joyful Christians, so he will whisper many lies into our ears to make us sad.
We do not have to suffer his torments!
We have the power in the Name of Jesus to cast down Satan’s lies and him. Just command them to leave in the name of Jesus.
John 14:12 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”
Then pray and ask God to keep bad thoughts away.
John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.“
John 14:13 “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
1John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.“
James 1:6-7 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”
it is God’s will for our joy to be full, so He will keep bad thoughts away, if we ask Him too, and believe that He will.
Then replace the bad thoughts with good thoughts
Here are 3 easy ways to do this:
1. Claim God’s promises:
If you are struggling with guilt:
Remember if you have repented, then God has forgiven you, and He will never mention your sin, not even on judgment day.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 Corinthians 11:31 “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”
Judging ourselves means that we repent of our sin before God has to judge us. Not that we punish ourselves or keep telling ourselves how bad we are. Once we repent we need to believe that God has forgiven us and then forgive ourselves, and move on with our lives serving God.
Ezekiel 18:21-22 “But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.”
1 Corinthians 6:11 “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Justified means: Just As If I’d Never Sinned.
If God has justified us, and He is not going to mention our sins again, we should not rebuke ourselves for them anymore either.
If you are struggling with thoughts of worthlessness:
Remember God loves you, and you are so valuable to Him that He sent His only begotten Son to die for you to save you.As Christians, God says we are his children, we are more than conquerors, and we are royalty!
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Romans 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Abba in Hebrew is an endearing term like “Daddy.”
Romans 8:37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
Revelation 1:6 “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
So hold your head up and live a holy and joyful life like the priest and the king or queen God says you are.
If you are struggling with thoughts of anger:
Remember not all anger is sin, but it becomes sin if we dwell on it too long. The Bible says that we are to forgive and get rid of our anger before the sun goes down that day.
Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.”
Furthermore, we must forgive others in order for God to forgive us.
Luke 6:35-37 “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”
Now, forgiveness does not equal trust. Forgiveness means you are no longer angry with the person. It means you do not hold a grudge against them. However, if the person is a danger to you or others you need to put up barriers to keep yourself and others safe from them.
Also, remember thatGod will avenge you.
Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
If you are struggling with immoral thoughts:
Remember we have power over sin in the Name of Jesus, and God promises to give us what we ask for according to His will. It is God’s will for us to have pure minds. Command the sinful thoughts to go away in the Name of Jesus and Pray and ask God to renew your mind and keep sinful thoughts out.
2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
James 1:5-8 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
If you are struggling with worry:
Remember if you are saved God will never leave you and He cares for you. Furthermore, if you are striving to live for Him and are giving to others then He will meet your needs.
Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and becontent with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Philippians 4:16-19 “For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
2. Sing and Praise God
Listening to Christian music and singing Christian songs will help you to keep your mind on God. If you keep your mind on God, it is much harder for sinful or unhealthy thoughts to come in.
Ephesians 5:19-20 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
Writing a list of your blessings will also help you to have an attitude of thankfulness.
3. Help others
Getting your mind off of yourself and helping others is a great way to keep bad thoughts away.
Romans 15:2 “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”
Acts 20:35 “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
4. Think about good things
Actively thinking about good things will help keep bad thoughts away.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
God wants us to be joyful and have pure minds. By following these steps you can achieve that.
Matthew 19:26 “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Last week God answered an almost 50 year old prayer for America with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Much more still needs to be done to outlaw abortion in all 50 States. A law by Congress would accomplish that the fastest.
I believe that if we keep praying then that law will be passed as soon as Conservatives take over Congress and the Presidency again. The next 2 elections are extremely important in accomplishing this.
All things are possible if we believe.
Matthew 17:20 “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
Persistent prayer of righteous people prevails!
James 5:16b “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Therefore, lets just keep praying, believing, and doing our duty to vote in Pro-Life leaders and pushing for legislation banning abortion Nationwide. We will see it happen.
Even if the Devil throws us a curve by this evil Congress passing legislation to legalize abortion, do not get discouraged. The next Congress can just as easily ban abortion. Legislation is much easier to change than Supreme Court decisions. When the pro-death crowd lost Roe v. Wade their days of legalized murder in this Country became numbered.And not only for abortion, but also for infanticide, euthanasia embryonic stem cell research, etc.
Everyone always wants to know who the Anti Christ is, but the first question we need to answer is “What is the Anti-Christ”?
What is the Anti Christ?
The Bible says in:
1 John 4:3 “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
1 John 2:18 “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”
The Anti Christ is an evil spirit that possesses any one he can. Hitler was possessed by him.
The Bible makes it very plain that our true enemies are never people, but the evil spirits who possess them.
Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
The Bible also makes it very plain that God wants ALL people to be saved, ALL people can be saved, and we are to pray that ALL people do get saved.
1 Timothy 2:1-4: 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
However, we are not to doubt or be wrathful.
1 Timothy 2:8 “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
When we pray for evil rulers to get saved (including the man possessed by the spirit of Anti-Christ) we are to have full faith and assurance that they will get saved, and not doubt or pray in a spirit of anger, but love.
The Bible teaches that we are fighting spiritual enemies, and we must fight them with spiritual weapons.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
This says we have the power to cast down every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God. That would include the Anti Christ.
Through the Name of Jesus, we have the power to cast and bind the evil spirit of Anti-Christ into hell forever, and lead the man to Christ!
The Spirit of Anti Christ cannot get saved, but any man who he possesses can.
If every person in the world gets saved, then the spirit of Anti-Christ would have no one to possess!
God commands us to pray and believe that everyone will get saved!
1 Timothy 2:1-4: 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:8 “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
Mark 10:27 “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
It is God’s will that everyone gets saved, and God promises that if we pray anything according to His will, He will give it to us!
1 John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
Biblical prophecy does not nullify the promises of God!
The Bible says in the New Testament that prophecies shall fail and the word prophecies in that verse can mean scriptual or other! (Strong’s # G4394)
1 Corinthians 13:8a “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;”
The bad things prophesied in Revelation and Daniel do not have to happen! That is worse case scenario!
There have always been some prophecies dependent upon human action.
God has always told His people that if they obey Him He will bless them, but if they disobey Him then He will curse them!
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.“
Deuteronomy 28:15 “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:”
God never changes!
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
Why does Daniel 7 say that God allows the Beast to prevail against the saints? When Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church in Matthew 16:18? Because they have disobeyed Him! They did not obey 2 Chronicles 7:14! Further, they refused to pray and try to get everyone in the world saved and stop the Beast (as God clearly commands them too in His Word) because they limited God and did not believe that everyone could or would get saved, and they did not believe that they could stop the spirit of the beast either!
Psalms 78:41 “Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.”
Isaiah 59:1-2 ” Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
Isaiah 50:2a “Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver?”
Now, if we being the saints today, do the opposite of what Daniel 7 shows we would do, then the opposite result would also happen. We have a free will, we do not have to limit God and refuse to believe and obey Him!
The Bible Promises that God will heal the land if His people obey Him!
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Again, biblical prophecies do not nullify the promises of God!
1 Corinthians 13:8a “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;”
The Bible Prophecies That We Successfully Defeat The Beast Before Christ Comes Back!
The Bible says that the saints take the kingdom in Daniel 7:18 “But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.”
And that all nations of their own free will make themselves subject to Israel and then there would be world peace.
Isaiah 14 1 “For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. 2 And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors. 3 And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve, 4 That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! 5 The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. 6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. 7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.”
There is nothing in Isaiah 14 that suggests that Christ’s kingdom has been set up yet when these things happen.
Jesus has given us the power and command to stop the Anti-Christ, if we neglect that duty because of unbelief, then we will be the least in the kingdom of heaven!
Matthew 5:19 “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so,he shall becalled the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Ezekiel 22:30 “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”
We are to fight against evil, so God does not destroy our land.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
What Is Duty?
Duty is your moral obligations to God and others. It can also include legal obligations to others.
Christians have many duties.
It is true that all Christian duty can be summed up in one verse:
Luke 10:27 “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”
However, because of the moral decline of society and the apathy of the church, people are no longer taught what specific duties they have, and therefore they are neglecting them.
The end of Christian Duty is to create a better worldfor everyone
Seek to bring everyone to Christ
Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
1 Timothy 2:4 “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
It is God’s will for everyone to be saved, Therefore, it is possible for everyone to be saved. 1 John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” Also, Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
2. Pray that everyone comes to Christ
1 Timothy 2:1-4 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
3. Seek peace and ensue it
1 Peter 3:10-12 ‘For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
1 Timothy 2:1-4 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
Are you praying for your political leaders, or just griping about them?
4. Seek the happiness and prosperity of others above your own
1 Corinthians 10:24 “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.”
Romans 15:2 “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”
Love is sacrificially giving. Not selfish!
5. Seek justice for everyone
Isaiah 56:1 “Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.”
Proverbs 21:3 “To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.”
James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
1 Timothy 5:21 “I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.“
Deuteronomy 1:17a “Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: “
Deuteronomy 16:19 “Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.”
Proverbs 24:23 “These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.“
Proverbs 28:21 “To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.”
Proverbs 24:24 “He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:”
Colossians 3:25 “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”
Proverbs 17:26 “Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.”
James 2:1 “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”
James 2:9 “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”
Ezekiel 45:9 “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.”
God has made all Christians kings! Therefore, all Christians have the sacred duty to God and their fellow man to remove violence and spoil, and to make sure judgment and justice are executed in their Country and the rest of the world!
Revelation 5:10 “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
Malachi 2:7 “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.”
To give up and neglect your Christian Duty to create a better world because Jesus is coming back soon is the ultimate betrayal of God’s trust, and you are trampling over the blood of Christ!
Jesus died to save the world and make it better!
John 10:10b ” …I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Jesus did not just die to save everyone’s souls! But also to make everyone’s physical lives better! How can we have “abundant life” if our world is full of evil and injustice? Therefore, in order to have the abundant life Jesus died for us to have we must diligently seek to remove evil from our world! If we don’t, then we are disregarding His death!
The Bible indicates that the world being full of evil hinders Christ’s return!
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
The more evil the world is, the more longsuffering God is to wait for Christ’s return, because He wants to give people as much of a chance as possible to repent.Therefore, if the world became Holy, He would come back faster.
Romans 11:14-15 “If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?”
That “life from the dead” is speaking of the rapture! Therefore, if the whole world got saved, and especially Israel, then Jesus would come back faster!
Therefore, if Christians want Jesus to come back faster, then they had better stop being lazy and apathetic, and start doing their DUTY to diligently work and pray for the salvation of Israel and the rest of the world! And start doing their DUTY to diligently work and pray for the removing of evil and injustice in the world!
And Fasting and Praying is essential!
Jesus said one of the best ways to get rid of devils is through fasting and prayer.
Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. 26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. 28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
The world is full of devils, who facilitate evil and injustice. Therefore, fasting and prayer is essential to riding the world of evil and injustice. Churches must start calling on their people to fast, and they must start having all night prayer services in order to save the world and make it fit for Christ’s quick return!
Only faithful Christians will rule and reign with Christ.
Matthew 25:23 “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Luke 16:10-12 “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?”
Revelation 2:10 “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.“
Jesus is our King! No king will reward a lazy unfaithful servant to a position of power!
Matthew 25:
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
The Talent that God hath given to us is the abundance of the Christian life. If we do not seek to multiply that talent by bringing others to Christ, teaching them to observe all things that Christ has commanded us, and thereby removing evil and injustice from the world, then we have hidden our talent! If you shirk your Christian Duty to diligently seek to remove evil and injustice from the world because Jesus is coming back soon, you will not rule and reign with Him!
A Mature Christian is Not Envious of Other Christians.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto
carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with
meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye
able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas
there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal,
and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of
Apollos; are ye not carnal?”
I have seen stuff like this in churches my whole life! We
are supposed to worship God, not preachers!
Another type of envy I have seen a lot is where one
Christian will be envious against another Christian because of their talents,
or their calling.
We are supposed to humbly serve God in whatever calling He
gives us; with whatever talents He gives us.
1 Corinthians 12:14-31 “For the body is not one member,
but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the
body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am
not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the
whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing,
where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them
in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where
were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye
cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the
feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body,
which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body,
which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant
honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely
parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given
more abundant honour to that part which lacked. That there should be no
schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for
another.And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it;
or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.Now ye are
the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the
church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that
miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of
miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all
interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a
more excellent way.”
The More Excellent Way Is Charity.
A Mature Christian Has True Charity
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
True charity is not just giving to the poor. True charity is producing the fruits of the Spirit.
A Mature Christian Consistently Produces the Fruits of the Spirit.
If you compare charity with the fruits of the Spirit, you
will see they match.
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law.”
A Mature Christian Bears the Infirmities of the Weak.
Romans 15:1-5 “We then that are strong ought to bear the
infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us
please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not
himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee
fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have
hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one
toward another according to Christ Jesus:”
1 Thessalonians 5:14 “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them
that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient
toward all men.”
Some
people are weak and feebleminded and struggle with things like depression, and
anxiety. A mature Christian will be patient with these people, listen to them
and comfort them.
A Mature Christian Views Trials as Training
James 1:2-7 “My brethren, count it
all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying
of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work,
that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack
wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth
not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”
I have realized that most of the
trials in my life have been caused by my own ignorance. That is why the Bible
says to ask God for wisdom in the passage above, because wisdom will keep us
from falling into so many trials.
2 Perter 1:5-8 “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 12:12 “Rejoicing in hope; patient
in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”
However, we are not to tempt God by
asking Him to send us trials.
Jesus showed us in the Lord’s prayer
that we are to ask God to have mercy on us and not lead us into trials.
Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
The word “temptation” in this verse means to try and roots back to a Greek word meaning to test (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries # 3986 and then #3985 both in the Greek.)
The word “evil” in this verse can mean bad, hurtful, or even “figuratively calamitous; also (passively) ill, that is, diseased.” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries #4190 in the Greek.)
Therefore, in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus showed us that we should always
pray that the Father has mercy on us and does not test or try our faith by
sending us calamity or disease.
I have never heard this preached. God
showed my family and I this a few years ago, and we have seen God protect us
and deliver us from some situations that could have been very calamitous
financially and health-wise.
Now, God will still test your faith some, (He still tests us some at times with little problems), so trust Him to meet your needs.
Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall
supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
The more you trust God the more apt
He will be to not try your faith, because you have already proven your faith to
Him.
God never took everything away from Job again.
A Mature Christian has a Strong Prayer Life.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
1 Timothy 2:1-4 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings,
and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life
in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight
of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth.”
Romans 12:12 “Rejoicing in hope; patient
in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”
Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for
nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God.”
Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
Luke 10:2 “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is
great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,
that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”
Romans 10:1 “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to
God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
Luke 21:36 “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye
may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and
to stand before the Son of man.”
Luke 22:40 “And when he was at the place, he said unto them,
Pray that ye enter not into temptation.”
1 Peter 4:7 “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”
A Mature Christian Trusts God and Does Not Worry.
Matthew 6:24-34 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
A Mature Christian Knows the Bible Well Enough to Teach Others .
Hebrews 5:12-14 “For when for the time ye ought to be
teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles
of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of
strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of
righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are
of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to
discern both good and evil.”
A Mature Christian Can Spot the Wolves.
Hebrews 5:12-14 “For when for the time ye ought to be
teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles
of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of
strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of
righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are
of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to
discern both good and evil.”
A mature Christian knows the Bible well enough to be able to spot wolves who are preaching heresy, being deceptive in their preaching, and are not living right.
They will not be led astray to destruction by a wolf.
Every Christian needs to know how to properly resist the Devil, so they can be most effective for God, and so they do not fall into sin and bring disgrace upon Christ.
The Bible says how we get rid of the Devil is too:
James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Now, this does not mean that the Devil only fights people who are not submitted to God already.
Job was right with God and the Devil viciously attacked him. (See Job chapter 1)
Moreover, the Bible also says that we must put on the whole armour of God in order to properly resist the Devil.
Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
Here are some practical things you can do to put on the armour of God, and make the Devil flee from you:
Pray a lot, keep God in all your thoughts (stay in an attitude of prayer constantly with thanksgiving).
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Psalms 10:4 “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” (If God is not in all the thoughts of the wicked, then He should be in all the thoughts of a Christian.)
Philippians 4:6-9 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Read the Bible a lot (especially John and Psalms).
Psalms 119:50 “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.”
Psalms 119:52 “I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.”
John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”
John 14:18 “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
2 Peter 1:2 “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord”
Listen to a lot of comforting and soothing Christian music, like Hymns, not Christian Rock.
Christian Rock will excite your emotions too much. You need to listen to calming Christian music, like hymns, so you can truly be still and know that God is God. (see Psalm 46:10)
You can find a lot of these kinds of videos on you tube, especially ones that are just instrumental.
Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Ephesians 5:17-20 “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
Also, continually do things that you know pleases God, and don’t do anything that you know would displease Him.
Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”
2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
Now, the word perfect there does not mean that you can be completely sinless, but rather that you be submitted to Go by not intentionally sinning.
This is how you resist the Devil. If you keep doing these things the Devil will flee from you, and you will have peace.
However, as long as you are in this life, the Devil will probably come back and bother you again in time, but every time, just resist him like this, and he will leave.
