They Conquered The Devil With Words

                                                When The Door Slams 

            This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, welcome the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and depart in a time of testing. As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit.                                        (Luke 8:11-14 HCSB) 

            Few of us realize that our faith imprisons us. The right kind of faith will set us free. It is not only our thinking; it is our words, our conversation, that builds power or weakness into us. Our words are the understanding in the kingdom of faith. Our words snare us and hold us in captivity or they set us free and become powerful in the lives of others. It is what we confess with our lips that really dominates our inner beings. We unconsciously confess what we believe. If we talk sickness, it is because we believe in sickness. If we talk weakness and failure, it is because we believe in weakness and failure.

            We get in the habit of confessing our weakness, and our faith adds to the strength of our weakness. We confess our lack of faith, and we are filled with doubts. When we realize that we will never rise above our faith, we are getting to the place where God can really begin to use us. We confess that by His stripes we are healed; when we hold fast to our faith, no disease can stand before you. 

            Whether you realize it or not, you are sowing  spiritual words, just as Jesus said in Luke 8:11: "The seed is the word of God." The Sower went forth to sow, and the seed he was sowing was the Word of God. This is the seed we should sow. It is when we confess the Word of God, and declare with emphasis that" by His stripes I am healed" or "my God supplies every need of mine," and hold fast to our faith that we will see deliverance. The politician and religious leaders are sowing negative seeds of fear and doubt.  

            Our words sow faith or doubt in others Revelation 12:11 declares, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony." They overcame him with the Word of God that was in their testimony. They conquered the Devil with words.

            Think about this: Most of the sick that Jesus healed during His ministry were healed with words. God created the universe with words: faith-filled words. Jesus said, "Your faith has made you well" (Matthew 9:22). His word raised the dead. Satan is overcome by words; he is whipped by words. Our lips become the means of transportation of God's deliverance from heaven to man's need here on earth. We use God's Word. We whisper "In Jesus name, demon, come out of him." Jesus said, "In My name you will cast out demons; in My name you will lay hands on the sick and they shall recover" (read Mark 16:17). 

            Affirmation: But the seed in the good ground--these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, bear fruit (Luke 8:15).  

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.                                   

                                                            Never Rest Ministries

Defiance, Resistance, Violence, And Retaliation Are Now "The American Way."

                                                 When The Door Slams

In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.                                            (1 Peter 5:5-7 NLT). 

            God speaks clearly of the evil, the wickedness of falsely accusing another person, of giving untrue testimony on the stand in court, of lying or twisting or exaggerating so-called "facts" into misrepresenting the truth.....

            The American way is a talk-back, fight-back, get-even society that is ready to resist--and sue--at the slightest provocation. Instead of the obedient Minute Man representing our national image, a new statue with a curled upper lip, an open mouth screaming obscenities, and both fists in the air could better describe out times. Defiance, resistance, violence, and retaliation are now our "Style."

            Those leaders who break the commandment in this way are every bit as committed to a life of crime as the other varieties professional thieves and bandits. There are so many ways to get money by having people give false testimonies that we stumble over new ones day by day. We need the Ten Commandments as a measuring stick to see where we may be tempted to simply shrug our shoulders and ride with the tide with an attitude of, "What does it matter, we can't do anything about it anyway!"

            Think about this: I fully realize there are times when resistance is needed. We would not be a free nation had we not fought for our liberty. Furthermore, the lawless would rule over the righteous if we allowed ourselves to be walked on, stolen from, and otherwise taken advantage of. There are times when there must be resistance and a strong determination to defend one's rights.... My concern is the obvious erosion of respect for needed and fair authority...the lack of submission toward who should be over us, who earn and deserve our cooperation. A man can never be the same after hearing God's truth spoken in the power of God's Holy Spirit; he will either obey and go forward, or ignore and die a little each day.  

            Instead, there is a growing independence, a stubborn defiance against any authority that attempts to criticize, correct, or even caution. No one can deny that this self-centered rebellion is on the rise. My desire is that we see the difference, then respond correctly to God-given authority with an attitude of true humility, the mentality mentioned in the New Testament modeled so beautifully by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 5:6-7). 

            Affirmation: You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1: 8-9).

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

                                                Never Rest Ministries

True Believers Of Christ Have Found The Secret Of Life

                                                 When The Door Slams

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, In his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.                                                                                                                  (Ephesians 2:14-16 NLT)

            The struggle we have with a holy God is rooted in the conflict between God's righteousness and our unrighteousness. He is just and we are unjust. This tension creates fear, hostility and anger within us toward God. The unjust person does not desire the company of a just judge. We are at war with Him unless or until we are justified. The religious and unjust go to church every Sunday but there is no true repentance. Only the justified person can be comfortable in the presence of a holy God.

            The Apostle Paul sets forth immediate benefits--fruits of justification. In...Romans he explains what happens to us when we are justified, when we are covered by righteousness of Christ that is by faith: "Since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with God. This happened through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has brought us into that blessing of God's grace that we now enjoy. And we are happy because of the hope we have of sharing God's glory" (Romans 5:1-2).

            Think about this: The first fruit of our justification is peace with God. To the ancient jew peace was a precious, but elusive commodity. The present-day turmoil in the Mid-East seems like a replay. Every time they get close to finding the peace found only in Christ, Satan steers them away. Blinds them. He throws up a smoke screen. He bluffs them. And they miss it! But true Christians have found it--forever! We have found the secret of life.

            "The unjust don't know how to live in peace," the apostle Paul says concerning the human race (Romans 3:17). As we look around, we find that there is little personal, domestic, social, economic or political peace anywhere. Why? Because we all have the seeds of suspicion and violence, of hatred and destruction within us. 

            Peace can be experienced only when we have received divine pardon. When we have been reconciled to God and when we have repentance within, with our fellow man and especially with God...Christ has made peace with God for us and is Himself our peace. If by faith we accept Him, we are justified by God and can realize the inner serenity that can come to man through no other means.

           Affirmation: He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far from him, peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come the the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us (Ephesians 3: 17-18). 

 Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.                       

With It, We Survive And Conquer, And God Is Glorified

                                       When The Door Slams

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.                                                                                       (Galatians 6:7-10 NIV).  

            Maybe we have come to expect too much too soon in our lives. We microwave our meals, speed-dial our cellphones, download and upload all our devices on the internet. Fast and faster, still not enough. We have become accustomed to instantaneous results. But instant breakfast is one thing; I don't believe we can expect instant gratification and instant fulfillment in our lives. In spite of what they show you on television, there is no quick fix between info commercial breaks. You must have patience and engage in persistent action toward making your dream become a reality. 

            When they don't see instant results, many people become discouraged with their dreams and goals. They become impatient. And I believe many of them walk away from their dreams just as they are about to break through and flourish. You must have patience. Your time is going to come if you work diligently and faithfully. It don't matter if no one else recognizes that. It matters only that you see it and have the patience to wait for it. 

            Without it, we stumble and fall. And God is grieved. Because life is a task, we need strength to face it, not speed to run from it. When the foundation shakes, when Christian leaders and friends--even the religious leaders--are immoral and falling into apostasy, when the bottom drops out and brutal blows attempt to pound us into the corner of doubt and unbelief, we need what perseverance offers: willingness to accept whatever comes, strength to face it head on, determination to stand firm, and insight to see the Lord's hand in it all.

            Think about this: I can't imagine a better picture of the race of life. Winning is not simply a matter of coming in first; it depends as much on finishing the run with the light inside us still burning bright. That light is a gentle and quiet spirit, full of peace and hope, which stays alive even when darkness closes in all about us.

            Affirmation: You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, "In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay." And, "But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back." But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. (Hebrews 10:36-38 NIV)   

 Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness  

       

                                                     Never Rest Ministries

How Often Do We Trade In A Good Relationship For Something Worthless

                                                 When The Door Slams

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness. The LORD is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.                                                                                                         (Proverbs 15:1-3 NLT)

            Relationships are not strengthen through negotiation. If anything, they are weaken. In negotiation each side gives as little as necessary,  trying to get as much as possible...then waits for the next round in hope of getting more and giving less than the time before. Recovering what was traded earlier is the strategy.

            Negotiation generates competition, not cooperation. It cause to endure, rather than producing an alliance. In negotiation, to lead from strength is fundamental. Vulnerability is to be avoided at all cost. To be vulnerable is bad business. But good relationships comes through love and forgiveness. Somebody has to be vulnerable, to lead from weakness, to give in, to lose. Which is repulsive to human ego. 

            Good relationships are not based on 51/50 principle. Someone has to be willing to go all the way, all the time. What is of greater value than secure relationships! How often do we trade in a good relationship for something worthless? 

            Think about this: Love and forgiveness are costly, but they are the price of good relationships: between husbands and wives, parents and children, blacks and whites, neighbors, friends, government and immigration. Which is why it is so easy to talk peace...and so costly to have it. Peace talkers are a dime a dozen. Peacemakers are rare and priceless. 

            The LORD Jesus. He never negotiated. He loved. He gave and gave, all the way to the cross. Relationship begins when somebody leads from weakness! "Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

            Intercession: And this his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God's commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.          (John 3:23 NLT)

 Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.   

                                                            Never Rest Ministries            

          

If You Put Your Trust In Fools, There Is A price To Pay

                                       When The Door Slams

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. There is more hope for fools than for peoples who think they are wise.      (Proverbs 26:11-12 NLT)

            We almost invariably repeat the patterns of the past; our old problems revisit us again and again. It is easy to slip back into familiar sinful patterns; that is why we need to be diligent to preserve our spiritual gains. In 2 Peter 2:22 They prove the truth of this proverb: "A dog returns to its vomit." And another says, "A washed pig returns to the mud.   

            The fool says in his heart, There is no God (14:1; 53:1). The apostle Paul argued in Romans 1:21-22 that there is no excuse for such rejection: "Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became useless in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools."

            Think about this: Do you joke about things you don't understand and think it's funny? "Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man with understanding. "The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the fleeting pleasures of this world. Is it more important to you to express your opinion than to listen? "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his own opinion. If these describe you, you might want to consider the danger of your foolishness as described in Proverbs. Dogs lapping up their own puke is funny to a fool, but when humans do it, no one is laughing. 

            If you put your trust in a fool, there's a price to pay: "Whoever sends a message by the hands of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence"(26:6). And if you confront a fool, you could wind up in a world of hurt: "A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both" (27:3). Solomon offered a similar saying: If a wase man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet" (29:9). Whether it's a foolish employee, a wild neighbor, or an outlandish buddy, a fool leaves a fire of pain in their path. 

            Sometimes you find fools in bars, sometimes in churches. The crowns of Israel were not immune to foolishness fatal attraction. Foolishness cost Saul his kingdom when he disobeyed God's commands (1 Samuel 13:13). Amnon's foolishness robbed him of sexual self-control, leading him to rape his half sister (2 Samuel 13:14). 

            Matthew 5:22 do not warn us against using the word fool. Rather, warns us against weaponizing words to demean or destroy others. There are times when it is kind to inform fools of their folly. Without a righteous warning, many won't recognize the monster they keep poking. We want to avoid foolishness at all costs. How? Start by recognizing the weight of influence in your life must be from people of faith. If your family member or co-workers are followers of Jesus Christ, you can afford more friends who are Christians. You may need to do a serious audit of how much time you spend with people inside and outside the faith so that the weight of influence is tilted toward the Holy Spirit.  

            Affirmation: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12). This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin (1 John 5-7 NLT).

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

                                                            Never Rest Ministries

                       

                

             

The Dark Triad Personalities Are Extreme Evil

                                      When The Door Slams

The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.            (Proverbs 4:18-19 NLT)

            We seem to have a fascination with evil. We are curious to what set evil people off and perhaps wonder how much darkness is in us. Psychologists have identified three personalities they call "the Dart Triad": Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Narcissism combines flamboyant and a need for admiration with the lack of empathy. Machiavellianism involves a mastery of manipulation, exploitation, and deceit. Psychopathy is marked by impulsivity, selfishness, callousness, and a lack of remorse. 

            The Dark Triad are capable of extreme cruelty. We see in historical figures like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Zedong. Not only in dictators. But also in public figures such as government, politicians and religious leaders have been identified as exhibiting the behaviors of the Dark Triad. The book of Proverbs simply calls these behaviors "wicked."                

            Think about this: While fools stumble blindly, the wicked calculate their steps. That is the difference, and it is not inconsequential. Fools and the wicked share some of the same behaviors, but the wicked are far more nefarious. Not only are they more cunning and prepared, but their personality traits also enable them to rise to positions of power. 

            "The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice" (Proverbs 17:23). This frustrated Solomon as he grew older. He grieve over the success of the wicked: "In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing" (Ecclesiastes 7:15). "Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?" We all  have felt the sting. 

            Yet the Scriptures promise that the righteous will be rewarded and the wicked punished: "The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short" (Proverbs 10:27). This promise is repeated throughout the Old Testament (Psalms 37:13; 92:7; Proverbs 24:19-20; Isaiah 57:20-21). What should we do with our frustration over this seemingly unfulfilled promise?

            Petition: Don't do as the wicked do, and don't follow the path of evildoers. Don't even think about it; don't go that way. Turn and keep moving. For evil people can't sleep until they've done their deed for the day. They can't rest until they've caused someone to stumble. They eat the food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence! (Proverbs 4:14-17).

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.

                                                 Never Rest Ministries