A Isolated Marriage Relationship

                                                        When The Door Slams

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen: Repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.                                                                                                                                                                                Revelation 2:4-5

         Marriage begins when two people make the clear unqualified promise to be faithful, each to the other, until the end of their days. That spoken promise makes the difference. A new relationship is initiated. In this day and age it's pretty rare for a marriage to last a lifetime, let alone for the couple to still like and love each other after all those years. That's really the way marriage should be.

        Think about this: When the enthusiasm and excitement has been replaced by mere existing. Communication continues to diminish as each partner pulls away from the other. The result is an isolated marriage relationship. Some of the lies we start to believe about ourselves include: "I only count when I'm perfect." "I only count when I avoid conflict." "I only count when I'm noticed, and can be center of attention." "I only count when I'm in control." These lies set you up for ridicule, abuse, fault finding, and so much more destructive forces. From one perspective they all stem from a critical, harmful, negative spirit. Lies such as these are particularly dangerous because they contain the message that "I have to be doing something or acting in a certain way to have worth as a human being." 

        Don't believe these lies. Bad things don't always happen in your marriage. You don't always goof up. In these verses, John, challenged us with regard to our relationship with God to return to our first love. We must remember and reflect on those special times we shared. Instead of focusing on all the negatives, remember the positive. The truth, is that I have worth simply because of the fact that I am a human being created in the image of God! 

        Secondly, repent or ask forgiveness for your part in letting the relationship get complacent. That process involves honestly looking at yourself in the mirror rather than pointing the finger and blaming your mate. Do some of the things you used to do in your relationship, add some sparkle by letting your partner know you were thinking of him or her. We can practice these same steps in our relationship with God. Why not start today!

Ask the 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 

                    

Rationalization And Procrastination

                                                     When The Door Slams

As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.                                                      If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.                                                                                                                James 4:16-17

        It is never a minor thing to know God's will and not do it. God calls this sin. We can make excuses for our lack of obedience: "I'm just not ready yet," or "I'll do it later!" or "I don't think it will make a difference," or "I can't afford to!" We rationalize, we procrastinate; we want to be notice; yet, in God's, eyes, rationalization and procrastination are nothing more than disobedience. At times we deceive ourselves into thinking that if others see the good intentions will equal obedient actions. 

        They do not. A good intention without corresponding activity is disobedience. When we encounter God and He gives us a direction, it is not enough to write down the date in our spiritual journal, or even to tell our friends and church of our "decision." God's call is not to "make a decision" but to obey!

        Think about this: Deciding to obey is not equal to obeying (Matt. 21:28-32)! Loudly affirming the necessity of obedience is not the same as obeying (Luke 6:46-49). Making commitments, even publicly, is not the same as obeying our Lord. Substituting our own good works is not the same as obeying. 

        God told King Saul to wait until the prophet Samuel arrived. Instead of waiting, Saul took matters into his own hands and offered a sacrifice. Saul discovered, to his deep dismay, that other acts of supposed piety do not take the place of obeying a clear command from God (1 Sam.15:22-23). As with Saul, God expects you to obey everything exactly as He tells you. Only obedience satisfies God's  desire for obedience!  

Ask the 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 

            

                                                         

Practical Faith And Confidence

                                                     When The Door Slams

I have written this to you who believe in the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are sure of this, that he will listen to us whenever we ask Him for anything in line with His will. And if we really know he is listening when we talk to him and make our requests, then we can be sure that he will answer us.                                                         1 John 5:13-15

        We can approach God in prayer with a confidence that if we are asking in His will, He will          answer it. This reminds me of a story: A few years ago the farmers in Middle Tennessee were      experiencing a severe drought. It had been weeks since it had rained and the corn crops were going          to be plowed under if they didn't receive some rain. 

        On Friday a group of believes decided to call a community wide prayer meeting to ask God to      send rain. As the people began to gather at the little country church on the appointed evening, a little girl came walking up the road carrying her umbrella.  

        Think about this: Not one of the adults had such practical faith and confidence that God would answer their prayer. Maybe this is why Jesus said that unless we become as a little child, we can't enter the kingdom of heaven (Mark 10:15). God wants us to take Him at His Word. He has promised He will hear and answer all our prayers that are in His will. 

        What do you need to ask God for today? (help with this ministry) Do you believe He will answer? (yes) Are you prepared for His abundant response to your request? (yes) Lord, when I pray in Your will, please hear me and give me confidence in Your answer. And when I pray out of Your will, hear me still, but convict me with the power of the Holy Spirit.      

Ask the 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

Threshold Thinking

                                                        When The Door Slams

So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?                          "If  you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.                        And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."       Genesis 4:6-7 

        When temptation enters our hearts and minds, we either deal with it and gain mastery over it, or it eventually leads us to sinful actions. The time between the initial temptation and the chosen response is critical. Much hangs in the balance. This is call Threshold Thinking.   

       Cain knew that God was displeased with him but pleased with Abel. Feelings of jealous anger crept into Cain's heart, and thoughts of murder pervaded his mind. As threshold thinking considered what to do, God's Word came to him. God warned him that sin was waiting at the door of his life, looking for an opportunity to enter. Now was not the time to treat temptation lightly, not the time to assume sin would never cause any harm. Now was the time to master the sin and renounce it before it overcame him. Tragically, Cain did not master his sin; instead, he open the door, sin came in overtook him and destroyed his life.

        Temptations come at unexpected moments. Sinful thoughts may cross your mind. Selfish feelings may begin to invade your heart. Threshold thinking of the Holy Spirit will warn you that God is not pleased with the direction your thoughts and feelings are taking you.  

       Think about this: Threshold Thinking at that moment of conviction, you must master the sin that crouches at the door of your life. Sin lies and deceive. Sin destroys. Sin brings death. Sin is not something to play with or take lightly. God's Word to you is the same warning He gave to Cain: Master the sin at the door of your life before it brings its unavoidable and disastrous consequences. Heed The Holy Spirit warning, and you will avoid unnecessary hardship for yourself and others.                             

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:11-14

Ask the 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

          

Resisting The Holy Spirit Voice

                                                        When The Door Slams

Do not smother the work of the Holy Spirit. Do not treat prophecy as if it were unimportant.                  But test everything. Keep what is good, and stay away from everything that is evil.                                                                          1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

        We cannot prevent God from accomplishing His work in the world around us, but we can smother His Spirit in our lives. God has given us the freedom to withstand the Holy Spirit's activity in our lives. When we ignore, disobey, or reject what the Spirit is telling us, we smother or quench His activity in us. Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah who described the result:                             

        "You will listen and listen, yet never understand; and you will look and look, yet never perceive. For this people's heart has grown callous; their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn back--and I would cure them" (Matt. 13:14-15; see Isa. 6:9).

        When you sin, the Holy Spirit will convict you of your need for repentance. If you habitually ignore Him and do not repent, your heart will grow hardened to God's Word. If the Spirit speaks to you about God's will for you, and if you refuse to take action, a time will come when the Spirit's voice will be muted in your life. 

        Think about this: If you continually reject the Spirit's repeatedly, a day will come when you no longer hear a word from God. If you repeatedly resisting God's Word to you so that you are no longer sensitive to His voice, He will not give you a fresh word. Be wary of resisting the voice of the Spirit in your life. You may not always be comfortable with what the Spirit is saying to you, but His words will guide you to abundant life. 

Ask the 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

        

Religious Group

                                                     When The Door Slams

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 16:25).               Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, I am he; and will deceive many (Mark 13:5,6). But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you,  let him be eternally condemned! (Galatians 1:8).      These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. (2 Peter 2:17-19). 

        Practically every cult has certain characteristics that can tell the careful observer that something is wrong. For instance, what does a group think about Jesus? Invariably, a cult will put something else on an equal footing with Christ...a ritual that is equal to Christ, or a doctrine equal to Christ, or a leader who is equal to Christ. In other words, even if it acknowledges Christ as Savior, it will say that you need something else before you can get into heaven....   

        Second, cults frequently attempt to instill fear into their followers. The followers are taught constantly that salvation comes through the cult. "If you leave us, you will lose your salvation," they say. 

        The third area has to do with the exaltation of the leader of the cult. Cults often center around a man or woman who is trying to gain power, money, or influence from manipulating people....When someone says he has a unique insight from God or is the special one that God has anointed to reach the world, you are dealing with cultic behavior. 

        Think about this: A final mark of a cult is the unwillingness of the leaders to let the people grow up. A true shepherd will do everything he can to bring Christian people to maturity as quickly as he can. He will not seek to avoid necessary teaching, nor will he try to keep people for maturity. Many cults perpetuate spiritual dependence so that their followers lose the ability to make independent, rational decisions. 

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas if unconfessed sin.                            Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.                                                                                                                                           Never Rest Ministries                                                                                                                                                             

Be Patient

                                                     When The Door Slams

Brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord comes again. A farmer patiently waits for his valuable crop to grow from the earth and for it to receive the autumn and spring rains. You, too, must be patient. Do not give up hope, because the Lord is coming soon. Brothers and sisters, do not complain against each other or you will be judged guilty. And the Judge is ready to come! Brothers and sisters, follow the example of the prophets who spoke for the Lord. They suffered many hard things, but they were patient. We say they are happy because they did not give up. You have heard about Job's patience, and you know the Lord's purpose for him in the end. You know the Lord is full of mercy and is kind.                                                                                                          James 5:7-11

        The typical reaction in the midst of suffering and struggle for many people is to grumble and complain. The root of the grumbling often centers on a comparison game that is played. If we are struggling financially, we look at another couple who seems to be doing well financially and complain that we are not like them. They may in fact be struggling in some other area. The apostle Paul encouraged us not to compare ourselves with others. 

        We are also challenged not to gripe and focus on our problems and sufferings, but instead to follow the example of the prophets. The prophets stuck their necks out and pointed people to Christ. They were patient in the midst of the suffering they encountered because of the message they were sent to give.

        Think about this: James wants us to focus on the Lord's coming rather than on the suffering of the world present circumstances. Are you expectantly watching for the hand of the Lord to move in your life, or are you wallowing in self-pity because of your circumstances. Lord God, thank You for the serenity and joy that come from serving You. May I be strong and not lose courage, for my work will be rewarded. My faith does not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

Ask the 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

          

Press On To What Is Ahead

                                                     When The Door Slams

I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his. Brothers and sister, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above.         Philippians 3:12-14  

        The world will tell you that the dominating influence in your life is your past. If you came from a difficult home life, that will determine the direction of your life. If your culture was treated unfairly, that will dictate the condition of your life today. If you were hurt or abused or if your youth was spent in rebellion, the remainder of your life will be spent struggling with your past. The world is preoccupied with the past because it faces an uncertain future.

         Christians, on the other hand, live in freedom because Christ has overcome our past. The "old things" have been done away with and "new things" have come (2 Cor. 5:17). God has totally forgiven the Christian's sin that He chooses not to remember it (Isa. 43:25). Christians do not forget the past, but we are not controlled or motivated by it. The Christian looks to the future with hope.

        Think about this: The people of the world focus on what they are overcoming. Christians focus on what they are becoming. Christians know that the Holy Spirit is conforming them into the image of Christ. Christians know that ultimately they will stand before Christ to give an account of their actions and will spend eternity in the presence of God. Christians know that eventually every injustice will be addressed and every hurt comforted. We know that Satan, and death itself, will finally be brought to an end. The Christian's future is so full and rich and exciting that it supersedes whatever happened in the past. If you are preoccupied with your past, ask God to open your eyes to the incredible future that awaits you and begin, like Paul, to press on to what is ahead.     

Ask the 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                   

Only The True Worship

                                                     When The Door Slams 

Open the gates, and the good people will enter, those who follow God. Lord, You, give true peace to those who depend on you, because they trust you. So, trust the Lord always, because he is our everlasting strength.                                        Isaiah 26:2-4 

        

        God created us as spiritual beings.                                                                                                      The Ten Commandments state we are to worship no other than the true God of the Scriptures. Sometimes we worship other people. We watch soap operas, read paper back novels, and spend hours fantasizing about what it would be like to be someone else. 

        Sometimes we worship things. we surround our selves with gadgets, in beautifully furnished homes, while driving the best machines anyone can make. But we are still empty inside. Sometimes we worship ourselves. We think we are wise, all-powerful, and perfect. If we deceive anyone, it certainly isn't the people we live with. We are fooling only ourselves.  

        Think about this: Only the true worship of God fulfills our humanity. If we worship anyone or anything else, we lose our ability to function as whole human beings. The way to peace and serenity is the way back to God who made us. 

        God does not want us to consider Him just another duty to be added to an already frantic schedule. He wants to be at the heart of our experience. The result is a wholeness, peace and serenity that is unattainable any other way. "O Lord," make me aware that every relationship, every commitment, and every contact today can be an act of worship to You

Ask the 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  

        

Things Done In Secret

                                                         When The Door Slams

"For nothing is concealed that won't be revealed,                                                                                        and nothing hidden that won't be made known and come to light."                                                                                                                                                                                Luke 8:17 

        One of Satan's subtle deceptions is that you can do things in secret that will never be revealed. This is simply not so. The Bible stresses that everything done in darkness will one day be brought to light. So before you commit yourself to do anything questionable, or you think no one will know, seriously ask yourself, "Am I willing for those around me to know what kind of person I am or what I am about to do? Am I willing for God to watch me participate in this activity, will God forgive me?" He might not. 

        Think about this: The knowledge that God sees what we do, the certainty that we are accountable for every word and action, ought to dissuade us from sin (2 Cor. 5:10). But we can become so alienated or disgraceful from God that even this knowledge does not deter us. God promises that He will publicly expose our sin so that we must give an account to others for our actions. Ultimately, everything we do will be exposed on Judgment Day.

        Still, some people believe they can sin against God, their families, husband ,wife, their employers, or their friends and never be discovered. God has provided a safeguard against sin: the certainty of disclosure. Scripture commands us to expose the deeds of darkness as we become aware of them        (Eph. 5:11). As Christians we are to be that light that dispels darkness in our world. Sin shell not be my master, because I am not under law, but under grace. I have been set free from sin and have become a slave of righteousness. (Romans 6:14, 18). He who has Your commandments and obeys them, he is the one who loves You; and he who loves You will be loved by Your Father, and You will love him and manifest Yourself to him. (John 14:21) 

Ask the 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 Three Greatest Fears

                                                     When The Door Slams

"O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.                                                                                                               1 Corinthians 15:57-58  

        The Rapture of all believers has been described in many passages of Scripture. Because of that blessed hope, we can say with the apostle Paul, who was killed for his faith, "O death, where is your sting?"

        The three greatest fears humans have are the fear of failure, the fear of abandonment, and the fear of death. Faith in Jesus Christ and belief in God's Word can give us courage to face all three of these fears.

        Death came into the world as a result of sin. Romans 6:23, we read that "the wages of sin is death." The law of God shows us how far short of God's standard we fall and reveals the "strength" of our sinfulness. 

        Think about this: Christ brought victory over sin and death by His resurrection. Now our own resurrection is certain, whether it be by death or by the Rapture. The certainty of our resurrection, as believers in Christ, will increase our courage to be steadfast and immovable, and to keep abounding in the good deeds that further His Kingdom here and now on earth. Through Christ we can be courageous and steadfast, knowing that our labor is not in vain. 

        Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the strong man boast of his strength, and let not the rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for in these I delight," declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23-24) 

        Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Don not be wise in your own eyes, but fear the Lord and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7) 

Ask the 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 

          

Not Victims By Habit or By Denial

                                                     When The Door Slams

The night is far gone, the day of His return will soon be here. So quit the evil deeds of darkness and put on the armor of right living, as we who live in the daylight should! Be decent and true in everything you do so that all can approve your behavior. Don't spend your time in wild parties and getting drunk or in adultery and lust, or fighting, or jealousy. But ask the Lord Jesus Christ to help you live as you should, and don't make plans to enjoy evil.                                          Romans 13:13-14  

         Certain sins have a way of making themselves at home in our lives. We get so used to their presence, we often don't give them much thought. By habit or by denial, we continue to indulge ourselves-to make provision for the flesh.

        This passage confronts such an attitude head-on. It is high time for us to make a change. We are not victims of our habits; we have the power to throw them away and begin again. And we can protect ourselves from their hold on us by wearing the armor of God's truth.

        The apostle Paul reminds us that we are on a journey, and our destination is heaven. Knowing that we will meet our Savior face-to-face motivates us to delay the temporary gratification of sin. We may struggle with temptation to get drunk, or to satisfy our cravings or appetites right away and encourage others to do the same. Perhaps we are in the habit of lying when we make wrong or bad decisions about people or things, or pitting people against true authority figures. 

        Think about this: If we allow ourselves to fantasize about sin, we will eventually give in to it. We are encouraged instead, to "clothe" ourselves with loyalty to Christ and avoid sinful thoughts so one thing won't lead to another. Resisting sin is hard work. Sinful subconscious thoughts are natural. Developing loving motives and behaviors to let go requires the help of our Holy Spirit power. 

Ask the 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                  

Life Is Like Combat

                                                     When The Door Slams 

Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, just as I do, and as Christ's solder do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in His army.                                                                           2 Timothy 2:3-4

        Whether we are "blown away" by the circumstances of life has a lot do with our expectations. For example, If I believe that life owes me a living even if I don't work, I'm setting myself up for a disappointment. If I think I should never be sick, I am just another number on the doctor's report. If I expect life to be fair, I am hurt by the unfairness that I see.

        One of the reasons a soldier can be effective is that he or she receives training for real combat situations. In their training, soldiers are taught to expect difficulties and hardships. They learn ways to cope with them. Get ready for the hardships. Expect them, accept them, and endure them. Life is like combat. We will have battles to fight and hardships to endure. 

        We will be able to endure times of hardship if we have a single-mindedness or focus. The enduring soldier is one who is centered on the problem to be fought and not on the demands of civilian life.        What are your expectations for life? Are hardships part of what you are assuming will come? Are preparing yourself for those hard days?  

        Think about this: Hardships in life come to all of us. Our success in dealing with them depends on our expectations and our personal preparation for them. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Ask the 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   

                                                          

   

Social Justice

                                                             When The Door Slams

LORD, WHY ARE you standing aloof and far away? Why do you hide when I need you the most? Come and deal with all these proud and wicked men who viciously persecute the poor. Pour upon these men the evil they planned for others! For these men brag of all their evil lust; they revile God and congratulate those the Lord abhors, whose only goal in life is money.                                                                                                                                                                        Psalms 10:1-3   

        Psalm 10 is a beautiful psalm of social justice, written by King David. David saw how the evil people of his world-like the evil people of our day-were constantly looking for ways to take advantage of the helpless. He pleaded with God to deal with the wicked and protect the helpless. 

        Think about this: We have all wondered at times why God allows so much suffering, especially by the innocent and helpless. Why doesn't He stop it right now? Why does He seem to be far away during times of tragedy and abuse? 

        Like David, we may long to call on God to arise from His throne to lift His hand in judgment upon the wicked and to defend the humble. Most of the cruel and malicious people in our world have sociopathic personalities. They renounce God, resent authority, and live in complete denial of the consequences of their behavior.

    In His timing, God will grant our prayers for social justice. He will punish the unrepentant evildoers of the world, and help the humble and poor. 

God grant me the serenity to bear the social injustices I cannot change, the courage to help change the social injustices I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. 

Ask the 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

                                                                                                 

A World Of Turmoil

                                                     When The Door Slams

A man with hate in his heart may sound pleasant enough, but don't believe him; for he is cursing you in his heart. Though he pretends to be so kind, his hared will finally come to light for all to see.                Proverbs 26:24-26 

        There are times when it is better to break things off with someone who constantly wants to cause conflict. These individuals will use ridicule at times to stir up strife. At other times they will break out in intense rage. Both of these tactics intimidate, manipulate and keep other people in inner turmoil. The totality of surrounding conditions and circumstances affecting growth or development in this world. 

        Think about this: Often the adult child of a dysfunctional family whose heart is blackened with evil will experience this kind of controlling action on the part of a parent as he or she tries to address the pathological family system. This child finds out in therapy how this interactions in his or her family were dysfunctional. 

        If the child approaches a family member and tries to talk about it, often the response is one of ridicule and laughing it off, or the other extreme of intense rage, causing extremely unpleasant to the senses or feelings. By either response the child is frustrated, intimidated and controlled. The result is that the child is left in a world of turmoil, lacking any real serenity or peace. There are times when we have to set boundaries and move on rather than constantly trying to pursue talking with such a person. 

        Solomon in his wisdom succinctly says "there is no peace" with such a person. If you desire peace, don't allow yourself to constantly get into arguments with such a person. There will be individuals with whom I don't get everything resolved. I need to move on if they keep tension between us. If a wise man contends with a foolish person, whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.

Ask the 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    

Man-Made "Religion"

                                                      When The Door Slams

But The Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some in the church will turn away from Christ and become eager followers of teachers with devil-inspired ideas. These teachers will tell lies with straight faces and do it so often that their consciences won't bother them.                                                                                                                                              1 Timothy 4:1-3 

          Think about this: Those of us who are trying to recover from addiction of all kinds, we are caught in a real dilemma. Our recovery requires dependence on a Higher Power. It also works best if we are intimately involved in supportive, insightful groups within our local church. And yet today's passage warns us to beware of man-made "religion," day or night time talk programs.

          What we see here is that before Christ returns, many believers will depart from the faith. Their children may grow up in Sunday school but never even hear that salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Religious leaders will be forbidden to marry, and people will be instructed not to eat certain foods for "religious" reasons. Paul taught us not to pay any attention to all these rules and rituals. We are living in an age of grace, where all things are permissible, though not all are beneficial.

          Jesus said the Bible is perfect. He said not to put our faith in religion or religious leaders. Even Paul complimented believers who took notes on what he taught them to search the Scriptures for themselves to see if he was right. We can trust God's Word. We should avoid religious codependency, but not the loving believers who can and will support us by God's grace through faith in The Holy Spirit. 

 Ask the 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 Fear Factor

                                                               When The Door Slams   

All who believe this know in their hearts that it is true. If anyone doesn't believe this, he is actually calling God a liar, because he doesn't believe what God has said about his Son. And what is it that God has said? That he has given us eternal life, and that this life is in his Son. So whoever has God's Son has life; whoever does not have his Son, dose not have life.                                    1 John 5:10-12

        A Wall Street Journal article reported on a survey in which men and women were asked, "What is it that you fear the most?" The number three fear of all participants was the fear of death. The fear of failure ranked number one, and the fear of loneliness was number two.

        1 John 4:18 says that "perfect love casts out fear." Perfect love has only the good of the person being loved in mind. Perfect love was demonstrated when God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die in our place. Fortunately that wasn't the end of the story. Jesus was the ultimate victim of my sin, God wasn't going to leave Him a victim forever. death had no power over Him. Resurrection was God's answer to the worst that human beings could do to Jesus Christ.

        I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I have eternal life. That frees me from my fear of death.                                                                                                                                                                        Think about this. I am welcomed into a caring, supportive group of believers. Together we support each other as we discover what it means to follow Jesus. We no longer need to fear loneliness. This incredible power that raised Christ from the dead is also available to me today. That same power can bring good out of my most devastating failures. Therefore I don't have to fear failure. Because of Christ I do not have to fear failure, loneliness or death. 

Ask the 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 Dangers In Appointing A King Over American

                                                               When The Door Slams

"As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you; and I will continue to teach you those things which are good and right. "Trust the Lord and sincerely worship him; think of all the tremendous things he has done for you. But if you continue to sin, you and your king will be destroyed."                                                                                            1 Samuel 12:23-25  

          Listen to this: It can be tempting at times to give up on God's people! They are so imperfect and can be so sinful, yet they are His people. Samuel had thoroughly warned the Israelites of the dangers in appointing a king over Israel. Yet they wanted to be like the nations around them, insisting that they were willing to pay any price.   

          Almost as soon as the people were granted their desire, they recognized their sin. But it was too late. What was Samuel to do? They had ignored his warnings. Now they wanted him to continue to minister to them. It would seem appropriate for Samuel to abandon them and allow them to suffer the consequences of their actions.

          Samuel knew, as Jesus knew, that God sends His servants to the sick, not the healthy (Matt. 9:12). Samuel did not take the people's response as a rejection of him but as an indication of their walk with God. Samuel was serving God, not the Israelites. When God commanded him to minister to them, he could do nothing else, despite their resistance to his message.            

          Think about this: At times people will not responds as they should to the message God speaks through you. Don't become discouraged; it is a reflection of their relationship with God. You are God's servant; if Jesus spent His time with the spiritually needy, you can expect Him to ask you do to the same. Don't lose your patience with God's people. Keep in mind that God loves them as much as He love you and me.

Ask the 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  

Facing Reality

                                                               When The Door Slams

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.                                                                                                                                                Isaiah 53:3-4

          In our culture, there are many times when we want to associate with the hero, the leader, and the beautiful people. We sometimes hope that we will feel better about ourselves by our association with such figures. 

          Jesus chose a different image for Himself than the top rung of society. In His physical appearance Jesus was not particularly outstanding or attractive. Rather than being the hero, Jesus was despised and even rejected. He experienced sorrow and grief.

          Jesus chose the image of the unlovely. He chose to identify with where most of us live on a daily basis, in order that we could identify with Him. Jesus did not want us to have to escape from the realities of life and try to get next to a superstar. Jesus took on human form and suffered the rejection and disappointments of life. He suffered through everyday trials, but live victoriously through them all.

  Think about this: He did this in order that we also would be able to face our reality honestly, and with the Lord's help be victorious. Jesus identified with us so we could identify with Him. People are drawn to Christ because He is a real person who lived as we live. If we are like Him, we will be approachable and attractive to others not because of the image we project, but because we are real.

Ask the 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     

From The Love Of Power To The Power Of Love

                                                              When The Door Slams

The greedy sir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.                                                Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.                              Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.                                                                                                                                                                                                   Proverbs 28: 25-28                           

          Do you ever wonder if the Bible has anything relevant to say to you? A sure sign that the Scriptures are God's Word is that they hit each of us right where we are living. A proud heart shows up in the way we relate to others. Do you have a need to always be in control? Inside every overly controlling adult is a wounded, shame-driven child. 

          Trust in the Lord and applying His principles moves us from the love of power to the power of love. After people been with us do they go away impressed with our greatness, or full of the possibilities of their own greatness? Do they feel used or misunderstood?   

          Jesus Christ was the ultimate example of sacrificial, serving love. As His followers, we are to be Christ's channels of love to the people in our lives. We must not refuse to open our minds, our hearts, and our arms. We must share our Christian principles with others, and embrace who they are. 

          Think about this: When we relate in this way to others, we enable them to have a clearer and bigger understanding of God. We can make the invisible God more "real," and bring about in each other's lives a radical awareness an accountability of what it means to be deeply love by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Lord, help me to make You more real to the people in my life today. 

Ask the 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

Discipline Or Punishment

                                                          When The Door Slams

For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.                                                                                            Though he brings grief. he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.                                        For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.                                                                                                                                                                           Lamentations 3:31-33

         In many homes today, ranging across all social, economic and educational lines, the horrendous crime of child abuse is being committed everyday because of stress in the home. Physically abusive parents seem to have many similarities. Instead of dealing with their own negative feelings, they assault their children. Physical abusers often come from violent homes and enter adulthood with unmet needs.

          If you were raised by physically abusive person, you have experienced the horror of being punished to serve their purposes, not for your good. Two important distinctions must be made: the difference between punishment and discipline, and the difference between your earthly guardians and your heavenly Father.           

          Think about this: Discipline is motivated by love; punishment is the result of fury. Discipline is what is best for the child or person, while punishment is a reliever of parental poison. We must also grasp our heavenly Father's character. 

          Look how incredibly different it is from that of vengeful, insecure child abusers. Our heavenly Father disciplines us but does not inflict pain maliciously nor grieve our hearts as does the abusive guardian. Our heavenly Father compassion and mercy are constantly with us. He has our best interest forever in His heart. Lord, think you for loving me enough to discipline me. Teach me to discipline rather than punish. 

Ask the 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 

Weakness

                                                          When The Door Slams

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.                                                                                                                                              Hebrews 4:15-16

          The people in my life that I have felt a real freedom to talk with are very few with empathetic and understanding. I have felt that they were on my side; that they were for me. In contrast, there are many I would never have gone and talked with because I felt they were judgmental or condemning. 

          In order to feel safe and share our deep feelings, we need friends who are empathetic, supportive, and caring. If the person we confide in has also gone through a similar experience, that will increase our confidence. For example, a victim will often feel safer working with a therapist who has also been a victim.

          The Lord is like this for us. He was tempted in every way we are. The Lord is our High Priest. In Old Testament times, the high priest was the one who represented the people of Israel to God. He was their spokesman. Jesus is our representative before God, and He is on our side. 

          We can confidently come to Jesus, since He is for us. He has experienced what we are going through, and He sympathizes with our weakness. Jesus does not condemn when we come to Him, but in Him we will find mercy and grace. 

Think about this: If I am hesitant to go to Jesus in prayer, it might be because I have not seen who He really is. He is on my side; He went through what I am experiencing; and He is empathetic regarding my weakness.         

Ask the 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      

Temptation

                                When The Door Slams

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.        

                                                                                                                         1 Corinthians 10:12-13

          True wisdom is demonstrated in how we understands and handles temptation. What does the Bible say about temptation? James 1:13-15 tells us God is not in the "tempting" business. He is not the author of temptation. Instead, temptations come from our own subconscious desires. 

          Today's passage says that we can be tempted when we least expect it. When we are standing firm or think that we are doing well in avoiding sin, we need to be careful lest we fall flat on our faces. Temptation is also a progressively developing process. 

          Think about this: Evil desire can creep into our conscious awareness. The thought is followed by being enticed, where there is no accountability, there will be no peace or trust, temptation have negative outcomes. Like a fish drawn from its hiding place toward the wiggling bait on the fisherman's hook. 

          As the thought is focused on, it develops, and finally it is acted out. Sin leads to death. But we do have hope. Temptation do not need to get the best of us. For each temptation there is an escape. If we call on the Lord, He will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to withstand it. Lord we need Your help to conquer the temptations and lies in my life.

Ask the 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

A Personal Relationship

                               When The Door Slams

If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?                                                                              No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on                                                                       
no one dared to ask him any more questions.'                                                                                                                                                                                                     Matthew 22:41-46

Is there really a personal God? Do you really have a personal relationship? If so, who is He? Was Jesus really God? Or was He just a very good man? 

          Jesus gave the Pharisees a puzzle. Jesus had claimed many times during His three-year ministry that He was God. When the Pharisees said that Jesus was just a descendant of David, Jesus replied that He was both David's son and David's Lord. In fact, Jesus quoted Psalm 110. In that passage, David spoke of Jesus and called Him Lord.

          I have met a number of psychotic peoples who thought they were God. I have also met a number of self-centered sociopaths who acted as though they were God. But I have never, ever met a good, sane person who claimed to be God.

          Think about this: If Jesus was not God, He could not possibly have been a good, sane man. He was either psychotic, or a sociopath, or else He was who He claimed He was: Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, God in the flesh,  who existed from eternity with the Father and with the Holy Spirit. It's the only solution to a complex puzzle. We can deny the truth; or we can accept the only true power who can help us, have a personal Relationship with God.

Ask the 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