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        Think about this: When the enthusiasm and excitement has been replaced by mere existing.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.

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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 

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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.  

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