Taking Advantage

Taking Advantage

2 Corinthians 2:11 KJV  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

I think all of us have had people take advantage of us at one time or another.  Sometimes we let others take advantage.  We believe people we know and love wouldn’t possibly hurt us in anyway.

Many times, we have been deceived by people we think have our best interest at heart, but we find out they were only thinking of themselves.

I am sure banks have heard many stories of why someone hasn’t paid back the money on a loan.

Christ has given so much to us, not just a loan, but for keeps.  His Love, Grace, Salvation, and eternal life with Him.  In return, He only asks to be obeyed and for us to serve Him.  Sometimes we use GOD as a bank.  We go to Him asking for healing, counseling, love, or a shoulder to cry on, and He gives it.  Then Satan comes along and whispers to us, “You are fine now.  You can do things on your own.”  The scriptures tell us how the devil deceived the children of GOD.  Eve, for one, took advantage of GOD and His goodness.  She had been warned of the consequences of disobedience.  How many times have we disregarded God's warnings about sinning, but we buy into the world’s view of GOD?  He is an ATM Machine.  Go to Him, get what we want, and there will be more when we need it.  After all, we have the card and the knowledge to just help ourselves.  Do we ever think of what it took to be free to ask GOD for help?  He gave HIS life and HIS blood to have what we need when we need it.  Taking advantage of someone else to serve ourselves is a one-sided relationship.  When Satan comes to you and tells you you don’t need GOD and he can give you what you need, tell him he doesn’t have your password to rob you of all GOD has available for you.  That password is Love, and satan doesn’t have any idea what the word means.  Don’t be deceived, trust in GOD and know He only has good things for you and would never take advantage of you.  You have His word on it.  It is even in writing – written in blood!

Written By: Linda Tatman

In Everything Give Jesus Thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Recently while traveling in Florida, my husband and I visited our brothers and sisters in the Lord. All of them suffered losses from Hurricane Michael. Their common theme was, “I thank the Lord. It could have been worse.” Some homes were devastated and are going to be torn down, starting over. Many of them lost their treasured memories, clothes, furniture, appliances. But none of them suffered a loved one’s lost life! The death toll in the pan handle of Florida did not accurately make the news which reported approximately 28 dead. In fact, body bags totaling over 400 were filled. The landscape will not be the same for many years. Where there were once areas of forest, there is now barrenness.

So many did not have food for several days. There was no way to cook anything if there had been. The recovery efforts started as soon as the roads were cleared for them to move in.  One of our friends, Jean, was so busy helping others when in fact she was in need herself. God blessed her in a miraculous way with finances coming her way. She was handpicked by the Lord to receive a special blessing because of her selflessness. She and her husband, Larry, wept as they told us of God’s blessings to them. Their home needs a new roof. They lost their heating and air conditioning. He lost the roof from his work shed. Their trees are gone. Yet, they continually thank the Lord.

Then we heard a testimony from Vince. He and his wife lived in an older home which was completely destroyed. They had purchased a small RV, quite old in fact. It was behind their home and was untouched, making it livable for them! Vince was crying thankful tears as he shared his story.

Betty thanked the Lord that she “only” got 10” of water in her home. She had to have her carpets removed and the walls torn out. She lost furniture also.

There were other stories told to us of how they thanked the Lord for “sparing” them. In front of almost every home there were high piles of debris representing their lost possessions.

Another lady we ran into for lunch was living in a motel. Her home is uninhabitable. We paid for her lunch and she brought the change back saying, “You have refreshed me during this dark time. I want to bless others.”

I remember when Tami was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease, cancer of the lymph nodes. Hodgkins was the best cancer to have according to her oncologist. We thanked God for it!

No matter what we are yet to face or have already faced, we are to give thanks in everything. Jesus does all things well!

“In everything, give Him thanks, give Him thanks. In everything give God the thanks. In the good times, praise His name. In the bad times, we can do the same. In everything give the King of Kings all the thanks.”

- Written By: Jeannie Collins

How To Live A Holy Life In An Unholy World

How To Live A Holy Life In An Unholy World

The Bible says God is holy and we are commanded to be holy, too.  He calls us to be like Him.   Holiness is not an option, it is a command, to be implemented in all aspects of our lives.   After we are born again, the work of salvation continues with sanctification.   We are living for God.  We should desire to please God, for His sake, in all that we do.  Trying to be holy is not a bad thing.   Even in the church, sometimes, we can look at holiness as something negative instead of positive.  God is Holy!   Holiness is an essential attribute of His nature.   We must be holy because God is holy.   It means thinking as God thinks, loving what He loves, hating what He hates and acting as Christ would act.  We must separate ourselves from sin and the world’s values and dedicate ourselves to God and His will.   

1 Peter 1:13-16     Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance; But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1     Wherefore, come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.  

We are in the world, but not of the world.  We are set apart.  People should know by how we walk, talk, dress, & live that we know Jesus!  We belong to Him! Our bodies are vessels for His Spirit.   

I Corinthians 6:19    What?  Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

If Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, they are of little value to God.   If we live for Christ we will glow like lights showing others what Christ is like. 

1 Peter 2:9     But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 

Matthew 5:13-14    Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?  It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world.   A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

IT TAKES PERSONAL EFFORT AND DISCIPLINE

*We must pray.   Praying draws us closer to God.   We must pray in the Holy Ghost.   Live close to God and his people.  

Jude 1:20-21     But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  

*We must read and study God’s Word.   The Bible has a lot to say about holiness.  We need to dig deeper in the scriptures to gain greater understanding.   

2 Timothy 2:15    Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

 

We must develop good habits, spending time in prayer and His Word and being careful what we allow to influence our lives and our Christian walk.   

*Guard your heart!    

Proverbs 4:23    Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

The Life Application Bible says this:

Our heart--our feelings of love and desire--dictates to a great extent how we live, because we always find time to do what we enjoy.  Solomon tells us to keep our heart with all diligence making sure we concentrate on those desires that will keep us on the right path.  Make sure your affections push you in the right direction.  Put boundaries on your desires; don’t go after everything you see.  Look straight ahead, keep your eyes fixed on your goal and don’t get sidetracked on detours that lead to temptation.

We shouldn’t have the “minimalist” attitude: doing the least amount we think is acceptable…

God is a jealous God.   If we let His Spirit lead us and if we cultivate the fruit of the Spirit, then the pursuit of holiness will not be difficult.  It will be a joy and not a burden.  It will be the way we want to live.   The closer we get to God, the more we resist sin and embrace righteousness.   We cannot allow the busyness and distractions/activities of life to draw us away from His presence.   So attending church is also important.  

*We have to say NO to some things that hinder our purpose.   The Bible says to lay aside every weight and sin that so easily besets us.   Some things may seem alright, but they don’t grow us into godliness.  

Discipline is learning to shave off those things that are slowing and weighing us down.

*Train ourselves to be godly.   A marathon runner doesn’t just go run, but spends countless hours training, sacrificing other activities to spend sufficient time working out to become and stay fit.  We need that same kind of devotion, or even more, to that which leads to godliness, making us spiritually fit.  

I Timothy 4:7-10     But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.  For bodily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

The Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy, “train yourself to be godly.”   The New American Standard Bible words it “discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” 

Discipline is to study, learn, train, and apply a system of standards.   Discipline is not something others do for you.  It is something you do for yourself.  The source of discipline is not external, but internal.   We must understand what gets in our way of being disciplined.  

*Walk in the Spirit. 

Galatians 5:16-17      This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh, for the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things which ye would.

*Guard the Truth-Beware of false teachers. 

Proverbs 23:23    Buy the truth and sell it not; also wisdom and instruction and understanding.

Hebrews 2:1      Therefore, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

We need to listen carefully to the truth we have heard so we don’t drift away into false teachings.

Hebrews 3:12-14    Take heed brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.  

Hebrews 12:14    Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.  

I Timothy 4:1-2     Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.

Jude 1:3-4    Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 

We cannot look to the world for approval.  We should not look to the world or Hollywood or New York fashion designers to tell us how we should dress and what “makes us more beautiful.”    We need to focus on God’s ways.  We represent the Lord Jesus Christ!  We must also be careful to always guard against pride.  In our pursuit of holiness, we must not become self-righteous and critical of others.  Let’s live our life to honor and worship the Lord Jesus Christ, and be a witness, as He has called us to be, in the beauty of holiness.

 To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus.

-Written By: Sis. Marilyn Tibbs