Do You Think You Are The Only One That Has the Answers?

Salvation – that is where it starts and that is where we should be leading people. Not in words alone but in our actions! How we are living, what we are speaking. Does it line up with the Word of God?

When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour they are babes drinking milk, not ready for meat yet.
There are people in the church that have the gift and desire to share with strong Christians that are eating meat, but some of these issues non-believers or new Christians are not ready for. Things in the Bible that is debatable because there are so many views one can take on the issue. These issues do not keep you out of heaven once you are saved by God’s grace but nonetheless they are things we are to study and learn from as we grow in our walk with the Lord. However they are not to be things that divide us.  To everyone's list of gifts, maybe a little discretion and discernment should be added?

Ephesians 4:32 Amplified   And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.

Are you being kind when someone disagrees with you, are you inflexible, is there nothing else God can teach you on the subject? I think this is something we ALL need to take a look at, myself included.

Again – salvation, bring people to God, helping them learn who He is and what  God has to say about  them and Himself …that should be our goal because it’s God’s commandment.

So how do we, as believers, come to grips with this inside the ‘church’ (within the members?)– the place you go to worship and be taught?
Are we to challenge and get angry – if you don’t believe as I do in this area (not salvation) then you are all wrong ….. I’m leaving; I’m not tithing, or whatever you would do out of spite

Or should we seek the Lord, keep our mouths shut until He provides an opportunity for us to share what He has put into our hearts? Is there a better way to share our opinion on what God’s Word says in certain circumstances? We all know it’s God’s Word that matters, not our opinion.

I know for myself it can take a day, a week or many years for me to understand something just to find out in one area I still don’t have all the answers, does that mean I’m wrong? I don't think so but I do think I'm wrong when I believe I'm the only one that has the answer. (It is very possible that a prophet has a word from God that no one else has considered!)

Fellowship – encourage, correct, each other – isn't that how we are to learn and grow and be one on His vine?

II Timothy 3:16  Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),

Matthew 6:34  So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

When you sense anger rising in you, or when you get irate because someone disagrees with your viewpoint on a topic in Scripture you have elevated that topic beyond being important, it is now worry!  It may even be entering the area of idolatry. It certainly destroys unity and fellowship.

I John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

Find Freedom, Restoration, and Wholeness

Find Freedom, Restoration, and Wholeness

There were several things that jumped out in Chapter 4 of ‘The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children’ by Stormie Omartian.

And again I want to say, my study group and I believe this book talks to us individually as much, if not more and then we have awareness as to how we can pray for our children.

Stormie Omartian says ‘….we all have things from which we need to be set free. Our adult children are no different.’

It helps me see that as they move into the world, into their jobs, etc – they will have things they need to turn over to God (just like we do) and this is where our prayer comes in. They will be faced with wrong thoughts, temptations from images, emotions and their attitudes in different situations.  The enemy will use these things to bring condemnation to them; he will try to steal their joy. 

We need to pray that they know the freedom and forgiveness that is theirs in the Lord

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. II Corinthians 3:17

So pray for your children to desire the presence of the Lord  so they will have freedom.  (Strongs 1657 - Definition: freedom, liberty, especially: a state of freedom from slavery.)

There will be times when you know specifically what they need to find freedom in – be specific in your prayers. Remember, you do not have control, you are releasing this to God and that can challenge us sometimes.  ‘…the Holy Spirit will not do what someone resists him doing….’  Our children may not see it as wrong – yet. Our prayers can help them recognize their need for freedom in that area as the Lord (not us) open their hearts up to His will.

 As our children begin to see the promises of God coming alive in their lives as they begin to realize and release place they are enslaved, they will begin to seek out more and more of His presence in their lives.  And with that they will become slaves of righteousness –Romans 6:18.

In your prayer time be sure to stop and listen to the Lord to see where there is an area in your life that you need to be set free from. Our children are aware of some areas in our lives too and when they see us change and they know it’s because of our walking in the Lord’s presence, it will help them with their faith to believe He will help them too.

There was a lot in this chapter and I highly encourage you to get the book and study it for yourself or start your own Bible Study, it will change you and I believe God will honor that and you will see changes in your children as well.

I leave you with this --  Psalm 91:14-16  (my husband and I read this every night before bed)

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”

I am blessed to be the mommy of Lena Sue Hammes Stephenson and Amanda Jane Hammes Tucker

I give thanks daily for these two blessings.

I Want my Behavior to be a Credit to my Father's Name

Ephesians 4:1-2

1)   I am bound to the Lord, He is my Father and I desire to lead a life worthy of the divine calling He has placed on my life. I want my behavior to be a credit to my Father’s Name.

2)   I want to live in humility and not pride (Proverbs  8:13; 11:2; 16:8), so other will know it is by His strength, His blessings, His guidance that things are accomplished in my life. It is by His power that I have victory over the tests that come my way. (I John 5:4; I Corinthians 15:57) I want to be meek, not self-centered. To reach out to my brothers and sisters in Christ and have patience with them because I love them as Christ loves them. (I John 4:16)  We are called to encourage, correct, build one another up, etc. (I Thessalonians 5:11-18)

 

I realize there is only one way I will be able to accomplish all that’s in those 2 verses (it’s Christena’s version by the way). It will require me to be in God’s Word daily, to not just read His Word but to ask Him for wisdom, a revelation of what it means and how to apply it to my life today. To not become so busy that I don’t hear Him when He speaks. He does speak today. I can’t tell you how many times I have followed through and found out it was at the right time for someone to receive a phone call or a card in the mail, a visit, flowers, a hug and sometimes a prayer of protection.

It requires me to take my thoughts captive, to stay focused on today and my future and not keep looking back at my past. When I look back at my past it causes me to stumble (I can’t walk forward while I’m looking behind me—I fall every time!) and to use excuses as to why I sinned. That’s not who I am anymore. I’m a new creation! God has a hope and a future for me and now I have to choose to obey His Word or disobey and face the consequences. I choose to let go of my past and walk in a way that will bring abundant life, a way that will help others.

I’m thankful to God for all He has cleansed me from and for His patience. I need to remember He will do this for everyone – the sleepy Christian who is full of pride and wants a position to honor themselves; the drunk at the local bar; the prostitute on the corner; the spouse that cheated; the liar and the list goes on. GOD LOVES ALL OF HIS CHILDREN AND WANTS NONE TO PERISH. HE STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCKS. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, IT REQUIRES ACTION ON OUR PARTS – FROM THE TIME WE OPEN THE DOOR AND ACCEPT HIM, ALLOWING HIM TO COME IN – TO THE TIME WE GO HOME TO BE WITH HIM FOR ETERNITY. I Timothy 2:3-4; Revelation 3:20)

Again, it points back to knowing His Word, knowing God and that takes time.  So if you are a new Christian, a child of God – don’t be discouraged. Make sure you attend a church that teaches ALL of God’s Word. A church that truly hungers and thirsts to know all there is to know about God and His ways; how we are to live in this world, giving glory, honor and praise to Him.

Get involved in a Bible Study, find others to hang around with that are hungry and thirsty for God. Allow yourself to be corrected and loved on, encouraged and called upon to advance in the Kingdom building. And as you learn to hear the Shepherds voice, you will begin to help others in the correction, loving, encouraging area. We are branches on the Vine, we need each other with all our differences. I believe that is why the greatest commandment is to love one another. Where there is love (not worldly love) it covers a multitude of sins, there is forgiveness and a true desire to see the person set free from bondage's, lies, and pain; a real desire to see the person have victory in their lives.

All this comes from having a relationship not a ‘religion’ with Jesus Christ. If you haven’t accepted the Lord as your Savior yet, close your eyes, bow down OR stand and raise your hands, eyes to heaven and say a prayer (prayer is a conversation with God, don’t make it complicated) Here’s one you can read if you want. Just pour your heart out to Him, for He cares for you!

You can pray --  Father, I come before you and confess my sins, my selfish ways and I’m so tired. Your word in Romans 10:13 says ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’, and I’m calling on you now. Forgive me of my sins and guide me in the way of life, Your life.  I accept you as my Lord and Savior and I desire to understand Your word. Thank You for forgiving me. Thank You that You are true to Your Word and You will guide me and I will know my Shepherds voice. I praise You Father, for Your love and I accept Your forgiveness and Your love.

In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen

Good place to start reading is the book of John.

 I personally believe in baptism – immersion. It is an outward expression of obedience. Jesus was baptized.

Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Titus 3:3-7   whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

And I believe eternal life begins the moment you accept Christ into your life, it’s not ‘fire insurance’. You receive all He promises today, heaven on earth. Why else would he instruct them to pray – ‘your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’.  Matthew 6:10

If you need help in finding a church or just want to tell someone you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, please email lifechurchandtraining@yahoo.com and we will be in touch with you, celebrating with you!