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Satan Doesn’t Want You To Know This: What Does ‘Seeking the Kingdom’ Actually Mean?

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

“But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6: 33)

  • Seeking the Kingdom is prioritizing God

The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life with wrong priorities.  The biggest problem with today’s society is that the world has taught us to seek our needs first, and forget about God.  This is happening even to Christians today.  Every Christian should know how to set their priorities and that means staying in line with God’s will and not just what we want.  God should be our first priority and everything else will follow.

  • Seeking the Kingdom is a lifestyle

Seeking the Kingdom of God is not just a one-time event.  It should be a lifestyle for every Christian. This is not a short-lived feeling, but a lifetime commitment.

  • Seeking the Kingdom is walking with power

God wants you to have dominion over the earth by living life filled with His power.  By carrying the power of God, you are welcoming the Kingdom of God to come to earth.  Don’t let the power God has given you be hidden in the darkness.

  • Seeking the Kingdom is knowing Your self-worth

Our self-worth is more important than our basic needs and should never be sacrificed for those needs.  Your self-worth is being a child of God.  You are a child of the living God. The only begotten Son of God died for you because He loves you so much!  His love for you is so big! Seeking the kingdom is knowing your worth.

  • Seeking the Kingdom is enjoying God’s presence

Everything is about His presence. If you want the Christ-like character, soak yourself in His presence. We should all be a presence-seeking church! When you seek God first, all these things shall be added unto you. If Jesus is your King, He will influence your life as you acknowledge that He is the owner of your life. Prioritize God in your life and see how joyful it is to be in His presence!

Conclusion

God is the owner of your life, of your body and of your future.  God is holding you in His hands so you don’t have to worry about your future.  You just have to seek first the Kingdom of God and everything in His Kingdom shall be added unto you! Cheer up God’s child and run the good race, chasing the Kingdom of the Lord!  You are not alone!

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Jesus’ Greatest Strategy In Fighting The Enemy

by Rhoda Gayle
written by Rhoda Gayle

Havilah Cunnington shares the greatest and simplest strategy in fighting the enemy that we can all use.

Havilah Cunnington

The executive director of Moral Revolution shares the story of how Jesus defeated the enemy who was tempting Him. While Jesus was fasting for 40 days, the enemy came to test and tempt Him. When the devil asked Jesus to turn the stone to bread, Jesus did not have to fight against him. He just told him what is written in the Scripture.

That is the simplest yet greatest way to defeat the enemy, use the Word of God against him.

“Jesus does something very strategic,” Havilah said. “He used a strategy that all of us can use today, He says ‘It is written man does not live by bread alone.’”

Jesus’ Strategy

“Jesus did not fight the enemy by telling him that He was really loved, really affirmed, and the last prophetic word that He was given.”

Whenever the devil is trying to attack you, be confident of who you are in Christ. Know that the authority on heaven and on earth has been given to you because you are now an heir of God.

“You are the DNA of Jesus Christ, you have His blood flowing through your blood and you have all authority of heaven and earth. It has been given to you because you are now following Christ, your eternity is set. I’m telling you the best days are going to be ahead of us. You’re going to be glorious, there’ll be no more fear, there’ll be no more tears, there’ll be no more pain. We are made for heaven,” she explained.

You don’t have to spend time picking over the enemy, by just knowing who you are, you can overcome the enemy. Jesus has won the victory!

“Your love is a weapon, everywhere you walk, everywhere you go, every room that you walk into. I’m telling you, you are warfare because of you are.”

Read also: Stop Focusing On Your Unworthiness In The Presence Of God

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Reference: GOD TV

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Presumption: One Surefire Way To Lose In Spiritual Warfare

by Jennifer LeClaire
written by Jennifer LeClaire

God made the Israelites a promise to bring them into the land of the Canaanites, and all the other “-ites,” into the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey (see Ex. 13:5). Fulfilling this prophetic promise, then, meant engaging in a battle to dispossess all the so-called “-ites” from the land in which they lived. It meant going to war with the enemies. Unfortunately, some of the Israelites moved in a presumption against the Amorites and they felt the sting of death in the wake of disobedience. Remember this: Presumption can be deadly.

While the King James Version of the Bible only mentions the words presume, presumed, presumptuous and presumptuously 11 times, it almost always leads to death. Wisdom cries out against entering spiritual battle presumptuously. It’s not likely that you’ll die, but you could get smacked around by the enemy of your soul. So, let’s learn this lesson from the Israelites and learn it well.

Losing the Battle Begins With Unbelief

The seeds of Israel’s defeat took root after Moses sent men to Canaan to spy out the land God promised to give them (see Num. 13:1-2). When they returned, they saw that it was just as Moses prophesied—a land flowing with milk and honey. What’s more, the Israelites brought back grapes, pomegranates, and figs. It must have been a welcomed sight!

But even in the face of God’s prophesied provision, Israel’s leaders brought back a bad report. It all started with one negative word: nevertheless. “Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.” (Numbers 13:28-29)

As the story goes, only Caleb and Joshua believed God and declared, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30). The Israelites believed the negative naysayers rather than the Spirit-inspired dynamic duo of faith. They cried. They wept. They complained against Moses and Aaron. They wished to return to Egypt. They even started talking about electing a leader to go back to bondage! Moses and Aaron went into immediate intercession, but God pronounced a death sentence on the unbelievers.

A Presumption in the Face of God

The men who brought the evil report about the land died in a plague, but others would soon die in their presumption. After mourning the loss of their tribal leaders, the people decided they’d better obey the Lord and take the land. The only problem was they were moving in presumption. God did not tell them to go up against the enemies at that time. Timing is everything in a battle plan.

Moses tried to warn them: “Now why do you transgress the command of the Lord? For this will not succeed. Do not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the Lord is not among you. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.” (Num. 14:41-43)

And then: “They presumed to go up to the mountaintop. Nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed from the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and attacked them, and drove them back as far as Hormah.” (vv. 44-45)

The One Question

There’s one question every believer should ask before engaging in spiritual warfare: “Shall I go up?” In other words, we need to be led by the Holy Spirit into battle if we want God to lead us into triumph. If we lose a battle, it could very well be that the Holy Spirit didn’t lead us into the spiritual skirmish in the first place.

Before you run to the battle line, ask the Holy Spirit, “Shall I go up?” Then obey what He tells you. It could be He’s assigned someone else to go up and defeat the enemy. It could be that God is taking the battle into His own hands. Or it could be that you aren’t yet skilled enough in battle to take on the enemy that’s rising up. The reason doesn’t matter. What matters is being in the will of God, even in our spiritual warfare. Amen.

 

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Has God Already Done Everything He’s Going to Do About the Devil?

by Jennifer LeClaire
written by Jennifer LeClaire

When we’re in the midst of a spiritual battle—whether over our personal lives, our families or even contending for revival in our cities and awakening in our nation—many sincere believers tend to petition God to rise up and take action against the enemy. The problem is: When it comes to matters of spiritual warfare, it’s not God who needs to wake up and rise up. He has done His part about the devil. It’s our turn.

Time To Wake Up About The Devil

Jesus defeated the enemy on the cross (see Col. 2:15). Now, that doesn’t mean that the enemy can’t wreak havoc in our lives, in our cities or in our nations. Look at what’s happening in Iraq, China, and the United States of America. Persecution is rising in the Middle East and Asia, while much of the Church is sound asleep on prophetic pillows of prosperity in the Western world.

Clearly, there’s a devil on the loose. A literal onslaught of principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places is working hard to fulfill Satan’s mission (see Eph. 6:12). Our job is to get instructions from the Holy Spirit in a place of worship and waiting on the Lord, run to the battle line with eyes wide open, fully awake to what’s happening in the spiritual realm, and enforce Christ’s victory over the devil He defeated. Victory belongs to us if we follow the Holy Spirit’s battle plan.

The Lord Is Not Sleeping

Sounds simple, right? It is a simple truth, but there are many in the body of Christ who reject any notion that we have to engage in spiritual warfare. Some wonder why do we still have to do spiritual warfare if Satan is defeated. I answered that question from one perspective in an article by that same title that you can read here.

Other believers are convinced there’s a spiritual battle raging, but they hope and believe that if they ask God to handle it for them—as David did—they will see the victories David saw. Some spiritual warriors seem to think God is asleep and if they could just cry out loud enough to wake Him up. they could find deliverance from the spiritual enemies that are sorely oppressing them. It’s true that David often cried out for God to “wake up”…

“Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication, To my cause, my God and my Lord.” (Psalm 35:23)

 “They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine. Awake to help me, and behold! You, therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.” (Psalm 59:4-5)

“Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord! Awake as in the ancient days, In the generations of old. Are You not the arm that cut Rahab apart, And wounded the serpent?” (Isaiah 51:9)

lion-1364522-freeimages

Arise, O Lord, Let your Enemies Be Scattered

Of course, David knew the Lord was not sleeping. Psalm 121:4 reveals that God’s Old Testament believers had a revelation that “He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”

David’s cries for the Lord to awaken were just his humble way of showing his utter dependence upon God in the face of his enemies. What’s more, David was literally wrestling against flesh and blood and did not have the revelation Paul did about the spiritual army of demons that rise up against God’s people behind the scenes. He didn’t have Christ’s authority to bind the enemy’s power in the spirit realm (see Matt. 16:19). This authority didn’t come to believers until after Christ defeated Satan on the cross.

The Bottom Line About The Devil

You can beg God to arise and scatter His enemies all day long (see Psalm 68:1), but God already has done everything He’s doing to do about the devil. That is until Jesus returns to throw Him into prison for 1,000 years. Christ gave us His authority, and we need to wake up to that reality and start enforcing Christ’s victory in this age.

What does that practically mean? I’ve written a number of articles that can give you more practical guidance, including “One Sure Fire Way to Lose in Spiritual Warfare,” “Spiritual Warfare Strategies: Should You Shout or Stay Silent?” and “7 Ways to Make the Devil Flee Seven Ways.” You have the victory! Amen.

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You’ve Got To Be Ruthless With The Enemy Of Your Soul

by John Mathai
written by John Mathai

Since the fall of man, all nature is under the control of Satan. This is why we see so much chaos in the world. The enemy infiltrates every area of our lives, for he seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. Those who have spiritual eyes can see beyond the superficial. We, humans, get trapped in his evil design, and fight each other rather than love each other.

God has always planned that we should love each other. The enemy turned this around to hate and fear. Now Jesus came to redeem us from the wicked ways of the enemy by destroying his works. He did this by sacrificing His life on the Cross. This was the solution that could reverse the plans of the enemy. However, although we were redeemed from the curse in our spirit, our soul still faces enemies that we need to fight daily in our lives. This is where we need to know who our enemy is and how to fight him.

Your Real Enemy

Most are unaware that the real enemy of our soul is Satan. He hides behind a curtain and manipulates people to do his dirty works. He does not fight fair. We therefore must be ruthless with the enemy. God has provided us with a way of escape. His Name is Jesus. He will fight for us if we let Him. God has given us free will to decide who we will choose to follow. We either follow our carnal desires or God. We are saved to be free from sin and the power of sin. But our members are not totally free from our sinful ways and desires. The enemy finds ways to tempt us and keep us captive to his ways. What can we do?

Solution

We can surrender our members to Jesus. His Holy Spirit resides in our spirit. His angels fight for us. We need to surrender our will to Him. He then fights for us. We are empowered to fight the enemy of our soul and cast him out. And we have to be ruthless with our body and mind in choosing His way rather than our way. We are in a war and the war is against the enemy of our soul. God has provided us with a way of escape. Will we choose His way? Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but through Him. Today, choose God’s way and be free from the enemy of your soul.

John Mathai

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Faith

God Gave A Strategy For Fighting Your Hidden Enemy

by Brian Taylor
written by Brian Taylor

Have you been listening to the President of the United States lately? If you have, you’re probably aware of much of the language that he’s using when speaking about how they are dealing with COVID-19. You’ll probably hear him use the term “hidden enemy”. Many people have a strong inclination that he is referencing more is going on than dealing with a plague.  

Hidden Enemy

If you have firm faith in God, you may understand the reality of a hidden enemy or enemies. In fact, Paul the apostle spoke of the hidden enemies that Christians face in his letter to the Ephesians. In the sixth chapter, he tells them to put on the full armor of God (verse 10). Then he tells them why: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (verse 12) Paul goes on to instruct the Ephesian church to put on the armor of God. So they will be able to withstand or resist the enemy in the day of evil (verse 13). 

Spiritual Armor

We know, just as in our present-day military, we are equipped with armor. And we have weapons to fight our enemy. This is only part of what is needed. In addition, we must properly vest ourselves. And know how to use all that we have been given. Then we can wage a good warfare. The helmet protects our head, our mind, and our thinking. The breastplate protects our heart and other vital organs. The belt or girdle guards our vulnerable lower parts. The shoes protect our feet from stumbling or stepping into trouble. Our shield helps us to not only deflect but also to push back and gain territory. The sword is our weapon to slay and cut down the enemy. 

Now, Paul used these items as a way of reminding the people of his day of the type of fight they were in. Many of them were familiar with the natural battle they faced. They were unfamiliar even as they faced battles in the coliseum. Yet, it also gives us a picture of the spiritual battle today that we face with our hidden enemy. We are not fighting a literal flesh and blood battle. The weapons and armor we have help us face those powers that Paul spoke of. He told the people of Corinth that the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh. But divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses (see 2 Corinthians 10:4 NASB).  

The Battle Of The Mind

In the very next verse, Paul then says something very unique. He says “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” (2 Corinthians 10:5-6)

How often do we forget that the biggest battle we face is one of thought? How much of what we face is rooted in an anti-Christian or a non-biblical worldview? Each of the seven spheres of culture is influenced by them. Our greatest battle is restoring God’s reverence and place in those areas. The spiritual influences that have strongholds in those places have to come down. 

If we are to destroy argument and lofty opinions at are raised against the knowledge of God, there must be an understanding that the critical places where these thoughts and opinions chiefly come from the mountain of education, the media, and arts and entertainment. Those three mountains influence the other four (family, faith, government, and business). 

Hidden Enemy: Final Words

There must be a shift and our battle strategies so that we are redeeming these places and restoring the wisdom and knowledge of God. Taking captive thoughts is an internal struggle for the mind and the soul. Yet, destroying arguments can be both internal and is also external. No longer can we accept that it will just happen. Resistance is forceful, aggressive, and offensive. The pulling down of strongholds comes with confrontation and you have to be ready to confront the strongholds of your ow thoughts and those that are told to you that lie about who God is and who He is to you. Use the strategy that God has given you and fight a good fight against your hidden enemy. 

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What’s the Most Common Lie the Devil Wants You To Believe? NFL QB Shares His Thoughts

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

The Most Common Lie the Devil Wants You To Believe

Carson Wentz is a second-year quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, who, apart from his sporting acclaim, is known for professing his faith wherever and whenever he can. Carson was born into a nominal Christian family, in a traditional church setting which was often hypocritical, but he is now on fire for God.

He grew up believing the lies that the devil put into his head about Chrsitianity, and now warns people about this deception. In an interview with Associated Press sports writer Rob Maaddi, Carson pointed out the biggest lie the devil wants people to believe.

“Being saved by works is obviously a lie, but it’s a lie that a lot of people believe,” he said. “It’s a lie that’s buried deep in our culture. Even when I was a kid, with sports and anything I did, I had to work my tail off to earn what I got. That’s how we’re wired, that’s how the world instills this value. We have to work, work, work, and earn everything we receive.”

Carson shares how he would go to Church and felt he was a good person because he prayed and did everything right and for this reason he felt he was going to be saved. “That’s the lie that the devil wants you to believe,” he says. Satan aims to deceive people, so they fall into a trap of not believing they are good enough for Heaven, or for God.

However, Carson knows better today. He is convinced  that Heaven is not something that can be earned. As Ephesians 2:8-10 says: “For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith — and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do go works which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Carson has discovered the grace of God and learnt that true Christianity is the only faith in the world that you can’t earn Heaven. He now knows that the only way to gain acceptance into God’s presence, is by confessing one’s sins to God, and asking Him to reside in your heart.

We’re not saved by our actions but our actions come out of our faith.

“Christianity says it’s done; Jesus already did it. He took it all for you and this is what Paul is saying here in Ephesians,” Carson added. “He’s saying it’s by grace alone that you’ve been saved, not by works so that no one can boast. I mean, he can’t lay it out much clearer. Then he says, ‘But we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.’ See we’re not saved by our actions but our actions come out of our faith.”

Carson points out that Jesus already died for our sins, so that we don’t have to suffer the eternal consequences of our decisions. If He didn’t die for us, then none of us would be good enough to live in Heaven with our Heavenly father. We are not saved by our actions, Jesus saved us. He is the one true way to Heaven.

Carson also makes a point to discuss the actions that stem from our faith in Christ. “I think it’s a daily thing. I know for me, we get caught up in doing good, doing good, doing good. That it’s a daily thing for me to just remind myself like without Jesus I can’t do it,” he said. “I can’t earn my way to Heaven and nobody can. So, I really challenge every one of us to have that perspective because it’s so easy to get caught up in doing good and thinking that I’m good enough, but without Jesus, none of us are.’”

Carson challenges everyone to stand up for what they believe in, and to have an unwavering faith in the God who made us. His love for God can be seen on the field, throughout his social media, and through his foundation Audience of One (AO1).

His pinned tweet on Twitter reads, “You can’t earn grace. Its free. It’s the greatest gift there’s ever been and will be. Accept it. Jesus is waiting for you and loves you #AO1”

It’s wonderful to see NFL stars give glory to God, or point towards Heaven following a football game, and it’s clear to everyone that Carson acts upon his faith all day long.

Audience of One which he launched in 2017 aims “to demonstrate the love of God by providing opportunities and support for the less fortunate and those in need.” This is in keeping with Carson’s life motto and the tattoo on the underside of his right wrist.  No matter what he does in life, Carson is living for an Audience of One — Jesus.

The organization works, “to care and provide food, shelter, and educational opportunities for underprivileged youth.” It also provides, “outdoor opportunities for individuals with physical challenges, the underserved, or US vets.” Lastly, it works, “to support youth in the Philadelphia area by providing service dogs to assist with their development and quality of life.”

Carson is unapologetic about his faith, in all aspects of his life. He wants all children to not only have access to things like education, food, and shelter, but also to Christ’s love. He knows this is the most important thing we need in our lives, and works to make it known everyday. He motivates those both young and old to get involved in their communities, and share the truth of God’s grace to those around them.

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The Secret Enemy in Your Marriage and How to Combat It

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

The Secret Enemy in Your Marriage

There are many husbands and wives who go into a marriage fully aware of the fact that they are prone to taking conflict by the horns. These couples typically have frequent arguments when a disagreement arises and they are not satisfied to just sit by quietly and let the conflict stew in their minds. With these very turbulent relationships, there can be no hiding the fact that something needs to be corrected with the way the disagreements are communicated.

This is not the fact for one very secret enemy that can creep into a marriage: the issue of completely pushing down a disagreement and having unexpressed conflict go neglected in a relationship. Whether the reason is that either couple is stressed, emotionally drained, mentally distracted, or afraid of causing an argument, it cannot be denied that conflicts that go ignored will ever just go away.

In fact, they do the very opposite. Left to its own devices, a conflict that goes unresolved will only grow and fester within until it has turned assumptions into accusations and accusations into evidence. Very quickly your spouse is put on trial and given a guilty verdict without them ever even knowing that they were being charged with any crimes at all.

It is at this point that the silent killer in your marriage slowly creeps in and takes hold of the loving and trusting foundation that has been built. When we feel wronged and are hurt by the actions of someone so close to us it can be very difficult to have genuine moments of laughter and intimacy. Slowly these special moments begin to become rare and nonexistent, leaving the relationship only a shell of what it once was.

Though it can be the scariest thing in the world to express the conflict you are experiencing, it is a vital step in preserving the love in your marriage. Just being able to share the misunderstanding and hurt with your spouse can create a stronger bond all on its own as you work together to resolve the issue.

For this reason, it is important that conflict is not only expressed and communicated but then also dealt with in a healthy way. Here are five practical steps to follow with your spouse:

#1: Go first!

It will be tough and it will be scary to speak up about the conflict, especially for anyone who is non-confrontational to begin with. However, it is so essential to address a conflict as soon as it is felt so that any harm to the marriage can be stopped in its tracks before it even begins. This is a biblical fact supported by Proverbs 17:14 – “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.”

#2: Admit your mistakes!

Though it can be embarrassing and risky, admitting the mistakes that you made to your spouse can be a huge way to relieve the tension that has built up due to any conflict.

#3: Speak honestly!

The musician John Mayer sings these very simple but easy to follow words in one of his songs: “Say what you need to say.” If you have a sense that something is wrong do not try to reason it away through an endless cycle of thoughts in your mind because they will only turn more negative and drag you even deeper into the hurt as time goes on. The only way to kill the assumptions that have been made is to express what you are truly feeling with your spouse.

#4: Attack the issue, not each other!

Once the honesty has been shared and an authentic apology has been made it is so important that each spouse agrees to forgive and move on. Holding onto past issues only to bring them up when a new conflict arises will keep your marriage from moving forward together.

#5: Cultivate trust!

Make sure to keep your word regarding any changes or corrections that you have promised to follow through on. Lean on God to help you grow and change while making an honest effort to correct the issue. Both spouses need to be able to trust each other fully otherwise the security of your relationship will feel constantly attacked. Without trust there is no strong foundation for your relationship to be built on and when a conflict arises, your marriage will be even more easily rocked.

With God in your marriage and putting these five steps into practice you and your spouse will be able to work together to defeat the secret enemy that is hiding in your marriage. We are praying that you find the courage to express your conflicts as soon as they arise!

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A Simple Way to Stop Comparison From Stealing Your Destiny

by Elizabeth Pitman
written by Elizabeth Pitman

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:13)

You are an original: God’s masterpiece, handcrafted by God; created for a purpose. You are instilled with God-given giftings and abilities to offer this world in order to make a difference and to point people to Christ. It is no coincidence that you are the only one with your distinct set of  fingerprints… Because God has designed you to make your specific and unique mark on this world for His honor and glory.

In the Christian race, it is really important to stay in our own lane and focus on the goal that is in front of us. Philippians 3:14 says, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Others run along side of us, and we should root each other on and support each other…But, it is vital that we not get distracted and look to the right or to the left by focusing on a key word that the enemy loves to use to bring discouragement and get us off track. What is that key word, you may ask?

Comparison…

Comparison can cause dissatisfaction, frustration, and jealousy. It tries to rob us off our God-ordained destinies by saying things like… “If only I looked like that, If only I had that personality…If only I could sing like that…If only I…You fill-in-the blank.” That’s why we should prayerfully avoid it and ask the Lord to help us be content with who He made us to be. When we truly appreciate and know that our Heavenly Father doesn’t make mistakes, we can, instead, invest our time wisely and seek Him on how to develop further the abilities He’s given us.

Don’t bury your talents:

The enemy would want nothing more than to have us waste the giftings we’ve been given. There is a powerful parable in the Bible found in Matthew 25. Three servants received “talents” from their master, and two of them actually utilized and furthered what they had been given. The response from “the master” was one that we all want to hear at the end of our lives from the LORD: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

One servant; however, decided that instead of investing the money wisely, he would hide it in the ground. The master’s reaction in this instance was quite different: “You wicked slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.”

Because no action had been taken, the master ordered that the other talents be distributed to the one who had acquired the most because that servant had used wisely what had been given. There are several major takeaways from this parable, but in this particular scenario, we can learn that what God has implanted in us should not be buried in our hearts or remain stationary. Fear is one way that these giftings remain buried. It is a vicious companion of comparison and says things like: “What if I try this and fail?… What will people think? What if someone else could do this better?”…

All of these statements attach themselves to comparison and try to stop us from making a difference with what God has put in our hearts. How about turning those questions around and combating the negative thoughts by saying: “With God’s help, I can succeed. God can use this to help reach people. God has me alive on this earth for a purpose, and I can reach others that someone else can’t.”

Embrace Your God-given Abilities:

“For we are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10. To fully develop our potential, we must seek Him first with all our hearts and ask Him to reveal and develop His dreams for us. Jeremiah 29:11-3 says, “‘For I know the plans that I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart.’” As the Lord reveals His purposes for our lives, we need to be faithful and step out in faith. When God opens doors, be fearless and walk forward in obedience.

Encourage Others in Their Callings:

“There are different kind of service, but the same LORD. There are different kinds of workings, but in all of them and in everyone, it is the same God at work.” (1 Corinthians 12:5-6). Life would be boring if we all had the same abilities and the same personalities. When looking at creation, you can see the creative nature of God, and it is the same with us. It is a powerful and beautiful dynamic when many diverse individuals around this world come together to both help and to benefit one another, all for God’s glory.

The body of Christ is better and stronger when we spend our time supporting and praying for one another, instead of competing with each other through comparison. Even if someone else has the same talent as you, that does not lessen the gifting God has placed inside of your heart. You bring your own unique spin that can make a big difference.

Closing Thoughts:

In closing, value the person God made you to be, embrace the giftings He has given you, and encourage others in their callings. You are an original, destined for a purpose. Refuse to focus on comparison, and instead seek the Lord on what He wants you to do for His kingdom. Cheer others on and be excited for their success. And, “fan the flame” both inside of you and inside fellow believers, that will further ignite the spark that can set this world ablaze with the love of God.

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

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power
Faith

Battle Tactics: Here’s How You Can Have the Power to Tread on Serpents and Combat the Enemy’s Attacks

by Vance K Jackson
written by Vance K Jackson

Tread On Serpents and Conquer The Enemy’s Tactics

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke‬ ‭10:19‬ 

Christ has given you the Power to tread over and conquer everything the enemy tries to throw at you. With God’s Word, you have the Authority to bind and rebuke the enemy from functioning in any part of your family’s life. The enemy wants to kill, steal, destroy and pluck up every gift, talent, and dream that God has planted inside of you (John 10:10). It is also the enemy’s desire to sift you as wheat – derailing and distracting you from fulfilling your Destiny (Luke‬ ‭22:31‬). Do not be deceived or distracted by the enemy’s tactics. Christ wants you to prosper in every area of your life. He has defeated the enemy and has given you the Power to prosper and to conquer Satan in every area of your life. Use God’s Word strategically – In fact, apply His Word throughout the day and cover every area of your life.

Here are a few strategic ways to actively use God’s Word and to rebuke the enemy from functioning in your heart and home:

Focus on His Word.

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua‬ ‭1:8‬

As you start your day, be determined to intently focus on God’s Word. As you tackle your day handling your daily affairs, pursuing goals and the dreams that God has planted in you – many times, the enemy will try to disrupt you from finishing what God has started. Sometimes the cares and distractions of life can choke and stunt your God Given Vision. It is your choice to either pursue God’s unchanging Word or become distracted, by veering off course in pursuit of fulfilling your lusts. It’s your choice to stray away or to keep straight keeping your eyes fixed and focused on Christ and His Purpose and Plans for your life. “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts, and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ 

“A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James‬ ‭1:8‬ 

When your heart is split between the things of this world and serving God, your spiritual foundation and fruit become inconsistent and unstable. God wants you to excel and flourish in every area of your life; including your business, career, family and even in ministry. However, we are not to idolize these things. We are to recognize that success and growth come from Him. We are to recognize that God is our Source. We are to serve and honor God through the faithful stewardship of the resources and gifts that He has given to us. It is God who has given us our gifts, talents, and abilities – the moment we begin to idolize ourselves and focus on “our” gifts rather than worshipping the Giver of those gifts, we begin to crumble – setting ourselves up for failure, “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs‬ ‭16:18‬ ‭ It’s your choice. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew‬ ‭6:24‬ 

Christ has given us power to overcome.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:5‬ 

When the adversary throws mental darts, as an attempt to throw you off course, you have the right, through Christ, to cast down every negative. Do not give in to what the enemy is trying to feed you. It is a lie and he (Satan) is the father of lies. Remember that your mind and thoughts belong to God. You have the choice to surrender to God’s Word, allowing your Garden to flourish, or you can be held captive by the lies and the entanglement of Satan. Release and forever let go of Satan’s chains. Christ has set you free. Focus on Christ walk in His Love and be free Forever.

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