Words Have Power

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce righteousness that God desires.  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (James 1:19-21)

When we are angry with someone we so often just speak what we are "feeling".  We do not think about the words coming out of our mouths.  In fact, when we listen we tend to hear with a kind of filter attached.  What gets through has our personal experience whitewashed over the top of it.  Old scars, often are reopened as word that are not meant to harm but express are used by the enemy, at times, to get us to feel we are right back in that old situation again.

If we have been  mistreated or abused as a child, it often is not the person we are interacting with at the moment that is getting the brunt of our response, it is the memory of the authority figure who subjected the defenseless child that you are shooting the word bullets at.  Unfortunately, the person, often your spouse, that you are having the disagreement with is not privy to the past circumstance that you are trying to continually rectify.  Even if they are, they may be going through the same situation themselves.  This can just add fuel to the word sparing fire.

When we want to truly communicate, even in secular circles, the first rule is we must listen without any thought of what we are to say in return.  To do this we must not think about ourselves.  All defenses must be turned off.  We must die to ourselves and put the other person's welfare first.  Jesus showed us first hand that nothing is more important than sacrificing all we are for the sake of benefiting others. 

When we take our vows, traditional vows during the marriage ceremony one of the statements is "forsaking all others".  That means we are to put our spouse even before ourselves.  When we have those "arguments" how are we putting them before our personal agenda, if we are willing to hurt them to "win". 

To maintain our composure during these times we must rely on the Holy Spirit to download into us all the fruits of the Spirit as spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.  Everything it speaks of is what God is; He is love.  So He is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, does not dishonor us, He is never self-seeking, is not easily angered, He keeps no records of wrong.  He does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth.  He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  He never fails....  This requires that our self-control be maintained by God-control, not our own power. 

Know that in all of this we will make mistakes, we will slip, but we can repent and know that we can be forgiven.  If we are the one who has been hit with the words, then be ready to accept that repentance.  For as we forgive we will be forgiven.  According to Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus was very clear about this, For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.  He said this right after giving us the Lord's prayer which states, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us", Matthew 6:12.  The dictionary defines trespass as "to commit an offense or a sin; transgress or err."

Pray for the Lord to give you full use of His spiritual gifts so that you may have power over your words, instead of letting words having power over you.  Words have power to build up or tear down.  It is why Proverbs tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue, see Proverbs 18:21.   This can mean the difference between restored relationships and destroyed families.  

Even the Demons Believe...

I have heard it said that one must have a weak mind to believe in God, but it actually takes a lot of faith to do so.  It is very simple to try not to believe in Him.  It is also not the smartest thing in the world.  In fact, demons are actually much smarter than anyone who says that there is no God, because they believe in Him.  They know for a fact that there is only one God.  This is why they have perpetuated the lie of multiple gods. 

Christians are not subjected to demon possession, however we can be oppressed by evil spirits and demons.  Attacked, especially when we are on the right path, doing what God has created us to do.  When we are working together to bless others, to bring people to Him, they will come at us to try and get us off the path. 

Paul says that we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against the power of the prince of the air, according to Ephesians 6:12.  He is our spiritual enemy and spirits cannot be seen.  If He is our enemy than we must have someone who is our ally, that is God we cannot see Him either.  He is there and He is there for us.  The next time you see circumstances that seem beyond control, just wait a bit and watch Him go to work on your behalf through those He has sent to help you.

Love is the Opposite of Pride

The Father promises so much to us when we just follow His son.  Jesus came here so that we may have life more abundantly.  We do not have to be subjected to the pain and suffering of the "yokes" of this world.  The burdens that they represent can be laid down, when we place upon ourselves His yoke. 

Jesus wants us to follow in His footsteps so that we not only enhance and bring joy to the lives around us, but we receive the joy we dispense.  Love is about giving without thought of receiving.  It is paradoxical, in that when we stop concerning ourselves about what we will get from others and just give, this is when we get the most. 

It has been said that depression is just another form of pride.  The reason that this is so, is because it causes the person to be obsessed with themselves.  All their focus is on them.  This is the same thing that pride does.  There are many forms of pride, none of which involve humility.  Having a low self-esteem is not a form of humility, it is just negative pride.  You're consistently comparing yourself to others and trying to find a way to have "pride" in yourself.  God is our source, the bible says "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord." (Zechariah 4:6)

Follow Christ to a place where love flows into forgiveness, peace, faith, hope, more love, patience, self-control, kindness, joy, and gentleness.  All the fruits of the Spirit.  Read Galatians 5:22

Addictions come when we are so focused on ourselves that we cannot see how we are hurting those around us.  When we are so focused on ourselves that nothing and no one else matter, not even God who we are actually hurting the most by our act of rebellion.  Addiction helps us not think about what is hurting us, but so do acts of love.  When we focus on God and others, we forget about ourselves.  This is a much better form of distraction than substance abuse.

Follow Him to the place that God has for you and you will know the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) that can only come from a relationship with the Father and Christ.

Christ's Sacrifice Must Not Be in Vain

I have started creating these videos as a musical and visual ministry.  I pray you are blessed by the message here.  We need to take time to love those who seem unlovable.  To make the extra effort to act and live as Christ is in the room at all times, for He is if the Holy Spirit is in us, and treat others as we would want to be treated if we were in their position.  We must step down from the judgment seat of how people got where they are and step into humanity and walk among each other, as He did.  Only while among the throng can we show our love, devotion, and obedience to the Father and His commandment to love one another.