Every Day A Wash Day

Mr. DiCianni is my favorite artist. This picture of his has always moved my heart.

Ephesians 5:26, 27
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Paul is speaking here about the church being washed with God's Word, and that we might not have spot or wrinkle, and be without blemish.

Sometimes that seems like a tall order....but since it was inspired by God to be IN His Word, He also has provided for us the ability to BE so.

God's Word is powerful.

I Thessalonians 5:23 tells us:
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

WOW preserved BLAMELESS!

Colossians 1:28
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus

Perfect meaning mature.

II Peter 3:14
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Jude 1:24
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy

WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!

There's GREAT promise and hope in God's Word.
Just want to encourage us all to make EVERYDAY a wash day. :)

Father, thank You for the Great promises we find in Your Word. HELP US to wash ourselves with Your Word, while we are renewing our mind to it. HELP US to keep our eyes on YOU and YOUR Word not whispers from hell, not whispers from man, not anything that is contrary to Your Word. HELP US to submit to Your Word every day of our lives. In Jesus' Name.

Disarmament? Never!

Mark 4:13-20
13 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
14 The sower sows the word.
15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.
18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,
19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

Earlier in chapter 4 Jesus spoke of a parable. This passage explains that parable.
He also said that if we don't understand THIS PARTICULAR parable, then we would not understand any of them. This one is the Granddaddy of them all.

It speaks about a person that "sows God's Word". Hearing God's Word.
Three times it tells us that satan comes FOR that Word.
vs. 15 says: Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
vs. 17 says: for the word's sake
vs. 19 says: entering in choke the word

In Romans 8:35 tells us: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

In verse 17 we're told: tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble

Romans tells us that tribulation and persecution is a WHO. So WHO do you think is bringing tribulation and persecution to cause us to stumble? :) There's not much left to the imagination here.

In verse 19 it says: and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

What we're looking at here is:
Cares of this world. Not trusting God.
Deceitfulness of riches. The notion that money would solve all our problems.
Desire for other things. Not putting God first.

The devil knows that if he can bring distraction and keep our eyes off God's Word, it makes his job a WHOLE LOT EASIER.

He's not after our health or that of our family.
He's not after our financial security.
He's not after our marriages.
He's not after our children.
He's not after our peace of mind and heart.
He's not after ANYTHING but God's Word.

It' all about the Word. He knows that the Word is what defeats him.

The enemy of our lives knows that if he can bring one blow after another, after another after another, it will bring discouragement to us. His intent is to bring so much discouragement that we will close our Bible and lay it aside. When we do that, God's Word is not in front of our eyes, does not go into our heart, nor does it come out of our mouths. If we come to that place, he's accomplished what he was after to begin with. DISARMAMENT.

Remember over in Ephesians 6:10-18 we're told about weapons of warfare, the Whole Armor of God. There are six pieces to our armor.
1. Helmet of salvation
2. Shield of faith
3. The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
4. Breastplate of righteousness
5. Belt of truth
6. Shoes of peace

Out of these six pieces of armor, 5 of them are defensive.
Only ONE is offensive.
The only ONE Piece that is offensive is the Sword of the Spirit - God's Word.

The ONLY thing that defeats the devil is God's Word.
Remember when Jesus was in the wilderness after He was baptized in water...and God's Spirit came down upon Him. After He was praying and fasting for about 40 days, satan came to him three different times to proposition Jesus. What was Jesus' response each time?

IT IS WRITTEN!
IT IS WRITTEN!
IT IS WRITTEN!

Jesus brought to the enemy, of all of our lives, the Word of God.
He sat a good example for us didn't He?

Mark chapter 4 is about NOT allowing the devil DISARM us. He's out to remove the Word of God from our mouths, our eyes. He knows that if we have God's Word sown into our hearts and we guard it and USE it and not allow him to steal it from us then we're not under his influence. Besides, because of the finished work of Jesus he is already DEFEATED. Jesus defeated satan in hell, and all of his minions were a witness to that defeat. They already know that their masters defeat is theirs also. They HATE that, and have GREAT fear and dread about anyone who KNOWS who they are in Christ Jesus, and can make confident use of GOD'S WORD.

Father, I ask You to HELP US! Help us to not just hear Your Word but to GUARD it with all that is in us. Help us to BELIEVE Your Word, to SPEAK Your Word and NEVER allow the lies from hell to influence us to lay it down. Your Word will be around even when heaven and earth pass away. Your Word is what created and set the universe in motion...and holds it together. Your Word is what has brought us out of the kingdom of darkness and INTO THE KINGDOM OF LIGHT, YOUR KINGDOM. Hallelujah! Lord, HELP US, to keep our eyes on You. Help us to keep on putting Your Word into our hearts regardless of what card the devil plays against us. We will not, WITH YOUR HELP, ever become disarmed. In the Name of Jesus.

In His Presence

Psalm 16:11
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

-Show us the path of life?
-Fullness of joy?
-Pleasures forever more?

For JUST being in GOD'S presence? Ministering to Him in worship and praise?

WOW!!!! I'll take THAT!!! LOL

Father, HELP US to come into YOUR presence, and THANK YOU for ALL it's benefits. In Jesus' Name.

In Jesus' Name

We're instructed by Jesus to not pray to Himself. We're to pray to God, our Father, in Jesus' Name.

John 16:23, 24 tells us:
23 "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

John 14:12-14
12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

John 15:16
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

It's not just a now I lay me down to sleep prayer. It's approaching the Father with the Authority of Jesus' Name and ALL He accomplished for us. It's not just a "post script" or "just a nice thing to do". We're taking all the power and authority that Jesus had and that He gave to us...all the price He paid FOR US, because we could not have....it's taking everything God sent Him here to do for us and bringing it to the Father, because that was His acceptable sacrifice to Himself FOR US.

Father, I ask You to HELP US to remember the instructions that Jesus gave us about prayer. HELP US to go to YOU in prayer in the Name of Your Son, with His finished work. In the Name of Jesus. Amen

The Bonds of Unforgiveness

In the Book of Acts chapter 8 there is an account of a sorcerer named Simon. He had witnessed the laying on of hands of Peter and John, and the people receiving the Holy Spirit. Simon offered money to Peter and John to be able to have the power to lay hands on folks so they could receive the Holy Spirit.

Well, Peter's response was "Your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgive you. FOR I SEE THAT YOU ARE POISONED BY BITTERNESS AND BOUND BY INIQUITY."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The notations in my Bible say this:
KINGDOM DYNAMICS 8:23 The Bonds of Unforgiveness, DELIVERANCE A sorcerer is one who deceives, manipulates, and delights to control others and does so by demonic enablement. Peter identified the basis for Simon's sorcery as bitterness -- the deepening effect of unforgiveness (v.2). Here is warning regarding the danger of tolerated or embraced unforgiveness, which may, like poison, permeate and bind the sould, ultimately corrupting everything around it. In Simon's case, his bitterness shaped his passion to control others (vs. 19) -- which prompted his request to purchase the ability to impart the gift of the Holy Spirit. Though having believed and been baptized (vs 13), the residue of his past bondage surfaces as he unworthily seeks power to manipulate others for self-exalting purposes. Peter discerns the root of his bondage (vs 23) and summons Simon to repentance and deliverance. Though Simon did not repent, this episode still points to one of the foremost keys to deliverance from entrenched bondage in a believer's soul -- the act of forgiveness. Forgiving others from our heart flushes out the "poison" with the power of the Cross. In contrast, unforgivenss can, as with Simon, lead down paths we would never have imagined we would travel. (See Matthew 6:14, 15; Colossians 3:13; Hebrews 12:15-17)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The poison of unforgiveness can go far and wide in everyones life. It will lead us down paths that we never dreamed.

Our oldest is 37 this year and her younger brother is 31. When they were very small we had gone downtown to run errands. She was about 6 and our son was yet in arms, around a year old. We were getting out of our car, I saw our reflection in the pane glass of a business I'd parked in front of. At that time I heard, as plain as I'd ever heard God speak to my heart say: "If you don't forgive that dead man, you will never go any farther in Me." I knew who that dead man was, there was no mistake.

All of my life God had been the most important part of my life, and when I heard that, it just about took my breath away. I could not imagine a living without a active relationship with Him.

I finished my errands, all while pondering what I'd heard.

Afterwards, I poured my heart out to God and told Him that I did not want ANYTHING coming between He and I, was willing to forgive but that unforgiveness had been such a huge part of my life that I was in a rut and stuck, and didn't know how to. Told Him that I was willing, but that I needed His help. Well, He did, and I was able to gain the release from the bonds of unforgiveness that I knew now I needed.

I cannot begin to imagine what my life would have become as a result of bitterness and unforgiveness. There were things that was thrust upon me as a child that I did not know how to deal with. None of us needs to remain in ignorance and bondage. With the help of the Lord and the power of the finished work of Jesus, He came to set the captive free.

Simon was in a situation described by Peter: "poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."

Father, I ask You to HELP US. We need Your help to show us YOUR way. If there is any unforgiveness that has turned into bitterness in our lives, I ask You, by Your Spirit, to shine the light of Jesus upon it. Expose it so we may knowingly and willingly walk towards and extend forgiveness and bring us the release from bitterness. NONE OF US wish to be embittered people, Lord. I thank You that You know the hearts of all people, and that Your will for us is to live fulfilling lives. That cannot be done if there are "bitterness and iniquity" in our lives. I submit myself to You, Lord, and plead the Blood of Jesus over us all, asking that You bring an end to a long and hard path that has been a result of unforgiveness. In the Name of Your Son, Jesus.