Does the thought of Swine Flu frighten you?
I really wasn't thinking about Swine Flu when I wrote the last few blogs. Yes, I know the blogs have been few and far between. (Another of those cliches I was talking about yesterday! Together with more exclamation marks! You can't teach an old dog new tricks! Guess I just can't live without cliches and exclamation marks!)
Back to Swine Flu. The solution hit me this morning about 1:30 am while lying awake listening to my husband saw logs. (Yep, another cliche! More exclamation marks!)
What's my solution to Swine Flu? First of all, according to yesterday's blog I must submit myself to God. I can do that confidently knowing that He will not give me Swine Flu, for Swine Flu is not from Him! It's from Satan, our #1 enemy.
Secondly, following yesterday's blog, I can resist the devil by drawing nigh to God, using the Name of Jesus (John 14:13; 15:16; and 16:24) and thirdly, pleading the Blood.
Remember -- Satan cannot cross the Bloodline!
That takes cares of Swine Flu for the Christian who knows his rights and privileges in Christ Jesus! And that's worth SEVERAL exclamation marks!!!!
Preacher's Kid
P.S. I can hear someone ask, "Aren't you making this too simple, especially considering the seriousness of Swine Flu?" My answer is, Why should we complicate things that the Word of God makes simple?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Earlier this month I blogged about one of my pet peeves. I've got a lot of them, too. In fact I have so many pet peeves that I've threatened to write a book about nothing but! I've even got the titles and chapters listed in my files!
Today James 4:7b came to my mind: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." How many times have you heard someone quote that part of verse 7 while ignoring the first part of the verse?
Isn't there a cliche that says, "First things first?"
I know, good writers don't use cliches! And they don't use as many exclamation marks as I do, either! (I love them -- see??? Question marks, too!!!) Guess that puts me in my place -- and excludes me from the good writers!
Let's go back to James 4:7. If I read the verse correctly, there's something we need to do BEFORE we resist the devil. We need to practice the "first things first" principle which, in this instance is "Submit yourselves therefore to God."
Then, after prayer, after seeking God's will, after submitting to Him -- only then can we confidently "resist the dveil" and expect him to flee from us. And flee he will, especially if we plead the Blood that we've been talking about!
So let's learn to get things in proper order whether it's first things first or last things last! Maybe we should add the first part of verse 8 to verse 7. First we submit to God; then we resist the devil; then we can "(D)raw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you."
Let's do it! Submit! Resist! Draw nigh! Yep! Exclamation marks all the way!
Preacher's Kid
Today James 4:7b came to my mind: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." How many times have you heard someone quote that part of verse 7 while ignoring the first part of the verse?
Isn't there a cliche that says, "First things first?"
I know, good writers don't use cliches! And they don't use as many exclamation marks as I do, either! (I love them -- see??? Question marks, too!!!) Guess that puts me in my place -- and excludes me from the good writers!
Let's go back to James 4:7. If I read the verse correctly, there's something we need to do BEFORE we resist the devil. We need to practice the "first things first" principle which, in this instance is "Submit yourselves therefore to God."
Then, after prayer, after seeking God's will, after submitting to Him -- only then can we confidently "resist the dveil" and expect him to flee from us. And flee he will, especially if we plead the Blood that we've been talking about!
So let's learn to get things in proper order whether it's first things first or last things last! Maybe we should add the first part of verse 8 to verse 7. First we submit to God; then we resist the devil; then we can "(D)raw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you."
Let's do it! Submit! Resist! Draw nigh! Yep! Exclamation marks all the way!
Preacher's Kid
Saturday, April 18, 2009
CHANGE
Very few people like change. I gave a short devotion on change this morning at our Prime Timer's(Senior Citizen's)luncheon. They burst into spontaneous applause at the end, and I thought you might enjoy the same devotion, too.
I used Malachi 3:6a as a starting point: "For I am the Lord, I change not." I mentioned the recent change in my own life, another change in medication which led to a 5-hour stay in emergency on Easter Sunday and then changes in national politics as well as changes in the country's economic condition which have affected hundreds and even thousands of people. Then I related the following story.
A father wanted to read a magazine but was being bothered by his little girl, Shelby. She wanted to know what the United States looked like.
Finally, he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was printed the map of the country. Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to Shelby and said, "Go into the other room and see if you can put this together. This will show you our whole country today."
After a few minutes, Shelby returned and handed him the map, correctly fitted and taped together. The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly. "Oh," she said, "on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got all of Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together."
How true whether we're talking about our country or our individual lives.
Preacher's Kid
P.S. Don't forget to pray for our country daily.
I used Malachi 3:6a as a starting point: "For I am the Lord, I change not." I mentioned the recent change in my own life, another change in medication which led to a 5-hour stay in emergency on Easter Sunday and then changes in national politics as well as changes in the country's economic condition which have affected hundreds and even thousands of people. Then I related the following story.
A father wanted to read a magazine but was being bothered by his little girl, Shelby. She wanted to know what the United States looked like.
Finally, he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was printed the map of the country. Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to Shelby and said, "Go into the other room and see if you can put this together. This will show you our whole country today."
After a few minutes, Shelby returned and handed him the map, correctly fitted and taped together. The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly. "Oh," she said, "on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got all of Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together."
How true whether we're talking about our country or our individual lives.
Preacher's Kid
P.S. Don't forget to pray for our country daily.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
ONE OF MY PET PEEVES
I have a lot of pet peeves. You'll be hearing about a number of them from time to time.
But for today, my pet peeve is those people who put a period where it doesn't belong. I was taught in school that a period was placed at the end of a sentence. And when I taught school some years later, I taught the same thing: a period ends a sentence. What's so difficult about that?
But I think of Ephesians 3:20, my favorite Bible verse. "Now unto him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."
Too many people put a period after the word "think" and ignore the rest of the verse which is really the condition for the fulfillment of the first part. The phrase "above all that we ask or think" blows my mind. When my imagination runs wild, I can come up with some mighty humongous things to ask the Lord for. So, based on this verse, can I ask for them in faith, knowing they'll come to pass?
First of all, it goes without saying that my petition must be in accordance with the Word of God and His will. But we limit God when we put a period after the word "think". For God can only do "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US."
What, I ask, is the power that worketh in you? What is the power that worketh in me?
It's the Spirit of Christ. Romans 8:9 very plainly says that "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." And this Spirit of Christ is so powerful it exceeds my imagination. For verse 11, same chapter, says, "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also give life to your mortal bodies by HIS SPIRIT THAT DWELLETH IN YOU." (Caps mine.)
Wow! The same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in me! That blows my mind! To think that I have such a powerful Spirit living in me is difficult to comprehend.
Now I have to ask myself, What am I doing with all that power? Am I using it to help and bless fellow believers? Am I using it to draw unbelievers into the Kingdom of God? Am I using it for the glory of God?
Drawing from this Scripture in Romans, I can now put the period where it rightly belongs in Philippians 3:20. Thus I can see the Lord working "exceedingly abundantly. . . according to the power that worketh in me."
Preacher's Kid
But for today, my pet peeve is those people who put a period where it doesn't belong. I was taught in school that a period was placed at the end of a sentence. And when I taught school some years later, I taught the same thing: a period ends a sentence. What's so difficult about that?
But I think of Ephesians 3:20, my favorite Bible verse. "Now unto him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."
Too many people put a period after the word "think" and ignore the rest of the verse which is really the condition for the fulfillment of the first part. The phrase "above all that we ask or think" blows my mind. When my imagination runs wild, I can come up with some mighty humongous things to ask the Lord for. So, based on this verse, can I ask for them in faith, knowing they'll come to pass?
First of all, it goes without saying that my petition must be in accordance with the Word of God and His will. But we limit God when we put a period after the word "think". For God can only do "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US."
What, I ask, is the power that worketh in you? What is the power that worketh in me?
It's the Spirit of Christ. Romans 8:9 very plainly says that "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." And this Spirit of Christ is so powerful it exceeds my imagination. For verse 11, same chapter, says, "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also give life to your mortal bodies by HIS SPIRIT THAT DWELLETH IN YOU." (Caps mine.)
Wow! The same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in me! That blows my mind! To think that I have such a powerful Spirit living in me is difficult to comprehend.
Now I have to ask myself, What am I doing with all that power? Am I using it to help and bless fellow believers? Am I using it to draw unbelievers into the Kingdom of God? Am I using it for the glory of God?
Drawing from this Scripture in Romans, I can now put the period where it rightly belongs in Philippians 3:20. Thus I can see the Lord working "exceedingly abundantly. . . according to the power that worketh in me."
Preacher's Kid
Friday, April 3, 2009
IT REALLY SPEAKS?
Yep, it really speaks. The Blood, that is. The Blood of Jesus speaks.
The first record we have of the Blood speaking is in Genesis 4:10 when God said to Cain (after Cain had killed his brother Abel): "The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground."
Hebrews 12:24 says that the Blood "speaketh better things than that of Abel." So the Blood does speak. But what are those better things that Hebrews refers to? Well, I think I have discovered eight of those things. Maybe you can find even more.
First of all, according to Romans 5:9, the Blood of Jesus says, "You are justified." "Justified" simply means "acquitted, innocent, not guilty."
Secondly, in I Peter 1:18, 19 the Blood cries, "You are redeemed." That raises the question, from what are we redeemed? Galatians 3:18 tells us we are redeemed from the curse of the law. The curses are laid out in Deuteronomy 28. Two of those curses, as mentioned in verse 28 (LB) are fear and panic. Keep that in mind the next time a panic attack threatens you. Yes, the Blood of Christ gives you a right to be free of the awful curses of sin including fear and panic which plague so many people today, even good Christians.
The third thing the Blood says to us, according to Colossians 1:20 is: "You have peace." Peace is attained only through the shed Blood of Jesus.
The fourth thing the Blood of Jesus says (Hebrews 13:12) is, "You are God's property." Where ever do we get that from this Scripture? From the word "sanctify" which means, "set apart for God's use." In other words, you are God's property. That is confirmed in I Corinthians 6:19, 20. Check it out for yourself!
The fifth thing the Blood speaks is found in Hebrews 13:20, 21: You have eternal salvation. The key word there is "everlasting," or eternal.
The sixth thing the Blood says is "You are cleansed." I John 1:7 is a precious Scripture that should be memorized by all Christians.
The seventh thing the Blood says is found in Revelation 1:5: "You are washed."
And the eighth thing the Blood says is also found in Revelation, in chapter 12 and verse 11: "You have victory."
How I would love to expound on each one of these things, but it would take much more space than is usually allotted to blogs!
May God make these few short blogs on the Blood a blessing to you. And with that, I'll get off my soapbox about the Blood of Christ. See you next blog but with a different subject!
Preacher's Kid
The first record we have of the Blood speaking is in Genesis 4:10 when God said to Cain (after Cain had killed his brother Abel): "The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground."
Hebrews 12:24 says that the Blood "speaketh better things than that of Abel." So the Blood does speak. But what are those better things that Hebrews refers to? Well, I think I have discovered eight of those things. Maybe you can find even more.
First of all, according to Romans 5:9, the Blood of Jesus says, "You are justified." "Justified" simply means "acquitted, innocent, not guilty."
Secondly, in I Peter 1:18, 19 the Blood cries, "You are redeemed." That raises the question, from what are we redeemed? Galatians 3:18 tells us we are redeemed from the curse of the law. The curses are laid out in Deuteronomy 28. Two of those curses, as mentioned in verse 28 (LB) are fear and panic. Keep that in mind the next time a panic attack threatens you. Yes, the Blood of Christ gives you a right to be free of the awful curses of sin including fear and panic which plague so many people today, even good Christians.
The third thing the Blood says to us, according to Colossians 1:20 is: "You have peace." Peace is attained only through the shed Blood of Jesus.
The fourth thing the Blood of Jesus says (Hebrews 13:12) is, "You are God's property." Where ever do we get that from this Scripture? From the word "sanctify" which means, "set apart for God's use." In other words, you are God's property. That is confirmed in I Corinthians 6:19, 20. Check it out for yourself!
The fifth thing the Blood speaks is found in Hebrews 13:20, 21: You have eternal salvation. The key word there is "everlasting," or eternal.
The sixth thing the Blood says is "You are cleansed." I John 1:7 is a precious Scripture that should be memorized by all Christians.
The seventh thing the Blood says is found in Revelation 1:5: "You are washed."
And the eighth thing the Blood says is also found in Revelation, in chapter 12 and verse 11: "You have victory."
How I would love to expound on each one of these things, but it would take much more space than is usually allotted to blogs!
May God make these few short blogs on the Blood a blessing to you. And with that, I'll get off my soapbox about the Blood of Christ. See you next blog but with a different subject!
Preacher's Kid
Thursday, April 2, 2009
HOW TO PLEAD THE BLOOD
There are three general principles we need to recognize in pleading the Blood. All of them are found in Romans 3:25 which speaks of Jesus: "Whom God hath sent forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God."
The three principles are 1) faith, 2) declaration, and 3) His righteousness (the Name of Jesus).
What do you have faith in--your own ability? A person? A formula? Emotions? Etc. Our faith must be in the Word, in the Name of Jesus, in the Blood. These are the Christian's true weapons. It's crucial to know where your faith lies.
Declaration is the second principle. Can you declare something in your thoughts? No! Webster says that to declare means to announce something EMPHATICALLY, to manifest plainly by WORDS, to assert POSITIVELY, to state in an UNMISTAKABLE manner, to show OPENLY what one thinks. WOW! Can't get any plainer than that!
In other words we plead the Blood with our mouth, with our words. It's something we say or speak. We do it aloud. We speak it, we sing it, we pray it. WHENEVER WE SPEAK OR SAY THE "BLOOD," WE'RE PLEADING THE BLOOD. But it must be done aloud. Satan can't read our minds; therefore we need to plead the Blood aloud, especially when coming against the powers of darkness.
The third concept in pleading the Blood is declaring His righteousness, or His Name. To me that indicates that the Name of Jesus should be used along with pleading the Blood.
When we speak the word "Blood," we must remember that the Blood of Jesus carries the life of Jesus, for the life is in the Blood. Leviticus 5:17 says, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood." So the Blood of Jesus carries all the power, Spirit and life that is in Jesus.
We can plead the Blood of Jesus over circumstances, in times of danger, over wayward loved ones, over family. Just as the Blood was the protection for the children of Israel from the death angel in Egypt, so it is our protection. II Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scripture "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." For me, the Scripture relating the Passover events is sufficient grounds for my pleading the Blood. I plead the Blood of Jesus every time we get in the car and every night before we go to bed, as well as at other times when needed.
Learn to plead the Blood of Jesus at all times, in all circumstances.
Preacher's Kid
The three principles are 1) faith, 2) declaration, and 3) His righteousness (the Name of Jesus).
What do you have faith in--your own ability? A person? A formula? Emotions? Etc. Our faith must be in the Word, in the Name of Jesus, in the Blood. These are the Christian's true weapons. It's crucial to know where your faith lies.
Declaration is the second principle. Can you declare something in your thoughts? No! Webster says that to declare means to announce something EMPHATICALLY, to manifest plainly by WORDS, to assert POSITIVELY, to state in an UNMISTAKABLE manner, to show OPENLY what one thinks. WOW! Can't get any plainer than that!
In other words we plead the Blood with our mouth, with our words. It's something we say or speak. We do it aloud. We speak it, we sing it, we pray it. WHENEVER WE SPEAK OR SAY THE "BLOOD," WE'RE PLEADING THE BLOOD. But it must be done aloud. Satan can't read our minds; therefore we need to plead the Blood aloud, especially when coming against the powers of darkness.
The third concept in pleading the Blood is declaring His righteousness, or His Name. To me that indicates that the Name of Jesus should be used along with pleading the Blood.
When we speak the word "Blood," we must remember that the Blood of Jesus carries the life of Jesus, for the life is in the Blood. Leviticus 5:17 says, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood." So the Blood of Jesus carries all the power, Spirit and life that is in Jesus.
We can plead the Blood of Jesus over circumstances, in times of danger, over wayward loved ones, over family. Just as the Blood was the protection for the children of Israel from the death angel in Egypt, so it is our protection. II Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scripture "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." For me, the Scripture relating the Passover events is sufficient grounds for my pleading the Blood. I plead the Blood of Jesus every time we get in the car and every night before we go to bed, as well as at other times when needed.
Learn to plead the Blood of Jesus at all times, in all circumstances.
Preacher's Kid
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
