Encouragement Bible Verses
God will not let us down:Isaiah 41:10 Fear not; for I am with you. Be not dismayed; for I am your God. I will strengthen you; yea, I will help you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.
Who can harm or condemn those who belong to God?Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of Me", says the LORD.
We have nothing to fear in death:Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perish, and no man layeth it to heart: and mericful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
The Lord will stop the enemy:Isaiah 59:19 When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
God will be found by those who seek him, and will prosper those who find him:Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you", says the LORD, "thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall you call upon Me, and you shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart."
We were hand picked by God:John 15:16-19 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remin; that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hate you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Why we endure:Romans 5:3b-5 ...we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulations works patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maks not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
We share in Christ's glory if we share in his sufferings:Romans 8:16,17 The Spirit Itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.
God gave us His Son, who pleads with Him for us:Romans 8:31b-34 If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
In both life and death, we belong to God:Romans 14:7,8 For none of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
With Jesus you can do anything:Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
God will give us mercy and grace:Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Endure temptation to receive God's wonderful and holy promises:James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him.
God cares for us and lifts us up, protecting us from the our enemy:1 Peter 5:6-8 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.
Do not love the world's ways, and we will live forever:1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever.
We have victory if we have faith:
1 John 5:3,4 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
Blessings Bible Verses
Refuse all evil, and goodness will embrace you:Psalms 34:12-15 What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
We should always have our thoughts on God:Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Honor the Lord with what He blesses you with:Proverbs 3:7-10 Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones. Honor the LORD with your substance, and with the firstfruits of all your increase: so shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses will burst out with new wine.
We are blessed for being diligent to God:Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
God blesses the righteous with wisdom and happiness, who get the wicked's wealth:Ecclesiastes 2:26a,b For God gives to a man that is good in His sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner He gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that He may give to him that is good before God.
Put an end to all evil, and you will be blessed:Isaiah 58:9b-11-If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon. And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well.
The invincible God is on the side of the righteous:Amos 5:8,9,14,15 (NIV) He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns blackness into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land- the LORD is His name- He flashes destruction on the stronghold and brings the fortified city to ruin. Seek good, not evil, that you may live. The LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say He is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.
To be blessed, apply what God says in your life:James 1:25 But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Those who please God receive what they ask from God:1 John 3:21-23 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, "that we should believe on the name of His son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment."
God hears us and answers our prayers:1 John 5:14,15 And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us: and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.
Jesus will give authority to those who endure:Revelation 2:26,28 And he that overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father.
Jesus will claim those who endure:Revelation 3:5 He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.
The Most Stupid Sin
I. The Parable of the Sower
In Mark 4:13, Jesus told His disciples, “If you understand this parable (the parable of the sower), you will understand all other parables.”
The word “parable” means “the explanation of the scriptures”. This also means anything that seems difficult in the Word of God can be understood by this particular passage of scripture. The parable of the sower is the first parable ever given by Jesus. It is a parable that teaches the character of God, the character of Satan, and the importance of man’s heart in receiving the Word of God. The sower, the seed, and the thief remain constant in this parable. The only thing that changes is the condition of the soil, which represents the condition of man’s heart.(spirit)
God gives. God blesses. Satan comes to steal but he can only steal what God has given. Once the seed is received into the soil, persecutions, trials, troubles, and afflictions begin. Most Christians realize that it wasn’t until they began studying God’s Word, meditating, and spending time with God that the problems began in their lives. That is when they became a threat to Satan’s kingdom. The Bible says affliction and persecution arises because of the Word’s sake. The more Word we receive, the more Satan wants to come against us. He will try to steal from your family, from your finances, and from life so that you will become discouraged. Throughout the parable of the sower, Satan tries to steal the Word and stop the progression of the Word in the believer’s life.
Mark 4:16-17
And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
The beginning of verse 17 describes a believer who had no root in themselves so they endured for only a short time. There are many people who receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, love the Lord, come to church and then suddenly, are gone. The root of why they left the church is offense. Persecution and affliction came and they were not prepared for it and became offended.
II. Offenses in the Body of Christ
One of the main reasons Christians leave the church is offense. Many Christians today are sitting at home, not attending church, and missing the blessings of God all because they have become offended.
When a person leaves a church for the right reason, because God is calling them to another church, it is a blessing. Some people are led to other churches because God wants to use their lives to minister to another group of people. When people leave for the right reason, it is a blessing to everyone. But when a person leaves because of offense, it is always a tool of the enemy to steal the Word that has been planted in the soil of their heart.
III. Characteristics of an Offense
An offense usually takes us by surprise and often involves someone with whom we are very familiar. That person may appear to turn on us and this contradicts our perception of them and challenges our confidence in them.
It is important to understand that there are real offenses and perceived offenses. The majority of offenses are perceived. Maybe the person who offended us was in a bad mood and did not intend to offend us. Or maybe we misinterpreted the behavior of the person toward us.
There are also real offenses. A person may have maliciously turned against us. Maybe they lied about us. Real offenses hurt and it is often difficult to let them go.
We cannot stop offenses from coming but we do not have to accept them. Offended people will cross our path but we do not have to accept their offenses. If we choose to accept any kind of offense, it will eventually lead to a root of bitterness that can destroy us.
IV. The Progression of Offenses
The offended person first becomes critical and then self-righteous. They begin to think more highly of themselves and begin to look down on others. Next, they lose their joy. They are no longer happy. No longer do they enjoy coming to church. Because they are critical of everything, they begin to see things that are wrong where they used to see things that were right. Before they were offended, they would think on things that were lovely and of a good report and rejoice in those good things. But joy turned to being critical, not only towards people, but towards the church.
The next thing that happens is the offended person loses true perception. Offenses are like glasses. You put them on and see the world through those offenses. Your imagination begins to run wild and you begin to believe that people are against you. This is a tactic of Satan to hinder your production and eventually destroy you. You become like a person who has one hand tied behind your back. It seems like you are working harder and getting less accomplished and that is because you are separated from fellowship with God. Offense separates you from God’s power and hinders you from accomplishing what God has called you to do.
V. Three Types of Offenses
There are three types of offenses. The first is a direct offense. This type of offense is when someone offends you. Someone may have said something or you could have wrongly perceived what they have said. A good friend could come to you with some godly counsel thinking you could receive it, but you couldn’t and you become offended. This type of offense often occurs between friends.
The second type of offense is a given offense. This offense occurs when you offend another person. Usually, you did not try to offend them. You may have been trying to be honest with a friend and they became offended. Maybe you had a bad day and did or said something wrong that offended another person. The higher a person rises in leadership, the easier it becomes to unintentionally offend others. Many people who are heads of successful family business begin to find themselves alone. Many of the friends they have had over the years desert them because of a wrong perception. Often the saying is true, “It is lonely at the top”.
The third type of offense is a borrowed offense. The reason this type of offense is what I call “the most stupid sin”, is because it had nothing to do with you. Another person offended someone and they brought that offense to you. You end up choosing to join them in their offense. It is the easiest offense to accept, but the most stupid of all! You listen to someone complain, and rather than trying to help them, you take up their cause and become offended.
Many Christians say, “You should never listen to anyone complain”. But this thinking is wrong. We are called to minister not only to physically afflicted people, but to emotionally afflicted people as well. The thing we must guard against in helping others is accepting their anger or bitterness. We should turn them to the Word of God and with the compassion of the Holy Spirit, minister healing to their lives.
VI. The Talebearer
Proverbs 20:19
He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips.
Something about a secret wants to draw us in. It is called the flesh. One of the worst things a person can ever do is begin to spread gossip under the guise of a prayer request. You can hear a person out, listen to what they have to say, but check the attitude of the person. The Holy Spirit can reveal motives.
Proverbs 26:17
He that passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears.
It is not wise to grab a strange dog by the ears. Chances are great that you will be bitten. If that dog had rabies, you could get sick. If you get sick, you could eventually die. Meddling and getting involved with another person’s offenses or gossip is like grabbing a strange dog by the ears. You are opening yourself up to danger and possible harm. In other words, you are involving yourself with something more powerful than you are.
Often we desire to help others, but we are unable to help some people because of their attitude.
VII. The Angry Man
Proverbs 22:24-25
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare (trap) to your soul.
The word “snare” is actually the word “trap”. Offenses are a trap of Satan. Angry people will be brought across our path and there are times when we can help them. Compassion can draw us to them. We may have a desire to get to the root of their anger and give them the Word of God to apply to their lives. But this verse is telling us some angry people will not want to change.
It is important not to develop a close friendship with an angry person. Even though we sometimes believe our attitude will positively affect them, in reality we will begin to see the world through their eyes of offense.
We have probably all seen someone middle-aged who has forgotten their glasses and are trying to read a menu. They borrow their spouse’s or friend’s glasses in an attempt to be able to see. They may put the glasses on and say, “Wow! How do you see through these things?” It is bad enough to borrow glasses that are not yours for only a moment, but how much worse it would be to wear them every day. The same thing happens to a person who makes friends with an angry person. Their attitude causes you to see things through their eyes, through the eyes of offense.
VIII. The Results of a Borrowed Offense
When you take another person’s offense, you usually become selfrighteous. Then you begin to feel like it is your responsibility to “right the wrong”. At this point you step away from under God’s protection because the Bible says, “Vengeance is Mine. I will repay, saith the Lord.”
You may hear something about a leader in the church or a leader in the community. You may hear something about your mother father or children. You may get offended by what you hear and could carry anger and bitterness inside for years. But how do you know whether or not that person has repented? It would be such a waste to carry anger and bitterness when the person repented years ago for something they may have done wrong.
IX. Hanging on to Offense
There are some sick people who say they want to be healed, but when you examine a little more closely you discover they enjoy the attention they receive from being sick. If they were healed, the attention may go away. In the same way, people can hang on to offense. Many times offense is directly related to sickness and disease. There have been people unwilling to release an offense.
One minister met a man who was filled with cancer and knew that he had been carrying offense against another man. The minister told the man, “Turn loose of that offense”. The man’s response was, “I can’t turn loose of that offense. I hate him! I hate him!”
Years ago there was a television program aired about African monkeys. There were traders that wanted to capture them and consulted with the natives. The natives built little cages with bamboo bars and a door at the front that could easily be closed once the monkey was inside. Placed inside the cage hanging from a sting was a brightly colored stick that would attract the monkeys. Everyone thought, “Sure, the monkey will go inside the cage, grab the stick, which pulls the string. The door will close and the monkey will be trapped.”
However, the monkeys were smarter than that; they wouldn’t go through the door to grab the stick. Instead, they would reach in through the bars, grab the stick, but could not figure out how to get the stick through the bars. Once they grabbed the stick, they would never let it go. The natives would return to the cages after hours had passed because they knew the monkey would still be outside the cage holding on to the stick. Once the monkeys would see the natives, they would begin screaming in fear but would not release the stick. The natives would kill the monkeys and those monkeys would still be holding the stick in their hand.
That is exactly what happens to a person hanging on to an offense. Satan comes in and is able to destroy us because we are unwilling to release the offense. Your business may be failing, sickness may by attacking your body and you are still saying, “God, I have every right to be mad at him. I have every right to be mad at her,” when you actually have no right at all. Jesus died to rid us of our offenses and it is time that we turn them over to Him.
Proverbs 29:22
An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgressions.
There is a progression to offense. First, you are offended. Then you become angry. Next, you begin to stir up strife. Finally, you become a furious person and your life is filled with sins, but you justify every one of them.
Proverbs 29:23
A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.
If you are offended, it is time to become humble in spirit and turn loose of the stick of offense.
X. We Have a Choice
Proverbs 18:19
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
A person can become so offended that it becomes almost impossible for them to change. Notice, bars are mentioned in this verse. Bars not only keep people out, they keep people in. A person can become trapped by their offenses. They become imprisoned and as time passes, they do not want to be released. Their offenses become like the bars of a great city.
Proverbs 20:3
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will continue meddling.
We can pray all we want, “God, get this offense away from me”, but in this verse God said it is an honor for you to lay that offense at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ, to cast the burden on Him, and release it. When you choose to release offense, the bars that the enemy intended to use to imprison your life will be removed and free you to receive the blessings God has ready to pour out upon your life.
forgive one another as he has forgiven you. I apologize four the monkey illustration but it fit so will had to leave it in for give me.o
It Is Written
I. The Importance of “It is Written”
Matthew 9:5-6
For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Healing is an outward manifestation expressing the reality that Jesus has the power to remove both sins and sickness. Forgiveness of sins and healing are inseparably tied together. In His life, Jesus demonstrated the importance of saying, “It is written.”
Luke 4:1-13:
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
And the devil said unto him, All this power (authority) will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
Notice, the devil may say, “It is written…” but he does not use scripture truthfully; he distorts the meaning and purpose.
And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said (or, “…it is written), Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit just before entering into His earthly ministry.
II. The First Ministry of the Holy Spirit
The first ministry of the Holy Spirit is not to bring healing and miracles into our lives. His first ministry is to bring all truth, the Word of God, to our remembrance. Jesus demonstrated this. While He was being tempted by the devil for forty days, the Holy Spirit brought scriptures to His remembrance. With each temptation Jesus said, “It is written. It is written. It is written.”
In times of temptation, and trouble, the Holy Spirit will lead and guide us into all truth. After Jesus was anointed of the Holy Spirit, the first ministry of the Holy Spirit in His life was again, to bring the Word of God on the inside of Him to His remembrance. That was Jesus’ defense against Satan.
III. The Power of Confessing God’s Word
James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” The only way to submit to God is to submit to His Word. After submitting to the Word, we then have power to resist the devil. Jesus had submitted Himself to God and to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He had been in the wilderness for forty days, fasting and drawing closer to the Lord. It was during this time that Satan came to tempt Jesus. But Jesus resisted him by saying, “It is written! It is written! It is written!”
Confession has been a controversial issue in the Body of Christ. There are those who have distorted confession by “confessing” things that are not scriptural. Often when people see the misuse of a teaching from the Word of God, they want to disassociate themselves from the entire teaching. Prosperity is a truth taught in the Word of God, yet there are many who do not believe in the message of prosperity. But, those same people do not reject financial blessing if it comes into their own personal lives! Just because the message of prosperity has been distorted and some Christians are merely coveting “things”, does not mean the message is wrong. The same is true of the message of confession.
The very first ministry Jesus had against Satan in the wilderness was found in confession of the Word of God. Confession is not just making statements like, “I feel good. I feel good.” Confession is not confessing that facts do not exist. Jesus confessed the Word of God against the facts.
People often feel as though they need to “do” something when they are facing adversity in their lives. They sometimes feel guilty “saying” rather than “doing” not realizing the importance and power behind the words they speak. Jesus spoke the Word of God at Satan and Satan had to flee from Him. When Jesus came against the temptations of Satan with the Word of God, Satan had no choice but to flee!
III. Confession is Not Denial
We are not to use the words of our mouth to deny the existence of sin, or the existence of sickness, or the existence of problems. With our mouth we are to acknowledge the power of God’s Word over every situation coming against our lives.
Some Christians are confessing, “Sickness doesn’t exist. I’m not sick. I feel fine,” when in fact they are sick. This is the same as saying, “There are no fiery darts. They do not exist.” But the Bible says the fiery darts do exist. The Bible does not say, “Lift up the shield of faith wherewith ye may be able to quench all the imaginary darts of the devil.” No, they are real. Satan’s darts are real. But the shield of faith is also real and the shield of faith is greater! Confession of God’s Word is a greater weapon than anything Satan can bring against us.
IV. The Confession of Salvation and of Sin
One of the reasons Jesus is in heaven is because of our confession.
Hebrews 3:1
Wherefore, Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.
The “heavenly calling” is the new birth. It is all that heaven has to offer us. “Consider” means to “set your mind or concentrate” on the Apostle and High Priest (Jesus). The word for “profession” can actually be translated “confession”. The Greek word is “homologeo”, which means, “saying the same thing”. This same word is found in I John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This type of confession began when we confessed the lordship of Jesus Christ. According to Romans 10:9, the moment anyone believes in Jesus and confesses Him as Lord and Savior, they are born again. When a person confesses Him, Jesus takes that confession and makes it a reality before our heavenly Father.
Some people believe that confessing Jesus as Lord and confessing our sins to Him whenever necessary is all there is to confession. But the primary function of confession in our daily lives is the confession of the Word of God. We should daily be speaking forth God’s Word.
VI. Two Types of Confession
Aside from confessing Jesus as Lord and confessing our sins, there are two types of confession found in the Word of God and both are found in Romans chapter ten.
A. Confession Unto Faith
The confession unto faith is for us. It builds faith on the inside of us. There is no magic number. You cannot quote a scripture ten times or forty times, or seventy times and know that once you have quoted a scripture that many times, you will have faith in your heart. By confessing scriptures, you are instructing yourself in faith. This type of confession is closely tied to meditation of the Word.
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The Greek word for “word” is “rhema”. It is the communicated and spoken Word of God. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the communicated and spoken Word of God. Whether that speaking comes from your pastor or from your own mouth, it is the communication of the Word of God, the confessing of the Word that brings faith. This type of confession you may need to repeat many, many times. Most of us need to confess God’s Word more than one time for faith to be built inside of us.
Again, confession unto faith and meditation are closely tied. The Hebrew word for “meditate” means “to mutter”. This is not saying something out loud so everyone can hear what you are saying. Some people believe they need to confess the Word so everyone hears what they are confessing. But God has not told us to make a spectacle of ourselves. This meditation and confession is for us. We can mutter a verse, speaking it quietly under our breath. Not only is it important to make God’s Word part of your heart, it is just as important to make it part of your mouth by speaking it.
For thirty years, Jesus had schooled Himself in faith by speaking the Word. The number of times He spoke forth scriptures during that time is uncertain, but His encounter with Satan in the wilderness was not the first time He had spoken the scriptures. It was not the first time Jesus had said, “Thou shall not tempt the Lord Your God” or “…man shall not live by brad alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Jesus had spoken these verses many times while instructing Himself and building Himself up in faith.
When the attack of Satan came to Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus no longer made the confession unto faith; He made the confession of faith. This kind of faith causes Satan to flee. Most people do not understand the difference between these two types of confession.
B. The Confession of Faith
Where the confession unto faith may be repeated many times, the confession of faith is only made once. Jesus did not say in succession, “It is written. It is written. It is written. It is written. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” attempting to convince Himself the Word is true. Some people are trying to use the confession unto faith to get rid of Satan. Again, the confession of faith is what causes Satan to flee. The confession of faith is speaking forth the Word with faith in our heart already established.
Confession not only works to build our faith, it also works against Satan. Confession affects every aspect of our life, including divine healing.
VII. The High Priest of Our Confession
II Corinthians 1:20
For all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
The fact that all of God’s promises are “yes” and “Amen” in Jesus, ties in with the fact that He is the High Priest of our confession (Hebrews 3:1). Some Christians have had the incorrect notion that to grow in faith they must only concentrate on scriptures about faith. But II Corinthians 1:20 tells us that every promise of God produces faith. Again, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”
II Peter 1:3-5
According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
It is through the exceeding great and precious promises that we become partakers of the divine nature. We have been given thousands of promises and all scripture is given by God and is profitable (II Timothy 3:16).
VIII. All the Promises of God are “Yes” and “Amen”
Again, II Corinthians 1:20 tells us “…all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen.” However, this is a very poor translation. This verse is speaking of one of the most important ministries of the Lord Jesus Christ in behalf of believers.
The New American Standard translates this verse says, “For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also through Him is our Amen.”
The Living English Bible translates this verse as, “For in him is the yes to as many promises of God as there are; for which reason through him also comes the Amen.”
What this verse is telling us is that every time we speak a promise of God, we are in essence saying “yes” to that promise. Every time we say “yes” to the promise, God sends back to us His “Amen”. When we quote a scripture to God, we are in essence saying that we believe the promise. We say “we believe the promise” and God says, “Amen. It is settled.” Receiving an “Amen” from heaven begins by confirming what God desires to hear. God is waiting in heaven for us to put Him in remembrance of His Word, which lives and abides forever and which is already settled in heaven.
IX. Saying “Yes” and Receiving and “Amen”
When we say, “By His stripes we are healed,” God hears a big “yes” coming from earth and God yells “Amen!”
When we say, “O Lord my God, I cried unto You, and You have healed me” (Psalm 30:2), we are saying “yes” and God yells “Amen!”
When we say, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19), we say “yes” to the promise and God yells “Amen!”
When we quote Psalm 41:3 from the Moffatt’s Translation by saying, “The Eternal sustains me on a sick bed, and brings me back to health,” we say “yes” to God’s promise and He yells “Amen!”
When we say, “No plague shall come nigh my dwelling” (Psalm 91:10), we say “yes” and He yells “Amen!”
Demons cannot bear to hear a resounding “yes” coming from the earth, but what they dislike even more is hearing God’s “Amen” come from heaven. More than one time God said of Jesus, “This is My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” What causes God to be pleased? His Word. We are to quote His Word and stand upon it.
When we say “…Who heals all my diseases” (Psalm 103:3), we say “yes”; God says “Amen!”
God shouts, “Amen!” when we confess, “He sent his word and healed me and delivered me from all of their destructions” (Psalm 107:20).
We cry, “God’s word is life to those that find them and health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:22), and God yells, “Amen!”
We declare, “Surely He has born our sicknesses and carried our diseases, and with His stripes we are healed!” (Isaiah 53:4-5). God yells, “Amen!”
We say “yes” when we say, “I will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.” And God shouts, “Amen!”
Finally, we say, “The prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up” (James 5:15). When we quote this promise, again we are saying, “yes” to God and He is shouting and “Amen!” back to us.
X. Declare God’s Word
If we desire to get a big “Amen” from God, His Word must be part of our lips. We will always be growing in faith. There will never be a time when we will not need God’s Word. We will continue to grow in faith throughout our lifetime. We must continually speak God’s Word and when we do, we are saying “yes” to God’s promises and God is shouting “Amen!”
As i finish this short study i feel the need to say we live in times that are to say the lest trying an it takes time in the word of god to come an learn how to act on gods promises i have been in more trials in the last 8 month then most will go though in a life time my son & mother was almost killed in car accident my wife went though heart surgery an me myself 7 back surgery's an are home lost in a hail storm at times we (i) have wondered if i was doing something wrong but then i recalled the fiery dirt's that is when we know what we believe an we can say father god it is written an glory be to god he has brought us threw everyone better than i would have believed nothing in my strength only the word that i have believed an keep in my heart for over 38yrs mark 11:22-24. jimmy Stewart
A Prayer for Protection
Throughout the Bible we are constantly reminded to “fear not.” It is not God’s will that we live in anxiety or fear, ever. Remember, He is well able to protect you, your family and all who take a stand on His Word. The following is a prayer based on Scripture. Put yourself and God in remembrance of His Word and know that the only “safe” place there will ever be is under His protection.
Father, in the Name of Jesus, I thank You that You watch over Your Word to perform it.
Father, I praise You that I dwell in the secret place of the Most High and that I shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty—whose power no foe can withstand. I will say of You, Lord, “The Lord is my refuge and my fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I confidently trust!”
For then You will deliver me from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. Then You will cover me with Your feathers, and under Your wings shall I trust and find refuge. Your truth and Your faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.
Father, You are my confidence, firm and strong. You keep my foot from stumbling, being caught in a trap, or hidden danger. Father, You give me safety and ease me. I know You will keep me in perfect peace because my mind is stayed on You and I trust in You. I thank You, Lord, that I may lie down and You will give me peaceful sleep, for You sustain me and make me dwell in safety.
I shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand, but it shall not come near me. Only a spectator shall I be—inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High—as I witness the reward of the wicked. IN JESUS NAME AMEN.
Continue to meditate on this prayer for yourself and for your loved ones. Speaking it daily will allow the Word of God concerning protection to reach deep into your spirit.
Scripture References: Jeremiah 1:12; Psalms 91:1-16, 112:7 (The Amplified Bible); Proverbs 3:26 (The Amplified Bible); Proverbs 3:23-24; Psalms 3:5, 4:8, 127:2, 34:7.
The Virgin Birth
I. Who is JESUS?
We know Jesus is our substitute. He is our mediator. God is holy and righteous; man is lost and undone and in a fallen condition. As Job said in Job 9, the barrier between man and God is impassable, but God found a way to do it. He came to this earth as a man; He became the mediator.
Jesus became equal with man so He can put one hand on man. Jesus is equal with God; He can put His other hand on God. Jesus is God/man. He can satisfy the claims of God because He is God. He can satisfy the claims of men because He is man.
He is not fifty percent God and fifty percent man; He is one hundred percent God and one hundred percent man. Therefore, He can do what no one else can do, which is why Acts 4:12 says, “There is no other name given under heaven among men whereby we might be saved.” The only name that links us to God is Jesus.
John 14:6:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.
Buddha cannot save you. Mohammed cannot save you. Redemption can only be found through the name of Jesus.
II. Salvation Through Death
There is no way that God, as Deity, could die. The characteristics of God are also true of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. God is sovereign; He is absolute righteousness; He is justice, love, and eternal life. God is everywhere (omnipresent); He is all powerful (omnipotent). God cannot change in any way. How can eternal life die? For eternal life to die, God would have to change; but He can’t change because He’s immutable. If He did change, He would lie because He said He wouldn’t change, but then He can’t lie. How can omnipresence reduce itself to one spot and die? How can omnipotence weaken itself and die? Death is contrary to the very nature of God.
God had to become humanity to die. The work of the cross had to be our substitution, and God can’t substitute for man. We needed someone to go to the cross that would take our place — spirit, soul, and body. God came into this earth one day in the form of Jesus, and He went to the cross. Through Jesus’ death, we have eternal salvation.
III. Why Jesus?
Why did it have to be Jesus? Why couldn’t some other man represent us on the cross?
Leviticus 1:3:
Let him offer a male without blemish.
In the Old Testament, the lamb offered as a sacrifice had to be without blemish. The shepherd had to examine his flock for over a year and find one lamb without blemish. Once he found one without blemish, he had to watch over it to make sure there was no blemish made before it could be offered up as the one sacrificial lamb.
This is the problem: we all have a blemish. God could look all over the whole world, century after century, and never find anyone without blemish. Jesus was the only lamb without blemish, which is why John the Baptist could say, “Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29)
Romans 3:23:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Man is fallen. Man is in an undone condition because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
“Have sinned” is past tense. “Come short” is present tense. Some translations say it this way: All have sinned and are coming short of the glory of God.
When did we all sin? We all sinned in Adam. Adam passed on a sin sentence to all mankind. Any personal sins you commit begin with a root because the Word says, “All have sinned.” Because all have sinned — past and present — we are coming short of the glory of God.
IV. What is the Blemish?
Romans 5:12:
Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
Sin passed onto all men. “Sin” is singular. When you find the word sin in the singular, it is not referring to personal sins or personal acts or deeds. That would be sins — plural. Sin — singular — is referring to the nature of sin, which produces sin in you. What Adam passed on to all men was the nature of sin.
Don’t think about sin nature being in your spirit. It is not in your spirit. I believe when you get born again, you do not lose the sin nature. Even though you still maintain the sin nature, you have the power and authority over it because the sin nature is located in your flesh. It is in your body. The term flesh is nothing more than another term for the nature of sin. It is not an internal battle within your spirit.
I used to think there was a good guy and a bad guy fighting within my spirit all the time. However, a bad guy can’t live in my spirit where the Holy Ghost lives. When I got born again, my spirit got recreated. The battle going on is the battle of the inward man versus the battle of the outward man.
Romans 6:6:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
This refers to “body of sin.” Notice sin is singular.
Ephesians 4:22:
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.
The second name for sin is old man.
Galatians 5:16:
Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
John 3:6:
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
The third name for the sin nature is flesh. Using the term flesh in Galatians, Paul is trying to define where the sin nature abides.
V. Freedom From the Law of Sin and Death
Romans 7:21:
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Even though Paul is born again, sin keeps rising up and he can’t figure out why. In Romans 5, he tells where this sin nature came from. In Romans 6, he starts defining its power. In Romans 7, he starts describing what a miserable wretch he is (Romans 7:24)when he yields to the sin nature, to the flesh, that is in him. In Romans 8, Paul breaks into the glorious liberty where he finds out that he doesn’t have to handle it all by himself. He has the Holy Spirit living inside of him, and he’s telling us that when we follow the Spirit on the inside of us, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets us free from the law of sin and death.
Isn’t it amazing that when we decide to do something for the Lord we are bombarded with temptations to not do it for the Lord? Paul kept running around, trying to swat all these temptations out like flies. He had a fly swatter in his hand called self-effort. How many times have you tried to stop sinning through self-effort? It doesn’t get you very far. That is because in ourselves, we can’t battle sin. It is bigger than we are. We have to depend on the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us. Then we realize greater is He who lives in me than he who lives in the world.
Paul was trying to stamp out little sins as if they were flies, until one day he decided, “Wait a minute. There’s bound to be a Mama fly around here. If I can get her, I can stop all of her kids.” It would be like trying to put out little brush fires here and there, but if you can find the guy with the match, you won’t have to keep putting out the little fires.
If the law says, “Thou shalt not covet,” then there is something in us that can covet. We can try to shun every covetous thought that comes our way, but it would be easier to take authority over it. If we can take authority over that desire in us that rises up, we would have trouble with all the personal sins that rise up in our lives.
Romans 7:22-23:
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Notice the sin nature, that which prompts you to sin, is in your body. Paul says, “It wars against my mind.” Why? Because the mind is the link between the spirit and the body. Both are fighting for attention with the mind. If the mind goes with the spirit, we are spiritually minded. If the mind goes with the body, we are carnally minded. This is why the whole essence of the Word of God is the renewing of the mind to follow after the Spirit, to listen to the voice of the inward man, and to go with it.
When we listen to the voice of our inward man, we follow after the ways of the Spirit and our body can’t fight back; it has to go with us. It has no power when we’ve made up our minds to follow after the spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
VI. Spiritual Death Leads to Physical Death
Romans 5:12:
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
When God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden, it was a perfect environment. Adam had a perfect body, a perfect soul, and a perfect spirit. He was placed on this earth just like Jesus was placed on this earth, which is why Jesus is called the last Adam. While in the Garden, Adam could specifically say, “To see me is to see God,” because his inward man was made after the image of God and his outward man was made in the likeness of God. (See Genesis 1:26-27.)
Since God placed a will inside of Adam, we know God has a will. Since all creatures are made similar to the form of God and to the being of God, we know angels have wills and men have wills. There had to be some way in the Garden to test that will. The only way Adam could be tested was with the negative because if everything is positive or good, how can one be tested?
God placed a tree in the Garden to test the will of Adam and gave specific instructions about that tree. He told Adam exactly what the tree was for. God didn’t try to shun the issue or pull the wool over Adam’s eyes. He made the tree as repulsive as possible when he talked to Adam about it, “The day you eat of that tree, you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)
It says, “surely die” because “die” is mentioned twice in the Hebrew. The correct translation says, “In the day that thou eatest thereof, dying thou shalt die.” “Dying,” (present tense) “thou shalt die” (future tense). God was simply telling Adam, “Adam, in the day you eat of that tree, dying (present tense), you’re going to future die also.” In other words, dying spiritually thou shalt die physically.
Adam would have never died physically had he not first died spiritually. Spiritual death entered into Adam because when he partook of the fruit of the tree, he went negative to the will of God. He went to the tree and did exactly what God said not to do. When he turned his will against God, the first thing that entered into Adam was sin, as the Scripture says, “For by one man sin entered into the world, and then death through sin.” When Adam partook of the fruit, the curse entered into the ground. The curse moved through the ground and everything that was made out of the dust of the ground became polluted. Suddenly, thorns began to grow. The curse went right on into the animals and those that used to be at peace with each other began to turn on each other.
Since everything that was made out of the dust of the ground received the curse, the bodies of Adam and Even received the curse. They received a curse in their body, which was the sin nature. Through that sin nature, spiritual death came in. When Adam partook of the fruit, the nature of the flesh entered in and that was the doorway through which Satan worked. Spiritual death came in and conquered Adam. That set in motion the physical death which took place hundreds of years later. Since that time, man and woman produced children. Flesh produced flesh. Dust produced dust. Curse produced curse.
Children born into this earth today automatically have a blemish against them — the nature of the flesh. When a person gets born again, the nature of the flesh is still there because the curse entered into man from the outside in, but redemption began from the inside out. Our spirit became in the form of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit came to live in us. Our minds are to be renewed day by day, but there is still a future redemption left for the believer — the day our bodies are fashioned into the very image of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. For us to inherit the kingdom of God right now, we would have to drop this body and go to heaven in spirit form because it is our spirit that is redeemed in the image of God.
One of these days, Jesus Himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. On that day, this mortal shall put on immortality, this corruptible shall put on incorruption and the whole earth shall break forth into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Glory to God! The whole earth is waiting for that day the curse is lifted, but until that time, man has a blemish — the nature of the flesh.
VII. Spiritual Accountability
Romans 5:18-20:
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
The offense of one is Adam. The righteousness of one is Jesus Christ. One man’s disobedience is Adam; the obedience of one is Jesus.
In verse 20, Paul brings out the purpose of the law. I used to believe that when a child is born into this earth, he is born spiritually dead. But God doesn’t hold him accountable for it because without knowledge, God can’t hold him accountable. Therefore, if a child dies before it reaches the age of accountability, he automatically goes to heaven because God doesn’t hold him accountable for something he doesn’t know.
I taught this until I asked myself, “Can God give dead spirits?” The answer is, “No.” When you give birth to a child, you birth their body. God gives the inward man. You can’t pass along spiritual life. You can’t put a spirit in a person; only God can. Man produces the outward man; it is God who gives the spirit on the inside of that child and actually gives it life. We don’t pass on life; we pass on flesh and blood.
When a child is born he carries the brand marks in his body of the curse of Adam, but his spirit is given by God and that child is born spiritually alive. There is a difference between being spiritually alive when a child is born and the actual new birth. At the time of the new birth, the Holy Ghost comes to live in you and makes you in the very image of God. But when a child is born into this earth, he is alive unto God.
Think about this for a moment: We know that no one in the Old Testament was ever born again. No one could be born again until Jesus arose from the dead and became the first born of many brethren. But under the Old Covenant, they were considered “spiritually dead.” How could God speak to them if they were spiritually dead? I believe spiritually dead means they had the life and nature of Satan in them — death. Death is totally contrary to the nature of God
When a person of the Old Covenant trusted in the Lord, as Abraham did, it was accounted to him for righteousness. His spirit became alive unto God as it was when he was a child. I believe that is why Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of God.” He continued, “Except you become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 18:3)
Until a child reaches the age of accountability, he’s alive unto God. Once that child begins to get knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, he reaches the age of accountability. If he refuses to accept Jesus as his Savior, he opens the doorway for spiritual death to enter in. But what about the argument that there are people in distant lands who have never heard the Gospel?
Romans 1:20-21:
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
When they stand before God on Judgment Day, they will be without excuse. Why? Because God taught them. God didn’t create the universe so it would be pretty. He created the universe to teach us the Gospel — to get people born again.
Verse 21 in the Greek says, “when they knew about God.” They came to a knowledge of Him through things around them — through things they heard and saw. Before their knowledge of God, their heart must have had light, but when they reached the knowledge of God, they turned back to the ways of their fathers, worshipping idols around them. At that point, they became vain, empty in their imaginations and their foolish heart became darkened.
VIII. Purpose of the Law
Romans 5:19-20:
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
The word “entered” is a Greek acting term for when a minor actor comes on stage and remains there until the major actor comes. Once the major actor comes on stage, the minor actor leaves. The law was the minor actor on the stage that entered that the offense might abound.
Think about some of the old movies where a villain comes to take away the deed to the ranch of a sweet young thing. Judging from outward appearances, she and the viewing audience don’t know he’s really a villain. How are we going to find out who the villain is? The minor actor enters at this point only long enough to expose the villain. “Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound.” He comes in to tell us who the villain is — someone she has fallen in love with.
She represents the inward man and the villain represents the outward man. She is looking for the villain throughout the show and suddenly the law enters and says, “Here is your villain.” She suddenly turns to the law and cries out, “Help me!” The law responds, “I can’t help you, but I can tell you who can, and that’s the hero!”
The purpose of the law is to bring us to Christ. Once we have come to Christ, we no longer need the law. The minor actor leaves the stage because the major actor has come on the stage. The purpose of the law is also to expose the sin nature.
Paul kept thinking that his sins were the problem. But one day the law entered, the knowledge of the Word, and exposed the villain.
Romans 3:20:
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
The law exposed the culprit that was causing him to sin. The law couldn’t save him because by the deeds of the law, no flesh shall be justified. The law could only expose who the real Savior was — Jesus Christ. Because Jesus came, we are no longer under control of the law.
IX. The Law: Good or Evil?
Romans 7:7-11:
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
If Romans 5:20 says the purpose of the law is to expose sin, does that make the law evil? No! The law simply fulfilled its purpose: it exposed sin. If we take the law and try to make it a means of salvation, we take the goodness of God and are trying to get saved by it. That is wrong. The law was never designed to save; it was designed to point out the culprit and then point us to the way of salvation — Jesus Christ.
Paul was trying to trace down the fact why he lusted after all these things, until one day the law said, “Don’t covet.” Paul realized, “There is something in me that can covet. If I can gain control over that covetousness, I won’t keep desiring all these things around me.” In other words, if we can conquer sin at the root, we won’t have any problem with personal sins.
Verse 8 says, “without the law sin was dead.” Sin wasn’t dead, it was asleep. Sin was dormant. Without knowledge, the sin nature doesn’t rise up. Until the law, or knowledge, comes, the sin nature might actually look like the hero. Knowledge comes in through the law to reveal the culprit.
When “sin revived,” it woke up. When sin “slew me,” death entered in. Just as it did with Adam, the doorway to kill the spirit of man is through the sin nature, the nature of the flesh.
X. The Sin Nature Entered Through Adam
1 Corinthians 15:21-22:
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
The man that brought death was Adam. The man who brought resurrection of the dead is Jesus Christ. Scripture says, “As in Adam all die.” Who got us into this mess? Adam. Who got us out of this mess? Jesus. But stop and think for a moment: Who was the first one to sin in the Garden of Eden? Adam or Eve? Eve. Then, how come it doesn’t lay the blame on Eve if she’s the one who really got us into this mess? Satan came along and tempted the woman first. The woman partook of the forbidden fruit and gave it to her husband. He ate it and the blame is put on him! Why?
1 Timothy 2:13-14:
For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
The reason Eve was not held accountable for the sin, even though she was a part of the sin, was because the woman was deceived. Adam walked into the sin with his eyes wide open. He knew exactly what he was doing. Eve was deceived and she turned to her husband and gave him the fruit. God had given Adam specific instructions not to eat of that tree. Adam took the fruit of his own will and ate.
When God asked Adam about it, Adam pointed to Eve and said, “It’s her fault.”
God asked Eve if it was her fault, and she said, “No, it’s not my fault.” She told the truth. She said, “The serpent beguiled me and I was deceived.” That was the truth. God holds Adam accountable.
The moment they both ate, they both had the sin nature enter into their flesh. But only the man passes it on to his children. The woman possesses it, but she doesn’t pass it on. She is not the producer. The man passes it on to his children, boys or girls, and they all have the nature of the flesh at the moment of birth and throughout their lifetime on Earth. Children have the curse in them because of their father. Adam passed it on to his children, but Eve did not. From that time on, men have passed it down to their children. Their wives possess it, but they don’t pass it on.
XI. Why the Virgin Birth?
The only way to be born into this earth without blemish, without the sin nature, is to be born of a virgin. Jesus came into this earth born in the fullness of time, through the virgin birth. Mary was no different than any other woman around her, except for the fact she lived for the Lord. Her physical body was no holier than any other woman’s body. Although she possessed the nature of the flesh, she did not produce it.
Since Jesus, even in His physical body, was produced by God the Father, He was free from the curse. He was born without blemish to redeem all mankind from the curse of the law!
Could Jesus have received the nature of the flesh? Yes, but only the way Adam did. He would have had to voluntarily take it on. Jesus was tempted in all points as we are, yet he chose not to receive sin. Therefore, when He went to the cross, He voluntarily took on the sins of the world, conquering sin at the root. So when we are born again, we have power over the flesh. Power over the nature of sin!
Because Adam passed on the curse to the whole human race, every member of the human race is born in slavery. We can’t help it. We all have a natural father. Yes, our spirit was alive unto God, but we aren’t qualified to redeem mankind. It took someone born outside of the curse. Since we are all born into slavery, Buddha was born a slave, Mohammad was born a slave. Slaves can’t free slaves! It takes a free man to free a slave.
Jesus came into this earth, born free from the curse, without the nature of the flesh, the Lamb without blemish. God examined Him for thirty-three years, then Jesus went to the cross where all our sins were poured out on the spotless Lamb of God, and He redeemed us back to God! Jesus became our substitute so we could have eternal relationship with the Father. JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD!!
Theme: Learning to control your anger before it controls you.
Text: Ephesians 4: 26 - 27 (NLT)
"And don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the devil."
Introductory Remarks
If I were to ask you, of all the human emotions you're capable of experiencing, which one seems to be the most difficult for you to cope with? I believe that the majority of you would say that dealing with the emotion of anger is the most complex and challenging of them all on a day in - day out basis.
Complex - because anger can and will surface at the strangest times - brought forth for the strangest of reasons - and exhibited in the strangest ways.
Challenging - because anger, if not handled properly, can be a very dangerous and destructive emotion. It can be hurtful to us physically - emotionally - relationally and spiritually.
There is always a price tag for improperly handling anger. Anyone who has experienced an incident when they let their anger get the best of them will confirm that actions committed in that kind of anger are later regretted.
Proverbs 25:28 (GNB)
"If you cannot control your anger, you are as helpless as a city without walls, open to attack."
Most of us realize that people who can't control their anger have a real problem. What is your routine for handling the emotion of anger? Does it work? Not always? Seldom?
Take heart! God has a method that does, and He tells us about it in His Word.
In this teaching I want us to look at God's biblical method for "taming the temper." Notice, I didn't say God's method for "getting rid of our anger," but for the taming of it. It is not in God's purpose to eliminate the ability to get angry. He put it in us to begin with. All anger is not bad. Sometimes it's good for us to get angry. Anger in itself is neither good or bad. It's why we get angry and how we express it that determines if it's good or bad, healthy or unhealthy anger. God has given us His Word and His Spirit to work in us to enable us to harness and take control over our anger so it becomes a positive and not a negative force in our life.
He wants us "to be angry and sin not." Ephesians 4:26, KJV) Anger managed correctly can be an asset and not a liability. Anger is something we can't avoid, but it's something we can learn to control.
Anger has been compared to the combustible explosions in a car engine that produces the power to make the car move. When those explosions are under control, they will take the car safely to its destination. But, if instead of controlling the flow of gas producing these orderly explosions -- we ignited all the gas in the tank at once -- we'd blow both the car and ourselves up.
Proverbs 29:11, "A fool gives vent to their anger, but a wise person keeps themselves under control."
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Point 1:
Four faces of anger---
There are four words we use to describe different levels or types of anger that we experience.
1. Rage - used to describe a short fused-intense-explosive-uncontrolled anger. It's a "fly off the handle," "let it all out temper blowout." that leaves you and everybody around you torn to pieces. We try to excuse it by saying, "I know I lose my temper real fast, but it's all over in a few minutes." So is a bomb explosion, but an awful lot of damage can take place in those few minutes.
"People who fly into a rage seldom make a good landing." ( Will Rogers)
"When you lose your temper, you always lose."
Proverbs 14:17, People with hot tempers do foolish things."(LB)
Proverbs 29:22, A hot tempered man starts fights and gets into all kinds of trouble." (LB)
People who express this type of anger are walking time bombs with hair trigger tempers ready to explode. Typical excuses used by these "short fusers" sound like this:
"I just couldn't help it. It made me so angry."
"It just got to me and touched off my temper."
"It's like something just came over me and I couldn't do anything about it."
James 1:19, gives some sound advice to "the ragers", "Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry."
The quickest way to cut your own throat is by your own sharp tongue by saying things you shouldn't have said because you "just had to get it off your chest."
"If you keep your mouth shut, you will never put your foot in it." (Austin O'Malley )
Let's label rage as a sudden anger that must be controlled.
2. Wrath - used to describe an anger that wants revenge, that desires to retaliate, that wants to
return the hurt or injustice the offender has caused them.
It's an anger that holds a grudge. It's an "eye for an eye," or a "tooth for a tooth,"
"don't get even, but get ahead," I'll think of a way to pay you back for this" type of anger.
A wrathful anger is always accompanied by an unforgiving spirit.
"Revenge is often like biting a dog because the dog bit you." (Austin O'Malley)
Wrath anger was what the Pharisees felt toward Jesus. They had built their own "religious playhouse" by taking the laws of God and attaching hundreds of their own addendums to it, making it almost impossible to keep the original laws of God. The truth Jesus came teaching began to dismantle their playhouse and the Pharisees got fighting mad.
Luke 6:11, "But they (the Pharisees) were furious, (at Jesus) and began to plot with each other what they might do to Jesus."
Let's label wrath as a sinful anger that must be condemned.
3. Resentment - is used to describe an anger that stems from a grievance. It is an anger that the
person suppresses over a long period of time and allows to quietly smolder down inside them
Resentment anger doesn't blowup, but clams up.
As it is nurtured inside the person, it produces self pity that eventually turns to bitterness.
Resentment anger was what the elder son felt toward his prodigal brother and father. He had been the good son, the faithful son, the stay at home son, keep on the job son. The prodigal brother was the bad son, the unfaithful son, the vagabond, lazy son. Now, that son was back at home and the father was celebrating with a party for him. The elder son was overcome with a resentful anger. He resented his brother, he resented the celebration over his return, and he resented his father for receiving his wayward brother back into the family. He stubbornly refused to let go of his angry resentment and join in the festivities.
Luke 15:28-30, "And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore his father came out and entreated him. And he answering, said to his father, "Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandments: and yet thou never gavest me a kid that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed the fatted calf."
Resentment anger damages the human personality and destroys relationships with others.
Proverbs 18:19, "It is harder to win back the friendship of an offended brother than to capture a fortified city. His anger shuts you out like iron bars."
Let's label resentment as a stubborn anger that must be conquered.
4. Indignation - used to describe an anger that rises up in us as a result of seeing someone
or something of importance to us being mistreated or suffering an injustice.
Indignation anger is free from rage, resentment, and retaliation. It's a healthy anger that is aimed at the problem and not the person. It's an anger for the right reason and expressed in the right way. It's a controlled anger that is meant to be corrective and constructive.
Indignation anger is the kind Jesus displayed. The gospels tell of Jesus becoming angry on several occasions, but it was always of the indignation type, aimed at correcting a wrongful practice or adjusting an unhealthy attitude.
Mark 3: 1-6, reveals the kind of thing that triggered the indignation anger of Jesus.
"And He (Jesus) entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So the (Pharisees) watched him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward." Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him."
The Pharisees had lost their compassion for others. They cared not for the condition of the man with the withered hand. All that mattered was maintaining legalistic obedience to the letter of the law. They believed their traditions were more important than easing the pain or meeting the needs of another human being. They had forgotten that " the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." Mark 2:27.
Jesus looks at them in anger. He is stirred with indignation at what He sees in them because He recognizes their compassionless rule keeping mindset. Notice how Jesus expressed His anger.
He did not explode in a rage.
He did not call down fire from heaven on them in wrath.
He did not allow resentment anger to smolder down inside Him. He didn't suppress His anger.
But Jesus chose to channel His anger into carefully chosen words of response that He released in a controlled way. He didn't respond in a way that would allow them to fight back.
"You can't put things across by getting cross."
"To take the wind out of an angry man's sails - stay calm."
Indignation anger is the only type of anger that Scripture allows. Any anger that rises up in us filled with rage, wrath, or resentment must be immediately challenged for it is destructive anger. Anger that comes as a result of righteous indignation must be cultivated, because it is a constructive anger that God does not condemn.
Let's label indignation as a sanctified anger that must be channeled.
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Point 2:
Three ways people handle anger
1. Repress it
Repression, we are told, is a form of denial. Their thinking runs like this. (If I deny that I am angry, then I won't have to deal with it. If I just ignore it, it will go away. I'll just work real hard at pretending it's not there.) Most usually, repressors have seen or felt the destructive power of anger and being "gun shy" of it, they try to avoid it. They just paint anger invisible and they think it's gone. But is it?
Repression is not the healthiest way to handle anger. It's not an emotion that can be dealt with properly by simply "forgetting it."
If the anger energy is not brought out in the open and taken care of in a safe way, it will be directed through other channels until it is heard from. It will not be ignored. Usually, it is the physical body that feels the effects of repressed anger. I list several of those effects.
The blood system - producing heart attacks.
Stomach muscles - enhancing strokes
Muscles tense up - elevating blood pressure
Digestive tract - producing ulcers.
By repressing anger, we think we bury it dead. Actually, we are burying it alive. It sooner or later rises from its grave in another form.
Nothing can take place in the body without it affecting everything else about us. Anger affects our state of mind and our state of mind affects, in many ways, our body.
2. Suppress it
In suppressing anger, we are very much aware that we are angry, but for one reason or other, we choose to stifle expressing it and simply hold it inside of us. By doing this, we think we are neutralizing our feelings of anger, but actually we silently nurture it within and allow it to simmer on the back burner of our mind.
I grant you there are times when suppressing our anger is the wisest thing to do, but eventually that swallowed anger must be drained off and gotten out of our emotional system or it will build up until it blows up. Suppressed anger is usually drained off on a less threatening, unsuspecting person, usually that person is another family member.
Let me give you an illustration of how this works.
Your out to work an pickup a pretty nice job an you get started on it (painting-roof sealing etc) an the owner comes out an he doesn't know if his getting a good job an he would like to sleep on it.
You go home afraid of losing the job so you start getting angry an suppresses the anger and you"stuffs" it down inside of you and go home.
The wife (unaware of what has happened) greets you at the door with a smile, but your, still angry, only snarls at her.
The wife now has two options open to her. She can snarl back or she can "stuff it." She chooses to "stuff it."
Just then the teenage son comes in and mom unloads her "stuffed anger" on him by finding something to yell about.
The son in turns "stuff it" until later when he unloads on his younger little sister who unloads on her doll she was playing with by breaking its head off in anger.
The effects of repressed anger eventually flows over into our body.
The effects of suppressed anger eventually flows over into our body and our relationship with others.
Repressing and suppressing anger is not the best way to deal with anger.
3. Express it
Since the 1970's we've become a people that has been told to get our feelings out in the open - "if it feels good, do it" and this included expressing our anger. Now expressing anger can be an alright thing to do providing it is released in the correct way, and that means it's under control and is corrective or constructive, never destructive.
When people get angry their thinking process usually gets short circuited, reactionary impulses race through their mind in a disjointed fashion and they are not likely to think things through in a rational way. This is why most people blow it when releasing anger. They put their mouth in gear before they engage their mind.
Proverbs 16:23 (GN) "Intelligent people think before they speak."
Knowing when and how to release anger is important. Sensitivity is a trait that an angry person needs to hold on to.
A crowded elevator is not the best place to "let it all out" when you're angry with someone.
A wise wife knows it's better to unload the frustrations of her day onto the husband after he has had time to sit down and unwind from a long days work.
Three thing to remember in expressing anger.
1. Remember the results of an unbridled anger.
Ask yourself if you want to go through that again.
2. Reflect before responding.
When you start to get angry, delay your response.
Stop and think before reacting.
3. Restrain your remarks.
Proverbs 21:23, (GN) "If you want to stay out of trouble, be careful what you say."
Use sweet words because you may have to eat them.
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Point 3:
God wants us free from anger that would hinder our Christian testimony.
One day the Lord is going to present to Himself a glorious church (made up of people like you and me) not having spot or wrinkle and without blemish. Ephesians 5:27. That church is going to display the characteristics of Jesus in their life. As members of that church, you and I, as believers, are day by day brought into conformity to the pattern of Jesus. God has committed Himself to the task of working out of us everything that would hinder the fulfillment of that purpose.
Philippians 2:13 tells us that God is at work in us to work out all those spots, wrinkles and blemishes out of us.
Philippians 1:6 informs us that He will continue to do this in us until Jesus comes.
We are going to resemble Jesus when He comes again:
in our attitude
in our character
in our thought life
In our speech
in our actions.
God is working out of us the elements that would hinder our Christian walk and at the same time He is working into us His character and nature. As believers, it is important that we know and understand that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that God will find in any of us as He works in us, that will come as a surprise or shock to Him. He already knew it was there and He still loved us. He knew the worst about us and He still saved us. Whatever God's work in us may reveal might come as a shock to us, but God says, "It didn't shock me. I knew it was there all the time. But I wanted you to know it was there. Now co-operate with me and we'll get rid of it."
God is removing the grave clothes of the old life from us. When we got saved, He introduced us to a new life, but He knows that as long as the grave clothes of our dead past still cling to us, we'll experience frustration and failure trying to express our new life. He wants to remove those grave clothes of the past.
How are grave clothes removed? They are removed one garment at a time as God working in us uncovers them for us to see and deal with. Unhealthy anger is one of those grave clothes.
God wants to take our anger emotion and do to it what He did to Moses' rod that had become a snake as Moses cast it to the ground before Him on Mt. Sinai. (Exodus 4) When God told Moses to pick the rod back up, He had taken the snake out of it and it could now be used safely by Moses. The Lord wants to take the snake out of our anger. He wants us to know that the only way for us to express anger in a healthy way is to allow Him to take charge of it.
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Point 4:
Letting God handle your anger
My dealing with anger before Christ came into my life was not that great of an experience. When an angry situation developed in my life and I felt I really didn't have any power over my emotions and it was "three ringed circus."I knew i was out of the will of god an grieved on the inside of me i hurt an was confused cuss i did wont to change but didn't know how. i wish someone would have shared with me what I'm sharing with you now.
1.To my immediate right sat Emotion, and on what an excitable person i would react if someone talked about my family-friends-heritage most of time i knew inside i was wrong for reacting with temper tong lashings or even fighting that in the end no body wins.
Next to him sat Feelings. He and Emotion had developed a real close friendship and had become inseparable. Feeling's decisions always seemed to be based on how he felt at the time. He was so changeable from one moment to the next during the time of just being saved.
Next to Feeling sat Memory. He had a bad habit of always bringing up the past and trying to associate it with the current problem at hand. Memory was good at bringing past calamities to our attention. Memory's favorite saying was, "Don't you remember....this one said this or that one did this to you?"
Next to Memory sat Imagination, and what a fascinating member he was. Nobody could paint a scenario like he could. What wild ideas he presented at every meeting. He never really dealt with the facts at hand, but mostly in "what might happen." His "might happen" descriptions really affected Emotion and Feeling. Memory brought pictures of past calamities to our attention, but Imagination painted pictures of possible calamities in the future. Memory and Imagination seemed to buddy as friends. That had a lot in common.
Next to Imagination sat Reason. He seemed to be a real loner in the group and always hung out by himself. He was always analyzing, weighing things, considering the pro's and con's of every decision. Although he seemed to contribute input into the meeting, he never really came up with a solution to the problem that was acceptable to the others. Reason wasn't as excitable as Emotion or Feeling, nor as colorful as Memory and Imagination.
At the meeting, Anger has the floor explaining the crisis at hand. This one said that about me again iv had it. thay have messed with me for the second time this week. Anger is calling for a response to the situation. The first time was bad enough, but this time is the final straw. It is time to act.
As Anger speaks, the advisory board comes to life. Emotion begins to get really excited, pounding his fist upon the table, shouting for action. Feelings has left his seat and starts to run around the table in a frenzy. He has really lost it. Imagination is heard to cry out, "I can see it now." Memory can only mummer, "Oh boy, I remember the last time something like this happened." Reason just sits there saying, "Something surely must be done, but first let's look at every angle. Let's make a study of this. Let's take a look at both sides."
Pandemonium reigns. It always does when Anger is involved in the problem. "Shoot the dog!" "Shoot the owner!" Let them know just how angry you really are about this situation. Anger shouts, "Get even - I want satisfaction." The cry from the board is re-act ----re-act.
Before Christ came into my life, I would have followed my advisory board's an Meany times after beining born again try to re-act to this situation. I would have vented my anger with rage and wrath. But now that I'm a Christian,an trying to be Christlike I respond differently to anger. As a believer, I have added a new member to the advisory board that governs my decisions. This new member has shown me that God's desire is not that I should be a re-actor to angers petty whims, but that I should be an acting person who can control my actions and initiate the proper response to every angry situation.
So, before I respond in any manner to anger's demand for retaliation for what the neighbor's did, I introduce the Holy Spirit to the board in session. What a difference His presence makes when those crisis of anger pop-up. When He is asked to address the problems I've noticed
Emotion no longer gets excited.
Feelings doesn't psyche out.
Memory doesn't call up the past.
Imagination doesn't paint calamity scenes about the future.
Reason now sighs with relief saying, "At last something sensible is going to be done."
Angers charges are now ready to be dealt with.
As a believer, I am learning that as I give heed to the Word of God's instruction and the Holy Spirit's guidance--
I am gaining control of anger and it no longer controls me.
I am no longer afraid of anger and my response to it.
Like Christ, I choose to do what is right to do regardless of what my feelings and emotions urge me to do and regardless of what others push me to do.
I am learning to "Be angry and sin not."
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Conclusion
Thing to remember about anger.
Just one moment of uncontrolled anger before others can ruin your testimony.
Anger is too unpredictable to allow it to be in control
The anger ledger needs to be balanced at the end of every day. Don't carry it overnight.
According to Ephesians 4:31 anger keeps company with a pretty rough crowd: bitterness, wrath, clamor, slander and malice. These ugly traits are always ready to "tag along" with anger trying to influence it.
Galatians 5:22, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace and patience." You can't have your life filled with those four things and be angry at the same time with wrong anger.
Anger is contagious. What you sow is what you will reap. Consider the consequences of your words spoken in anger.
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