“Be diligent about this work, throw yourself into it, so that your progress may be clear to everyone. Pay attention to yourself and to the teaching, continue in it, for by so doing you will deliver both yourself and those who hear you.”

1 Timothy 4:15-16 (JNT)

Life is not a dress rehearsal!
You only go around once!
There are No repeat performances!

The issues we are going to get into can and have caused hurts in many people. If we do not understand God’s perspective on issues that can come up in our lives, how can Satan be defeated in our lives? Plus, how can we help teach anyone else? Ungodly counsel, ungodly advice, ungodly listening, or the usurping of authority, is detrimental to the cornerstone that God is trying to raise up in the body of Christ today.

Righteous -Self Righteous!

What is the heart motive of one who would call someone else self-righteousness? Heart motive must be looked at. We are not supposed to criticize anyone. If everybody is getting with God, spending time with God, and referring to the written Word, and the examples which have been set for us; than there is no reason for anybody to point out anybody’s sins!

“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So, when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? (NIV) Romans 2:1-4

Self-righteousness has nothing to do with one thinking themselves to be right. It has nothing to do with that at all. Look at Jesus for example, did He not walk around on this earth thinking Himself to be right? Of course, He did, He was right! He was right all the time! So, was he self-righteous? No! He was righteous! The people who accused Him of being self-righteous were the self-righteous ones!

As far as self-righteousness goes, the one who is having the nerve to point out someone else’s sin is the one who is being self-righteous!

God’s own word sets the standard for holiness, and we should be trying to push toward the level of holiness, that has been exemplified in the written Word through the life of Jesus! That should be our focus! Anything less than that would be double minded.

Jewish New Testament Commentary, states the following: “Believers commit sins. They are not to be confronted by self-righteous fellow sinners passing judgement (Mt. 7:1-5, Ro. 2:1-4) but by God’s own Word, which sets the standard for holiness. Then they will not make the mistake of the rich young ruler who asserted that he had kept the Ten Commandments from his youth (Mt. 19:20). Instead of deceiving ourselves with excuses, we should be walking in the light trying to do what pleases God. And we should acknowledge our sins as we commit them, even though we do not intend to commit them.”

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way, you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. (NIV) Matthew 7:1-5

There is nothing wrong with thinking you are right. If God tells you, you are, are you going to doubt God and say, “Oh God, I know you are telling me I’m right, but it can’t be I’m right.” Of course, you are not going to be right all the time, only Jesus was right all the time. But! You better be on course, and you better know it, and the following is why: How can you walk around doubting whether you are right or not, and walk in the power and authority of Jesus? How can you walk around doubting whether you are on course with God and whether you are generally correct about what God has told you to be living in your life, and at the same time living out your salvation? If you don’t believe you are on the right course, how can you walk around in power and authority? You can’t! There is no way!

We are not talking about walking around in pride, that is NOT at all what we are talking about. We are not talking about self-promotion, or self-power, or thinking we have all the answers. This is what we are talking about. We must walk listening to God and believing and knowing we are on course, and this will be the way we walk in the authority and power we have been given. We must walk in the confidence God gives us, or we will not be able to stand! This is the only way to live our lives, and than we will be right!

Where Is That Opinion Coming From?

Has anyone ever said anything to you about something you were doing that they felt was wrong? How did it make you feel? The following are examples:

Our thoughts and opinions are formulated from something we have been taught!

Where do we get these wrong teachings? Our parents, schoolteachers, friends, siblings, and pastors, to name a few. We even learn and formulate opinions from what we read and what we see on TV, and from the movies we watch.

How many times have you looked at someone and formed an opinion of whether they were walking a godly walk or not? How many times have you looked at someone and passed judgment on what they were doing or wearing as being ungodly? How often have you felt led to say something about it to them? Did you?

As far as our opinions and thoughts go, we may not even realize who taught us. However, anytime we make a judgment about how God, would do something, or how God wouldn’t do something; or how God would have someone do something, or not do something.

If we don’t go to God and get His perspective about the individual person or about the individual area, we are automatically participating in the opinion of man! Without God’s perspective, we automatically apply a worldly opinion, or an opinion of man, to a concept only God can understand.

Ask yourself this question. Would you want to know, you had overridden God’s perspective in someone’s life with your “own” wisdom?

Christians say, God gives us wisdom, and He does, when we are listening to Him and when we are letting Him teach us.

“A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. (NIV) Proverbs 16:23

“He who answers before listening -- that is his folly and his shame. (NIV) Proverbs 18:13

God is in Control!

How many times have you heard people say, “God is in control”?

God IS in control of the final situation in this world. However, the Bible clearly states that Satan has control of this world – in fact he is declared as the prince of this world! As far as everything in your life God has as much control of your life according to how much you allow Him too! Our choices can take God out of control of our lives!

We need to fully understand this. God is not in control of every situation in our life, unless we spend time with Him and seek His direction and then follow through on everything, He instructs us to do. Therefore, it is so very important we learn to hear God’s voice! Hearing God’s voice is our Divine right and all we must do is learn to be still and listen. We must learn to be still no matter how much time it takes. There is no instant breakfast in this!

“Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. (NIV) John 12:31

“and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. (NIV) John 16:11

“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. (NIV) 1 John 5:19

Let’s say you have a problem area in your life. Have you ever heard someone say? “Just give it to God, and He will take care of all of it. He will deliver you! God knows your needs; He will take care of it?

I’m going to get really blunt here! Most Christians honestly think that God is sitting in Heaven on His throne feeling sorry for them, and He is going to jump on His white horse and deliver them out of whatever the situation is.

God knows our needs, but He is not moved by need! He is moved by faith/trust and our obedience to Him! If you think that God, is going to feel sorry for you and suddenly everything is going to get better in your life. This is “magical” thinking. To sit around and think and say, “God is in control” and He will take care of it - is to ‘expect’ God to work and operate on a moment-to-moment divine intervention basis! God doesn’t work like that!

I Corinthians 3:9a states we are co-workers with God! Ephesians 6 says, “Having done all stand.”

When a faithful follower has done everything, God has asked them to do in a situation according to God’s perspective, and then and only then may it be possible at that time for divine intervention! But God must make that decision – it is God’s call!

God is NOT our servant; we are His servants. So, when a situation or circumstance occurs, we need to get with God and asked Him for His perspective and what if anything He would like us to do regarding the situation. And after we have done everything, He wants us to do, whether it takes one day or one year or even more – and even after that we may still have to wait for a very long time for divine intervention – because people have choices!

Think about this for a minute, when someone was healed by Jesus, was anything required of them? Yes! Faith and works (effort)! I urge you to go to God and to the written Word and see what was required of each person. Scriptures like, Luke 18:42, Mark 10:52 and Mark 6:56, Luke 8:48, all show a measure of effort and faith. Every scripture that I can look at on healing, shows an individual “going after” Jesus and that took work and effort on their part. While all the time, exercising their faith/trust. Jesus even asked someone to, “Stretch out your hand”. To someone else who had not ever walked He said, “Take up your bed and walk!”

We just can’t sit still, and expect to do nothing, that is not faith/trust. Faith/trust - takes action! To think any differently is to not know God at all! Likewise, if we have money problems for instance, we just can’t sit around. Some people whine and take money from others! There are those who think they are entitled to do this because they are in the ministry! They feel that the parishioners should take care of their needs. Others think because their life has been tough or something to that effect, they have been entitled for people to bail them out! If that is the case they are thinking stupidly, if people choose this route! Nothing is going to change in your life, unless you go to God, get direction, follow it, and allow God to maneuver you into a position that He can work in! Faith/trust takes effort, and that is - work!

By our choice of whether to go to God for his perspective and for his instruction regarding each and everything in our life, puts God in control of our lives. Then we can get to a point in a situation where God can say as He did in the written Word, “having done all, stand!” This statement alone indicates you must do something, and it takes effort (work), faith and TRUST!

We just can’t sit around and expect God to deliver us! It doesn’t work like that. That kind of Christianity is off! I’m not saying that God can’t do it, I’m saying He doesn’t work like that! When have you ever seen Him do that? If God works on need, why are all the people in different areas of the world homeless and starving? It doesn’t work like that. God works through people!

Definition of Rebellion!

Rebellion is: When you realize you are doing something wrong, and you keep on doing it anyway!

“Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. (NIV) Hosea 14:9

"The whole assembly of the LORD says: `How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the LORD and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? (NIV) Joshua 22:16

“For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king." (NIV) 1 Samuel 15:23

“For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! (NIV) Deuteronomy 31:27

Disgust!

If you are looking at an event with resentment, there is: un-forgiveness. However, if you are looking at an event with disgust, and feeling the event had a lack of purpose and that the event had an underlying motive that is: righteous anger!

Webster: disgust - To arouse nausea, loathing in, sicken. To offend the taste or moral sense of - repel.

Webster: anger - A feeling of great displeasure, hostility, indignation, or exasperation: wrath.

When Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, He was not angry. He was disgusted! There is a difference. He was not angry, it was deeper than that, he was disgusted. He was looking at the intent of their hearts, through the eyes of His Father! He was seeing the underlying motive of their hearts. This is disgust.

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. “So, you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. “They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them `Rabbi.' But you are not to be called `Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth `father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called `teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. Woe to you, blind guides! You say, `If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' “You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? “You also say, `If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' “You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? “Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. “And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. “And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices -- mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law -- justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. “You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. “Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, `If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' “So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers! You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? “Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. “And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. “I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. “Look, your house is left to you desolate. “For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" (NIV) Matthew 23:1-39

Emotions versus Your Purpose!

We are to think about people more than we think of ourselves, but, not to the point where it is as important as our responsibilities for God here on this earth. We can care about people to much!

When Jesus was on this earth, if He had put other people’s emotions before His purpose, He would not have allowed himself to go through the pain and suffering that He did! Remember, we are talking about emotions here, we are not talking about an individual all-around benefit. We know Jesus didn’t do this. However, if He had put the emotions of his family, friends, and all the people who loved him ahead of His purpose He would have done it for the sole reason of not wanting his loved ones to see Him go through the pain and suffering! If Jesus had put their emotions ahead of what God had called Him to do – He would not have gone to the cross! If He had done this – His Father’s plan for redemption and forgiveness for the world would not have happened!

It is not as important to care for people and settle them emotionally as it is to take care of and accomplish what God directed for your day! Let’s say someone calls you and they were in distress, and you would want to comfort them. If you did and it interfered with what God needed YOU to get done that day - your choice could have ramifications that could thwart God accomplishing what He needed to! Remember: if you are listening to the Holy Spirit, HE will tell you whether you are the anointed appointed one to comfort that person or not.

Decreasing for His Purpose!

“If you become a necessity to someone’s life, you are out of God’s will. As a servant, your primary responsibility is to be a “friend of the “bridegroom” (John 3:29). When you see a person who is close to grasping the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been used in the right direction. And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray . . . Over and over again, we try to be amateur providences in someone’s life. We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God’s will and saying. “This person should not have to experience this difficulty.” Instead of being a friend of the bridegroom. Our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, “You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I lost sight of Him. You may often have to watch Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it.” (See Matthew 10:34). (Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest)

Now, there are times when God will make an exception. Remember too: God knows the person and the situation far better than what you can hear or see. It is not our responsibility to take God’s place in anyone’s life!

We can not allow our emotions to get in front of our purpose for the day. It is much easier to rely on our emotions than to stop and say, “God, what is your will and what is your perspective and what should I be focusing on?” Most people today do not want to ask God what He wants them to do – nor do they want to hear what He might say to them! People today and yes even Christians they want to hear what they want to hear! And they think if they don’t ask God what to do, they will not have to suffer the results for their – disobedience! WRONG! God knows why you don’t ask!

If Jesus had put his mother’s emotions and the emotions of the disciples ahead of his purpose to go to the cross, where would we be today? If Jesus had allowed His families emotions (Mark 3:29-21) to get in the way, where would all of us be today?

When Your Confidence Gets Shaken!

There were times when Jesus was teaching and preaching, that people through stones at Him and they even hollered at Him and cursed him.

Let’s say for a solid week every day when He went to speak, He was attacked. Let’s say there were even a few of the same people doing it constantly. If Jesus had allowed His confidence to be impaired for longer than a five-to-ten-minute period, if this had of happened would God have been able to perform a miracle through him that day? NO!

We must understand this! Because if we are going to be sent out by God, in what ever way He wants to, there are going to be people who are not going to agree with what you say and do. These people are going to sling stuff at you that might shock you. You may not be prepared to deal with it to an extent, you may even be shocked! Of course, we all know God can tell us what to do, because with God we will be prepared. But! On our own we will not be prepared.

If our confidence is shaken, how is the Holy Spirit going to work through us? He will have a very hard time in doing that! We must be able to stand in God, and not allow Satan to shake us, we must take this seriously.

Godliness According to God!

A measure of sustenance in the personality and the heart of the Ever-loving Father. A level of Holiness, so perfect in its own presence that peace and glory radiate out of it. A form of power, so intense in goodness, that evil runs from it.

Worldliness According to God!

A type of pleasure used by Satan to attract, distract, deter, and delay an individual, from what God has for them. Worldliness, attracts and draws evil.

Evil According to God!

The “essence” of Satan, that brings havoc, destruction, and death! Evil attracts evil, uncontrollably!

“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God -- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (NIV) 2 Timothy 3:2-5

“Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. “Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. “Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his," and, everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness. In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. “If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. “Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. “And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. “Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (NIV) 2 Timothy 2:14-26

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you “to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time -- God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of Lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. “In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. (NIV) 1 Timothy 6:11-21

Examples of godlessness: Judas in the New Testament - Old Testament - Eli the High Priest, I Samuel 2:12; 3:11-14; 4:14-22.

Worry!

“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (NIV) Matthew 6:34

When there are circumstances, and unresolved issues in your life, if you are thinking about these issues at least once a day you are worrying about them.

Once you have gotten with God and received His perspective and His direction and once you have given them over to God than you shouldn’t think about them! If the devil brings them into your mind you are going to have to tell him to - shut up! You will have to remind Satan; this is God’s, and you are going to obey Him! Plus, having gotten your direction from God the problem is not yours you are simply obeying! You will have to remind yourself, that after speaking with God and getting His direction your problem is in God’s hands!

By worrying you are wasting God’s time! Why? Because your time is God’s time! God doesn’t want you thinking about anything except the things He wants you to do that day! Every other thought should be out of your mind.

If there is a circumstance or and issue that has come up regarding something which can affect your calling, remember this. You may have to remind Satan your calling is God’s calling, and God will make a way when there is no way.

If someone in and around your life doesn’t make the right choice, God will still have his way, even if it isn’t in God’s best time frame!

If we are doing what God is telling us to do, there really isn’t any time for us to be worrying. Let’s say, we are going about our day and a new problem comes up. If it isn’t an emergency, and if it isn’t something that has caused un-forgiveness in you, or it isn’t a crisis of the moment, then the problem should be able to wait until the next day!

If you are worrying, it is going to directly affect what you are supposed to be doing that day. Even if you are not spending a whole lot of time in a pity party, it doesn’t matter because it is getting your focus off what God has for you enough, to affect the quickness in which you do things. In other words, the speed in which things are accomplished.

Worrying accomplishes nothing. Once we have put a problem at the foot of the cross, once we have said, “God, I know your Son has paid the price for all my problems, and I’m putting this problem at the foot of the cross. I know you promised to meet my needs. God, what ever the need is in my life, all I’m interested in is serving you, and bringing you glory! So, whatever you must do to solve this problem in my life, for me to serve you and eventually accomplish the calling you have put into my life, I trust you God!

Once you have said to God, it is his problem, if you are bringing it up again, you are literally taking the problem back. Once you have put the problem at the foot of the cross: It is paid for just like a sin! It is done! It is now God’s.

Therefore, what ever the need, you will be relieved the direct suffering of that problem. You will be relieved of the major consequences which could stop you from accomplishing what God has said for you to accomplish.

When a Problem Is Really put at the Foot of The Cross!

1. The problem will be completely taken care of.
2. The person will be relieved.
3. God will make a way so that the person will be able to do what God has set out for them.

One of the above must happen. Here again do not necessarily look for the solution to the problem to come in the time frame you want it to!

If our attitude is: “God I’m only here to bring you glory, I’m only here so that you can place me in the best position that I can be in for the calling you have created me for.” If you are only thinking about that and nothing more, you will have very few problems. If we are walking in the will of God to the best of our ability, we will begin to see God placing us and moving things so that we can be in the best position we can be in for Him to use us. Seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness should be our only issue, and it should be our - only concern! Nothing else should concern us! Why? Because, He said follow me and the rest will come.

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

If you seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness with all your heart and all your soul and if you have your mind on that He will take care of the rest. It is a guarantee!

A REMINDER: There is a difference between worrying about a situation and dwelling on situation. Whether it be something that has happened or something you feel is going to happen, worrying is - a SIN! Once your focus has been removed from God to the problem/situation than it becomes a sin. As soon as the situation becomes your “focus” you have allowed a wedge to come between you and God. When you worry, you keep putting your hands in to the problem. It is like sitting there and grasping and tugging at the problem repeatedly. You might as well as have a set of “worry beads” and continue to play with them in your hands. This is a control issue due to a lack of faith and trust in God. This is related to the fact that one feels as if they must handle it - because they can’t trust anyone!

When you dwell on a problem you have literally taken up residence in the problem. IT BECOMES YOUR ABODE! IF YOU ARE ABIDING THERE - YOU ARE NOT ABIDING IN THE VINE! YOU ARE NOT ABIDING IN GOD! IT IS SIMPLE AS THAT! WHEN YOU WORRY THE PROBLEM BECOMES YOUR FOCUS – IT IS ALL COMSUMING – WHEN THIS HAPPENS – GOD IS PUSHED ASIDE!

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (NIV) John 15:5

Manipulation!

God doesn’t accept manipulation on any condition. If you have in your heart to do something, and you give a person a different impression of what it is in your heart, and what you are doing and the reason for it; that is the same as a – lie! There is no difference. There is no such thing as good manipulation - none. It is a lie! It is deceiving, and it is a deceiving way of handling life. When you are talking to someone and you are giving them the impression you mean one thing, and you don’t. It is fakery, it’s deceiving, its manipulative, and it is a lie. It is a spirit from the pit of hell, it is a spirit of witchcraft.

Manipulation is a tool Satan uses to keep us from succeeding in living our lives in accordance with God’s perfect will. He uses manipulative tactics against us that can affect us in three basic ways.

Satan’s Manipulative Tactics against Us

1. To steal our time, Satan uses obligation, Example: We feel obligated to do something and/or volunteer to do something without first asking God.
2. To kill our focus on God, Satan uses distraction. There’s allot of scriptures to back this up in biblical stories.
3. To destroy our relationship with God, Satan uses temptation. If you look at “steal, kill and destroy” -- his purpose is to steal, kill and destroy.

There are different things in everyday life, peer pressure (obligation), and temptation.

Manipulation stems from selfishness. Manipulation is also a tool that people use to succeed in getting their own way. Selfish motives are destructive. We think we know what we need, so we take it upon ourselves to get it! Only God knows what we need, and He knows how to get it to us, effectively, honestly, safely, and permanently! If we do things our own way and with ourselves in mind, we will eventually fail. If by chance we succeed at first, we will still eventually fail if we do it our own way because peace will not follow us. There will be no peace!

When you manipulate someone, you totally disregard their feelings. Is this loving your neighbor as yourself? Is this the way you would want someone to treat you? Would you honestly not care if someone was purposely deceiving you because of a selfish motive?

Manipulation can also stem from doubt. If you have fear in your life, you will have doubt. Faith, joy, strength, and love can overcome fear in your life. If you have total trust in God to handle all things in your life, then you will have no fear, no doubt, and no need to manipulate. If you feel at times an urge or need to manipulate then you are NOT trusting God to handle things His way, and in his time. You must learn to wait on God. If you are not waiting on God, you are walking ahead of God and His will for you and you are walking in disobedience!

Using manipulation to help someone only hurts them. If you discover you have been using manipulation or deceit to get a person to do what you feel God wants them to do in their own life, you are not helping that person. God looks at a person’s heart. If a person is doing what God wants them to do, because you manipulated or deceived them into doing it, God will not honor that person’s efforts in what they have done, because they did NOT do it for God. It did not come from their hearts.

If your goal is to encourage some one to follow God’s will in their own lives then you must set a clean, clear example for yourself. If you are doing selfish things against God’s will in your life, how can you expect someone to follow your advice?

The Most Effective Way to Encourage Someone to Follow God!

1. Set a good example yourself. Be obedient to the Father to the best of your ability in everything you do.
2. Say only what God tells you to say to the person.
3. Allow the person to make their own choices in life.

Parents Manipulating Children

As parents you are responsible to raise your children when they are young, in a manner according to God’s will for them. However, they have choices. If they make a wrong choice, we are to correct them and encourage them to make a better choice the next time. We are not meant to deceive our children to trick them so that they make the choice we want them to make. As we continually guide them into safe righteous paths and teach them the ways of God, we must also allow them the right to make their own mistakes.

Steps to Take to Avoid Manipulative Habits or Patterns in Your Life!

1. Always check to make sure what you want, or need is of God.
2. Submit the need or problem to God
3. Follow God’s direction.
4. Do not do anything or say anything other than what God has instructed.
5. Try (make a continual solid attempt) to avoid getting yourself into situations where you will feel trapped or afraid. This is when people tend to react.
6. Live your life in accordance with God’s word.
7. Walk and talk with God and don’t forget to listen! Give God a chance to talk to you.

Regarding Your Past!

Your past is not worth revisiting unless you are doing it - with God! Always remember, God will bring you back to your past, so he can change something in you NOW!

If You are Walking with God!

If you are walking with God, and you are doing what He tells you to, you will be in the time frame He needs you to be in - to accomplish whatever He needs to do in your life

If I’m With Him, I’m In His Time Frame and I’m in His will! Therefore, I’m in Position to Receive the Blessings He Is Willing to bestow on me, because I’m where I should be!

So, I can’t look back, and I Can’t Look Forward, I Must Keep My Focus on What God is Telling Me to Do - Right Now!

sw-h

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