A Life of Freedom
Pages 256-259
As we continue our quest of highlighting particular Truths that are of crucial importance to you and me as women, we face the Truth of God's sufficiency.
In a very real sense, whatever lies we believe about God will affect how we approach everything else in life. For example, if we think that God is inadequate to meet all of our needs, then we'll tend to search for other means to fill our happiness void.
Society tells us of all the things we must have in order to be complete. In reality, though, when we have God, we have all we really need.
7. God's grace is sufficient for me.
2 Corinthians 12:9, "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
As a child of God, I will never face a circumstance that exceeds His grace. Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. When I am weak, He is strong. When I am empty, He is full. When I have no resources of my own left, His resources have not begun to be depleted.
8. The blood of Christ is sufficient to cover all my sin.
1 John 1:7, "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
There is not a sin I have ever committed or a sin I could ever commit that cannot be forgiven and covered by the all-sufficient sacrifice of Jesus' blood.
This should not cause us to take sin more lightly; to the contrary, the realization that our sin required the lifeblood of the Lord Jesus should leave us broken and humble in spirit -- and determined to choose the pathway of obedience, by the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit.
9. The Cross of Christ is sufficient to conquer my sinful flesh.
Romans 6:6-7, "knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin."
Through the death of Christ and my union with Him, I have been set free from the dominion and power of sin. I am no longer a slave to sin. When I do sin, it is not because I couldn't help myself; it is because I chose to yield to my old master.
The Truth is, I don't have to sin!
Romans 6:14, "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace."
10. My past does not have to plague me.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (The Message), "Don't you realize that this is not the way to live? Unjust people who don't care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don't qualify as citizens in God's kingdom. A number of you know from experience what I'm talking about, for not so long ago you were on that list. Since then, you've been cleaned up and given a fresh start by Jesus, our Master, our Messiah, and by our God present in us, the Spirit."
As believers, we are reminded that sin does separate from God; but then we are assured that through Christ, the worst of sinners can be made clean and new.
11. God's Word is sufficient to lead me, teach me, and heal me.
Psalm 19:7, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple."
Psalm 107:20, "He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."
Maybe we have lost confidence in the power of the Word of God. Maybe we've forgotten that the Word is able to radically change a life. Maybe we've stopped believing that The Word is able to deliver people from bondage. Maybe we've been deceived.
The Truth is, the Holy Word of God is alive and powerful! It is medicine for the trouble hearts and peace for plagued minds!
It is a lamp for our feet and light for our path. Whatever our need, whatever our circumstances, the Word of God is sufficient to meet that need.
And it is sufficient to meet the needs of those we love.
Amen.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Walking in the Truth About God
Witness the Chains as They Fall Away
Pages 253-256
We have already looked at many of Satan's lies and the corresponding Truth that counters each lie. In this final chapter, we're going to highlight several of those Truths that are particularly crucial for women in our day to believe and embrace.
These are key Truths that we must go back to over and over again. They form a solid foundation and a protective fortress for the mind, will, and emotions. This is the Truth that sets you and me free.
1. God is good.
Psalm 119:68, "You are good, and do good; teach me Your statutes."
The Truth is, regardless of the circumstances, regardless of what we feel, regardless of what we think, God is good, and everything He does is good.
2. God loves me and wants me to have His best.
Romans 8:32, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"
God doesn't love us because we're lovable or worthy, but because He is love. There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn or deserve His love. We cannot comprehend such unconditional love; but if we believe it and receive it, His love will transform our lives.
3. I am complete and accepted in Christ.
There is not one thing we can do to make ourselves acceptable to a holy God. Yet we can stand before Him clean and unashamed, acceptable in His sight because of Jesus Christ. Jesus is acceptable to Him, and we stand in Him.
4. God is enough.
Psalm 23:1, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
The Truth is, if we have Him we have everything we need for our present peace and happiness.
5. God can be trusted.
Isaiah 28:16 (The Amplified), "Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic]."
Hebrews 13:5, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"
6. God doesn't make any mistakes.
Isaiah 46:10, "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.'"
Other people may make serious mistakes that affect our lives. But God is always fulfilling His eternal purposes, and they cannot be thwarted by any human failure.
If we are in Christ, our lives are in His hand, and nothing can touch our lives that has not first been "filtered through His fingers of love."
Take A Minute to Pray
Lord, thank You for Your Word that tells me the truth about who You are, what You have done for me, and how much You love me. Right now, I claim that truth, and I surrender to it. Amen.
Pages 253-256
We have already looked at many of Satan's lies and the corresponding Truth that counters each lie. In this final chapter, we're going to highlight several of those Truths that are particularly crucial for women in our day to believe and embrace.
These are key Truths that we must go back to over and over again. They form a solid foundation and a protective fortress for the mind, will, and emotions. This is the Truth that sets you and me free.
1. God is good.
Psalm 119:68, "You are good, and do good; teach me Your statutes."
The Truth is, regardless of the circumstances, regardless of what we feel, regardless of what we think, God is good, and everything He does is good.
2. God loves me and wants me to have His best.
Romans 8:32, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"
God doesn't love us because we're lovable or worthy, but because He is love. There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn or deserve His love. We cannot comprehend such unconditional love; but if we believe it and receive it, His love will transform our lives.
3. I am complete and accepted in Christ.
There is not one thing we can do to make ourselves acceptable to a holy God. Yet we can stand before Him clean and unashamed, acceptable in His sight because of Jesus Christ. Jesus is acceptable to Him, and we stand in Him.
4. God is enough.
Psalm 23:1, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
The Truth is, if we have Him we have everything we need for our present peace and happiness.
5. God can be trusted.
Isaiah 28:16 (The Amplified), "Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic]."
Hebrews 13:5, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"
6. God doesn't make any mistakes.
Isaiah 46:10, "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.'"
Other people may make serious mistakes that affect our lives. But God is always fulfilling His eternal purposes, and they cannot be thwarted by any human failure.
If we are in Christ, our lives are in His hand, and nothing can touch our lives that has not first been "filtered through His fingers of love."
Take A Minute to Pray
Lord, thank You for Your Word that tells me the truth about who You are, what You have done for me, and how much You love me. Right now, I claim that truth, and I surrender to it. Amen.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Surrendering to the Truth
Pages 243-252
We have examined many different lies that are widely believed by Christian women today. However, we have by no means exhausted the lies in the Enemy's arsenal.
Deception has endless variations, which Satan tailors to our natural bents. Like a seasoned fisherman, he selects the lure that he knows is most likely to attract his intended prey -- the one we are least likely to consider harmful.
Our entire study has been structured around two related concepts:
1. Believing lies places us in bondage.
All of us need to be alert and on guard for Satan's lies.
1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
His methods are cunning and deceptive. Knowing that most of us will not fall for outright lies, he feeds us subtle propaganda. Judging from the bondage that many women live in, he is doing a pretty good job of it. We see unhappiness, lies, and self-destruction all around us.
2. The Truth has the power to set us free.
The good news is that the Truth is always stronger than any lie, just as our Savior Jesus Christ is always stronger than our Enemy. Believers are not immune to Satan's attacks, but we do have a weapon to protect us from them. We have the understanding of God's Word as absolute Truth.
John 8:32, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Psalm 91:4, "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler."
Do You Want to Receive the Power that Will Set You Free?
Then, surrender to the Truth of God's Word!
The Truth has the power to overcome every lie. That is what the Enemy doesn't want you to realize. As long as you believe his lies, he can keep you in bondage.
The Truth has the power to set us free and to protect our minds and hearts from deceptive thoughts and feelings. The Truth has the power to sanctify us -- and to purify our minds, our hearts and our spirits.
When we learn the Truth, believe it, surrender to it, and live it, we will find ourselves set free. Then we can live the life Christ meant us to live -- life abundant!
We have examined many different lies that are widely believed by Christian women today. However, we have by no means exhausted the lies in the Enemy's arsenal.
Deception has endless variations, which Satan tailors to our natural bents. Like a seasoned fisherman, he selects the lure that he knows is most likely to attract his intended prey -- the one we are least likely to consider harmful.
Our entire study has been structured around two related concepts:
1. Believing lies places us in bondage.
All of us need to be alert and on guard for Satan's lies.
1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
His methods are cunning and deceptive. Knowing that most of us will not fall for outright lies, he feeds us subtle propaganda. Judging from the bondage that many women live in, he is doing a pretty good job of it. We see unhappiness, lies, and self-destruction all around us.
2. The Truth has the power to set us free.
The good news is that the Truth is always stronger than any lie, just as our Savior Jesus Christ is always stronger than our Enemy. Believers are not immune to Satan's attacks, but we do have a weapon to protect us from them. We have the understanding of God's Word as absolute Truth.
John 8:32, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Psalm 91:4, "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler."
Do You Want to Receive the Power that Will Set You Free?
Then, surrender to the Truth of God's Word!
The Truth has the power to overcome every lie. That is what the Enemy doesn't want you to realize. As long as you believe his lies, he can keep you in bondage.
The Truth has the power to set us free and to protect our minds and hearts from deceptive thoughts and feelings. The Truth has the power to sanctify us -- and to purify our minds, our hearts and our spirits.
When we learn the Truth, believe it, surrender to it, and live it, we will find ourselves set free. Then we can live the life Christ meant us to live -- life abundant!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Living a God-Centered Life
It's All About Him
Pages 228-235
The final lie of this chapter seems to have found its way into the fabric of our selfish society -- "It's all about me." Everything revolves around me; nothing is more important than my wants, my needs, my desires!
This attitude has broken marriages, families, and hearts everywhere. The truth for believers is that this life is not all about them; it is all about God. He is the reason we exist, and we should live to honor and glorify Him.
40. The lie: It's all about me.
It's not enough for us to be the center of our own universe. We want to be the center of everyone else's universe as well -- including God's.
When others don't bow down before us and devote themselves to promoting our happiness and meeting our needs, we get hurt and start looking for alternate ways to fulfill our egocentric agenda.
The Truth: God is the beginning and ending and center of all things. All things were created by Him and for Him. It's all about Him!
Colossians 1:16-18 (Amplified Bible)
"For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).
Philippians 1:20-21, "...according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
A Penetrating Question
How would your life look if you lived wholly for the glory and pleasure of God and the advancement of His Kingdom?
Once we agree with God that we exist for His pleasure and His glory, we can accept whatever comes into our lives as part of His sovereign will and purpose. We will not resent, resist, or reject the "hard things," but embrace them as friends -- sovereignly designed by God to make us like Jesus and to bring glory to Himself.
We will be able to look into His face and say, "It's not about me. It's about You, Lord. If it pleases You, it pleases me. All that matters is that You are glorified."
Pages 228-235
The final lie of this chapter seems to have found its way into the fabric of our selfish society -- "It's all about me." Everything revolves around me; nothing is more important than my wants, my needs, my desires!
This attitude has broken marriages, families, and hearts everywhere. The truth for believers is that this life is not all about them; it is all about God. He is the reason we exist, and we should live to honor and glorify Him.
40. The lie: It's all about me.
It's not enough for us to be the center of our own universe. We want to be the center of everyone else's universe as well -- including God's.
When others don't bow down before us and devote themselves to promoting our happiness and meeting our needs, we get hurt and start looking for alternate ways to fulfill our egocentric agenda.
The Truth: God is the beginning and ending and center of all things. All things were created by Him and for Him. It's all about Him!
Colossians 1:16-18 (Amplified Bible)
"For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).
He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent]."
The Truth: My life is dispensable. I was created for His pleasure and glory.Philippians 1:20-21, "...according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
A Penetrating Question
How would your life look if you lived wholly for the glory and pleasure of God and the advancement of His Kingdom?
Once we agree with God that we exist for His pleasure and His glory, we can accept whatever comes into our lives as part of His sovereign will and purpose. We will not resent, resist, or reject the "hard things," but embrace them as friends -- sovereignly designed by God to make us like Jesus and to bring glory to Himself.
We will be able to look into His face and say, "It's not about me. It's about You, Lord. If it pleases You, it pleases me. All that matters is that You are glorified."
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