Anger

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil. (NKJV)

This passage of Scripture tells the reader several things about anger.

Depending on what happens we will experience anger, but we should not allow anger to cause us to sin. The passage then tells the reader to deal with the anger as soon as possible. This passage also includes a warning about how this can be an opportunity for the devil to have influence on how we may act on the anger that we are feeling.

Anger can be a complicated emotion that has profound effects on a person, and can also have an effect on the people around that person. Anger is a feeling that a person can experience without warning at any time. Sometimes we might see anger coming and sometimes we might not, and can be easily caught off guard.

Anger often causes people to act in ways we may not be proud of, and can cause us to make mistakes that will have consequences in our lives that we may regret. Anger can be difficult to control at times, and can develop into madness or uncontrollable rage.

A person experiencing anger may often experience physical effects, such as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and increased levels of adrenaline.

Anger is a way that we can give gratification to the flesh if we are not careful, and if the anger is not dealt with correctly, and in a reasonable amount of time, it can lead to that anger bearing fruit. That fruit can be identified as feelings of anxiety, hurt, despair, rejection, financial loss or broken relationships.

Proverbs 15:1-2 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

The way we respond when we get angry can determine if we are allowing anger to control us, or if we are controlling the anger.

Proverbs 16:32 “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” (NIV)

Lord Jesus, give your people wisdom to recognize anger when it happens, and strength to control any feelings of the anger they are experiencing, in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

 

Not on My watch

Psalm 121:4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep. (NKJV)

The phrase “not on my watch” is from the nature of command on board a ship that has different shifts that have been divided and called ‘watches”. Individuals take turns to be “the person on watch” and is in charge of the ship.

To be “the person on watch” entails serious status, having a great responsibility for the entire ship itself, also everyone that is on the ship.

Everything that happens on “your watch” is your responsibility. So if any mishaps, accidents or any kind of damage occurs, the person “on watch” will be held responsible, even if they don’t have anything to do with it.

It is considered to be a bad mark against the person “on watch” if a problem occurs when they were in charge, and did not take corrective action to stop the wrong doing from happening.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch” 24/7 for His people, and will keep them from dangers seen and unseen.  

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you,Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (NKJV)

A believer never has to feel that they are alone or unprotected.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch”

Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. (NKJV) Selah

Because God is a safe hiding place, He can keep his people from any danger that may come their way.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch”

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.” (NKJV)

No matter what season a person may be in, whether it be day or night, the word of God will persevere in a season of trials or tribulation that may arise.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch”

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord. (NKJV)

God can see weapons that are being formed against His people. Because He is on watch constantly and will intervene on His peoples behalf, He prevents what is being done, or what is being said from prospering and having an effect on His people.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch”

Psalm 91:10-11 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
¹¹ For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways. (NKJV)

“Thank you heavenly Father for being “on watch” for your people and for preventing any evil or plague to come near. Thank you also for encamping angels around and about your people, that keep your people each and every day. You said in your word that you would never leave us or forsake us. Our trust is only in You, in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (NKJV)

Identity theft can happen both in the natural and in the supernatural.

Identity theft in the natural happens when someone deliberately uses another person’s identity, or credit to gain a financial advantage for themselves.

By stealing a person’s identity, this often takes away the buying power from the person whose identity that has been stolen, leaving them at a disadvantage or loss.

The person who’s identity that has been stolen, can sometimes be held responsible for the perpetrator’s actions limiting the person’s buying power to make purchases.

Identity theft in the supernatural can be described as taking a believers identity in Christ.

Someone might ask the question “what is my identity in Christ?” The answer can be found in the following scripture;

1st Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” NKJV

One goal of the enemy is to try to steal a believer’s identity in Christ. If the enemy can accomplish this, not only is the believer’s identity taken, but a believer’s power and authority can also be lost.

Many times people will base their identities on what they do (from their jobs to their roles in relationships), defining themselves by these pursuits.

Many people struggle with their identity as a Christian because they do not know who they are in Christ. The enemy can often cause confusion or distractions by getting a believer to identify with other things which can easily lead to “supernatural identity theft.”

A believers identity defines who they are as a Christian and with that identity, believers can encompass the abundance of being a beloved child of God. Who are you in defines your identity, and that can be a question many people struggle to answer.

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart so is he” (KJV)

The way we think, and the thoughts we have as a believer, will reaffirm our identity as being;

A child of God

Ephesians 1:5 “He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will—” (AMP)

A citizen of heaven

Philippians 3:20 “But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;” (AMP)

A new creation

2nd Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. (AMP)

Lord Jesus, thank you our identity that we have in You, …Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

“Seeking His presence”

I have noticed on several occasions robins hunting for worms and after doing some research, I found it to be quite remarkable of how they find them. Basically, robins have 3 methods of finding worms. Robins find worms by;

• Vision—they turn their heads to one side and focus on the dirt moving, or to see if the worm is coming out of their burrows.
• Sound—they listen for movement of worms in the ground
• Touch—they stand still to be able to feel movement of the ground under their feet

These methods are effective with how the robin finds worms.

The 1^st most important step for the robin is to seek the worms that it wants to find, because the worms do not come to the robin on their own. If the robin does not go in search of seeking the worms it wants to eat, the robin will go hungry.

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him”.

As it is with the robin being diligent with seeking worms, we must also be diligent when we are seeking God.

One might ask “so how do I seek God”? Again as with the robin having several methods of seeking worms, we have several methods of how we can seek God;

We can seek Him thru prayer

2^nd Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”.

We can seek Him with fasting

Matt 6:17,18 “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly”.

We can seek Him with our praise

Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord”!

We can seek Him with the reading of His word

Psalm 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”.

We can seek Him by being sitting quietly, and being still to listen for the sound of His voice

Psalm 131:2 “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child”.

We can seek Him with our worship

Matt 2:11 “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh”.

God is not a respecter of persons, He will acknowledge whoever comes to Him seeking His presence

Matt 7:7,8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened”.

Abba Father, give me the strength to remain diligent about seeking you. In Jesus name, Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev