Worry

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Worry

Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body not more than clothing?” (Amp)

Jesus covered several topics in His sermon on the mount. In Matthew chapter 6 verses 25 to 27, Jesus speaks about worrying, and makes it very clear that worrying about anything does not line up with having faith in God. He also gives several examples of God’s provision for all creation.

Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow (seed) nor (reap the harvest) nor gather (the crops) into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not much more than they? (AMP)

Matthew 6:30 “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive and green today and tomorrow is (cut and) thrown (as fuel) into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! (AMP)

When a person is worried about something, they are showing a lack of faith and trust that God is in control of what happens.

Worrying is saying “I know what you said God, but…”

Worrying is saying “I believe you are in control of what happens God, but…”

Worrying is not trusting God.

A simple definition of worry is; Thoughts that are being focused on the outcome of something (often expecting negative results), when the person that is worrying has no control over what the outcome will be.

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.” (AMP)

Worrying can cause anxiety…anxiety can cause stress…stress can cause depression…depression can cause worry. Worrying can cause a person to run in a circle going no where, if that person allows worry to control or consume them. Worrying is not healthy or good for you.

Proverbs 12:25 “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good [encouraging] word makes it glad.” (AMP)

Whatever happens, can only happen if God allows it to happen.

1st Peter 5:7 “Casting all your cares [all anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him for him for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. (AMP)

When worry is replaced with prayer, it is a demonstration of having both trust and faith in almighty God.

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden on the LORD [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail). (AMP)

Lord Jesus, I give you all of my cares, and put both my trust and faith in you. In Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

Compromise

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He didn’t compromise

Daniel 6:10 “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.”

A definition of compromise is; “to accept standards that are lower than desirable, or to weaken or give up one’s principles, values, or ideas as for reasons of expediency.”

Daniel not only refused to “compromise” his daily custom of praying, he continued to do it in front of opened windows where he could be clearly seen by others.  

He could have easily “compromised” and gone to a different place to pray, or close the windows to not be seen by others.

The 6th chapter of Daniel gives a detailed story of how Daniel rose to a position of authority over others.

Daniel was a favorite of the king. He had experience, wisdom, a sense of history, great leadership abilities, a positive attitude and revelation from God. Daniel 6:3 “Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirt was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.”

Individuals plotted against Daniel to have him cast into the lion’s den; Vs 7 “All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.”

Daniel was saved from the lions because of God’s intervention; Vs 22 “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

This fate that should killed Daniel, wound up destroying those that had plotted against Daniel along with their families; Vs 24 “And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.”

God gets the glory out of it all; Vs 26 “I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.”

Often times it might cost something to stand up for the values that a persons has. As we see in the story of Daniel, the price that might be paid can be the threat of losing ones life.

Daniel 6:16 “So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions.”

On several occasions I have heard the term “count the cost.” Daniel did not hesitate to “count the cost” when he heard that the writing was signed, he immediately went to his regular place of prayer and started praying.

On any given occasion, a person will be given the opportunity to compromise the values that they have. Like with Daniel, when we trust and have faith in God to protect and deliver us, there is no need to “compromise” or worry about the outcome of not compromising.

Lord Jesus, we stand on your word that you “Will never leave us or forsake us, and you are a friend that sticks closer that a brother. May we always be reminded of the example that was set by your servant Daniel. In Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

Secret Place

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Secret Place

Matthew 6:6 “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees you in secret will reward you openly.”

The term “secret place” appears in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word “cether” in Hebrew refers to a place that is hidden or concealed- a “secret place”

A secret can be defined as something a person is keeping to themselves, or has shared with someone in confidence.

Likewise a “secret place” can be defined as a place designated that no one knows about except you.

The more time you spend with someone, the more you will learn about them, and get to know them better. When we spend time alone with God in our “secret place”, we have made the choice of our spirit over the flesh.

Romans 8:5 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,  but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the spirit.”

Making an intentional decision to meet with God at a “secret place”, will assist with this becoming a normal routine in a person’s life. Meeting with God will also help a person become more Christ-like in character.

John 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

Jesus made the choice of meeting with God in a “secret place”.

Luke 4:42 “Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them;”

Many times people will not understand boundaries. They will not understand when someone desires to be alone by themselves.

Mark 1:35 “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”

Because God is Spirit; John 4:24 “God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth” we can make any where we choose a “secret place” and God will meet us there.

God is omnipresent; He can be everywhere at the same time.

Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the Lord are in every place.”

God is omniscient; He knows about the “secret place” that we will meet Him at.

Job 28:24 “For He looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the the whole heavens.”

God is omnipotent; He is all powerful. There is nothing that can keep Him away from meeting with us at our “secret place”.

Psalm 135:6 “Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in Heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places.”

Father in heaven, thank you for Your faithfulness in meeting us at our “secret place” in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

Vengeance

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Pay Back

Romans 12:17-21 “17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

If he is thirsty, give him a drink;

For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Back in ancient times there were no matchsticks or modern fire starters in the homes. The only source fire they had at was kept in a brazier of burning coals. This source of fire was used for cooking or boiling water also for providing warmth.
 
This fire in the brazier was always kept burning day and night. If for some reason the fire should go out, a family member would take an empty brazier to one their neighbour’s homes to borrow some of their coals of fire.

If this neighbour was a generous person, they would heap the neighbour’s brazier with loads of burning coals.
 
This person would then place the brazier filled with the burning coals they received from the neighbour, onto their head and head home. Their head would not be burnt because they would use different a type of basket, or cloth turban to insulate the heat from their head.
 
Therefore, heaping a neighbour’s empty brazier with hot coals was considered a good deed like feeding an enemy with food and drink. This was looked upon as supplying someone’s needs through love and generous giving.

Proverbs 25:21-22 “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; Vs 22 For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”

Scriptures give clear instructions on what a person should do (actions toward someone) when wronged by someone.

Deuteronomy 32:35 “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand,

Recompense: is to give something by way of compensation (something given as a means of compensating).

Hebrews 10:30 “For we know him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge His people.”

Getting back or getting even with someone who has wronged you gives satisfaction to the flesh but gives no glory to God.

Matt 5:38-39-38 “You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Vs 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”

A person should not take it upon themselves to retaliate in the same way against someone who has wronged them. Going “tit for tat” in an effort to get even, or “pay someone back” for what they have done to you is paying back evil with more evil.

Romans 12:17- “Repay no one evil for evil.
Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.“

Father in heaven, it is my payer that your people remember the instructions You have given in the scriptures on what should be done when they have been wronged by someone. In Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev