God's Promise: Abraham's Covenant

 

2"I will make you a great nation.  I will bless you and make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  3 I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse.  All people on earth will be blessed through you."

    Abraham had an open heart to God.  He listened and obeyed revealing His love and respect for God.  I don't know if that is why God chose Abraham to bless unlike anyone else on earth.  Maybe Abraham was created for this blessing, but even then it would not have happened if Abraham did not choose to listen and obey.  

    This promise is a blessing that carries on to every generation after Him.  God formed his nation through Abraham.  Abraham did become famous.  Here hundreds of years later you still know who Abraham is.  Abraham was a blessing unto other people.  He did many things for many people.  He avoided conflict that could negatively affect relationships.  If he could not avoid it, then he found the best solution.  

    Anyone who went against Abraham did not fare well.  Anyone who went against God nation was eventually destroyed.  Anyone who goes against God's people today will be dealt with by God.  You know it does not end well for them.  To live without Jesus is a cursed life.  It will not end well.

    You need to forgive those people now and try to introduce them to Jesus through your lifestyle.  This is how you can carry out the Abraham Covenant today in blessing other people.  Do good where you can do good.  Do not be a push over, but do not go out of your way to make life worse or harder for anyone.  Give what you have to give to those in need.  Trust God to take care of you like He did Abraham and watch the blessings happen.

    God set Abraham for his promise of blessings before Abraham even left his home country.  God knew He would be obedient.  Maybe Abraham needed to have hope before he left everything and everyone he knew other than his wife and nephew, Lot.  Either way God commanded and Abraham obeyed without hesitation.  God know you.  He knows the best way to communicate with you.  You only have to listen and obey like Abraham.  

    This promise that God made to Abraham covers progeny, prominence, and protection.  God never promised wealth, but Abraham got that too.  God only gave him one son, but through Isaac the nation of Israel came about over time.  It was through God's nation came Jesus.  It was Jesus that opened the door for salvation for every person of every nation.  The promised was one based on righteousness and faith not law.  You can see the significance of this promise made by God to one person that affects all people over time.  

Genesis 12:2-3, 17:6-8, 22:16-18, 26:3-4, 28:13-14, Acts 7:2, Romans 4:13, Galatians 3:8-29, & Ephesians 2:12

God's Promise: Redemption after Fall

 

"And I will cause hostility between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring.  He will strike his heel." Genesis 3:15

    This is a loaded promise.  A lot is happening here.  There is a promise and a curse happening here.  Curses feel harsh, but they serve a purpose.  God created perfection knowing man would allow evil into the world.  He knew, but He gave them the opportunity to do what was right.  In their desire for more they did as God knew they would giving Satan a place in the world.  

    God had set a clear boundary that Adam and Eve ignored.  They had different roles, but they are equally guilty.  God is good, so He had to enforce the consequences for breaking His boundary.  He only had one back then.  Once evil entered the world He had to create more for the benefit of all people.  Adam and Eve being removed and forbidden to return to Eden was the fall.  It was the fall of mankind to having evil in our lives and hearts.

    This promise starts with a curse, but He always gives His people hope.  When you sin, you will have to face the consequences.  It will make your life more difficult, but you also have a way out.  You have eternal hope.  You may battle temptation, bit if you follow Jesus, then it doesn't control you like it did before your encounter with him.

    This is God's first written promise.  He cast Adam and Eve out of perfection to keep them from corrupting it, but He also promised redemption.  It was not know then, but He was promising Jesus.  Jesus is the one that will strike Satan and remove evil from the world for good.  It is a promise of victory for Jesus.  You do not need to doubt that Jesus will defeat Satan.  You can look at it as if it has already happened because it is that certain.      

    This promise is the first good news that the world received.  Up until this point they did not need it.  Life was perfect.  There was no stress, laborious work, or a broken relationship with God.  This was a gift that they did not know that they would need.  Like most people they probably focused on the punishment until they needed the promise.  

    When Satan and temptation is gone you will have complete redemption.  Until then, you can rely on God to fight on your behalf.  You can trust Jesus' love to become the opportunity to have a relationship with God.  You have the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you in the hard time.  If you work with God, then you will have redemption now where you can break sinful habits, strongholds, and find freedom from the power of death.

Genesis 3:15, Micah 5:3, Matthew 1:23-25, Luke 1:31-35, Romans 16:20, Galatians 4:4-5, Colossian 2:15, Hebrews 2:14, 1 John 5:5, & Revelations 12:7-9 

Promises of God

 

    I am starting a series on the promises of God.  You may hear or read to hold onto the promises of God in hard times, but people rarely tell you what the promises are.  The truth is you have to get into God's Word to really know what they are and how they are given.  It did get me interested though.  I wanted to know how many there were and how many I read over without realizing that they are actually promises of God.  I found out that there are 2,403 promises of God.  It would take years to cover them all, so I am going to hit the highlights, but basically anything that God says will be is a promise.

    Promises are declarations of things you will do and will not do.  Promises of God are done deals.  You never have to worry about Him changing his mind or manipulating the deal.  They are forever.  Some promises are for your benefit now.  Some are eternal.  His promises cover eternal life, unfailing love, provision, and His presence.  The teach you about how to prepare, be loved, forgiveness, strength, and hope.  They are meant to provide comfort, peace, or guidance in your daily life.  He is providing everything you need.

    You have promises from the beginning to the end of the Bible.  It is in God's promises that you really learn His character.  It gives you security in life and hope for the eternal life.  This is a deeper topic than some may think.  You are digging in to really get to know God. 

    If you are struggling with anxiety, spiritual warfare, or something else that is stealing your peace, then come along with me in this journey to understand God better.  If I do this right, then you should be able to see God in His glory, experience His faithfulness, and be empowered to follow Him.  I will always encourage you to read the scriptures I provide, but go deeper.  Never take my perspective over what comes directly from God's Word.  Reading it for yourself may allow God to speak to you directly in a different way.

2 Corinthians 1:17-20 & 2 Peter 1:3-4

Christianity isn't Convenient

 

    Christianity is citizenship in Heaven.  It is stepping out in faith believing in something that could not happen unless God did it.  Jesus is real.  His life was real.  He still lives.  That is the root of faith and salvation.  When you believe and start declaring the truth you are claiming your salvation and the citizenship in Heaven.  

    Salvation is a free gift offered to every single person that has ever lived.  To accept the gift puts you in a position of compliance to God that gives you authority in the world.  You have a the title Child of God to live up to.  That means you die to your earthly desires every day to submit to God's authority over your life.  You are committing to an eternal relationship that makes you an ambassador for God.  You become a disciple that follows Jesus throughout your life.  That is not convenient, but it is an honor.

    Christianity is not convenient because you deny yourself for a life of service.  Living out your faith is sacrificial.  You sacrifice your comfort and an easy going life to honor God.  You do this because you love God and appreciate being His adopted child.  By embracing this life you learn to develop righteous character through trials, tribulation, perseverance, steadfastness, and self-control.  

    A Christian life is not always easy.  You face challenges, trials, suffering, persecution, and opposition that you would not face otherwise, but it develops your faith making you more like Jesus.  It is not convenient or easy sometimes, but it is worth it.  Your eyes are opened to the truth.  You are no longer easily decieved.

    If you expect life to get easy, comfortable, and entitled when you become a Christian, then reality will hit you hard.  It is an honor.  It is something that gives so much more than it takes, but it is not something that can be explained on paper.  Faith is not something that can be identified in this world.  It is something you have to do to be able to understand.

    A relationship with God requires effort and energy.  You have to prioritize Him in your everyday life.  It may sound like a big ask or something hard to do, but in reality God has met you over half-way.  He is just asking to have a relationship with you in return.  

    God gives you more than you can ever give back.  You should not feel entitled, but you should feel loved, special, and unique to be loved by God in that way.  The only way you can is to accept it and give back what you have.  The more you listen to the Holy Spirit and lean on God the more you have the capability to give back.  Learn to be patient and you will be able to see and experience more than you could ever imagine.  It all starts with a faith commitment and grows into an intimate relationship full of holy and righteous love.

Judges 8:27-35, Mark 8:34-38, Luke 9:23-27, 14:33, John 16:31-33, Romans 5:3-5, 12:1-2, Philippians 1:27-30, 3:12-21, & 2 Timothy 3:10-13

Am I the Problem?

 

    When your life is going badly ask yourself "am I the problem?".  Sometimes God will let things go wrong in your life to redirect your.  You insisted going your way, but His path for you is better.  Sometimes times you are living life for God and Satan attacks you to silence you.  Take it as a compliment.  It means Satan sees you as a threat.  Sometimes things happen because you live in the fallen world and God allows it for a purpose, possibly for someone else other than yourself.

    When Satan attacks you this is when you need to lean into God more.  If you try to do it on your own, you will have a really hard time and you will eventually fail.  There will be long term consequences like burn out.  It can take two to three years to recover from burn out.  It is better to avoid that route if possible.  God will lead you down the safest path even if it may look like the scariest path.  He will protect you and meet most of Satan's attacks on your behalf.

    Reality is you are your own worst enemy.  You cause more struggles in your own life than you think.  Most of it is in your head and you allow it to lead to conflict when no conflict was ever needed.  You are self-destructing when you choose sin over trusting God.  This is when you have to stop being the victim and start taking responsibility.  

    When life is not as you expected, wanted, or just bad take a look in the mirror.  Get into God's Word and ask yourself some uncomfortable questions.  Some questions are am I the problem in this situation?  Do I steal God's credit?  Do I give God the recognition He deserves?  What do I value and why?  Am I passionate for God?  How easily or often do I fall for temptation?  Do I even fight against temptation?  Am I willing to put in the work to have a close relationship with God?

    Take the time to self-reflect and if you find sin in your life repent so you can receive God's grace.  That is important step.  To stop doing what you can't stop doing alone you have to accept the grace and love from God.  You may know it, but that does not mean you have allowed it into your heart, mind, and life.  

    If you hold onto your shame, then you are not allowing God to heal you from your path.  Allow God to do what He is trying to do in your life and you will find true freedom from the strongholds.  It may take time for some people, but never stop pursuing what you know is right.  Seek God for wisdom in this journey.

    It takes courage to really dig deep and admit you are the problem in your life.  It take boldness to face it and decide you will change.  It takes self-discipline to change how you think and allow God to change perspectives that don't reflect His perfection.  It takes humility to see yourself the way God sees you.  You are loved by God, but when you choose the world over Him, you are also His enemy.  It takes humility to face the truth and want to change.  It take love to redirect your life.    

Judges 8:21-32, 1 Samuel 7:5-6, Psalm 37:23-24, 115:1-8, 139:23-24, Proverbs 28:13, John 1:16-18, Romans 8:1-4, James 1:5-21, & 1 John 4:11-12

Feelings

 

    Feelings are indicators that read when things are good, bad, unsafe, exciting, and more.  They don't know the truth.  You need to use your rational brain to control your feelings, but listen to your feelings to look for the truth.  Feelings are powerful and special, but your brain is in charge of them.

    Feelings are influenced by chemistry, hormones, events, and more.  They point you in a direction, but your thought process is what needs to be driving your actions.  When you are a Christian, you have the distinct advantage of the Holy Spirit helping you distinguish between feelings and rational thought.  He can help you follow your passions in life without ever sinning.  If it is not a passion that honors God, then he will redirect your passion in a better way.

    If you leave your feelings unchecked, then they will lead you astray from God.  Anger can turn into hate, rage, or actions like murder.  Lovey dovey feelings can lead to sexual sin.  Hurt feelings can sever relationships and lead to isolation, loneliness, and a hard heart.  The need to feel liked or accepted may lead to people pleasing instead of pleasing God.  There are other feelings that can lead to self-destruction like jealousy, fear, worry, and more.  The only thing that can really replace the negative feelings is God's love and truth.

    Feelings that you never learn to control will become a wedge between you and God.  Unintentionally they will drive you to other gods that only make the feelings run deeper and cause more chaos in your life.  A life led by feelings will lead to impatience, prideful, entitlement, indifferent to other people's needs, depressed, anxious, and other disorders.  All it means is that you found a crutch instead of true healing.

    When you allow happiness and an easy life drive your feelings, then you will make rash decisions that will cost you down the road.  When it comes to love find someone who believes like you and that you can suffer with.  Trying to avoid or hide from bad times will not keep them from coming.  Find someone that you can lean on and can lean on you to support each other through them.  That is true love, not the lusty feelings.  Love is an action.  Feelings are what draw you to a person to find out if it can be love or not.

    Feelings can be good or bad.  They are not assigned as evil or holy.  It is what you do with feelings that will drive you to honor God or away from God.  Feelings will not fill the void in your heart and soul.  Loving and committing yourself to God is the only thing that can do that.  You have to mature your feelings as you mature your faith or it will always be a hinderance holding you back.  

    It may sound simple to learn to control your feelings, but it is not.  The longer you wait the more work you will have.  The good thing is that you are not alone.  God is there to help, guide, and show you what real love is.  He teaches you in the Bible about emotions and how to use them and what to avoid.  You only need to face your feelings to learn how to identify them.  

    Ask yourself how they are affecting your life currently and how you can use them to have the life that you want or to serve God better.  Are you willing to wait on the Holy Spirit's guidance or will you allow impatience to drive your decisions?  Pinpoint your habits that are led by feelings, restructure them according to how the Holy Spirit leads, and make new habits that are healthy.

Genesis 27:11-13, Deuteronomy 17:14-20, Judges 8:19-21, Psalms 25:1-3, 26:1-8, Luke 12:29-31, Acts 17:27-29, Ephesians 4:17-19, Colossians 3:1-4, & Hebrew 4:14-16

Sin Spiral

 

    The sin spiral is when life is good and you let your guard down that you fall for temptation.  You do one small sin.  It takes the good life and makes it bad.  Then you continue to sin and your life continues to get morally worse and worse.  You may not see the consequences until it has piled high, but there will be consequences.  

    The sin spiral is the sin progression from giving into one small temptation and making it an action.  It all starts in your mind.  What you think about and meditate on is what you will eventually speak or act upon.  The sin spiral will even have you use the gifts that God has given you use for evil.  It can be one good truth twisted to feed your pride or ego turning it into sin.  Satan just needs to get your attention, from there you either run or self destruct.

    The spiral is when you have taken one step, then two, and before you know it you are completely off of the path that God designed for you.  You may wonder so far that you can't see it and feel completely lost.  The good news is if you are willing to put in the work and repent to God, then He will direct you back to your path.  

    Temptation and desire is your own evil desires.  They come naturally as part of living in the fallen world.  When you give into temptation you are sinning.  When you sin your abandon your relationship with God and defile yourself for something temporary.  It always leads to consequences that you will not like.  It will always cost you more than you are willing to pay.

    Once you give in to temptation it becomes normal very quickly.  You silence the Holy Spirit to normalize and tell yourself that what you are doing is okay.  It is the lie you feed yourself.  You don't need Satan for that.  You will fight relentlessly to defend the sin lifestyle that you are creating and you try to make other people be okay with it too.  If they are not, then you reject them because in your mind they are the problem.  It could not possibly be you.  This is how you rob yourself of the life you were always meant to have.  It is the path that leads to eternal death.

    The only way to break the sin spiral is to face yourself and your sinful nature.  Admit that you have gone down a path of sin.  You have to desire to be close to God again or for the first time.  Then you repent and start to hate the sin that caused you to get so far from God.  You have to destroy your idols to put God where He belongs: on the throne.  

    Faith and your relationship with God is the only way out of the sin spiral.  You will never be able to do it on your own.   You have to trust and rely on God.  You have to start listening to the Holy Spirit who will reveal what habits must be broken.  Follow Jesus and listen to the Holy Spirit is where you find restoration and forgiveness.  Then you are mentally able to stand guard again evil of all kinds.  Be patient and wait for the promises of God.  They are coming.

Exodus 32:1-5, Judges 6:25-26, 8:22, Romans 1:24-27, 6:20-23, 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, Colossians 3:5-11, James 1:12-15, & 1 John 1:8-10