James 4

 Pride Promotes Strife

4 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Humility Cures Worldliness

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Do Not Judge a Brother

11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

Do Not Boast About Tomorrow

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4 NKJV

Captives!!!

If you are being held captive by something and evil has hold of you. I am here to tell you that ends today. YOU stand up and tell evil and what you are being held captive by that I am a child of God, I Come humble to God then submit to God, and the devil himself will flee. Call it out today what is in the light will no longer be in the darkness and will no longer have a hold of you when it has come to light. It will be that way because God is light and what is brought to the light, he will take care of meaning what you call out and confess God will be there to help you and take away what is holding you captive and what the evil that is in you.

I shout freedom!!!! Come say it with me freedom!!!! 

I just want to jump off this chair and tell the devil and all his demons that I am a child of God (And tell him for you), and no more can you touch me unless God says so (remember Job). Tell the darkness he has lost!!!! Anything that is not of God must go in Jesus' Name right now I proclaim and declare.

Pray for the one you need.

Captive:

Dear God, I proclaim freedom for the captives

I declare freedom In Jesus' name

I pray for protection for those who were being held in captivity 

In Jesus Name

Amen

or

evil/devil hold of you:

Dear God, I pray for the people who evil has a hold

That it would be broken today In Jesus' Name

I declare that they would be free from all evil

I declare that no more would satan or demonic things have a hold on them.

I pray for protection for them today

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

If you know someone who needs to hear this feel free to share it with them!!!! if you pass this off as your own or change something before you share it I do not care, I would rather them be free than copyright or plagiarism stuff.

Galatians 5:1-6, Isaiah 61

 Christian Liberty

5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:1-6 NKJV

The Year of the Lord's Favor

61 

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

    because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;

    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,

    and the day of vengeance of our God;

    to comfort all who mourn;

3 

to grant to those who mourn in Zion—

    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

4 

They shall build up the ancient ruins;

    they shall raise up the former devastations;

they shall repair the ruined cities,

    the devastations of many generations.

5 

Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;

    foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;

6 

but you shall be called the priests of the Lord;

    they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;

you shall eat the wealth of the nations,

    and in their glory you shall boast.

7 

Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;

    instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;

therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;

    they shall have everlasting joy.

8 

For I the Lord love justice;

    I hate robbery and wrong;

I will faithfully give them their recompense,

    and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 

Their offspring shall be known among the nations,

    and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;

all who see them shall acknowledge them,

    that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.

10 

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;

    my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,

    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 

For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,

    and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,

so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise

    to sprout up before all the nations. Isaiah 61 NKJV

Captive Prayer!!!!

Dear God, I pray for the captives

I proclaim and declare freedom from those being held captive

I proclaim freedom from sin

I proclaim freedom from addictions

I proclaim freedom from emotions

I proclaim freedom from people who think they are not enough

I proclaim freedom from the idea that you have done too much and cannot come back to God

I declare chains would fall off today

I declare walls would crumble

I declare victory for the captives

I pray no power of hell, no satanic being, or the devil himself can touch them today like Job

I pray for God to surround them and sanctify them in Him

I pray that God would set people free today

In Jesus Name

Amen

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 ESV

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” Luke 4:18-19 ESV

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; Isaiah 61:1 ESV

1 Timothy 6:11-16

 The Good Confession

11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:11-16 NKJV

Stand up for Jesus Job Chapter 2 and Leads to...

We looked at Job chapter 1 yesterday and as we close this series, we will look at Job chapter two and then sum up the whole series.

We learned yesterday all that Job lost and still stood for God and did not sin. Job again had something happen to him which made him sick with sores all over his body from his feet to his head. 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. Job 2:7 NKJV. After this, he sinned and cursed God, right? No, let's look at the verses after this happened. 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:9-10 NKJV. He would not curse God and through it all, he did not sin, he stood for God through it all. 

I could not imagine having all those sores on his body and feeling something, he felt, the way he did. I as most would say why me God, I just lost everything now this. But Job stood for God through it all and did not sin. That is important to understand that he did not sin because it meant that he did nothing against God for it.

This all leads to one thing that we would stand for God/Jesus no matter what comes our way. That Jesus /God would be the thing that we tell people about rather than the things of this world.

Stand for Jesus today!!!! Let's be as the disciples were and stood for Jesus no matter what happens. Let's be like the people in the book Jesus Freaks and stand for Jesus/God no matter what!!!!!

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 1 Peter 4:16 ESV

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 ESV

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 ESV

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV

Job 1

 Job and His Family in Uz

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.

4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.

Satan Attacks Job’s Character

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”

So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job Loses His Property and Children

13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; 14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. Job 1

A look at Job...

I was reading Job chapter 1 this morning and this question came to me, could I stand for God after losing all that he did? Before I answer let's look at what Job did after Losing it all.

20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21-22 NKJV. 

Job Lost everything and chose to still worship God like Mark 12:30 (KJV) which says, And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

For this to happen let's look at what he lost:

14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” 16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” 17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” 18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” Job 1:14-19 NKJV.

Job lost his animals, his servants, and most of all his sons and daughters. With all that he still chose to worship God. The only thing that Job didn't lose that I researched was his wife.

I want to point out the biggest thing and that is why I left it for last, Job did this without sinning.  22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. Job 1:22 NKJV. Job worshiped God the same as is Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) which says, 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Am I rooted enough and planted enough in His word if this were to happen to me that I could do as Job did and worship Him? My answer to that was no or not sure I could not. But we are human and God understands that most of us couldn't do that. To say that I would totally stop believing in God and turn away from Him, no not all but could I worship Him for the loss no to not sure. 

To stand for up for Jesus means you could lose everything!!!!!

Tomorrow we will look at what we hold dear and near to our hearts and could we lose it like Job and still worship Him.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

 Paul’s Conduct

2 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and [c]charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. I Thessalonians 2:1-12 NKJV

I Thank God!!!!

I thank God. My soul was troubled about what to write, God wasn't giving me anything. Then this came up I thank God. I know put the song on, but I felt led to share it the lyrics.

Wandering into the night
Wanting a place to hide
This weary soul, this bag of bones
And I tried with all my mind
And I just can't win the fight
I'm slowly drifting, oh vagabond
And just when I ran out of road
I met a man I didn't know
And he told me
That I was not alone

He picked me up
He turned me around
He placed my feet on solid ground
I thank the Master
I thank the Savior
Because He healed my heart
He changed my name
Forever free, I'm not the same
I thank the Master
I thank the Savior
I thank God

I cannot deny what I see
Got no choice but to believe
My doubts are burning
Like ashes in the wind
So, so long to my old friends
Burden and bitter night

You can't just keep them moving
No, you ain't welcome here
From now 'til I walk
The streets of gold
I'll sing of how You saved my soul
This wayward son
Has found his way back home

He picked me up
Turned me around
Placed my feet on solid ground
I thank the Master
I thank the Savior
Because He healed my heart
Changed my name
Forever free, I'm not the same
I thank the Master
I thank the Savior
Oh, I thank God

Oh, I thank God
Oh, I thank God
Oh, I thank God

Hell lost another one
I am free, I am free, I am free
Hell lost another one
I am free, I am free, I am free
Hell lost another one
I am free, I am free, yes I am free
Hell lost another one
I am free, I am free, I am free

Hell lost another one
I am free, I am free, I am free
Hell lost another one
I am free, I am free, I am free
Hell lost another one
I am free, I am free, I am free
Hell lost another one
I am free, I am free, I am free

He picked me up
He turned me around
He placed my feet on solid ground
I thank the Master
I thank the Savior
Because He healed my heart
He changed my name
Forever free, I'm not the same
I thank the Master
I thank the Savior
I thank God

And if He did it for me, He can do it for you
If He did it for me, He can do it for you

Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave

Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave

Get up, get up, get up
Get out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave

If He did it for me, He can do it for you
If He did it for me, He can do it for you
If He did it for me, He can do it for you

The testimony of Jesus
Is the Spirit of Prophesy
That means what He did for another
He can do it again
That means what He did for another
He can do it again

The testimony of Jesus
Is the Spirit of Prophesy
Is the Spirit of Prophesy
Is the Spirit of Prophesy
That means what He did for another
He can do it again
That means what He did for another
He can do to us all

Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get, get up
Get out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave

Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave

Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave
Get up, get up, get up
Get up out of that grave

He picked me up
Turned me around
Placed my feet on solid ground
I thank the Master
I thank the Savior
Because He healed my heart
He changed my name
Forever free, I'm not the same
I thank the Master
I thank the Savior
I thank God

I Thank God by Maverick City Music & Upperroom 

The song:

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/i-thank-god/pl.u-qxyl9KDT22J6a1

The Song in video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIhhLLHY65E&pp=ygULSSBUSEFOSyBHT0Q%3D

Let this song wash over you today that we need to thank God and that we are no longer of the devil but of God. Let it wash over you that we are free. Yell it out we are free. shout it from the rooftops we are free. Look towards the ground and say we are of God, and I am free devil then look to heaven and say the same thing. In another song back to Life by bethel music it says, and the enemy thought he had me But Jesus said, "You are mine". We are not of the devil but of God, go and thank Him for that today!!!!!!

Thanksgiving

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 ESV

Psalm 31:19

 Oh how great is thy goodness, Which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, Which thou hast wrought for them that take refuge in thee, Before the sons of men! Psalm 31:19 ASV

How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who [reverently] fear You, Which You have prepared for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of man! Psalm 31:19 AMP

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Psalm 31:19 KJV

What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, Ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world. You hide them safely away from the opposition. As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, you silence the poisonous gossip. Blessed God! His love is the wonder of the world. Trapped by a siege, I panicked. “Out of sight, out of mind,” I said. But you heard me say it, you heard and listened. Psalm 31:19 MSG

Oh, how great is your goodness to those who publicly declare that you will rescue them. For you have stored up great blessings for those who trust and reverence you. Psalm 31:19 TLB

How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. Psalm 31:19 NLT

How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You, Which You have performed for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of mankind! Psalm 31:19 NASB

Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for those who fear you, which you have worked for those who take refuge in you, before the sons of men! Psalm 31:19 WEB