Tag: Faith over Fear

The Testimony of the Lord is sure

Posted on by ascendthehill

“Who against hope believed in hope… and being not weak in faith… He did not stagger at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.”

from Romans 4:18-20

The above scripture is in reference to Abraham, the father of our faith. The Bible is very clear about the shortcomings of our forefathers. It shows where Abraham lied a couple times and where he doubted if the promise would happen. Except, in this retelling of Abraham’s story, those moments are not even mentioned. It seems that God did not even care to bring them up. Why? Because God is love, and love keeps no record of wrongdoing. Love sees the best even when the opposite is showing itself. Love perseveres.

It’s amazing the way God sees things versus the way the accuser sees them. God sees past our shortcomings and sees the finished work of His Son Jesus. The accuser, however, only focuses on our failures and tries to disqualify us based on that.

You see a moment in your life does not define who you are. It’s only a moment. Those were only moments in Abraham’s life, and his story did not end there. God continued to encourage and speak to him, and Abraham believed in the One who promised.

Don’t let satan continue to accuse you for things that have happened. People may bring up your shortcomings and failures, but those people are only looking at the flesh. God never said that flesh would inherit the kingdom.

Zaccheus, A sinner Son

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and he was unable due to the crowd, because he was short in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree in order to see Him, because He was about to pass through that way.

And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

And [Zaccheus] hurried and came down, and received Him joyfully.

When the people saw this, they all began to complain, saying, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner!”

But Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I am giving to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I am giving back four times as much.”

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

NASB, Luke 19:1-10

When Jesus called out to Zaccheus people in that community began to bring up all his sins and shortcomings. Do you think that the Lord didn’t know about Zaccheus’ sins before he had called him? Of course, he did. He knew exactly who Zaccheus was and what he had done; yet, this knowledge did not prevent the Lord from calling him. It may have offended everyone around Zaccheus, but God’s choice remained the same.

While the rest of the town was saying he was a child of the devil, Jesus declared his true identity over him. Jesus, contrary to public opinion, continued to affirm Zaccheus. Once Zaccheus finished speaking Jesus continued with his redemptive purpose in Zaccheus’ life. He declared plainly for all the accusers to hear, “…[Zaccheus], too, is a son of Abraham.”

God’s testimony is a more sure word than human verdicts

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.”

NKJV, 1 Corinthians 4:3

People may cast judgment toward you, but God’s word is the only one that matters. There may have been times when you were wrongfully accused or rightfully condemned, but God holds the final say in all things. It was the Law that condemned the woman caught in adultery, but Jesus Christ, the Son, set her free (see John 8:1-12). You see human judgments are just that, human. They do not hold the final verdict, that belongs to God alone. People may judge and cast stones without giving any grace, but remember “Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ” (from John 1:17).

God’s testimony is much more gracious towards you than you may believe. He is the savior, who came into this world to seek and save that which was lost. You may be like Zaccheus, listening to the crowd calling you a sinner unfit to have Jesus in your home, but Jesus is calling you a son. Turn off the noise of this world, and cling to the voice of your savior.

“For I know nothing by myself; yet I am not justified by this: but he that judges me is the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 4:4

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (NLT, Proverbs 4:23).

People may continue to speak against you. People may partner with the devil and bring up all your sins. People may condemn you and throw rocks at you, but don’t allow that to penetrate your heart. If the devil can get a person to believe from their heart the accusations spoken against them then he can try to set the course of their life.

“But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues”

Jesus our Divine Judge, Matthew 10:17

“…But take courage; I have overcome the world!” (Jesus, the Savior).

You may have found yourself in a position where you’ve believed the accusations from your heart. If you have found yourself beaten down by the accuser, believing the lies that he has spoken over you do not lose hope! Even there our savior’s hand is reaching out to keep you!

“For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”

NKJV, 1 John 3:20

Stand strong before God and believe in his steadfast love and devotion toward you. God’s promises never fail. Continue to seek his face. He sees you. He’s always been faithful. He’s never failed. His mercies are new every morning!

I love you guys! When the world is against you and people have judged you harshly just remember the Holy Spirit’s testimony of your story is much different than you think. God doesn’t hold things against you. “…[Love] keeps no record of wrongs” (from 1 Corinthians 13:5) and our God is love! Keep pressing in He is for you! He loves you more than you could know!

Whose is The Power?

Posted on by ascendthehill

Something that marks me every time I think about it is God’s reply to Israel when they cried out to him because of the oppression of the enemy in their promised land. This particular instance is found in Judges chapter 6. His reply to them was, “…I am the LORD your God and I told you not to fear the “gods” of the Amorites, but you have not listened to me.” (paraphrased from Judges 6:10).

Essentially He was telling them I am the true power in these lands, I am the only true God. I have delivered you from the hands of all those other “gods” and displayed my great power to you. Do not fear these so-called gods of these foreigners. Read His whole word to them in Judges 6:8-10.

That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land; And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but you have not obeyed my voice.

Judges 6:8-10

We know that the “gods” that were worshipped were no gods at all but actual demons (1Corinthians 10:20). This is the vitally important message that he was conveying to His people. I am your God do not fear these devils. But they did not listen to His wise counsel, instead, they began to fear and give homage to these devils. So their enemies began to destroy them.

What I have come to realize is that some Christians have been full of fear of what the enemy can do. When I was a child this woman told me that a devil could possess a deer and cause it to throw itself in front of our car and get us into a car accident possibly killing us. As an 8 to 10-year-old this homage this woman paid to the devils’ power instilled fear of the enemy. There was no mention of God and His overarching rule and how He is for us. How no devil on earth can come against the power of God, and if God be for us who then could stand against us. No there was no homage paid to the one true God only to the devil and his so-called “power.”

This is sadly where some Christians stay, in fear of the enemy, not acknowledging our God and His power. Only acknowledging what the enemy can do. Which, this fear actually empowers the devil. Because truthfully all of the devils’ powers have been stripped from them (Daniel 7:12, Colossians 2:15).

“And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen”

Matthew 28:18-20

If Jesus has all power then that means someone has no power. All or none! That is the finite decision from heaven. Jesus has ALL power and the devils have NO power. The only way they can get power is to get a Christian to believe they have power. The devil highjacks the Christian’s belief and gets them to believe that he has power and because the Christian is the true power on this earth (because we are made one with Christ) he gets empowered by the faith of the Christian, but it is still not his power its the Christian’s.

The way to stop the devil from having any power over you is to stop believing that he does. Once you believe the truth of God’s word, that he has no power and God has all the power then the fear of the enemy gets removed and you are no longer under oppression.

“And all your children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness shalt you be established: you shalt be far from oppression; for you shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near you. Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against you shall fall for your sake. Behold, I have created the smith that blows the coals in the fire, and that brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, says the LORD”

Isaiah 54:13-17

Look at what it says in verse 14. “…You shalt be far from oppression; for you shalt not fear…” The oppression will be far from you because you do not fear. The fear of the enemy is what empowers the oppression. Don’t fear the devil, Fear God! God’s power is greater than any devil. There is no power in heaven, on earth, or under the earth that can withstand the power of God. So quit paying homage to the devil and start paying homage to God. For His is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever! Amen!

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen”

Matthew 6:13

He’s attributing the deliverance from the evil because GOD’s is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever! Let’s fear God’s power and not any power of the enemy. My Father loves us with an everlasting love, and He is able to keep us!

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”

Romans 8:38-39