Understanding the Enemy!

[Faith1]

JIG2 - 'The Adverary'? who's the author & publisher I'd like to read it.

Another good book is 'Satan: Defeated Foe' by C.H. Spurgeon. Yep that is true I think about what you say in regards to women soaking up info, with me I have to be really interested in the subject discussed, then nothing can stop me I like learning more and more and from different people, especially ones who know what their talking about!

F1

[Matthitjah]

My Pastor is want to say it like this George,

For overcoming the fear and he preachs on this quite frequently.

EX.. You pull up to the gas station and the Spirit urges you to speak to the kid whos pumping your gas. Your like no. He looks like a refugee from the movie Matrix. He says to you nice weather as he waits for the pump to stop. Your like Bless you! (Real low) He's like, HUH! You go, I said Bless You. (a little louder) He's like excuse me? Now the annointing is coming upon you and you feel bold and you say, Bless you young man Jesus Christ Loves you. Perplexed he responds, come on man you can't be serious? As he drags on his cigarette he's not supposed to be smoking next to the pump. You say , No I am serious you see I'm anointed to preach the Gospel

Isa

[Faith1]

Amen to that Dr Luke, I just had a young girl come visit me 'out of the blue' that I met a few months back and she saw Georges thread that I was reading, she's not a Christian but I printed another copy off for her and told her to read it. She has known since I met her that I am a Christian. She has many many sad problems for one so young.

I prayed again after reading Georgs latest post that the Lord would make me more bolder for Him and in pops this girl...

Praise God and all glory to Him. His word will never return void, just like He said.

Lord I love you

F1

[RGR]

George,

Might we also go into the BIG L? LEGALISM. Satan uses fear, depression, and many other things to keep us bound in legalism. I have been fighting a battle with legalism just tonight alone. I've always, even when I was out of church, was one of the greatest legalistic minds (not legal minds! ) there ever was. There are times I feel that I have assurance that something or the other is not wrong, nothing labeled as sin or remotely close to it or illegal, and then after I do it, I feel a big fear come on me and then get scared and will repent out of fear but still think in my mind I'm not wrong. I know there is conviction on things and we have to pay attention to that, but I learned within a few months of starting back in this Christian life that Satan can also tell us that perfectly acceptable things are wrong so as to try to make our life harder in hopes that we will give up. I wish I could express this better-I know in my heart and mind what I am trying to say, but I can't seem to get it to flow through the fingers!

[George]

Thanks all for the comments and I'll continue on fear before moving on to Legalism. There's so many fears that it's going to be a while, but I want to address each aspect of fear, because I truly believe this is the next to unforgiveness as the reason why believers get bound up.

Fear of rejection!

Oh the fear of rejection is a huge fear that many people deal with. It's a fear all too common to most people, some it starts at birth, some in their teens, some in the adulthood.

At birth, it happens all too easily. For example a father wants so badly a boy and finds out its a girl, or a mother so desparate for a girl has a boy. Oftentimes it happens to those with what the world sees a disabilities, such as: deafness, blindness, some kind of disease, and they fail to recognize that every human is created unique and in the image of God.

As people grow older, they may get teased, riduculed because of their family status or the way they look. And oftentimes it happens into adulthood with singles still searching for their soulmate, after being rejected at one point or another from one they dated. It happens when searching for a job and going through the constant interview process of 'not getting that job.'

The bottom line is that fear of rejection is a huge factor in our lives. At times it's within ourselves and at other times it's a specific attack of the enemy. We have to be discerning and realize that not everytime we feel a certain way it's always the enemy, many times it's within ourselves.

How to overcome the fear of rejection?

You have to understand who you are in Messiah. Messiah came to save YOU! You have to realize that you are the 'apple of His eye'. You were created unique and special for His glory! So often we get paralyzed by what people think, that we forget it's more important to realize what God thinks!

You also have to realize that the enemy will use this fear of rejection to prevent you from sharing the gospel! Oh what will he think or what will she think! But remember what the Lord said:

John 15:18-19  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Don't worry if the world rejects the Gospel message from you -- they are not rejecting you so much as they are rejecting HIM!

Don't let the enemy use past fears of rejection, to creep back into your life! You were fearfully and wonderfully made! The world can never separate you from the love of God!

Psa 139:14  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Overcome rejection with the power of acceptance -- you are acceptable in His sight not because of WHO YOU ARE, but because of WHO HE IS!

1 Peter 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Accept it -- and you'll feel better about it!

Your brother in Messiah with much agape love,

George

[Faith1]

Rejection = Restoration when we let God do His work in us. Amen! Rom 8:28

George:

Overcome rejection with the power of acceptance -- you are acceptable in His sight not because of WHO YOU ARE, but because of WHO HE IS!

So true George in reality I have seen this to be so true!

Blessings

F1

[George]

FEAR OF FAILURE

One of the biggest fears that often keep Christians bound up is the fear of failure.

So much is placed on what the world perceives what is a success and what is a failure that it binds up believers. For example, believers can get consumed with the world's vision of success -- money, beauty, the size of your house, the kind of car you drive that this drives their inner desire to achieve these things so they are viewed as a success to the world.

There's nothing wrong with money -- but the love of money is entirely wrong and can drive one to the point of being consumed with having MORE and MORE. I know millionaires who still can't have enough -- their entire lives is built around the concept of having more money.

How to be freed from the fear of failure? First, realize that your life is not your own, you have been bought with a price -- so serve God first and foremost and then these things will be added unto you.

1Cor 6:19-20  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Another aspect of failure is how the enemy loves to torment believers with "their failures." Failures to pray enough, to read enough of the Word, in their families, in their lives. Recognize that the enemy loves to condemn, he is the accusser of the brethren. When you get attacked in these manners the best thing to do is not to "justify yourself!" But rather, acknowledge it and then fix it. For example, when you get hit with a thought -- you're a lousy Christian, you don't pray enough and your prayers won't get answered -- then reverse it -- I can be a better Christian, so I am going to pray right now -- and my prayers do get answered because I believe in God's promises! When you get hit with a thought -- you're a lousy father - mother, then instanteously pray -- Oh Lord help me to be a better father / mother and then go and attend to your family in His love. Once the enemy realizes that everytime he accuses you -- that you turn that into action you won't get it with it nearly as often.

Turn your failures into sucesses by putting your priorities in the right place -- in the sight of God you are a success when you are walking in His Son!

Your brother in Messiah with much agape love,

George

[Guest shadow2b]

-AWESOME thread Bro.Thank you for "teaching" your very needy group of brothers & sisters.....

-Don't zactly know "when or how" it came about but just over the past two or three weeks,"things"

-are changing as to "how" i look at things...."Things"I was getting all bent out of shape over,just

-don't get me "all-shook up,"mad,bent outta shape about any more....They just turned "funny" to

-me or maybe too silly to get MADD--ANGRY-over...Do that make any sense aTall??I think Patsy

-finding all those silly-faces & animations for me to use in my posts might have been a contributing

-factor,but then again maybe not...."Something"tho is definitely changing in the way I see

-threads--posts, even some posters ,It's kinda "weird"...Any how Bro. keep up the "great-teaching"

-{IT'S}working.....GOD-BLESS-YOU-IN-ALL-YOUR-EFFORTS-IN-REACHING-OUR-ISRAELI-BROTHERS-&-

-SISTERS-FOR-OUR-MESSIAH-YESHUA-&-MAY-THE-LORD-KEEP-YOU-SAFE-FROM-ANY-&-ALL-HARM-

-Gary--

[Faith1]

Amen, George. Success cannot be judged by finacial status. Some of the wealthiest people I've met are spiritually bankrupt. And some of the poorest are rich with blessings. We can't take it with us and think of all the good things one could be doing if not worrying about our personal success!

Great and uplifting post.

God Bless!

Amen River is this tuff good or wot! Great for the spirit soul and mind!

George - you are gonna need a helping hand when we all get to heaven carry your crowns around

[Adstar]

Hi George

I have found your posts in this thread contain much uplifting inspiration. I would like to have your permission to post some of your posts on another board i go to?

About fear, there are different fears that attack different people. I feel that everyone has their own mayor fear that acts to constrain their witnessing. For some it is the fear of physical violence. For others it is fear of being looked on as a fool and for others it is the fear of losing ones they love. We must have trust in God and let go of everything else, we must know that life is short but eternity is, well forever We must take that final step of faith that final leap of faith we must overcome fear because fear is the ally of darkness.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days