Berachah

What is important more than anything is the promise that he will make me steadfast. For I believe that key to the overcoming life is a consistant, persistant, steadfast Christian life before the Father. That is the way I most desire to live. Not a roller coaster religion but a firm and steadfast life day after day after day.

These instuctions are things WE can do to walk in readiness and resistance to the power of the enemy. Satan is cunning and will get to us in ways we could never think of, but if we stay close to the Lord Jesus we will then be prepared for anything he can throw at us. Paul also encourages the christian to keep himself clothed in the armour and be able to stand. Yes the Lord helps us if we let Him but we are the ones who are to put on the armour. It is an act of our wills to do so. So Paul and Peter are saying the basically same thing. BE PREPARED!

It is important to know the enemy or our souls and to be prepared to combat him in the name of Jesus! we are not just to be aware that he exists but that he wants to devour or swallow or consume us. He wants to weaken us and catch us in a moment when he can do damage to our christian life. If we stgay close to the Lord we have nothing to fear, but if we stray and become cold spiritually we will feel the attacks of Satan against us.

WE are to cast or throw our fears and worries on the Lord because He has compassion for us. He knows what we are going through at any given time. This sounds easy but it is hard to do because of our human nature which tries to control and work things out. But we are to give all to Jesus who will take care of us in the storms of life. I desire to let Jesus be in control of my life and take charge. I want to yield my rights to Him and give him the septre of the throne of my heart!

We are to cast or throw our cares on Him who is the answer to every problem we will ever face. To carry our cares ourselves is to fail and become discouraged. But Jesus cares for us and invites us to trust Him and let Him take care of all our fears and burdens. We are then free to serve God without being burdened down with selfish concerns. Our faith is strengthened when we give all to Jesus. I must make a decision to give Him my cares and cease thinking that I can somehow take care of things myself.

One can discern the persons humility not so much by "acts" but by attitude. Listen closely and see where his heart is. Is his interests center about himself or is God utmost in his heart. The mouth is the mirror of the heart. If there is pride and egoism in the person he will lead the flock to center on him and not on Christ. The church will be built on man instead of Jesus. Many leaders enjoy the peoples dependence on them when in fact they should be teaching the people to depend on the Lord Jesus Christ.

If a church takes care of the pastor and meets his needs through salary and benefits he will not be harrassing the flock for more. If a pastor always needs more and seems to have an eye for money, he is not the kind of leader that should lead in a church. His priorities are confused. He has lost his focus. This is why a candidate for ministry in a church must clearly understand the standards that is expected from him and much prayer must go into the selection. This is the point of weakness in churches. It is easy just to want to fill a position or be taken up with personality and popularity. It is of necessity to spend much time in prayer and that there be agreement among the members of the church.

Arm twisting to get someone to lead is not scriptural. A leader should be chosen by God and prompted by the Holy Spirit. The motive is wrong in the person who is pushed into service for the Lord. He is doing it for a person and does not feel that God has chosen him. That person is seen by others in the church as a relectant leader and not a good example to the flock. There will be a lack of love and compassion in that person.

The words all seem to convey the same basic meaning. Many today like to pride themselves in having a title. It can be a source of pride. But these leaders are to put the sheep as their priority and not themselves. They are doing the work of God and what they are doing is leading gently the flock under the Master Sheperd, Jesus Christ.

Why is a willingness to die, if need be, essential to healthy Christianity during persecution. What happens when we aren't willing to die, when we are afraid to "take up our cross daily" (Luke 9:23) and follow Jesus? What does this have to do with "commiting ourselves to a faithful Creator Being willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice, viz. our lives, shows that we have something not just worth living for but worth dying for. It means we believe what we preach and we value our Lord and his precious gospel to the point that we will die if need be. Many in todays world die for all kinds of reasons. If members of other religions die for it how much more we should be willin to die for our Lord. It shows the genuineness of our faith.

If we are never persecuted, what does that say about how people view us? In what way should persecution make us happy? It says they accept us and nothing about us is convicting. It says that we are like them and they see us as having nothing to offer them. They compare their lives to ours and so no real difference and do not react toward us. If we are persecuted they then know that we are different and live a life dedicated to a higher standard in Jesus. Persecution means that we are not offering an easy believism. That they cannot just live anyway they want and that is acceptable.

When you meditate on the idea of partaking of or being a sharer in Christ's sufferings, what perspective does it give you on whatever persecution you may experience? It helps me to understand that even in my suffering I can be a testimony to His grace and mercy. Others can observe me in my sufferings and see Jesus in me and know that I have something that is real. Yes, so real that I will not turn and run but hold steaadfast to my walk with Christ. It is a tool for evangelism. Not that people get saved because of my suffering but they can see Jesus in them and His character in my own attitude toward persection for Christ. No one gets saved because of me but because of Him in me.

What's the danger of trying to avoid persecution and suffering for Christ? Have you ever been distracted by persecution from what you should have been doing? Have you ever observed this in other Christians? The danger is that we will compromise and let down our standards in order to avoid any sufering for Christ. When and if persecution comes, it is easy to take the road of no compromise so we will not have to sufer.There are many who have fallen by the wayside because instead of drawing close to the Lord and continuing to do His will, they have let the persecution they were suffering cause them to take the easy road.

When people promote themselves, it says one of two things: they are either very proud and high minded, or they have problems with their self worth and need the constant support of others. Both of these are scripturally wrong and need to be dealt with. Unfortunately, it has been my experience that this is a very prevelant sin in the church. Yes even among ministers and leadership. This problem tends to push others down or out of the way and breeds competition among God's people. I think it behooves every christian to examine themselves and see if they are doing this or not. If so, go to the Cross and nail it there and let the humble spirit of Christ pervade our lives. Many may not agree with me, but when ask what my gift is I can only answer that it is what the Holy Spirit wants me to have at any given moment. I believe that all the gifts are in the Holy Ghost and if I am submissive to Him he will manifest that gift thru me when and where it is most needed. There are natural talents that each of us have and we should use them for the work of the Kingdom. But the gifts of God are supernatural and they will enable me to do many things for the Master if He so desires.

Why don't non-Christians like the idea of giving an account of their actions? Why don't we Christians like it? What should the realization that we must give an account of our actions inspire in us? With what attitude should we live as a result? Sinners do not like the idea of accountability because they have never willingly given their lives to the Lord. They are their own master and they gaurd their independence. They are not Christians for that very reason. When confronted with salvation they do not like the idea that they would come under the Lordship of Christ. Christians must constantly fight the sin nature which calls them to do their own thing. Submission is hard for many because they are proud and feel they know what is best for themselves. Many even go so far as to twist the Scripture to their own ways of thinking. One must be careful that we do not beome a law unto ourselves. Accountability is something that should inspire in us a desire to be obedient. If we have the right perspective about our Lord, then we understand that we do not belong to ourselves but we totally belong to Him. We are to walk carefully in this life and do our best to have a submissive attitude toward the things of the Lord. The more we submit the more we will be like Him.