Notes on satan Part 1

3-20-2006 Part 1

He does exist.

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
devourer

John 10:10 (NKJV) "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy . . ."
thief

John 8:44 (NKJV) "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar, and the father of it."
murderer, liar

1.) satan is not the same as God, he is a created being. He is not the brother of Jesus; he is a fallen angel. for proof, read Ezekiel 28:12b-19.

2.) He is limited by time and space like we are.

3.) He is not omnipresent.

4.) He is not all-powerful.

5.) However, he is very smart, very crafty.
And we keep falling for his lies over, and over, and . . . .

How he attacks:
1.) He will try to discredit the Bible. Believe me, the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Consider this: don't you think that the God Almighty who created this whole universe and is not limited in any form or fashion cannot protect what is in the book that represents Him? Or don't you think that the One who said "My word shall not return void" would not protect that word? The Bible is the only book that agrees with itself from beginning to end. Archaeologists are finding proofs everyday about places in the Bible. Historical records of the times back it up. It is the only book we need. It covers every conceivable subject. It covers everything we need to know. If there is something that is not in the Bible, we need to take care. It may be a lie, a half-truth, or a subject that gets us away from God's wisdom. Isaiah 30:1 (KJV) " 'Woe to the rebellious children,' saith the LORD. 'That take counsel, but not of Me, and that cover with a covering, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin.' "

2.) The enemy likes to confuse the facts or how you feel about them. satan's words to Eve were "Did God really say..." He casts doubt on what you remember. Just look at how history books in schools have changed. Historical facts are no longer written the same. They are no longer 'facts' but perceptions.

These are important lessons to us. It is human nature to forget the 'moment'. When great tragedy occurs like 911 or the hurricanes, it is immensely emotional at the moment. (What I am referring to are the attacks to the Twin Trade Towers in New York, September 11, 2001, and the hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast in the fall of 2005.) But as time passes, our emotions calm down, and as more time passes we forget how impacted we were and then that we were impacted at all. Now when people talk about 911, they talk about where they were that day, the wreckage, the lives lost, they argue over a memorial or no memorial, and no one is upset anymore at the middle-eastern men who did it (lest we offend some ethnic group!) We remember, but it no longer angers us. And we are more concerned with the flaws of the buildings and how to construct better buildings in the future that could withstand such attacks. We are more concerned with assigning blame to the architects of the original buildings for their collapse than addressing what caused the attacks in the first place.

What's wrong with this? We are just a hair off what is important. It is important that a specific ethnic and religious group was responsible and that they hate us because as a nation we claim to believe in Jesus. Even the individuals that don't believe in Jesus. And that's the only reason they hate us. It is a religious war. This is what satan does. He gets us off what's important, what's the truth, makes us forget the facts, distorts the facts, makes God look bad, makes the Bible look bad, makes believing strongly in anything look bad, especially Christianity. My goodness, we needed the wake-up call.

3.) He is our nemesis, he is anti-Christ.

1 John 2:22-23 (NKJV) "Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is anti-christ who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also."

1 John 4:1-3 (NKJV) "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world."

4.) He distorts our self-image. We are more than mere human. We are also spiritual beings. satan is a created creature who got a big head and wanted to be god. He wanted to replace God Almighty. And God cast him out of His presence. He was right up there next to God, he was beautiful. And in the end, we will be there instead. So he hates us and does everything in his power to keep us from the truth or believing the truth or getting close to God.

The truth is, when we finally believe that Jesus is the Christ, the only Son of God, the Messiah of all mankind; we realize that we are really children of God, adopted, grafted in, brothers with Jesus, children of the King!

We have the very Spirit of God within us, the power that created the universe takes residence in us. Jesus said in John 14:12-14 (NKJV) "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." And He meant it!

More on Forgiveness

3-16-2006

The Law and sin serves a purpose: it reminds us how much we need a savior, Jesus. Go to Him in prayer. Climb up in His lap and tell Him all about it. Cry together, and rise up victorious!

John 1:17 (NKJV) "For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

Romans 7:7 (NKJV) "What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the Law. For I would not have known coveteousness unless the Law had said, 'You shall not covet.' "

Galatians 3:24-25 (NKJV) "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor."

Isaiah 1:18-19 (NKJV) " 'Come now, and let us reason together,' says the LORD. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.' "

Romans 10:4 (NKJV) "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."

Romans 5:20-21 (NKJV) "Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. So that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD."

Galatians 2:19-3:1 (NKJV) "For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?"

Galatians 3:6-9 (NKJV) "Just as Abraham 'believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness,' therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed.' So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham."

Galatians 5:1 (NKJV) "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
Depression???? Addictions????? WHATEVER ELSE that keeps us from fellowship with God.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (NKJV) "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.' Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews require a sign, and Greeks (gentiles) seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks (gentiles) foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

Acts 10:42-42 (NKJV) "And He (Jesus) commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."

Romans 10:11-13 (NKJV) "For the scripture says, 'Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same LORD over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For 'whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.' "

Galatians 6:14-15 (NKJV) "God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation."

Psalm 121 (paraphrased) I will lift my eyes to the mountain of God, from whence comes my help, from God who created the heavens and the earth. He will not allow my foot to be moved, He who keeps me will not slumber nor sleep. The LORD is my keeper, the LORD is my shade in the heat. The sun shall not strike me by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will protect me from all evil. He will preserve by soul. He will preserve my going out and my coming in from this time forth, even forevermore!

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (KJV) "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."

Read all of Romans 6!

Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV) "And the LORD said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail, and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.' "

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NKJV) "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.' "

Psalm 19:7-11 (paraphrased)
The Law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether,
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can understand his own errors?
Cleanse me from undiscovered faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins (too bold or forward, taking too much for granted, showing overconfidence, arrogance, taking liberties);
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgressions.
Let the words of my mouth the the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Strength and my Redeemer.

Forgiveness

3-15-2006

I believe the answer to my depression is to remember these truths:

1) I screw up.
2) It's no surprise to God. He created me and chose me.
3) All I have to do is ask forgiveness. HE DOES NOT MIND HOW OFTEN!
4) He will forgive me immediately. He loves me.
5) Fall apart to God, not depression. Depression obscures the correct point of view.

Gratefulness

2-26-2006

I am totally humbled by my condition. I am human. I cannot be holy by just my own efforts. But God has given salvation as a free gift. I don't deserve it. He loves me anyway. It is a fearsome thing that a Holy God wants a relationship with me. Not only that, but He planned everything before He created this world!

One thing is for sure: when we receive our crowns in eternity, it is no wonder we all throw them down at His feet. Anything that we have is because of Him. It is by Him, it is through Him, He is the All in All, the Beginning and the End, the Author and Finisher, the Ancient of Days, High and Lifted Up, Almighty God!

This is gratefulness: knowing that I don't deserve anything, but that God Almighty did everything for me through His only son, Jesus Christ so that we could have a relationship in righteousness. I, who am unrighteous, can put on righteousness, and have free access to the throne of grace and find the help I need for every circumstance.

Psalm 103 (NKJV) "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father loves his children, so the LORD loves those who fear Him. For He knows our frame, He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and it's place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them. The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.
Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the LORD, all His works, in places of His dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!"

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NKJV) "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Psalm 5:1-3 (NKJV) "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and My God. For to You will I pray. My voice shall You hear in the morning, O LORD. In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up."

Depression

2-24-2006

A warning from God: Watch your depression. Come to Me quickly. Let Me come into your heart to bring you peace. Don't let the depression destroy our communion by letting unbelief to go unchecked.

Hebrews 3:12-12 (NKJV) "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today', lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

David Wilkerson says about this passage: "This passage warns us, 'Be on guard, and don't allow any unbelief to take root. At times the Lord may seem distant to you. But don't let your heart depart from the reality of His faithfulness."

Hebrews 3:14-19 (NKJV) "For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end while it is said 'Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.' For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed was it not all those who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now, with whom was He angry 40 years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."

Let the Word discern the condition of your heart, whether you are in faith or not. Let God search your heart. Only He can give you the answers you need. Trust Him.

Hebrews 4:11-13 (NKJV) "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account."

Hebrews Chapter 11, especially verse 1 (NKJV) "Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."

And verse 6 (NKJV) "Without faith it is impossible to please Him. For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Habakkuk 2:4 (amplified) "Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live (everyday, conduct their lives) by His Faith (faithfulness, truth, firmness, steadiness, solid belief)."

Ephesians 4:23-24 (paraphrased) ...be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Don't let your regrets depress you; forget them. They are past.

Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV) "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Lamentations 3:22-24 (NKJV) "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning! Great is Your Faithfulness! 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him!' "

Hebrews 2:1-4 (esp. vs. 3) (NKJV) "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and ever transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the LORD and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?"

Do not return to your old ways which you now know are sin: cavalier attitude toward God and your relationship with Him. Unbelief in His faithfulness, unbelief in consequences of sin, unbelief in His love for you, thinking He does not care. Depression is unbelief. You have lost your fear of God. Do not ignore so great a salvation or the high price it was paid for.

Just because we have forgiveness of sins does not give us permission to keep on sinning. Jesus said, "Go, and sin no more."

Galatians 5:13 (paraphrased) For you have been called to liberty only do not use that liberty as an opportunity to sin.

Romans 7:24-8:2 (NKJV) "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God - through Jesus Christ our LORD! So then, with the mind I serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

1 Peter 5:10 (NKJV) "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."

Galatians 4:9 (paraphrased) But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements (your life without Christ)? Do you desire to be in bondage to depression again?

Galatians 5:16 (paraphrased) Walk in the Spirit and you will not sin.

Colossians 2:13-15 (NKJV) "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it."

Isaiah 43:1b-3a (NKJV) "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (NKJV) "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed..."

Mark 9:24 (NKJV) "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!" God respects pure honesty.

Ephesians 4:13-14 (KJV) "...till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine...."

Romans 12:3 (paraphrased) For I say to you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has given everyone the measure of faith.

Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Romans 10:17 (NKJV) To transform your mind: "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

Give thanks to the LORD!

2-22-2006

Oh! Give thanks to the LORD!
For He is Good!
For His Mercy endures forever!

1 Chronicles 16:34; 2 Chronicles 5:13; 2 Chronicles 7:3;
2 Chronicles 20:21; Ezra 3:11; Psalm 106:1;
Psalm 107:1; Psalm 117; Psalm 118:1-4;
Psalm 118:29; Psalm 136; Psalm 138:8;
Jeremiah 33:11

I Belong to God

2-21-2006

I can never fail God* because He created me just the way I am, and He called it good. He has no unrealistic expectations of me. I can set up my own expectations and fail them. But God is Faithful and True. He will never leave me nor forsake me. He will finish the good work He started in me. And at the end of my race, He will be waiting there for me, and welcome me to Himself.
* As long as I am trying. Only I can walk away from Him. But as long as I am trying, as long as my sin grieves me, so long as I am asking for His forgiveness, He holds me in the palm of His hand.

Isaiah 26:3-4 (paraphrased) You, O God, will keep me in Your Perfect Peace as long as I keep my mind focused on You, because I trust in You! I will trust in the LORD forever, for in Y-, the LORD, is everlasting strength!

Psalm 50:23 (KJV) "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me: and to him who ordereth his conversation (all aspects of life) aright will I show the salvation of God."

Titus 3:4-7 (NKJV) "But then the kindness and love of God our Savior toward men appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Psalm 73:22-28 (paraphrased) I was so foolish I must have seemed like a dumb beast! Nevertheless I am always with You, You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Who else can I trust in Heaven to be on my side and help me but You? And there sure isn't anything or anyone on earth, either, that I desire besides You.
My strength may fail, my spirits may droop, my heart might even stop, but my God and LORD Savior Jesus Christ is the measurer of my portion and my exceeding great reward, forever!

1 John 1:9-10 (NKJV) "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us."

Deuteronomy 7:9 (KJV) "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and commandments to a thousand generations."

1 Corinthians 1:8-9 (KJV) "Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our LORD Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our LORD."

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NKJV) "May the God of Peace Himself sanctify you completely: and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it."

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV) "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you not forsake you.' So we may boldly say; 'The LORD is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?' "

God is bigger than any problem you have: Romans 8:27-28 (NKJV) "Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Philippians 1:6 (paraphrased) I am confident of this very thing: that God, who has begun a good work in me, will complete it!

Psalm 139 (NKJV) "O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have [surrounded] me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me! It is [so] high; I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there. If I make my bed in [the depths of the earth], behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall fall on me,' even the night shall be light about me. Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day. The darkness and the light are both alike to You. For You formed my inward parts, You covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me when as yet there were none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awake, I am still with You. . . . . .
Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my anxieties. And see if there is any wicked way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting."

What I Believe

2-15-2006

God is the author and finisher of the Law.
God wrote the Law.
And by the Law, no flesh is justified.
It is impossible not to break the Law in some form or fashion.
Therefore, we are all sinners. It doesn't matter what happened, we cannot stand before a Holy God. We are doomed.
But God created us. Just the way we are. And He declared it good.
He loves us so much, He sent His only Son, Jesus (Emmanuel, Savior), whom the Holy Spirit indwelt. God, Himself, was born a human, lived as a human, and died as a human.
As God, He kept the Law. Never sinned. Period. Was perfect, blameless.
Other humans, thus being proved sinners, accused and condemned the Holy God to death for sin.
He allowed this, and took the blame for all sin, everywhere, for all men, for all time, although He was sinless.
He planned this from before the creation of the world. It was no accident.
The punishment for breaking the Law is death.
Therefore He died.
And went to the grave (in the body), and He went to hell (in the spirit).
And on the third day, He left hell and took all the people that were trapped there, the people that had died up to that point without a Savior, and went to Paradise where He applied His own blood to the altar, wiping out the slate of offenses against us who believe.
You can't earn it. You can't do what He did because you are not god. You can't live a perfect enough life. You can be better than most people, but the Law was written with God as the standard. Sin is absolute.
You can receive forgiveness of sin only through faith.
You have to have faith that He loves you.
You have to have faith that Jesus is the only Son of God.
You have to have faith He paid the price for you.
You have to have faith that you will go to Heaven when you die.

You have to have faith.

And guess what? God even gives you the faith you need. God created faith.
God is the author and finisher of our faith.

God is love!

Read all of Romans 3, especially vs. 20-25: "Therefore by the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the Law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the Law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the propheets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forebearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed."

Read all of Romans 4.

Romans 14:23 "...whatever is not from faith is sin."

God Came Through!

2-13-2006

This was a particularly bad winter for me. I always get depressed somewhat during the fall and winter, but this last winter was really bad.

This pretty much sums up the way I felt:

Isaiah 63:15-19 (paraphrased) Look down from heaven, and see me from Your habitation, holy and glorious. Where are Your zeal and Your strength, the yearning of Your heart and Your mercies toward me? Are they restrained? Doubtless You are my Father. You, O LORD, are my Father, my Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.
O LORD, why have You allowed me to stray from Your ways, and harden my heart from Your fear? Return for Your servant's sake, the people of Your inheritance. I have possessed Your inheritance for such a little time; my adversaries, my enemies, have trodden down Your sanctuary (in my heart). I have become like I was before I ever called Your name.

God's word to me:

Isaiah 41:9-10 (NKJV) "You, whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, 'You are my servant. I have chosen you and have not cast you away. Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I AM your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My Righteous Right Hand.' " (Which is Jesus!)

The Key to overcoming my depression:

Yes, I am a sinner. But I have faith. He gave it to me. I believe that Jesus is my Savior! I receive His righteousness through FAITH!

Philippians 3:7-10 (NKJV) "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the Law, but that righteousness which is from God through FAITH. That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."

Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags, we all fade as a leaf."

Romans 8:10-11 (NKJV) "If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

Romans 8:35-39 (KJV) "Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved 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 created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our LORD."

Romans 5:1-2 (KJV) "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ, by whom we also have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the Glory of God."

Romans 5:3-5 (KJV) "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us."

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NKJV) " 'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,' says the LORD, 'thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.' "

Isaiah 64:4-5a (NKJV) "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him. You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways."

Romans 10:8-9 (NKJV) " 'The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is the Word of Faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the LORD Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Isaiah 42:16 (NKJV) "I will bring the blind by a way they did not know. I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them."

Introduction 4

I believe that we have everything in Christ because He did and fulfilled everything, and that Christ even gave faith to us. And that is how simple it is.

All these things can be found in the Word of God, the Bible. I will include the scripture references because one thing that irritates me is to read something, and then you have to look it up yourself. However, I'm not going to copy whole chapters as a general rule. You should look those up. When I write, I never capitalize 'satan'. Also, sometimes I say 'I' or 'me', and sometimes I say 'you'. I'm still talking to myself. It just sounds less intimidating. If you really want to make the Bible personal, try reading your favorite passages in the first person: John 3:16 for example: "For God so loved [me] that He gave His only begotten son, that [if I would just] believe in Him, [I] would not perish, but have everlasting life." It's like God is talking directly to me [you].

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew and the Gentile. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed to every religion, tribe, and tongue; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Jeremiah 20:9 The Word of God is a fire in my heart that burns all the way down to my bones and I cannot hold it back.

Luke 22:31-32 "And the LORD said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.' "

Introduction 3

I'm not the only one experiencing depression and attacks of the enemy. There are many of the LORD's people who are suffering and need to know that God still loves them, still walks with them, and get refreshed. They need to re-discover the LORD'S great mercies just as I do once in a while. I am ashamed that I get depressed so easily. I need to be reminded of my dear LORD's love and mercy continually. I need to be reminded of my place in the kingdom. And so do they. I have had these experiences and learned these lessons to turn around and help those who are going through the same things. Lessons worth re-learning. I must share God's love to a lost and dying world. This is my testimony through the lessons I have learned and the scriptures that have lifted me up. God reveals Himself to us through the Word, the Bible. He opens our hearts and minds to His Love through His Word. It is not for private edification only. It is to equip us and build us up so we can help others!

I have suffered depression myself. Therefore, I have the ability, and the right, and the responsibility to help others who are depressed.

Dear LORD, teach me by your Holy Spirit. Do not let me ever believe or teach anything against or outside of Your Truth!

Introduction 2

God's been very good to me. His Word is true. And I wouldn't do anything different. I'm not so different from the early Israelites. I'm stiff-necked and rebellious. I forget easily. I get depressed. And underneath it all, I have these nagging doubts that I'll never make it to heaven. That I'll be in that group that Jesus turns away. These are lies from the enemy that I mistakenly believed. This was a grievous sin.

That is what has given rise to this blog. This is about growth. I've dated the 'chapters' and will put them here in order as best I can from February 13th to the present. Therefore, you will see a pattern of change. The LORD reached me were I was, and led me through prayer and backed it up with scripture, my pastor's sermons (and he didn't even know God was using him to speak to me), and messages from David Wilkerson and the Times Square Church in New York. If you want some really good messages, you need to get on his totally free mailing list. Even things my friends and children said confirmed what the LORD had already spoken to my heart.

That is how our dear LORD works. He reaches you where you are and works with your heart. He changes you from the inside out by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, if you will let Him. He created us with a free will and He will not overstep that boundary. His is the small voice in the midst of the chaos. You have to want to hear Him, you have to focus, and you have to listen closely.