Fear tactics

I have always been intrigued with the mafia, I don’t know why but I have. From books to documentaries and movies, I have studied their ways and tactics.

The mafia for the longest time here in America was denied that it even existed by those in power that it but it did and still does, they ruled through fear, intimidation and corrupted men and women in high places with power and money.

The mafia’s power started to decline after our government passed the RICO act and started enforcing the law, people started fearing the government and what they could more than the mafia, it is reported that over 10,000 members of the mafia turned on their bosses and took advantage of the witness protection program to help bring down the mafia.

The devil operates under the same principles of fear and intimidation, he lies too us and plays on our fears, he corrupts our hearts with power and money, he is a liar he has always been and always will be.

He tells us God is not real, or if we believe in God that He wants nothing too do with us, he tells us when we’re sick ,not feeling good or get a bad report from the doctor that we are going to die, that if God loved you this wouldn’t happen.

The fear he causes in marriages with doubts and thoughts of cheating spouses, or over parenting with fear for our children.

The fear in society of hatred, violence, sickness, poverty, other people because they are different than us in thought, in beliefs or color, these are lies from the enemy of mankind that have been told for so long that we believe them, and guess what he brought all these things into this world to rule and control mankind and to keep us from God and His truths.

The enemy intimidates us not too speak of Christ because we will look foolish, or people won’t like us or think we are odd, he deceives us into believing we are the only ones who want to know Jesus, his tactics have never changed nor will they for they have worked since the garden of Eden.

I tell you though we do not need too fear the enemy for his power is limited, when we come to understand the sovereignty of God, we know that our lives are in His hands then we are free to live as God has called us, we have entered into His witness protection program and it is for eternity.

God’s word says the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord, this fear is twofold, first we should fear Him for He is God and He is holy and righteous and at anytime He has the power and authority to take out everyone and everything, we should also be in awe of His awesome power and glory and the things He does for us only because He loves us and wants a relationship with each of us individually. 

Whatever the enemy is whispering or yelling in your ears, stop listening too Him and hear the voice of God, it is time you and I are free from the false bondage we have become entangled in, and we start living as God has intended.

God’s word says this;

“Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Matthew 10:28 CSB

“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 CSB

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”

2 Timothy 1:7-9 CSB

“Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.”

Hebrews 2:14-15 CSB

“There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love.”

1 John 4:18 CSB

“What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son but offered him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, 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 rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:31-39 CSB

“Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.”

Hebrews 13:5 CSB

Self sufficient or fully dependent

One of our many faults is that we believe we are self sufficient, that we don’t need to rely on others or God.

I have heard the quote a thousand times,” God helps those who help themselves “ this is not spoken in scripture anywhere.

God word says this: “In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”

2 Thessalonians 3:10 CSB

So if God has given you the ability to work then you should be working,  and providing for your family. 

This is not the point though, God helps those who come to the end of themselves and realize their dependence on Him, not just for small things or the big things in life, but in ALL things.

We must tear down the idol of self sufficiency, of isolation and come to the altar and offer all of ourselves as living sacrifices to God the Father, surrender our stubborn pride and realize our total dependence on God.

If we take the time to listen too what God says instead of rushing through our day we would hear Him and see His mighty works of grace and supplication in our lives.

Look at how Jesus taught us to pray, the entire prayer shows us our total dependence on God, not one word in this prayer shows us or tells us we can do anything without God’s help. 

“Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Matthew 6:9-13 CSB

Let’s not just say the words and go through the motions, let’s live as God has instructed us, as our creator and Father, He has our lives in His hands.

What if?

What if God held us to our marriage vows, you know I pledge my unfailing love in sickness & in health, for richer or poorer, til death do us part.

If God would make a spouse who chose to break these suffer the consequences of their choice immediately , they become sick , lose their job , do you think we would see people work in their marriage?

We don't always see the affects of our sin, but they are there. Not only does it affect our lives, but our families lives to. Unrest, anger, hurt, lack of trust, an attitude of things don't matter, spirituality disconnected from God and the list could go on.

The devil still tells the same lie, surely you will not die, but die we do indeed.

If you're having marriage issues look to God and not the world for comfort, peace and direction. Seek Him and pray for His guidance and grace, God ordained marriage as a picture of Jesus and the Church, may what God has joined together never be broken by the enemy.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Genesis 2:15-17

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.
Genesis 3:1-4

Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.   "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:31-34

Hope!

What does the word "hope" mean in the Bible? It doesn't mean "maybe." We may use it that way in modern English, but that's not whatever the word "hope" means when used in Scripture.

"Hope" means certainty, but not just any certainty. When the Bible says "hope," it means a rock-solid assurance with anticipation, based on the Word of God.

Put your hope and faith in Jesus Christ today if you have not and if you have. Take heart and have peace that all is well with Christ in command.


Romans 12:12-21 HCSB

Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord. But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

7 Things a Good Dad Says

Christian Living

March 31, 2014

I think I may be leaving one phase of fatherhood behind even while I enter into another. My youngest child is just about to turn eight, which means that we are not only past the baby and toddler stages, but even nearing the end of the little kid phase. Meanwhile my oldest child has turned fourteen and is just months away from high school. All this change has caused me to think about fatherhood and the new challenges coming my way. I have found myself thinking back to the many models of fatherhood I have seen and admired through the years. What made these fathers admirable? What set them apart? What was it that they said to their children? From these models I have drawn seven things a good father says.


I love you. Few things are more important to a child than knowing where he stands with his parents. As I think back to my childhood, I remember several friends who lived with uncertainty in their relationship with their parents, and their fathers especially. They longed to hear words of love and approval. But I saw other kids who had total confidence in that love and approval. Often the difference was little more than three simple words repeated regularly: “I love you.” Men can be so petty, so prideful, and hold back those words. Yet there is no good reason for it. The more awkward it feels, the more urgent it is. From the dads I admire I’ve learn that a father needs to say, “I love you,” and he needs to say it often.


Let me kiss it better. Even as a young child I remember observing two different kinds of fathers in my church. When children fell and scraped their knees, there were two ways I saw dads react. Some fathers would pick up their children, set them back on their feet, and tell them to get over it. “You’re fine. Walk it off!” They wanted their soft children to toughen up. There were other fathers who would pick up their children, hold them in their arms, make a show of extending comfort, and say, “Let me kiss it better.” These were fathers who wanted their hard children to soften up. Sure, there are times to tell your child to walk it off, but there are far more times to extend love and concern through those childhood bumps and bruises and through the bigger sins and mistakes that come with age. From the dads I admire I’ve learned the value of saying, “Let me kiss it better” (though, obviously, as the children get older the wording changes!).


Come with me. There is so much in life that can be better caught than taught. Often the best way to train up a child is to let that child into your life. One father I admire taught me the distinction between being face-to-face with my children and being shoulder-to-shoulder. I saw this shoulder-to-shoulder parenting in my own father who often brought me with him on his errands or, even better, to his work. This allowed me to see the value of putting in a hard day’s work, and the value of building relationships with clients, suppliers, and so many others. It allowed me to see that work was an extension of the rest of life, and not a part of life that exists all on its own. The fathers I have admired are the fathers who say to their children, “Come with me,” and who welcome them into their day-to-day lives.


Please forgive me. Every father sins against every one of his children. He probably does it every day. Sadly, sin is every bit as inevitable as death and taxes. Fathers need to be in the habit of identifying their sin to their children and asking forgiveness. But as I think back, I saw this and heard of this in so few fathers. There are only a few I knew to consistently identify their sin and seek forgiveness for it. As I consider my fourteen years of parenting, I see far too little of it as well. The practice seems so much more difficult than the theory. The good dad is the one who humbly, carefully says to his children, “Please forgive me.”

You’re forgiven. Just as every father sins against every one of his children, every child sins against his father. The father who asks forgiveness also needs to be willing to extend forgiveness. Every father punishes his child at times, but too many fathers punish in the worst way—by holding a grudge or by letting the child suffer as dad withholds forgiveness and reconciliation. Our children need to be forgiven and they need to experience the joy of reconciliation. Here I think of a father I know—a father I admire—who taught me that a good dad doesn’t just say, “It’s okay,” but always goes further to say, “You’re forgiven.

Let’s pray. There is one father I admire whom I have only met in the pages of books he has written. Of all he has written, what has gripped me most is the ways in which he prays with his children. He reserves special time each week for each child and in that time he inquires about their souls and prays with them. That sounds like a wonderful practice. And in the rhythm of daily life with all its ups and downs he is also quick to lead them in seeking God’s strength, God’s help, God’s wisdom. Here he teaches them the best and deepest kind of dependency on the best and greatest Help in the world. I have learned from him that the good dad is quick to say, “Let’s pray.”

You can’t do it. We live at a time when parents are known for being extravagant in their praise for their children and assuring them, “You can do anything.” But the good dad assures his children that in the most important area, they can’t do it. They simply can’t. One of the great challenges every Christian father faces is in showing his child that behavior is a reflection of the heart and that the child cannot simply will himself into heart change. And this is where the gospel becomes so precious, because it begins with that inability, leads straight to the blood and righteousness of Christ, and then to the enabling of the Holy Spirit. The dads I love and admire are the dads who assure their children, “You can’t do it,” and who quickly lead them to the gospel and to the Savior who can.

I am eager to hear what you have learned from good fathers. So, following roughly the same format, tell me what you’ve heard a good father say…


http://www.challies.com/christian-living/7-things-a-good-dad-says

God is here, will you join Him?

On april 4th and 5th we will be celebrating the call to Manhood by God our Father, you are personally invited on behalf of Dr. Jerry Neal FBC Grove City and Pastor Steve Combs Leave a Mark Church. 

We want you to join us and bring other men with you come and fellowship, this is not about First Baptist Church of Grove City, this is about God's Kingdom we want to bless, and encourage you to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Over the years thousands of lives have been changed by these events, men getting real with God, learning to lead their homes, their workplaces and communities as Godly men.

Romans 14:6-9 says  He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

This is what God wants, we should want our lives to matter for the Kingdom of God.

Jesus split time when He came , lived died, and rose again. He made an impact on eternity. 

Jesus took 12 men and turned the world upside down, their influence is still seen today, they learned to live as unto the Lord, and die as unto the Lord, they made an impact.

This Summit is about what Jesus taught His followers, you will know what they knew and the question will be what impact will you make on those around you? 

Matt Stickel returned from a recent mission trip and said the missionary there asked them how do you know you have the gospel in you?

The answer is : you can't keep it in you , you have to tell everyone about the gospel. 

Let's come together, grow together and share the gospel together with a world that needs hope. We need to truly connect as a Band of Brothers,engaging a culture who has everything backwards and is headed to hell, will you join us this coming weekend the 4th of April come at 5pm for dinner,and fellowship, 7:pm worship starts, and we will go as long as the Holy Spirit is moving, then come back Saturday morning and join us at 7:30 am for breakfast and fellowship and 9:00 am worship starts.

Bring your Bibles, your questions come hungry be prepared to be changed! Come prepared to be challenged!

God will be here will you?

FBC Grove City 3301 Orders Road Grove City Ohio 43123 

We have an app for that : have you downloaded it yet?

here is the app link http://appstore.monk.ee/details.php?appid=100860937

Summit link http://www.firstgc.org/fbc/mens-summit-2014/

JOY

A wise old man once saw a lovely and happy young wife and said, "I would love to meet your husband. He must be very special because I can see it on your face." The Bible explains: A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken (Proverbs 15:13). We should remember the Bible says the fruit of the Spirit is joy (Galatians 5:22). Happy homes are healthy homes.

Much can be said about a happy home. God's Word says laughter is medicine: A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones (Proverbs 17:22). The mandate from Scripture puts the responsibility for joyful family life on both the husband and wife. Our homes are to be refuges of happiness, not battlegrounds of sorrow.

God's Word insists that husbands live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun (Ecclesiastes 9:9). It is important we not just endure our husband-wife relationship but that we bring joy to it. This is urgent, because the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

We would like to thank Bible Discovery TV for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.biblediscoverytv.com

Psalms 119 : 1How happy are those whose way is blameless,

who live according to the Lord’s instruction!

2Happy are those who keep His decrees

and seek Him with all their heart.

3They do nothing wrong;

they follow His ways.

4You have commanded that Your precepts

be diligently kept.

5If only my ways were committed

to keeping Your statutes!

6Then I would not be ashamed

when I think about all Your commands.

7I will praise You with a sincere heart

when I learn Your righteous judgments.

8I will keep Your statutes;

never abandon me.

בBet

9How can a young man keep his way pure?

By keeping Your word.

10I have sought You with all my heart;

don’t let me wander from Your commands.

11I have treasured Your word in my heart

so that I may not sin against You.

12Lord, may You be praised;

teach me Your statutes.

13With my lips I proclaim

all the judgments from Your mouth.

14I rejoice in the way revealed by Your decrees

as much as in all riches.

15I will meditate on Your precepts

and think about Your ways.

16I will delight in Your statutes;

I will not forget Your word.

ג

THE HUSBAND'S RESPONSIBILITY

God felt the marriage union so important that He set certain laws that deal with this relationship. He knew marriage is not only finding the right mate; it is also becoming the right mate. Therefore, He wants the husband to give specific attention to developing a meaningful and lasting relationship with his wife. The next few guides will deal with the husband's responsibilities in making the marriage work.

So important was a man's attention to his marriage and mate that in the Old Testament God insisted: When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken (Deuteronomy 24:5). That law was given so newly married couples could develop mutual trust and tenderness. It emphasizes for modern men the importance of developing right relationships in their marriages.

After World War II, we reaped a whirlwind of divorces because of marriages hastily arranged just before the husband went off to fight. How much wiser we would have been, and how many good women and men would not have been deeply scarred, if we had taken God's commandments more seriously. 

This is not to suggest we keep the Old Testament commandment of one year's reprieve from responsibility. Our society is much different today. However, we should remember God did not take marriage vows lightly, and He still wants us to grow together so our marriages will carry us through our failures as well as our successes.

Proverbs 5:15Drink water from your own cistern,water flowing from your own well.16Should your springs flow in the streets,streams of water in the public squares?17They should be for you aloneand not for you to share with strangers.18Let your fountain be blessed,and take pleasure in the wife of your youth.19A loving doe, a graceful fawn —let her breasts always satisfy you;be lost in her love forever.20Why, my son, would you be infatuatedwith a forbidden womanor embrace the breast of a stranger?21For a man’s ways are before the Lord’s eyes,and He considers all his paths.22A wicked man’s iniquities entrap him;he is entangled in the ropes of his own sin.23He will die because there is no discipline,and be lost because of his great stupidity.

Bible Discovery TV for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.biblediscoverytv.com