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

Look in the mirror

People need to stop, stop playing like you have it all figured out, stop complaining that the "church" is full of hypocrites, and doesn't meet your needs.

1st the "church" is the bride of Christ so complaining about her is telling Jesus who died for the " church" that He was wrong.

2nd you are the " church"  so what you say about the " church" is what you truly say about yourself.

It is time you get it in your hearts and minds we do not go to " church" but that we are the church.

Jesus is the rock , the foundation of the "church" of which we stand. Start standing up, stop complaining, start taking your role serious in the Kings plans.

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 16:18

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 12:12‭-‬31

Do you trust in God's providence?

The providence of God is written on the pages of time, and is displayed ever second of everyday in our lives.

Just as God provided everything for Is real as He led them through the wilderness He does us, our faith may be stretched but do not lose heart, God is faithful always.

Trust in Him and His providence.

God's providence is shaping our lives, and shaping history. We are not at the mercy of a cyclical, happenstance repetition of events or ideologies, moving aimlessly through time and space. Our destiny is not controlled by powerful nations, great men or circumstances. It rests securely and comfortably in the hands of God.

For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this immense wilderness. The Lord your God has been with you this past 40 years, and you have lacked nothing.’ Today I will begin to put the fear and dread of you on the peoples everywhere under heaven. They will hear the report about you, tremble, and be in anguish because of you.’ “Then the Lord said to me, ‘See, I have begun to give Sihon and his land to you. Begin to take possession of it.’ The Lord our God handed him over to us, and we defeated him, his sons, and his whole army. There was no city that was inaccessible to  us, from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the valley, even as far as Gilead. The Lord our God gave everything to us.

Deuteronomy 2:7, 25-25, 31, 33-33, 36

Holiness it's what I long for.

Israel was in captivity in Egypt for over 400 years when God set them free with Moses leading the way.

They had adapted Egypt's ways and rituals into their own, God led them out but had to teach them His holiness.

Like Israel when God set's us free from captivity we need to unlearn our old ways and learn His holiness, this means we must let Him lead us and work in our lives. We must learn to seek Him. We must submit to His ways for they are perfect.

Do not harden your hearts to what God is doing in your life, He is teaching you and I holiness.

Read the stories of the wilderness journey today see how God moved and directed Israel, then reflect over your journey and see how God is directing your life and teaching you His holiness. And thank Him for rescuing you from captivity.

Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am Yahweh your God. Keep My statutes and do them; I am Yahweh who sets you apart. “You are to keep all My statutes and all My ordinances, and do them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live will not vomit you out.  And I promised you: You will inherit their land, since I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am Yahweh your God who set you apart from the peoples.

Leviticus 20:7-8, 22, 24

A work in progress

We are all a work in progress, God is not done with any of us yet for He has a greater purpose than wake, eat, work, rest, repeat.

He has called us to a higher calling to glorify Him and worship Him in all we say and do. To love Him with all our hearts, minds, body and souls, and to love those around us as ourselves.

Now this is not obtainable on our own, so He has put His Holy Spirit in us to accomplish this task.

Start seeking 1st the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and watch what God will do, step out of His way today and walk in obedience and faith and behold His glory.

Let brotherly love continue. Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.  Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.  Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers.  Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.   Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?  Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by foods, since those involved in them have not benefited.

Hebrews 13:1-9

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.

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