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To be honest, I didn't intend this to be a sermon. sweatdrop It began as a collection of personal lessons which I have learnt and am learning and I decided that it may be helpful, rewarding, reminding and encouraging to my Family. Thus, here I am.

Warning, this is a very straight-forward message and you may hear things you may not want to hear but have to hear. It was an exposing thing for me to do and may very well be for you as well who are reading it.

Demons Beware! Loaded with the Word


Don't try to play God.


John 16:7 - 8 (Amplified)

"However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].

And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgement:"


Too often we try to do the job of the Holy Spirit. We convince others (or try to) when we believe that they've wronged (sometimes us). On the flip side, we try to convict ourselves of righteousness. These are both what the Holy Spirit was sent to do.

Now, this is not saying that if we see our brother doing something harmful or wrong, we aren't to alert them. It's more a case of you don't try to put anyone into a guilt-trip. We are all guilty of it. I, myself, can admit to it. When I'm hurt by someone I make sure they know how hurt I am and try to make them feel bad for it (then try to get them to admit it). They deserve it! They've hurt my feelings! (And sometimes they honestly do) It's satisfactory. Honestly, it is. But only to our flesh which really doesn't need to be fed in the first place.

We are to always walk in humility, acknowledging that we have no place to be convicting others of their sin, or to esteem ourselves, recognizing that we too have our repentances, sins, short-comines, idiosyncrasies, areas of weakness and room for growth; and it is only by God's grace that we walk uprightly.


1 Peter 5:6 (NKJV)

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.


We are to be in expectation of blessings and rewards for acting according to God's obedience, yes. But we should not try to bring these blessing upon ourselves by 'birthing Ishmaels' and rushing ahead of God, or by continuously reminding Daddy that we've been a good boy/girl. If we have, He knows. Trust me, He does. Sometimes we don't even deserve it, to be honest, because we're only right in our own eyes. If we are worthy of reward, however, we will get it, believe me, rather believe God. But we will get what He sees fit, when He sees fit.

Psalm 84:11 (NKJV)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will He withold from those who walk uprightly.

arrow By the way, 'No good thing' means what He knows is good for us. Not what we think is good for us.

We are to walk under God's conviction and walk humbly, acknowledging our source of freedom as well as the fact that we do indeed have our freedom and suffer no condemnation (See Romans 8:1). We shouldn't promote ourselves, but rather allow God to promote us and acknowledge His blessing in our lives. It is not our job to exalt ourselves.


Please... Let God be God! (Part I)

Psalm 119:77-78 (NKJV)

Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; For Your law is my delight.



Isaiah 55:8-9

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."


Before I even go on to what I have written. Let me just say this.

arrow Who on God's green Earth do we think we are sometimes????

Continuing...

We are in NO place to instruct God! We are to let God be God. We are not to criticize or question His will (though we are free to ask for a revelation of it) or His ways. Believe me, He KNOWS what He's doing. All the time too. Unlike us (sometimes)thick-skulled-half-brained-not-so-smart humans.... We have no right to tell God what to do. We can only ask and declare His Word over us.

You all know what I'm talking about...

'This isn't what I wanted!'

'But I don't want to do that! That's not what I had in mind for my life!'

'I want to do it MY way!'

Heh... Remember Jonah?

We are all guilty of it. I know I am. Let me just say this here, once we are walking in God's will, we have the assurance that everything in our lives will line up, we will have joy and He'll open doors and pour out blessings upon our lives.

Romans 9:20-21 (Amplified)

But who are you, a mere man, to criticize and contradict and answer back to God? Will what is formed say to him who formed it, Why have you made me thus?

Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same mass (lump) one vessel for beauty and distinction and honourable use, and another for menial or ignoble and dishonourable use?

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Isaiah 29:16 (NKJV)

Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; for shall the thing made say of him who made it, "He did not make me"? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, "He has no understanding"?

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Isaiah 45:9 (Amplified)
Woe to him who strived with his Maker! - a worthless piece of broken pottery among other pieces equally worthless [and yet presuming to strive with his Maker]! Shall the clay say to him who fashions it, What do you think you are making? or. Your work has no handles?

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Jeremiah 29:16

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.





God had created each of us for a specific purpose and Divine plan.


Psalm 139:14

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

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Isaiah 64:19

But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand


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Psalm 33: 13-15

The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sounds of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.


So for most of my life (the better part of 17 years) I struggled with rejection, self-esteem problems, thinking that I was a mistake. My mother would always quote Psalm 139:14 to me and that was all that kept me going. But I still struggled with those things (and regressed even) till I got to the root of the problem and got rid of certain strongholds within my life

This not to say that I think I'm perfect. In fact, I'm far from. I remember last week speaking with someone who has become one of my best friends whom I love dearly (and routinely bother till the point of annoyance). He is someone I see strength in (not for myself but the strength of God within him) and admire more than I'll admit to him. I was close to crying, emotional and I told him that I wished I could be more like him and not be such an emotion-case. Boy was I quickly rebuked for saying that. He was straightforward and loving in saying "Don't you ever dare say that!!" He was angry too. xd And he's right. I shouldn't. Though a man of God, he was made differently than I for what he's called to do.

We are not to try to change ourselves or question the traits God has given us. This is not to say that there are not aspects of our attitudes and personalities which need to be changed. We might lack compassion, faith, have a bad attitude or be self-centred. Even then, the fact is that we can't change ourselves; we can only make the decision to change when we are convicted. But! It is up to God to change us.

Let God be God and submit yourself to His will, acknowledging Him as our Creator.


Please... Let God be God! (Part II)

Romans 14:23 (excerpt from NKJV)

...For whatever is not from faith is sin.

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Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

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Luke 12:32 (NKJV)

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

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Matthew 6:25-34 (NKJV)

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

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Phillipians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God

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Psalm 37:8 (NKJV)

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.



Did you read all of that? sweatdrop I hope so.

Worrying is not of God. In fact, it is a sin to worry because by it we state that God is not in control of our lives and His promises are not true. No matter what happens in our lives, we are to remain in peace, seated and at rest in the secret place of the most High as the One, who we call 'Abba Father', works things out in our lives.

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.


Did you hear that? ALL things will be worked out in our lives. We quote the Lord's prayer so many times without realizing the authority it holds when we cry out 'Our Father who art in heaven'.


Psalm 33: 13-15

The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sounds of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.

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Isaiah 40:18-26

To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

The workman molds an image,
The goldsmith overspreads it with gold,
And the silversmith casts silver chains.

Whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution
Chooses a tree that will not rot;
He seeks for himself a skillful workman
To prepare a carved image that will not totter.

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

He brings the princes to nothing;
He makes the judges of the earth useless.

Scarcely shall they be planted,
Scarcely shall they be sown,
Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth,
When He will also blow on them,
And they will wither,
And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.

To whom then will you liken Me,
Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.

Lift up your eyes on high,
And see who has created these things,
Who brings out their host by number;
He calls them all by name,
By the greatness of His might
And the strength of His power;
Not one is missing.


Read that again! Do you realize that that is your Daddy? Do you realize what control and power your Daddy has? ...No you don't! That's only a glimpse! Words cannot express the degree of His power. 'Infinite' is the closest thing!

We are not to fear. God has not given us a spirit of fear, yet we do anyway.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

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1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.



Why? Isn't God in control? Didn't He promise never to leave us?


Deuteronomy 31:8 (NKJV)

And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.


Didn't He promise that all things will work together for the good of they who love Him?


Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.


Didn't He say that if we call His name He will answer?



Psalm 4:3 (NKJV)

But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly;The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

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Psalm 17:6

I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.

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Psalm 18:6

In my distress I called upon the LORD,And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

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Psalm 50:15
Call upon Me in the day of trouble;I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”


And that we are to cast all our anxieties upon Him?

1 Peter 5:7
...casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.


Why then do we walk with all the burden of fear and anxiety?

We are called to live and walk in faith. it requires faith to please God. It gives Him the control. It is an act of worship, giving Him His due glory. Having doubt in your life erodes faith. Never doubt the promises of God.


2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.


Trust in Him always. Do not lean to how much you know, have learned and understand. God's Will will always be carried out.


Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make your paths straight.


Okay. I'm done. (For now, there's actually more but I think I've already overloaded you all with my Holy Wall of Text (the scriptures at least). I hope you've been blessed.

I love you all

--Asha

Asha...this is SO great...man...I love it! I needed to hear this...Thank God for this!! heart

I can't even describe how cool this sermon is...I really need to hire a poet or something.

Thank you, Jesus, for this.

Somebody touched my option!!! mad It was you, James, wasn't it?!




And thank you. I'm still concerned with the length because people may not read it.

sad

hehe...no...that wasn't me... ninja It was...Phil! Get him!


I wouldn't worry about the length, big sis. The last sermon was 18 pages long. I love this sermon. My goodness, I really needed to read it yesterday.

I'm glad it helped. mrgreen

Oh believe me... worrying is something I need to get rid of myself, and I'm getting there. I know Daddy sees the times I've gotten it right and put my faith in Him, so that makes me glad.

I can be a HUGE worrier. Seriously, if it wasn't a sin, I'd stand here and be so freakin' proud of it because I excel at it so well. And as I said, these were personal lessons which I have to be learning myself. I was really put in my place on a whole bunch of issues this summer, but praise God, I'm not living in ignorance and I can minimize the extent to which I end up blocking myself spiritually from tapping into the power, authority and blessings I've inherited from our Saviour and Bridegroom.

It'll take a while to perfect it all, but thank God I'm on my way, moving from glory to glory.

And by Poem, I mean Asha!! sweatdrop So sorry, t'was very late when I wrote that. Also, you posted one of my very favorite verses!

Jeremiah 29:16

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.

So refreshing to hear all of this! 3nodding Praise God for humility!