Friday, November 2, 2012

Above All Guard Your Heart

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.If the first two fruits, love and Joy are not present in a person it will be hard to posses the third fruit.
Before I move further, I have some questions
Do you have peace in your life?
Do you have peace in your family?
Do you have peace with your parents?
Do you have peace with your children?
Do you have peace at your work?
Do you have peace with your boss?
How valuable peace in your life is?
What would you pay for it?
What would you do in order to bring peace in your life?
What did God do to bring peace in your life?
Say- Gave His son
What did His son do to bring peace in your life?
Say- Gave His life
Then what happened?
Read John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
He gave His peace and He left His peace with us and said do not let your hearts be in trouble
It means God is concerned about our lives.
When He gave us His Holy Spirit, He gave His fruit also.
God’s love is unconditional; it means He always loves us.
Joy is from the Lord.
Peace, that we are going to talk about will also be found where there is love and joy.
God is in the midst of a family and fruit of His Spirit will grow in the midst of people only
Would you like to see God’s fruits growing in the midst of you or not
If yes, then you must know that there is a cost for it
If you do not want to pay the price, how will you be called of Jesus?
Read John 17:16-18
They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
You are in the world but not of the world. Jesus works through your body in others lives. It means He is very close to you so you are likely to be like Him slowly
Are you transforming like Him or like the enemy?
Test yourself -
Search your heart-
1. Is God’s peace with you?
Read Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
If God’s peace is not with you, you will be influenced by the world and your faith will waver then how can you receive from God? This is very dangerous because it allows Devil’s will not God’s will be done
Read James 1:6-8
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
2. Do you have peace in your life
Read Romans 5:3-5
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
When you have tough time in your life where do you turn?
God is our father He will surely shape us so that we can have a better personality
You must know that God’s word gives us peace not the fear
3. Is there conflict between peace and pride?
Read Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus is talking about our every day’s burden. It may be related with family, with job, with health. These burdens we have to carry everyday.
Are you living a prideful life?
How many times has your pride put you in trouble?
If you, who are of the Lord will have the ways of the world, then don’t you think devil will hinder your progress?
4. Do you have peace even among stubborn people?
Read Romans 14:12-19
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
God has called us for the reconciliation not for judging each other. He has called us to remain in His love, joy and peace.
Read Matthew 18:19
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
God does not want anyone of us to perish, that’s why He is asking to agree with each other. If we do not work in harmony the devil will win and destroy us.
If you love the world, then it is dangerous.
Some points to remember-
1. Jesus said His path is narrow but the world’s ways are wide
2. It seems we are living life but it leads to darkness
3. It brings disrespect and the devil seems to dominate
4. It breaks your inner peace
One Advice -
Read Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Guard your heart because the battle field is this world and its ways
Read Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
My last question
Who is holding your heart the world or Jesus?
If Jesus then you are not made for defeat
Read Proverbs 24:16
for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
Say- I am God’s righteous and His peace is with me
My Prayer-
Father in the name of Jesus,
I give you thanks for giving success in the lives of the people who trust in you.. I pray and thank that these people have faith in you and you provide them the peace. The best days are about to come in their lives. You have blessed them richly. God’s ways are peaceful this you have revealed through your spirit.
Amen

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