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

I choose to remember the Joy!

I choose to remember joy!
When happiness seems beyond my reach and problems weigh me down, I turn to Jesus where do you turn?
I still remember the time when my joy was stolen and I forgot how to even smile. I looked for God everywhere, in all religions but could not find Him anywhere. I lost my faith completely in God. For me life became a burden but I still had to live for my husband who had damaged his L4 and 5 back-bones, lost 80% of his memory, and was not at all fit for work. I did not know that there can be happiness, for me life had failed me and death was winning. I didn’t want to ignore my duties so I was living without any hope.
But deep down in my heart I knew good must be found somewhere, light must be shone somewhere, truth must be revealed somewhere, solution must be given somewhere.
I had a question-
Where can I find some peace, some happiness and some relief?
Is life really precious?
Does God really hear?
Why did He create man?
Where was I heading, to the hell or heaven or lost somewhere in between?
I had many questions in my heart- why do I have nightmares, why do I suffer, why can’t God come to my help but I could not find God. Then one day the cry of my heart was answered, when I came to know Jesus, God’s beloved, full of mercy, grace and peace.
I love this moment in my life when I knew Him. His words says, “Call unto me and I will answer thee”
I asked Him are you the God?
Will you help me?
Will you give me sleep?
Will you give me peace?
Will you heal my husband?
I told Him, “OK, I will try you also.”
I told Him, “Forgive my sins, sins of my forefathers, I believe you came for me, died for me, rose from dead for me and now you are with Father God in heaven. You have washed all my sins. Devil cannot hold my sins against me anymore, so he has no right over me. I declare I am a child of God.” I felt my spirit became calm.
Last week, I met one computer graduate from South Africa, who was drunk in the afternoon. I felt in my spirit to talk to him. I asked him, “Why do you drink?
He smiled and said, I have so many problems. No one can help me.
I continued and told him yes, that’s true, I cannot solve your problem but God can.
He laughed and said, God! No way, I tried him, I was Roman Catholic but now I am Muslim, but no God, no solution only drinking helps me. At least I forget the problems for some time.
I tried to share my testimony, he heard some of it, but there was no end to our conversation. Finally I asked him, “Can I pray with you?
He replied me, “How can He help me?” Madam it is not possible.
I repeated my question. He says, “OK”
After prayers he began to cry, and said, I feel peace, I need help.
I told Him to tell Jesus whatever is happening in his life. That evening I received a message from him, he says, “Today I am so free like a molecules in the air!!!!!!”
When a person meets with God and God helps him. I feel so blessed and full of joy..
Read Luke 6:45, The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks
That man’s message was speaking joy and peace out of the abundance which he experienced in his heart.
Where is your joy?
Are you finding your joy in material gains?
Read Nehemiah 8:10: "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Why is joy important?
Does it produce strength?
What about the happiness, is happiness and joy same?
According to the Oxford English dictionary, happiness is based on luck and Joy is a vivid emotion of pleasure. It means happiness depends on circumstance and joy on our emotional well-being.
Happiness comes from the word happen which means something is happening, but joy is found in the midst of trials.
Read James 1:2 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
People struggle in their life because they have lost their joy
Joy is not happiness. If you do not have joy you will not have the strength as well.
There is a song it says "Joy of the Lord is my strength; joy of the Lord is my strength in this world.
If you will not have the joy in your spirit how will you be able to stand firm when the trials come in your life
Read 1 John 4:4, You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
We have victory over trials not frustration.
Let us Read Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Joy is also the fruit of the spirit, it is also a choice. Joy is experienced when you accept yourself the way you are, you help others with no thought of reward, your love is unconditional, you are not selfish and you are positive in your adversaries.
Read Habakkuk 3:17-18,
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Are you loosing the battle or standing firm even in your adversaries?
Read Habakkuk 3:19,
The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.....
If you stand firm even in your adversaries God is going to make a way for you
Let me tell you, "You are a victor not a victim"
Do you want to know what God has stored for you?
Read Psalms 84:11,
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
Does the word say it will not give all good things to his righteous?
So now it is you who have to make a choice
Whether you want to be a victor or victim?
Your choice is hidden in your attitude.
You may be having a tough time in your life, Every thing is adverse, yet, do you have joy in you?
If your joy is from the Lord, then it is possible
Read Isaiah 12:2-3,
Surely God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
These words are telling us that whatever is our need God has the provision for this, but you are the one who will draw it from the wells.
Today your need may be of finances, of healing, of peace or family restoration, let me tell you God has provided your need.
Open your heart, fill it with the joy of the Lord and receive it NOW
If you do not have joy then you would be sad, and if you are sad you will loose your strength, then how will you be able to draw from the well?
Have courage, do not allow devil to kill your joy
Devil is your joy killer. He is God’s enemy and yours as well.
Jesus says, “Devil comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come to give you life, life abundantly.
So what is your choice, do you want to believe in devil and suffer or believe in the word of God and rejoice
Tell- Devil you can not touch my joy
If you are of God then you belong to His Holy Spirit as well
If you belong to the Holy Spirit then you must be filled with His fruit
Then how can Devil rob you of your joy
It means you are blessed so now start reaping blessings in your life.
Amen