High Above The Storm

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anxiety, fear, light, lightenings, loss, raging, storm, storms, worries

This week we’ve had some pretty bad storms.  So I thought it would be good to remind you that we’re living above the storms.

Ephesians 2:6 says “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” How wonderful it is to be seated together with Christ far above the storms of life, and far above the busyness, worries, anxieties and concerns of this world.  This of course doesn’t mean that we never experience storms or get busy or feel worried or anxious, what it means is that regardless of what’s going on in our lives we reign over it through Christ.

There is no situation or circumstance in life that can defeat us.  All it takes is for us to see ourselves as God sees us seated together with Christ high above every problem, worry and anxiety.

Right now you might be saying to yourself “Yeah that’s easier said than done.” Well, I want to agree with you that yes it is easy and yes it is done because Christ did it all at Calvary.  You see your unbelief will not change what God did for us when He raised Christ from the dead.  The scripture said, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” This is an unchangeable truth.  However, it’s up to you what you do with it.  You can both believe what the word says and live above the storms of life, or you can not believe and continue to be pressed done by every problem, worry and anxiety that comes your way.

I John 4:5 says “…as He is so are we in this world.” He is above every principality, power, might and dominion and every name that is named and so are you in this world (Ephesians 1:21).  The thing for you to do is live like it. When the storms of life began to rage see yourself above them.  But don’t just see it say it. Tell yourself I am seated together with Christ and this storm cannot dominate me and it will not cause me to go under.

One thing I’ve learn that happens during a bad storm is that the power goes out. Although the power may go out on the outside, know that the power of God on the inside of you is strong and will never diminish.  And although the lights may be out on the outside, the Light inside shines brighter because Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you.  He is with you in the midst of the storm reminding you that you are living high above the storm.

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Through The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death

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dont fear, evil words, fear, help, peace, the Lord is my shepherd, threatenings

Psalms 23:4

“Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

When you are going through the valley of the shadow of death there are some things that you must realize.  First, you must realize it’s not real, it’s only a shadow.  Shadow’s are reflections of an object that has been made visible by the sun or light.  The object can be and usually is a great distance away.  Therefore, the shadow is only the threat of something evil or negative happening.   Second, fear no evil.  In other words don’t be afraid that the evil that is threatening to come upon you will materialize.  Here’s why, God is with you! He is protecting you, leading and guiding you.  His glory covers you. Psalms 91:7 says “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” And verses 9 and 10, “Because thou has made the Lord,which is my refuge, even the most High thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” Why, because you are in Him.

The valley of the shadow of death is only the threatenings of the enemy.  Empty words with no power to do you any harm.  Isaiah 51:12-13, “I, even I, am He who comforts you.  Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass, that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor?”  Child of God, where are all those things that the enemy been threatening you with?  None of it has come to pass and it never will.  The only reason you can see the enemy’s shadow is because the light of God presence reveals all things.

When Sennacherib came upon Jerusalem to invade it he sent Rabshakeh to king Hezekiah with a great army.  He stood and threaten Hezekiah and all Jerusalem saying, “…Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, what confidence is this wherein thou trustest?  I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war; now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?” (Isa. 36:4-5)  After hearing this Hezekiah sent men to Isaiah the prophet and here is what the Lord said, “…Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words that thou has heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.  Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.” (Isa. 37:6-7).

David started the 23rd Psalms with “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”  Listen, as you see the Lord as the one that protects, keeps, leads and guides you there is nothing to fear and you can rest assure that the devil is in bigggggg trouble.

No Fear!

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Afraid, Courage, Drowning, fear, Fearful, Keep focused, Looking at Jesus, Perspective, Spirit of fear

II Timothy 1:7

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Fear is a spirit not an emotion. Fear is a spirit that attacks us in the area of our emotions and courage is not the absence of fear but courage is having the right perspective.

Look at Peter, when he was in the boat trying to fight the wind and the waves fear was there. As he put one leg over the boat fear was there, as he begin to walk on the water fear was still there. But while fear was there power, love and soundness of mind was also present and as long as Peter kept his eyes on that power and love fear was not able to dominate him. (Matt. 14:22-33)

Fear was first presented to man in the garden after the fall.  When God asked Adam where art thou? Adam said he heard God’s voice in the garden but was afraid because he was naked. Adam lacked God’s glory and now was afraid.  Satan took advantage of what Adam now lacked to cause fear.

Therefore, fear presents itself every time we think we lack something.  If you think you lack the ability to pay your bills, fear is there to tell you you’re going to be put out of your home.  If you think you lack the ability to be cured, fear is there to tell you you’re going to die.  Fear can only dominate us when we look at what we lack.  Courage is having the right perspective.

As long as Peter had his eyes on Jesus who is the power and love, he had soundness of mind. But when he took his eyes off Jesus like most of us he lost it.  Peter saw his lack of ability to save himself from the sea.

Jesus came to give us back what Adam lost, the glory of God.  When we look at Jesus we see that we lack nothing.  David said in Psalms 23:1 “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not lack.” Therefore we have no fear because we lack nothing and God is always with us.  And just as Jesus reached down and pulled Peter up from the sea, He’s right there to do the same for you and give you peace in every circumstance you’re faced with. Isaiah 41:10 says “Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Fear has no power when you’re looking at Jesus.  Stay focused.

Praise Him Now!

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doubt, fear, praise, Praise God, Praisimg the Lord, removing fear and doubt, Sing

Psalms 34:1

“I will bless the Lord at all times His praise shall continuously be in my mouth”

One of the meanings of the word bless is to empower to prosper.  Therefore, when we bless the Lord we empower Him to prosper us.  When God blesses us He empowers us to prosper in life and when we bless Him we empower Him to prosper us in life.  It’s a win, win situation.

Praise removes doubt, and fear.  Just think it’s impossible to be afraid when you are praising God.  The two cannot co-exist.  Either you’re praising God or you’re fearful.  And if you’re fearful, you’re not praising God.  Yes, we can pray when we are fearful but it is impossible to remain fearful if you’re praising God.  Here’s why, praise causes the Spirit of God to rise up within you and lift you up from the physical realm to the spiritual where the mundane things of earth can’t reach you.  Praise gives you the right perspective; God becomes greater than your problems when you praise Him.  If the children of Israel had maintained their level of praise, when they got to the red sea Moses may not have had to part the sea, maybe they would have all walked upon the sea praising God.  The Egyptians would have tried to do it and would have drowned.  But instead they went out of Egypt jubilant but lost their praise alone the way.  They were robbed of their praise.  That generation died in the wilderness because they didn’t believe God to possess the land.  But if they had been praising God they would have had the faith to enter the promise land.  Praise removes doubt because praise reinforces your faith.  “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).  The more you speak words of praise the more faith enters and the more faith, the more power, the more power, the more “God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that  you ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (Eph. 3:20).

Beloved, what have you allowed the devil to use to rob you of your praise when Jesus has given you the victory?  Is it the cares of this life? Have you been working to many hours trying to get ahead? Do you find yourself looking back and remembering how on fire with praise you once were?  If so, don’t waste another moment in such a lukewarm state.  Fan the flame of the Holy Spirit within you.  Give God your best praise now.  When you do you will find all doubts and fears will be gone and you will empower God to prosper you and He will empower you to prosper as you bless Him.