God's In Charge

1 John 4:4 - God's Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world

Satan has no power except that which God gives him.

To the first-century church in Smyrna, Christ said, "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer for ten days. But be faithful, even if you have to die, and I will give you the crown of life" - Rev. 2:10

Analyze Jesus' words for a minute. Christ informs the church of the persecution, the duration of the persecution (ten days), the reason for the persecution (to test you), and the outcome of the persecution (a crown of life). In other words, Jesus uses Satan to fortify His church...

Even when Satan appears to win, he loses.

From Max Lucado

Stand strong

I love you all

Let There Be Light

This is Thomas Edison with his invention. The light bulb.

And this is Philippians 3:14 - I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

We're running a race, we're fighting a fight, we're trying to "re-invent" ourselves to be like Christ. I think about Thomas Edison and how he finally invented the light bulb. He is an example of perserverance, of fortitude, and of character and how we as Christians should fight even harder to be like Christ (Phil. 3:14). But we often forget how hard the fight is at times. We use Phil. 3:14 as a key verse in our lives, only to forget about the preceding verse:

Phil. 3:13 - Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Catch that: "forgetting those things which are behind"

Thomas Edison failed over 10,000 times before he finally got the light bulb right.
We fail constantly also.
Peter denied Christ three times. DENIED! Meaning:
1. To declare untrue; contradict.
2. To refuse to believe; reject.
3. To refuse to recognize or acknowledge; disavow.
Now that's serious failure!!

But we press on, forgetting those things which are behind, (but not ignoring sin and repentance; a broken and contrite spirit and heart: Psalms 51:16-17) continuing to fight, like Peter, like the apostle Paul.

Edison said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

But what again are we fighting for, what was Paul talking about apprehending in verse 13? It's answered in verses 10 and 11. That objective is to know Christ and all that is included in this knowledge, that is, experiencing His power, sharing His sufferings, being made like Jesus in death, and experiencing resurrection from the dead.

Phil. 3:9-15

So let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Heb. 12:1).
Lets fight the good fight.
Lets not be held down by past failures.
But know that Christ's blood allows us to standup, straight and tall.

I love you all