Operating by the Peace Rule

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The Word for Today
Written by Bob and Debby Gass
m.thewordfortoday.co.nz/

'Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...' Colossians 3:15 NIV

If you don't have peace about it, don't proceed! Often peace is all God will give you to let you know whether you're in or out of His will. So how can you operate by the peace rule? 'Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand...His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest...' (Philippians 4:6-7 TLB). Pay close attention to the words, 'Don't worry...instead, pray.' Prayer transfers the problem from you to Jesus. 'Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.

Be careful - watch out for attacks from Satan...Stand firm when he attacks...' (1 Peter 5:7-9 TLB). Don't give the devil a few days to work you over. The longer you wait to resist him, the stronger his hold over you becomes. The moment you find yourself worrying, stop and ask, 'What's the enemy trying to do here? If I give in to these thoughts and emotions, what will the result be?' 'Do not give the devil a foothold' (Ephesians 4:27 NIV).

Know your enemy, and each time he attacks put him to flight by saying what Jesus said to him in the wilderness: '...It is written...' (Matthew 4:4 NIV). When Jesus said for the third time, 'It is written,' we read, 'The devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him' (Matthew 4:11 NIV). So here's the question: How well do you know God's Word?

Is 30-33
www.biblegateway.com/passage/
?search=Is%2030-33&version=NIV

John 11:17-27
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?search=John%2011:17-27&version=NIV

Ps 8
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?search=Ps%208&version=NIV

Pr 26:23-26
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?search=Pr%2026:23-26&version=NIV

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SUNSET09 11/14/2012 11:11PM

When you have a closer walk with the Lord, you will know your His voice and recognize the enemy's! Yes and Amen! Report Inappropriate Comment

Stand Out from the Crowd

Thursday, November 01, 2012

The Word for Today
www.rhema.co.nz/
Written by Bob and Debby Gass

'Do not follow the crowd...' Exodus 23:2 NIV

Mark D. Roberts writes: 'In junior high, a boy named Andrew...was the classic nerd: overweight...thick glasses...skin so white it seemed he'd never been outside. One day some of the boys began teasing Andrew and making fun of his appearance...I saw the pain in his eyes and knew I should tell the other guys to knock it off. But I saw an opportunity to be aligned with the in-crowd. So I joined in...adding my taunts as Andrew began to cry...In my heart I knew I'd done a terrible thing...Sometimes the temptation to "follow the crowd" is almost more than we can bear. We crave acceptance to such an extent that we do what we know is wrong so others will like us. This is true not only for insecure junior high boys, but for just about everybody. It's hard to stand up to the crowd.'

Jesus wasn't ruled by people's opinions. Even His critics acknowledged, '...We know you are a man of integrity...You aren't swayed by others...' (Matthew 22:16 NIV). When you know who you are in Christ it frees you from the need to impress. Paul writes, 'Don't let the world...squeeze you into its own mould...let God re-mould your minds...so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good...' (Romans 12:2 PHPS).

As painful as it is to be criticised, it's far worse to give up the course God has for you just for acceptance. At some point you must ask, 'How much am I willing to lose in order to be accepted?' Can you take the pressure? Will you be like Nehemiah who said, '...I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down...' (Nehemiah 6:3 NIV).

Read the Bible in one year
www.biblegateway.com/versions
/?action=getVersionInfo&vid=10



Ex 30-32
www.biblegateway.com/passage/
?search=Ex%2030-32&version=NIV

John 8:1-20
www.biblegateway.com/passage/
?search=John%208:1-20&version=NIV

Ps 96
www.biblegateway.com/passage/
?search=Ps%2096&version=NIV

Pr 25:1-7
www.biblegateway.com/passage/
?search=Pr%2025:1-7&version=NIV

  

The Right Word at the Right Time

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The Word for Today
www.rhema.co.nz/
Written by Bob and Debby Gass

'What you say can mean life or death...' Proverbs 18:21 NCV

There's a story about a teacher who, to honour her students, gave each a ribbon that stated, 'Who I am makes a difference,' and asked them to pass it along to someone who'd made a difference in their lives. One kid gave his to a young executive who helped him plan his career. He in turn gave it to his boss, who was hard to get along with. He told him how much he'd been influenced by his creativity, and asked him to give the ribbon to somebody he admired. That night the boss told his fourteen-year-old son, 'I've thought about who I want to honour - and it's you. My days are hectic, and I'm always complaining about your grades and your messy bedroom. Tonight I want to let you know the difference you've made in my life. Besides your mother, you're the most important person I know, and I love you.' Fighting back tears, the boy replied, 'Earlier today I wrote a letter explaining why I'd taken my life, and asking you to forgive me. I was going to do it when everybody was asleep. I didn't think you'd care. I guess I won't need the letter now.' Upstairs in his son's room the father found the anguish-filled note beside a loaded gun.

God can help you to '...speak a word in season to him who is weary...' (Isaiah 50:4 NKJV). Words change lives: 'What you say can mean life or death.' So go out of your way today to speak words of encouragement to somebody you don't normally think about. '...a word spoken at the right moment - how good it is' (Proverbs 15:23 AMP)!

Read the Bible in one year
www.biblegateway.com/versions
/?action=getVersionInfo&vid=10

Deut 18:9-18
www.biblegateway.com/passage/
?search=Deut%2018:9-18&version=NIV

Dan 2
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?search=Dan%202&version=NIV

Isa 47:5-15
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?search=Isa%2047:5-15&version=NIV

Acts 16:16-34
www.biblegateway.com/passage/
?search=Acts%2016:16-34&version=NIV

A careless word may kindle strife;
A cruel word may wreck a life.
A gracious word may soothe the way,
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen stress,
A loving word may heal and bless

  

God Will Do Whatever It Takes

Monday, October 29, 2012

The Word for Today
www.rhema.co.nz/
Written by Bob and Debby Gass

'...Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.' Romans 5:20 NKJV


Paul writes, '...I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it' (Galatians 1:13 NIV). Clearly, Paul had no thoughts of becoming a Christian. As a Jew, he was obsessed with the law. As an intellectual, he could debate the finest minds. Articulate and educated, he was committed to the tenets of his faith. Yet he hated Christians! He watched as Stephen, the first martyr, was stoned to death. And while he didn't personally participate, he held the coats of those who did (Acts 7:57-59).

Paul never dreamed that one day he'd switch sides. But when God has a plan for your life He will do whatever it takes to fulfill it. By the time He places the hook in your jaw, He's already begun to work out His purpose for you. Even while Paul held the coats of Stephen's executioners, God had plans to use him. Just as He had plans for you when you were out partying, doing your own thing, going from relationship to relationship, or thinking only of making money. None of that stopped God because, 'Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.'

Had Paul known God planned to meet him that day on the Damascus Road, he might have taken a different route. But '...a light from Heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground...' (Acts 9:3-4 NIV). This proud Pharisee had an appointment with God that wasn't in his diary, one that knocked him off his high horse. And to bring you into submission with His will, God will do whatever it takes. So be warned! God won't permit your stubbornness to subvert His plans for your life!

Read the Bible in one year
www.biblegateway.com/versions
/?action=getVersionInfo&vid=10

Exo 28-29
www.biblegateway.com/passage/
?search=Exo%2028-29&version=NIV

John 7:45-53
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?search=John%207:45-53&version=NIV

Ps 9
www.biblegateway.com/passage/
?search=Ps%209&version=NIV#

Pr 24:30-34
www.biblegateway.com/passage/
?search=Pr%2024:30-34&version=NIV

  

Building Lasting Relationships

Sunday, October 28, 2012

The Word for Today
www.rhema.co.nz/
Written by Bob and Debby Gass

'...It is not good that man should be alone...' Genesis 2:18 NKJV

God's plan for your life always requires building relationships with the right people. To succeed, you must be able to recognise these people and work with them. Remember Jonathan, who loved David even at the cost of his own life? Or Ruth, who loved her widowed mother-in-law Naomi and gave her a reason to live again? Or Paul, who wrote about Timothy, '...I have no man like him... For all men seek their own...' (Philippians 2:19-21 KJV).

God wouldn't say, 'It's not good that man should be alone,' then tell you to do it all by yourself. But there may be areas in your life that need to be healed before you can enter these relationships and enjoy them. There's a world of difference between 'using' relationships and 'heart-ties.' Blood-ties don't wear as well as heart-ties. So allow God to work on you. When you are ready, He will make the necessary introductions. In the meantime, get to know Him better. Make His opinion the source of your self-worth. If your last relationship stripped you of worth and drained you spiritually, use this time to get back on your feet. You may never have this opportunity again.

And one more thought: begin to love as God loves. He sees your imperfection, handles your rejection and loves you regardless. That should help you not to throw someone away because they made a mistake. You wouldn't discard your car over a faulty part, right? If God forgave you as you forgive others, what shape would you be in? Come on, let God teach you how to build lasting relationships.


Exo 25-27
www.biblegateway.com/passage/
?search=Exo%2025-27&version=NIV#

John 7:25-44
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?search=John%207:25-44&version=NIV

Ps 104:24-35
www.biblegateway.com/passage/
?search=Ps%20104:24-35&version=NIV

Pr 24:28-29
<link>http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/
?search=Pr%2024:28-