Author: Pastor Kris Belfils

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Expect the Unexpected (Touched By An Angel Christmas Series)

Expect the UnexpectedHow do you approach life? Do you expect good things from God or do you expect nothing good? We get what we expect. It reminds me of a story I heard about a wise clerk who worked at a convenience store in a small town out west.

One day, a stranger walked in, picked up some bread and milk, and made his way to the cash register.
“New to town?” the clerk asked.
“Yep. Just moved here with my family,” the stranger replied.
“Well, then let me be the first to welcome you,” the clerk offered, extending his hand.
“Thanks,” the stranger said as he shook it. “Say, what are the people like in this town?”
“Well … what were they like in the town you just left?” the clerk queried.
“Oh, they were fantastic,” the stranger replied. “Friendly, upbeat, and generous. We hated to leave.”
“I know what you mean,” the clerk nodded. “I think that’s pretty much what you’ll find here, too.”
A few days later, another stranger walked into the convenience store. Like the first, he picked up a few staples and headed to the cash register.
The same clerk asked, “New to town?”
“Yes,” the stranger mumbled. “Just arrived.”
Following the same track, the clerk smiled and extended his hand. “Let me be the first to welcome you!”
The stranger took his hand reluctantly, frowned, and quickly looked down. “So what are the people like in this town?”
“Well … what were they like in the town you lived in last?” the clerk queried.
“Not great,” he stammered. “They were cold, aloof, and selfish. We were glad to get out of there.” He looked up at the clerk.
“I know what you mean,” the clerk affirmed. “I’m afraid that’s probably what you’ll find here, too.”

Our outlook on life can determine if you enjoy your life or not. It can even determine the blessings you receive all because you chose to acknowledge them or not. If it’s true that we get what we expect, it’s worth noticing our expectations—and shifting them toward a more positive outcome.

God is calling all of us to live a life of extraordinary dependance upon Him. God wants us to live by faith, not by sight. God wants us to stop expecting what we expect to get out of life, and start expecting to see Him move in our midst. He wants us to expect the unexpected.

We can see this in the first angel visitation concerning the birth of Christ with Zechariah and Elizabeth.

Read Luke 1:5 – 25

It’s interesting that as Luke begins to tell the story of Jesus, he doesn’t begin with Jesus himself. He doesn’t even begin with Mary and Joseph. He begins with Zechariah and Elizabeth. But I understand why Luke did this. It’s because the story of Jesus doesn’t begin with the birth of Jesus. It goes way back into the Old Testament and has to do with the fulfillment of prophecy.

Zachariah means “Remembered of God” and Elizabeth means “One who gives loyalty to God.” (Strongs Hebrew and Greek Dictionary)

What We Can Learn From Zechariah and Elizabeth


Read Luke 1:5 – 25

1. The text tells us that Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous before God (v. 6).

Let’s not misunderstand what the text is saying about them. They were not sinless. The Bible is clear that everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23). And this is even clear from this passage, because Zachariah sinned when he doubted God’s message. Rather, they were made righteous by God’s grace because of their faith in the coming Messiah. And they were blameless in the sense that they earnestly sought to please God in all that they did, not in order to earn God’s favor, but out of their love for God.

Zechariah took his job as a priest seriously. Even though his own family couldn’t grow numerically, he diligently performed as a priest because he loved God and hoped that God would show mercy on his family to bless them with a child.

Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron, the first priest of Israel. Zechariah was a priest. It is interesting that John came from this background and Jesus, the Messiah, didn’t. John could have taken his rightful role as a priest because of his linage but John was born to prepare the way for Christ. Jesus came from the tribe of Judah and this tribe of Israel were never priests. Only the tribe of Levi or Levites were priests.

Another interesting thing to note is that angels never appeared in the temple before Gabriel’s appearance to Zachariah and never did an angel appear in the temple again. How God loved this family and wanted to show it by having such a unique revelation of them having a child and what that child was born for.

2. If we want to have peace with God, we’ve got to be like this couple.

We’ve got to believe in Jesus Christ to save us from our sin. And because we know the grace of God, we ought to serve Him out of joy. This is what this couple did; serve God out of joy not obligation.

They had peace in their lives. Living obedient lives to God brings His peace. Living disobedient lives will always bring unrest and chaos in our life and the lives close to us. We affect others by the choices we make. Having peace is so essential in life. Living a righteous life brings peace.

What about you? Have you been living your life in obedience to please God or living your life to please your self? Even our actions or how we treat people can be a reflection of living a righteous life or not. Guard your peace by doing the right thing and not following your flesh.

Proverbs 16:7 KJV
“When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Isaiah 32:17 NIV
“The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.”

3. Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed for a child.

The text also tells us that this godly couple didn’t have any children. Children are a blessing. We need to remember that. They’re not a hindrance. They may keep you from advancing in your career. They may need constant attention. They may require you to devote your entire life to caring for them. But they are a blessing, and we need to see them as a blessing.

Zechariah and Elizabeth saw children this way. They desperately wanted a child. According to verse 13, Zechariah had prayed for a child. When you pray, trust God. He will answer at the best time in the best way. Sometimes God will answer your prayer in the most unexpected way at the most unexpected time. But when you trust in God you need to learn to expect the unexpected.

They prayed for a child for many years I am sure, but now they were up in years and Elizabeth was beyond childbearing. I believe they figured God wouldn’t answer their prayer do to the facts of their age and how their bodies have aged. We do that don’t we? We pray a prayer and then time goes by and we don’t see an answer. We look at the facts and decide it wasn’t God’s will to give us what we asked for and we resign to the fact that it won’t happen.

Zechariah must have forgotten to trust God’s timing when it came to this prayer. Zechariah had prayed for a child. An angel told Zechariah that he would have a child, and not just any child.

Verse 15: “This child would be great before the Lord.”
Verse 16: “This child would turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord.”
Verse 17: “This child would go in the spirit and power of Elijah, and would prepare people for the coming of the Lord!”

This would be the man of whom Jesus says, “Among those born of women, none is greater than John.”

Zechariah should have responded with praise! But notice how Zechariah responds,

“And Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.’ And the angel answered him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.’ And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, ‘Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.’ (Luke 1:18-25)

When you pray, trust God to answer. And when God answers, don’t be surprised that He answered! If you know Christ as Savior, then God is your Heavenly Father who desires to give good gifts to His children.

4. The reproach was taken away from Elizabeth.

Luke 1:24 – 25 NKJV
“Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, ‘Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.’”

In the Jewish culture of that time when a woman didn’t have any children it was a reproach or disgrace. The word “Reproach” means: “an expression of disapproval or disappointment, loss of reputation, something that causes shame or disgrace.

People disapproved of her because of her barrenness. She was, in a way, rejected by society because of her lack of children. God is a god Who sees and he saw Elizabeth’s view of herself of being a reproach. He saw her reproach and wanted to take it all away. Giving Zechariah and Elizabeth a child not only answered their prayer but it also turned their disgrace away. God has a way healing us totally and completely in all areas. God has more for us then disapproval. He has His divine approval.

God approves of us. No matter what people say or what you believe, God approves of you because you have His Son living inside of you. He will turn ashes into beauty and your mourning into dancing. Expect the unexpected!

5. Elizabeth and Zechariah were filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied.

Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit the moment the Messiah’s mother, Mary, greeted her.

Luke 1:39 – 45 NKJV
“Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zachariah and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. []Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

Mary was excited about what was going to happen! She quickly went to tell her relative Elizabeth about it. Mary didn’t know who to talk to about this, but she knew Elizabeth would understand, because she was in a very similar situation.

But before Mary could say much at all, John the Baptist starts to fulfill his prophetic role. It was John’s job to point to Jesus as being the Christ. He started doing this even before he was born! (v. 41).

This verse says a lot about how we’re to think about children, even before they’re born. The Bible never refers to an unborn child as anything but a baby. It’s not a group of cells, or a tissue, or a fetus. It’s a baby! Life begins at conception!

So the baby inside Elizabeth leaped for joy! This caused Elizabeth to cry out in praise and prophecy. Elizabeth’s child was unexpected because Elizabeth had always been barren!

Zechariah was also filled with the Holy Spirit and Prophesied. After John was born and he wrote on a tablet saying his name would be John, he immediately could talk again and was filled with the Holy Spirit and Prophesied saying:

Luke 1:68 – 79 NKJV
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Both Elizabeth and Zechariah were filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied the goodness of God. They both believed that their child was given to them by the Lord. Their belief carried them to the fulfillment of the promise given them. They both expected the unexpected.

You need to expect the unexpected. Don’t be surprised when God does the miraculous in your life! He’s God! God does miracles more easily than we can do anything! God made the sun with less effort than we can flip a light switch! We have to lift an arm, He merely spoke a few words! We might be impressed that we can build a boat and float, but Jesus could walk on water! We can turn on a faucet and fill a glass with water, but Jesus turned water into wine! With God all things are possible.

Don’t give up on what you are believing for. God hears our prayers and will answer them in His time. Remember when things look hopeless that is when the God of hope steps in and does the unexpected. Expect the unexpected in your life and watch what God does this year for you.

Your sister,

Pastor Kris Belfils

http://www.krisbelfils.com
http://www.hopefellowshipspokane.com
http://www.krisbelfils.wordpress.com

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Play Nice

Play NiceChildren are taught to “Play Nice’ in school and on the play ground, but when we grow into adults, we tend to be less kind and more selfish.

We have to approach relationships and getting along with people differently then having the attitude of “what can I get out of this.” We have to put our big boy and girl pants on as adults and be mature when getting along with others. It is easy to decline and fall back into our old nature habits of only thinking of ourselves, but once you have conquered something, once you have grown and matured naturally, we are responsible for our behavior. Actually we are responsible for our behavior all the time.

It doesn’t matter if you are a Christian or not; people hurt people. We all have hurt someone in our life. No exceptions. Often it comes when we don’t get our own way or we feel rejected. Looking at the United States Government and how the Democrats and Republicans seem to not get along, in essence they haven’t learned how to “Play nice” with others. Playing nice means that you don’t always get what you want. It means thinking of the other person’s needs beyond your own. This is hard for us, especially when what the other person thinks or wants is contrary to what you want or even believe is right.

So what do we do?

Matthew 7:12 Message

“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.”

How would you like to be treated? If you were the other person receiving your behavior how would you react? One thing is for certain we should never behave badly because someone else behaves badly. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Learn to maintain good behavior in spite of your coworker’s or your family’s actions. Take the higher road. Negotiations can never happen if rather party is unwilling to budge from their opinions or viewpoints. Compromise is not a bad thing when it comes to working out differences. Compromise is an extremely bad thing if it means compromising the Word of God and your morals. We all should be people of integrity. But there is still room for working things out even when we are standing up for what we believe. Fighting doesn’t get us anywhere.

PLAY NICE

1. Understand that everybody is different.

More fights are had all because we are expecting people to be just like us. Don’t expect people to be like you. God has made us all different for a reason. He even works out circumstances so that we are with people that rub us the wrong way all to build our character. We might not like it. We might actually hate it, but what are you going to do? I have learned to say to myself, “It’s okay, that is how they are and I can’t change them.” I remind myself (if the person is a Christian) that the same Holy Spirit who works on my heart and character is working on their heart and character too.

Do you have multiple children, with different personalities, and wonder how they all came from the same place? How many of you have kids you get along with better then some of the other kids you have? How many have a child you love but don’t get along with them very well? Is the one you don’t get along with a lot like you? Usually that is the case. This makes my point of how would you respond if you were the one receiving your own behavior?

When you have a strong personality and you have a strong-willed child the war is on! Give them something to be in charge of that you are okay with. Then, don’t meddle in their business. If they fail at what they are in charge of it will be a learning experience for them. If they succeed, which is what we hope for, then it will help build their character of being responsible.

God gives us all a temperament and they are all different. We can look at all the personalities of the Disciples. Peter and John were so different. Peter was like a fireball who couldn’t keep his mouth shut for two seconds, and John just hung out with Jesus. He even referred to himself, in the book that he wrote, “I am the disciple whom Jesus loves.” I am sure that grated on Peter. Remember when Jesus was teaching on forgiveness it was Peter who said, “How many times am I to forgive someone for the same thing?” These guys were people just like us. They got offended at each other. They were constantly dealing with that stuff.

Jesus had opportunity to be offended. Jesus came to do a job, He was anointed to do that job, He had to maintain that anointing on His life. Let me tell you He needed an anointing to go to the cross. He needed the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to get through Gethsemane. We have to have the power of the Holy Spirit to get through these things.

What would have happened if Jesus would have gotten offended at John the Baptist when he began to doubt rather He was the One.” What if Jesus hid that offense in his heart and dwelt on it? What if He got offended a the religious leaders because they were always giving Him trouble and Jesus didn’t let it go but dwelt on it? What if He got offended at His own family because His brothers thought He was stock raving mad? Even though Jesus kept on trying to do what God called Him to do He was carrying heavy weights and bondages because of the un-forgiveness in His heart. You know what? We wouldn’t be here today! You wouldn’t be having this message today. We wouldn’t have believers today because He could not have finished what God had called Him to do. He was tempted every time He turned around to take offense but He didn’t.

I hope you are seeing something here! I have to work constantly to keep offense out of my heart. Deal with it violently. Don’t think that I am any different then you. I can be going through my day or even praying and a thought goes through my mind about what someone said or did towards me and start to think, “Well, I can’t believe they said that!” or “I can’t believe they did that to me!” We all have to be aggressive in dealing with being offended. This is learning how to play nice.

The devil is the devil in everybody’s life. He is not easier on one person compared to another. Sometimes I have to say out loud, “No! I am not going to dwell on that junk.” “I refuse to dig up that stinking garbage any longer.” Often I Pray, “God help me!” You know why? Because I don’t belong to myself. Neither do you. we don’t have the privilege of acting like an ordinary person. Paul told the Corinthian church, “You are carnal, fleshly babies because you are acting like mere unchanged men.

1 Cor. 3:1 – 3 Amplified Bible

“However, brethren, I could not talk to you as to spiritual [men], but as to nonspiritual [men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates], as to mere infants [in the new life] in Christ [unable to talk yet!] I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough [to be ready for it]; but even yet you are not strong enough [to be ready for it], For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of the flesh [under the control of ordinary impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men?”

Let me say it again, “We don’t have the fleshly privilege of acting like everybody else.” The whole rest of the world can get mad and stay mad, but we don’t get to stay mad! We get mad, but we don’t get to stay mad. We have to let it go, drop it and leave it and not be stumbling over that stumbling block all the time.

I am determined to finish what God has called me to do. And you need to be determined to do what God has asked you to do! Whatever that is you need to be determined to finish it. If it is nothing more then serving the Lord with gladness then be determined to do that! Everybody is not like us and we need to understand and look at a person and say. “you have just as much right as I do to think like you do. We don’t have to answer for anyone else, we only have to answer for ourselves.

Life would be pretty boring if we were all alike. Just think about making a pizza with just the crust? Adding more ingredients makes the pizza a pizza. Sauce, cheese, pepperoni, olives, … etc. We need to learn to appreciate the differences in people. Appreciate the value they are to us stop thinking about how different they are. Amen!

Stop trying to be somebody else and just be fully and completely you and let everybody else be who they are!

2. Be humble. 

No one likes an arrogant person. Don’t over or underestimate yourself.

Romans 12:3 Amp

“For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.”

Learn how to say I am not always right. Learn how to say, “Yes its ok if we do that, I don’t have to get my way all the time!” Always wanting your way is childish. That is how we were when we were toddlers. They don’t understand sharing or thinking about the other person. But we are adults and we know better. Only a dictator gets their way all the time. Don’t be a dictator. A dictator is someone who has complete power and no one can trump it. Usually a dictator is oppressive and demands their own way. They have unrestricted power and control. This is NOT the case with any Bible believing Christian. We are all subject to God and His authority.

Being around a person who is a leader and they act like a dictator is oppressive bondage. “My way or the highway!” Does this describe you? We should have freedom our creative selves. Are you a dictator in your house? In your work? With other Christians? We need to learn to be humble and realize we don’t have all the answers. Remember in marriage that you and your spouse are a team. Each have important things to bring into the marriage. Love will be patient and kind and not self-seeking. What have you contributed to your relationships lately?

James 4:10 KJV

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

If you are being oppressed don’t try and seek revenge or feel it will be like that the rest of your life. God sees. He will lift you up. He will bring deliverance. God is your vindicator. He fights for injustice. He is fighting for you so you don’t need to fight but just to remain stable and keep your ground.

Exodus 14:14 NKJV

“The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

God will fight for you so stop fighting for yourself. Learn to play nice with others and know that God keeps the books.

3. Give criticism sparingly. 

People don’t respond well to criticism but they respond well and are motivated by encouragement. You can have a student who has one teacher that gives encouragement and one teacher who criticizes. Inevitably the student who has the subject with the encouraging teacher will have a higher grade then the subject with the teacher who criticizes their work. It is the same in our families and any relationship we may have; encouragement goes a long way.

Are you a nosey ninny? Sometimes we just need to mind our own business! Here are a few quotes about minding your own business:

-The hardest part of business is minding your own.

-The biggest fool is one who minds the business of others rather than minding his very own.

-Hey, I found your nose, it was in my business again.

-Everyone else notices everyone else’s problems but never pay attention to their own.

-Facebook; Letting you put your nose in other people’s business since 2004.

You have enough to deal with in your life, it is not your job to know it all or fix others. If you see something wrong in someone else’s life, pray that God shows that other person. The Holy Spirit can do a far better job then you can. There will be times we have the means to help somebody, then do it!

There are times we need to give criticism, but not at the expense of destroying someone.

Criticism means: “the act of expressing disapproval and of noting the problems or faults of a person or thing : the act of criticizing someone or something: a remark or comment that expresses disapproval of someone or something (merriam-webster.com).”

This causes fights. People won’t respond well to judgement.

Matthew 7:1 – 5 NKJV

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Powerful words. Here is a down to earth rendition of those verses:

Matthew 7:1 – 5 Message

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.”

We can criticize or judge someone inwardly. Even though we didn’t share our critical thoughts to them we still have committed a sin because Jesus said if you even look at a person and lust for them you have committed the act in your heart.

We respond outwardly to how we think about others. If you think someone is doing something wrong, but you don’t tell them, your actions will reflect what you are thinking. You will probably treat them as if they were “less then.” You may even snub your nose at them. You could think, “I would never do that!” and your actions could be one of arrogance or indifference.

We all have faults. You do too if you would be truthful with yourself. If you are a person who is constantly being critical of others you will live a lonely miserable life. Criticizing doesn’t do anything good for anybody, including you. Learn to be easy going! Learn to accept the differences, or even the faults of others. Nobody is perfect. Give some people some slack: mercy and grace, even if they don’t acknowledge the wrongs they may have done to you.

4. Talk less and listen more.

Are you a person who likes to tell people what you think? Maybe you always have to tell something about yourself when others are talking. Many fights have started all because someone talked over another and didn’t really hear what the other person said. I know because it has happened in my life.

We could avoid undue stress and broken relationships if we would just talk less and listen more. Have you ever been around someone who talks so much you can never get a word in edge wise? It is pretty frustrating to say the least. When this happens voices are usually raised so the other person is heard. This can create an atmosphere of stress, or even worse, one can walk away from it thinking less valued.

Learn how to be quiet until the other person is finished talking. Even if you are afraid you will forget what you want to say or contribute into the conversation, just note what you want to say in your mind and turn your listening ears on.

People want to know you care. They don’t necessarily want a sermon or a lecture. If someone is going through a hard time, and they haven’t asked for your advice, don’t give it unless you ask them. We can say things like, “Would you like to know my advise?” or “Do you want to know what I think?”

Proverbs 10:19 NKJV

“In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

We can sin just by talking too much. In other words if you babble on and on about you, your life, people, things that happened to you, chances are you will gossip and criticize others in the process. Talking less gives your tongue a rest and your ears a chance to function! LOL

Proverbs 17:28 Amplified Bible

“Even a fool when he holds his peace is considered wise; when he closes his lips he is esteemed a man of understanding.”

Holding our tongue, even when what we want to say is right, can keep the peace in a relationship. Sometimes it is just enough to know you are right. Other people don’t need to know that. Being a “know-it-all” is annoying to others and it is not playing nicely.

Often when we talk we don’t think about what we are saying. We should think about how it will come across to the listener. Our tone of our voice and our actions actually speak louder then words. We can tell someone that we love them, but if the tone of our voice is anger or if our actions suggest that we don’t value the other person, chances are you really don’t love that person. They will walk away feeling undervalued.

I like to learn how to watch people’s body language. It intrigues me to find out if someone is lying or not. There is a technique. There are many books out there too. Police and Law enforcement’s study people and can tell if someone is telling the truth. Most of the time if you talk less and listen more you can decipher things about the other person’s character. Not to criticize them but to understand them.

James 1:19 Amplified Bible

“Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.”

Be quick to listen. Be determined to find out more about the other person instead of the person knowing way more about you. We have two ears and one mouth. This should remind us that we should think twice as much as we speak!

Proverbs 8:2 ESV

“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”

Psalm 141:3 ESV

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”

This should be our prayer. It will help in all areas of our life. I don’t want anything coming out of my mouth that is not pleasing to God. We can lose relationships just by what comes out of our mouth. Guard your mouth. Always think before you speak. Will the listener be okay with the words I say to them? This will help us to play nicely with others.

5. Display true love.

1 Cor. 13:4 – 7 Message

“Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.”

Often we think we need someone to love us but in essence we need somebody to love. The Bible says love is the most excellent thing we can do.

We are not called to “in-reach” we are called to “outreach!” Live to make somebody else happy.

1 Cor. 12:31 Amplified Bible

“But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all–love].”

Loving people is a more excellent way. Choose to love instead of hate. Choose to look at the good and not the bad in people. You will always find bad, some people have more of it then others. Most of the time when someone is acting up it is because they have unresolved issues in their life. People are not our enemy though.

Matthew 5:44 Amplified Bible

“But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you to show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike]. For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that? And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles (the heathen) do that?”

God wants us to do good to people who haven’t done any good for us because that is the best spiritual warfare to keep the devil under your feet. It breaks any stronghold the enemy is trying to put on you.

Love is the highest form of spiritual warfare. If we think we are doing something smart and stay mad at somebody and get revenge on them, it is the absolutely worse thing we could do for ourselves. Its all based on feelings. I feel, I feel, I feel! Feelings come and go but God’s word remains; we are to love one another as He loves us.

One of the main reasons people don’t walk in love is because love is an effort. Now get this: love will always cost you something. Its gonna cost some time, some effort, even to not start a fight in your home. It will cost you some pride. Be willing to swallow your pride to let someone else think they are right. Even though you are sure your right a fight and we have to guard our peace.

Its not that you become a doormat or let everybody walk all over you and push you around. You confront when God shows you to confront and you wait God tells you to wait.

Most of the time when God wants me to confront I want to leave it alone and when I want to confront He is telling me to leave it alone. When somebody has hurt us one of the hardest things in the world is to wait and let God bring our vindication. We want to take it for ourselves don’t we?

If you are waiting for the other person to do whats right, I have an announcement to make; You maybe waiting a long time. You are the one hearing this message so guess what? You get to start first! And not only that, if you’re the Christian in your house, then you ought to be the one to start first. You can’t expect the people who don’t know the Word to do anything right because they don’t even know what right is. So we have to do it as an example.

No matter how others act you stay the same. Don’t allow their behavior to dictate yours. Jesus didn’t change with the circumstances and act up with the people who were acting up. He remained the same. We can do this too by the grace of God. Love because we are commanded too. Love because it is being like Christ.

In order to get along with people in these last days we are living in it is imperative that we:

Play Nice (Review)

1. Understand that everybody is different.

2. Be humble.

3. Give criticism sparingly.

4. Talk less and listen more.

5. Display true love.

This is how we play nicely with others. It is not rocket science, just plan and simple stuff.  Be a person who lets go of selfishness and clings to kindness and love. Your world will be a much better place and you will keep your peace in any relationship you may have.

From one playground dweller to another,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.KrisBelfils.com

www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com

www.KrisBelfils.WordPress.com

by

Sword of the Spirit

Sword of the SpiritWe are all in a constant battle. This battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of darkness, against spiritual hosts of wickedness (Eph. 6:10 – 18). 

It is Spiritual Warfare. You can’t punch the devil in the face. You can’t shoot him with a gun, or knock his teeth out. He is an evil spirit and you have to fight him in the spirit.

God has given us armor and weapons to fight. With weapons we go after the enemy, and with armor we are protected from the enemy. We need to know how to use our weapons and make sure we are wearing our armor on a regular basis.

Spiritual warfare for spiritual people. How many of you have had it with the enemy and you are ready to win the war? Maybe you have been living in offensive mode. It is time we live on the defense and pray for strategies against the devil through prayer to overcome and attack our enemy. Our biggest defense weapon we have is the Sword of the Spirit.

Eph. 6:17b Amplified Bible

“And take… the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.” (furnished by the Spirit, Who inspired the writers of the Word of God.)

Sword of the Spirit

1.  Speak The Word With Power? 

2 Cor. 10:3 – 5 Amplified Bible

“For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).”

“For the overthrow and destruction of strongholds.” This verse shows that strongholds start in our thought life. Use the Word and resist theories, imaginations, and reasonings.

The NKJV states that verse:

“Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (II Corinthians 10:5 NKJV)”

We are to cast down any thought, argument or anything that tries to rise above who Christ is in your life! Using Your mouth as a weapon. Your words against the enemy are powerful because Jesus lives inside of each one of us. Jesus spoke with authority and power.

Luke 4:32 Amp

“And they were amazed at His teaching, for His word was with authority and ability and weight and power.”

The Word was in Jesus. He was the Word. He knew the authority He had and wasn’t afraid to use it. Far too often we as Christians are afraid to use our authority. We pull back when it comes to Spiritual warfare.

Listen, we have more power and authority in our little pinky then the devil thinks he has with all his legions of demons. We are the ones who give the enemy power and authority over us when we get fearful. Fear is a big factor in all of us. I know, because I struggle with it from time to time.

Don’t think of yourself as puny or unable to fight. We all can fight. We have to get the mindset that we are “In it to win it!” Retreat or giving up is not an option! Oh, the enemy speaks thoughts like, “You should just give up because you are not going to win.” We have to refuse to listen to his lies. It is a smoke screen. He is trying to give you all this drama of how things will unfold and he doesn’t even know because he is not God. He is not omnipresent. If he was, then he would be like God and he isn’t anything close to being like our Creator.

Wield your sword and speak God’s Word with power in you life. God’s word is powerful!

Hebrews 4:12  KJV

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The comparison of the Word of God to a sword is designed to show its power of penetrating the heart.

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 AMP)

Ecc. 12:11 GNT

“The sayings of the wise are like the sharp sticks that shepherds use to guide sheep, and collected proverbs are as lasting as firmly driven nails. They have been given by God, the one Shepherd of us all.” 

Isaiah prophesied that God has called Jesus from the womb and that God has made Christ’s mouth like a sharp sword and a polished shaft.

Isaiah 49:1 – 2 GNT

“Listen to Me, distant nations, you people who live far away! Before I was born, the LORD chose Me and appointed Me to be his servant. He made my words as sharp as a sword. With his own hand he protected Me. He made Me like an arrow, sharp and ready for use.”

We can also see this in many other verses in Revelations.

Rev. 1:16 NKJV

“He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.” 

Rev. 2:12 NKJV

“…These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword.”

Rev. 2:16 NKJV

“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”

Rev. 19:15 NKJV

“Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations…”

The idea is that of piercing, or penetrating; and the meaning here is, that the Word of God reaches the “heart” – the very center of action, and lays open the motives and feelings of the person.

It was common among the ancients to have a sword with two edges. The Roman sword was commonly made in this manner. The fact that it had two edges made it more easy to penetrate, as well as to cut with every way and direction.

Ever hear the saying, “Tongue lashing?” It expresses how the tongue can rebuke and hurt. The tongue is powerful. Who can tame the tongue? But in this case, the Sword of the Spirit is our tongue declaring the Word of God, which is empowered by the Holy Spirit, to cut like a two-edged sword to pierce deep and hard against the enemy.

2.  Fight against fear.

Fear is the devil’s biggest weapon he uses against us. If he can place fear in our hearts through thoughts in our mind, he knows it will paralyze us or even make us turn in retreat, or worse, give up all together.

Are you fearful? Are you afraid of failure? Afraid of what people think of you? Afraid of not measuring up? Afraid that you won’t have enough money to pay bills? Afraid of getting in trouble? We all have fears but we must remember fear ONLY comes from the devil.

2 Tim. 1:7 NKJV

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

This verse tells us that fear is a spirit and that God doesn’t give this spirit of fear to us. What does God give to us? He gives power and love and a sound mind. These are all good things God gives us and much more. Fear can paralyze us if we let it.

Some fears or sources of our fear:

-Anxiety

-Burdens

-Heaviness

-Horror movies

-Superstition

-Irrational concerns

-Phobias

-Worry

Fear: “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid” (dictionary.com).

Courage: “the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.”

Fear is eliminated when we wield our sword of the Spirit! Use your weapons against the enemy because those weapons are constantly available for our use daily.

Fear is often False Evidence Appearing Real. Sometimes it is Real evidence appearing real. Either way we can’t be shaken by our fears. We have a Mighty Warrior fighting for us in this battle. We will do our part and He will for sure do His. Our part is to stand firm in the face of our fears and press forward. Learn how to encourage yourself in God and conquer your fears. Sometimes we do things afraid, but in essence we are conquering our fears and overcoming them!

3. Weapons of our warfare.

Along with the Sword of the Spirit we have many more weapons we can use agains the enemy. I want to list them quickly and briefly talk about each one.

Some Weapons of our Warfare

Sword of the Spirit – Word of God (Luke 4:1 – 13)

Praise – Silences the enemy (Psalm 8:2)

Blood of Jesus (Rev. 12:3)

Prayer – to not pray is to surrender to satan (James 5:6)

Your Testimony (Rev. 12:13)

Power of the Holy Spirit expressed through His gifts (Eph. 5:18, 1 Cor. 12:8 – 10)

a. Discernment of gifts

b. Word of knowledge

c. Word of wisdom

d. Faith

e. Miracles

f. Healings

g. Tongues

7. The name of Jesus (John 14:13 – 14, 1 Cor. 6:11, Acts 4:30)

8. Fasting (Mark 9:28-29, Matthew 17: 21)

9. Walking in love (1 Cor. 13, Prov. 10:12, 17:9, 1 Peter 4:8)

10. Forgiveness (Matt. 6:14-15,  Matt. 18:18-35, Matt. 20:28,  Matt. 26:28,  John 20:23, Eph. 1:7,  Col. 1:14, 1 Peter 1:19-23, 1 John 1:9)

4. Arsenal or Ammo to use against the devil.

This is the fun part; sharing some powerful Scriptures that will help in overcoming the devil and living a victorious life! I will put them in categories to help you at a quick glance.

Authority over the Enemy:

Isaiah 54:17 NKJV

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me, Says the Lord.”

Isaiah 55:11 NKJV

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

Isaiah 59:19 NKJV

“So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”

Matthew 10:8 NKJV

“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

Matthew 16:19 NKJV

“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Mark 6:7 NKJV

“And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.”

Luke 10:19 NKJV

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Eph. 1:19 – 21 NKJV

“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”

Eph. 6:10 – 18 (Armor of God)

Colossians 2:15 NKJV

“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

Rev. 1:18 NKJV

“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”

For Strength and declaration of victory:

1 Sam. 17:45 NKJV

“Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.’”

2 Sam. 22:33, 35,  and 40 NKJV

“God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect. He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose against me.”

2 Kings 6:16 – 17 NKJV

“So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

Psalm 18:29 NKJV

“For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall.”

Psalm 149:6 – 9 NKJV

“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment—This honor have all His saints.”

Isaiah 41:15 NKJV

“Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, and make the hills like chaff.”

Isaiah 50:7 NKJV

“For the Lord God will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.”

Jeremiah 23:29 NKJV

“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”

For those in Authority:

Psalm 37:23

Proverbs 21:1

1 Timothy 1:1, 2

For the nations:

Joshua 1:3

Psalms 2:8, 68:32 – 35, 108:1 – 5

Jeremiah 1:10, 15:19 – 21, 51:21

Daniel 12:3

Micah 4:13

For Guidance:

Psalms 34:19, 37:23 – 24, 123:1 – 2

Proverbs 3:5 – 6

Isaiah 30:21

2 Cor. 5:7

For Peace of mind:

Duet. 33:27

Psalm 31:24

Isaiah 26:3

John 14:27

1 Cor. 2:16b

2 Cor. 10:5

Eph. 2:14 – 15

Phil. 4:7 – 9

For protection:

Duet. 28:6 – 7

Isaiah 54:17

Psalm 5:11, 17:7 – 9, 91:1 – 7, 10

Proverbs 2:8

For restoration and security:

Joel 2:18 – 32

Psalms 31:8, 32:7

Proverbs 10:30, 12:3, 21,  18:10

For healing:

Exodus 15:26

Psalms 103:3

Proverbs 3:7 – 8, 4:20 – 22

Isaiah 53:5

Matthew 4:23, 9:28 – 29, 15:26 – 28

Luke 9:11

1 Peter 2:24

1 John 3:8

3 John 2

For dealing with an abusive husband:

Leviticus 26:3 – 13

Duet. 8:7 – 10

2 Chron. 15:7

Psalms 31:20 – 21, 32:7, 91, 144:11, 145:18

Ezekiel 28:24 – 26

For Sleeplessness:

Matthew 11:28 – 30

Job 11:18 – 19

Psalms 4:8, 127:2

Proverbs 3:24

Mark 4:37 – 39

For provision and finances:

Duet. 8:18

1 Kings 17:2 – 4, 8 – 9

2 Chron. 32:8

Prov. 3:2, 10:3, 11:23 and 25, 12:12, 13:21, 22, 25

Isaiah 54:5

Malachi 3:10 – 11

Matthew 6:25, 32

Luke 6:38

For a new job:

Deut. 28:3 – 14, 31:8

Joshua 1:3, 5 – 9

2 Chron. 15:7

Psalms 1:3

For weariness and depression:

Palms 28:7 – 9, 30:11 – 12, 42:5, 55:18

Isaiah 40:28 – 32, 41:10, 43:4, 18 – 19, 45:2 – 3

For children:

1 Kings 4:29

Psalms 127:3 – 5, 144:12

Isaiah 11:2, 43:5, 49:25, 54:13, 59:21

Jeremiah 29:11 – 14, 31:16 – 17

Daniel 1:9, 20

Eph. 1:17, 6:4

Phil. 4:19

Col. 1:9 – 12

James 1:2

For wayward family members:

Psalm 140:1 – 2, 4, 8

Isaiah 59:1

Jeremiah 33:26

2 Cor. 4:3 – 4

2 Tim. 2:25b – 26

To receive Jesus as Lord:

John 3:7 – 8, 16; 6:37, 10:10b, 14:6

Romans 3:23, 10:9 – 13

1 John 1:9

There are so many more scriptures for arsenal and weapons. One thing is for sure we, as the Army of God, are equipped, powerful, and well able to take the enemy because of Who we are in Christ.

Don’t be afraid to wield your sword. Be aggressive at the enemy. He is out to destroy you so don’t hesitate to use your weapons on him.

Your fellow comrade,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.KrisBelfils.com

www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com

www.krisbelfils.wordpress.com

by

Walking in Shoes of Peace

Walking in Shoes of PeaceAs a Christian, there is too much at stake to be careless about our spiritual armor. Every second of everyday we are in a spiritual battle. Your enemy is relentless in his attacks against you, so you have to be even more relentless and tenacious, and diligent in your role in this battle. God didn’t leave us defenseless. He has provided the needed weapons, and protection we need daily to overcome our enemy.

Eph. 6:10 – 13 NKJV

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

We have looked at standing in face of our fears, in the face of our enemy. Standing in the middle of a storm. Standing is a battle position. We are not giving ground. We are not giving up. We stand to face the battle and we stand after we have done all. We looked at having the Belt of Truth tightly girded around our waist and not be swayed by any one or anything. We put on our Breastplate of Righteousness and realized when we are in right standing with God we win the battle. When we have sinned it separates us from God and the enemy seems to be winning. We are trees of Righteousness standing tall for God’s glory and we don’t allow our emotions to rule us.

Today I want to look at the Shoes we wear in this battle.

Eph. 6:15 NKJV

“…and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

Peace is part of our armor. Peace is a weapon against the enemy. Keeping our peace at all costs will prevent turmoil, chaos and stress. This is what the enemy uses against us, one of his popular weapons, is to take our peace away.

It is interesting that the peace is on our feet. Every step we take we should be wearing God’s peace. Everything we do in life, everywhere we go, needs His peace.

Eph. 6:15 NKJV

“…and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

In the Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions:

–Shod – to bind under one’s feet, that is, put on shoes or sandals.

–Preparation – prepare, provide, make ready.

–Gospel – to announce good news (“evangelize”) especially the gospel: – declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).

–Peace – by implication prosperity: one, quietness, rest, + set at one again.

We are to bind to our spiritual feet, prepared ahead of time, the good news of the Gospel of Jesus, the Prince of peace. But there is more to it then that. I would like to look at a few angles of what this really means.

Walking in Shoes of Peace

1.  Be a voice for Good News.

Isaiah 52:7 NKJV

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns.”

It is a good thing to proclaim the goodness of God to all we meet. This verse expresses how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. God delights in our sharing and proclaiming His peace, and His salvation, and His reign to others.

It is not only a good thing, but it is a mandate that God has asked us to do.

Matthew 28:18 – 20 NKJV

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”

Bringing the good news is for every believer to do. It is not just for ministers and pastors and evangelists. We are all ministering evangelists for God. Everywhere we go the atmosphere should be changed because of Who lives in us. We are carriers of God’s peace and presence.

People who don’t know God should see a difference in us compared to themselves. This difference, the Gospel of Peace, is what they need. We have the answer for any question about their life; Jesus! He has forgiven you, changed you, and set you free, surely you can share this with those who are bound, who are lost, and who have no hope. It’s a beautiful thing!

2.  Be at peace with God

1 Peter 3:10 – 11 Amplified Bible

“For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good – whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]”

Stop fighting God. If you are a believer, your job is to submit to God and His Word. This verse says that if you want to enjoy your life and see good days we are to keep our tongue free from evil; slander, profane talk, gossip, lying, being deceitful. Anything that we speak shows our character. It shows if you have submitted your life to God or not.

People have come up to me, and the moment they open their mouths, they show their character and relationship with God. What comes out of us is what we put into us.

Psalm 34:13 NKJV

“Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

I could talk about our tongue for a long time. I think you understand how important it is to submit our tongues to God. Don’t allow your tongue to hurt people or damage your reputation. What we say can bring turmoil. Allow your tongue to be an agent of peace. Being obedient with our tongue keeps peace with God.

Keeping peace with God is also obeying His word. Doing all of it, not just a portion, or the things that we like, but all of it. Keeping peace with God is shunning evil and doing good.

3.  Be at peace with yourself.

1 Peter 3:11b Amplified Bible

“Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]”

You don’t need more peace, you need to start using the peace you already have on the inside of you! We don’t need peace, we need to access peace!

Are you mad all the time? We would go much farther if we would just get over being mad. Strive to live in peace. Is there always an underlying feeling of frustration or anger in your heart? Why? Because you were mistreated? Because you didn’t get what you wanted? This is immaturity on your part. Growing in God, and in life, we realize we don’t always get what we want. Often the reason we don’t is because of our bad attitude. Our attitude can make or break us. Letting go of having to be right, or the first to know something, and letting everybody around you know you knew, is freeing. It brings peace.

When you are against yourself you are in for a hard ride. So many people don’t have peace with themselves.

How many of you have a little private war going on in you all the time? You don’t like yourself, and some even get into self-hatred. All you do is think about what you do wrong all the time. You don’t know how to encourage yourself.

Yes, we all have weaknesses, but we also have strengths. You don’t have to sit around and think about your weaknesses all the time, its time to think about your strengths! How many of you have some things u are good at? Why don’t u think about that instead of what you are bad at? Thats not pride to do that. You can thank God for everyone of your strengths.

Thank you God that I am a faithful person!

Thank you God that I am committed!

Thank you that I don’t give up easily.

Thank you that I am organized.

Thank you that I am a hard worker.

Thank you that I am a committed parent.

Thank God for the gifts that you are fully functioning in and God will make up for the weaknesses! God will take care of your weaknesses.

Don’t live in competition with anybody else. God did not call you to be somebody else, He called you to be you! You don’t have to be like anybody else! Say right now: “I am happy to be me!”

Believe that God loves you unconditionally! He loves you right now just as much as He will ever love you. Value yourself as God’s special and unique creation. You are unique!

I use to think, “There was something wrong with me because I liked to speak publicly and lead people to God’s throne in worship. I didn’t like cooking, or gardening, or scrapbooking, or house cleaning, or things ordinary women liked to do.” I would try to plant things and they would just die. I would try to be arts and crafty but anything I made looked terrible and I didn’t have the patience for it. My husband Ron would cook or bake something for the holidays and we would visit his family and He would let have credit for making it. Honestly I thought I was weird. Then I realized God made me to be me and I enjoyed loving and ministering to people. I enjoyed being with my family and seeing them succeed. Enjoyed helping others. Enjoyed putting sermons together (Term paper every week). I enjoy traveling and singing and writing. I realized I was unique, and unique things are very valuable.

Each one of you have a unique feature that makes you not like everyone else. Stop torturing yourself thinking you need to shove yourself into someone else’s mold. God created you purposely and He wants you to stand up boldly and be the person that you are!

Submit to Gods plan and stop having to know WHY about everything. Stop trying to reason everything out. Stop trying to find out all the answers to your questions. There will be times we don’t get answers to our questions. Don’t allow it to rob you of your peace. Remember Who lives in you and Who is Lord of your life. Ours is to not as much question God, but to trust Him.

I love to give surprises to my daughters. I even like to tell them I have a surprise for them so they will be expecting. They use to ask what it was or try and guess. Now, they just trust their Dad and I that we wouldn’t give them anything or do anything that would hurt them. They look forward to what the surprise is knowing it will come in due time. This is how we are to be with God. He will answer our prayers and does have blessings for us, we just need to trust Him with our unanswered questions. It is called faith and without faith it is impossible to please God.

4. Be at peace with others.

1 Peter 3:11b Amplified Bible

“Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]”

Now thats the problem isn’t it! There is a saying amongst ministers; “Ministry would be so much easier if you didn’t have to deal with people!” This is so true, yet that is the very reason people go into the ministry: for people.

2 Timothy 2:23 Amplified Bible

“But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels.”

As soon as a thought comes in your mind that will create strife, or disharmony, or disunity, you need to shut your mind against it. Thats when we need to get violent and say, “NO! I am not going there.”

You can say,  “Well, I wish I didn’t have these thoughts!” “Well I just wish the devil would leave me alone!” “Pastor Kris would you pray that the devil would leave me alone?” I can pray that when the devil comes you will be so full of the Holy Spirit that instead of him running you off, you will run him off. You will rule him and he won’t rule you! Jesus didn’t mess with the devil. He said, “Get thee behind me satan!” Submit your self to God, resist the devil and he will flee!

Do you know that all this upset, and lack of shoes of peace, is something the devil provokes. The servant of the Lord must not strive.

2 Tim 2:24 Amplified Bible

“And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong.”

Here is the word of the Lord for you today, “Be easy to get along with!”

Its not complicated. How many of you are high maintenance?….. Be low maintenance. Show up, do your job, don’t murmur or complain. Lets learn how to be easy to get along with. Be a person who is easy to be around. You know how you can have that? Stay flowing in the Holy Spirit. Spend time with God. Get that anointing stirred up. We need to be well oiled so we can slip in and out of sticky situations.

Isaiah 10:27 – its the anointing that destroys the yoke of bondage!

Just coming to church and sitting in the anointing of God during worship can break bondages off of you!

Amplified Bible the anointing is referred to as fatness. Which is very interesting, and its because of fatness the yoke is broken off of us. So this is one time when we can legally be fat. We can be fat with the anointing and the presence of the Holy Spirit. We need to be so fat with the Holy Ghost that there is no bondage big enough to fit around us. Amen! Lets be fat in the spirit.

Strive, strive, strive to be in peace. Don’t be in strife, but strive to be in peace. It’s what you pursue! Strive in the greek means “hard labor.” In other word if you are going to get along with people you are going to have to want to!

Maybe you are trying to get along with someone you are married to and contemplating on getting a divorce and starting over. Let me tell you something, the grass is usually not greener on the other side. You have to mow that grass too so maybe you just ought to stay and work things out.

Matt 5:9 NKJV

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Amplified bible states:

Matt. 5:9 Amplified Bible

“Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous – with life – joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!”

Be the first to apologize. The first to say I was wrong. The first to admit you didn’t have all the information and responded too quickly. Be a peacemaker. Learn to defuse strife instead of bringing it!

Walking in shoes of peace is powerful. We can share the good news of the Gospel of peace. We will be at peace with God, ourself, and with others. We are pursuers of peace. Guard your peace constantly because the devil’s job is to take it away the next chance he gets.

Walking in shoes of peace,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

www.krisbelfils.wordpress.com

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Breastplate of Righteousness

Breastplate of Righteousness

Eph. 6:10 – 18

We are in a spiritual battle everyday. Soldiers would never go into battle without their armor, it would be a suicide mission if they did. How many missions have you gone into without being protected? God has given us His armor to put on daily. We put on His armor by; remembering what He has done for us, believing truth instead of lies, protected by His righteousness knowing we are right with God, walking in His peace, shielded by faith, wearing salvation, using the Word of God as a weapon, and praying always!

We are in the “Armor of God” series. We have learned how to “Stand Therefore,” and we have the “Belt of Truth” tightly around our loins. Today, let’s look at the next piece of armor we are to put on.

Eph. 6:14b NKJV

“…having put on the breastplate of righteousness,”

We can get a better understanding of this verse by looking at other translations of the Bible:

Amplified Bible – “Breastplate of integrity and moral rectitude and of right standing with God.”

New Living Translation – “Breastplate of God’s approval.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible – “Righteousness like armor on your chest.”

Contemporary English Version – “Let God’s justice protect you like armor.”

New Century Version – “The protection of right living on your chest.”

“…the protection of right living on your chest.” I like that! We have to make a choice to live right or wrong. We have a choice to follow God’s Word and His Holy Spirit or to walk in the flesh and what pleases it.

Looking in the Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions for some of the words or phrases used in these translations:

Righteousness means: “Virtue or quality of one who is upright, acceptable to God, purity, correctness in thinking, feeling and acting.”

Integrity: “Wholeness, innocence, without any evil motivation in the heart, ethically sound.”

God’s Approval – “To commend, to be pleased with, to be thought of as worth.”

Justice – “just; especially, just in the eyes of God; correct, righteous, innocent.”

The Breastplate

Why did Paul use the analogy of a breastplate?

1.  Breastplates protect the vital organs. 

The Roman soldier might have worn one of several types of breastplates. Depending on the particular design, the breastplate would extend from just below the neck to either the thighs or just below the stomach.

It was usually made out of some material into which had been sewn strips of leather and/or bits of tough material such as bones, hooves, metal, etc. Those in high rank might have a breastplate made completely out of metal, usually copper or bronze, that was hammered into shape to fit the individual.

The function of the breastplate was the same regardless of the particular type. It was there to protect the thorax (the literal Greek word here), that is, the portion of your body between your neck and legs.

2.  Breastplates protect the mind, emotions, and will.

In the Jewish culture they describe their emotions and feelings in terms of their vital organs.

Examples:

-The Hebrew word “‘racham,” which we translate as “compassion” or “tender mercies” is literally “bowels.”

Psalm 69:16 NKJV

“Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies.”

-The heart was used to symbolize the seat of volition, which is the ability to understand and make choices.

Proverbs 4:4 NKJV

“He also taught me, and said to me: Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live.”

Matthew 15:18 – 19 NKJV

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”

The heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything (Strongs Hebrew and Greek Definitions H3824)

The Hebrew word for “kidneys” is translated in the KJV as “reins” and in the NAS as “mind” or “inner man” since that is what is actually being referred to.

Proverbs 23:16 KJV

“Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.”

For example Proverbs 23:16 literally reads, “My son, if your heart is wise, My own heart also will be glad; and my ‘kidneys’ will rejoice, When your lips speak what is right.”

Why is this important? Because what Paul is talking about being protected by the breastplate of righteousness are your mind, emotions and will. Too often we fall into the devil’s traps because we make our decisions based on how we feel at the moment rather than on what is actually true and right.

Also, the breastplate of righteousness protects us when accusations arise against us and accuse us of false behavior or behavior from our past that we no longer walk in. There will be times when people, even fellow Christians, will bring up your past. Righteousness has delivered us from our sinful past. We are thankful for what Christ did to wash away our past mistakes. In doing so, we can stand tall in His righteousness knowing we are not that person any longer; we are clean and His righteousness covers us. We are in right standing with God and no matter what people say or think about who you use to be, you are righteous and holy in God’s sight. Wearing the Breastplate of righteousness covers it all. What a reminder of His great grace for us!

Righteousness

Righteousness must be our breast-plate. The righteousness of Christ is our breast-plate against the arrows of divine wrath. The righteousness of Christ is our breast-plate to fortify the heart against the attacks which Satan makes against us.

Righteousness is imperative to spiritual warfare.

Righteousness is represented by the breastplate because the breastplate covers the vital organs of the body, (Thus righteousness protects the soul and the conscience of the Christian.)

If the devil can strip the child of God of their sense of righteousness then he can wound their heart and conscience, and if this wound is not healed quickly certain spiritual death will result.

Let’s go back and revisit the Greek definition of righteousness, “Virtue or quality of one who is upright, acceptable to God, purity, correctness in thinking, feeling and acting.”

Isaiah 61:1 – 3

Isaiah 61:3 NKJV

“To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

God has given us beauty for ashes. He has made something beautiful of our lives after we have come to Him and received His Son as Lord and Savior. Not only that, but even after we sin and ask for forgiveness God makes us beautiful again.

We stand tall and forever beautiful because God has called us “trees of righteousness.” This is His planting. Trees signify strength and that which is truly beautiful. This is what God has made us to be.

Living in the great Pacific Northwest of the United States, especially Washington State, we are known for our pine trees. It is so beautiful to see a mountain side full of pine trees. They stand tall, show strength and beauty constantly. This is what we are as we wear the breastplate of righteousness. Every time you see trees, I pray it reminds you of God’s righteousness He has placed on and in you.

Isaiah 61:10 NKJV

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

God has covered each of us with the robe of righteousness, His righteousness shields, protects, and decorates all of us. This is God’s affection towards us! We are God’s ornaments shinning daily for Him.

Righteousness connotes deliverance (New Spirit Filled Life Bible notes page 947). Not only are we delivered from hell, our past shame and mistakes, but we are also ambassadors of His righteous or deliverance to the world. We have the answer to everyone’s problems; Jesus! Our breastplate should ring out to the world that there is hope for their life. It should say, “I’ve been delivered and so can you!”

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34).

It is not the nations numbers, military, politics, intellect, or being civilized that makes a nation great. True greatness of a nation, and condition of its future and progress are the people of the nation in their private, public, and international life who conduct themselves by the true will of God. Righteousness, good morals, and reverence for God exalts a nation. Sin is a disgrace to the people, it lowers them before God and man. It brings them down instead of exalting them. Let us be people who will shine for God and live right according to His Word, this will lift our nation up.

Pastor Kris Belfils

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

When we seek God first, and His kingdom, and His righteousness, we will be blessed and protected. I would love to tell you that once you receive Jesus Christ in your heart as Lord and Savior that you will never sin again, but that would not be true. Daily we need a Savior. Daily we need to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness to protect our vital organs of our mind, emotions, and will.

Matthew 5:6 NKJV

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Hungering and thirsting for what is right, wanting what pleases God, is the beginning of right living.

Basically righteousness is being right with God. It is not something we do or earn. Our own self-righteous is faulty, unholy, and prideful. Isaiah 64:6  tells us that all our righteous deeds are as filthy rags before God.

Isaiah 64:6 NKJV

“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

How many times have you felt superior to other Christians all because you haven’t sinned like they have? Maybe you think you would never do what they did. Be careful least you fall. It might be in the same sin you judge someone else in, or it might be in another area, all because you thought you were better then someone else. Sin is sin. There are no greater and smaller sins. Pride is sin; it is filthy, stinking, and retched and will separate you from God and possibly send you to hell. We cannot stand on our own self-righteousness.

I remember God showing me my filthy righteous one day. It was after I had made a mess of my life with sinful choices. I was walking through the consequences of my choices and trying to get right with God. I was praying and He showed me a pile of filthy rags. I even saw the stench rise from it. As I was praying I said to God, “Looks like we need to do some laundry.” But God said, “No, throw it all away.” I knew I needed to take on Christ’s righteousness that He died to give me. Then on another day I was driving in my car singing a worship song by Kathryn Scott:

Search me know me

Try me and see
Every worthless affection hidden in me
All I’m asking for is that You’d cleanse me Lord

Create in me a heart that’s clean
Conquer the power of secret shame
Come wash away the guilty stain of all my sin

Clothe me in robes of righteousness
Cover my nakedness with grace
All of my life before You now I humbly bring

As I sang the words; “Clothe me in robes of righteousness” I could see God covering me with a white robe. The sleeves went all the way to my wrists and the bottom of the robe went all the way past my feet. It covered me totally and all you could see was this bright shinny white robe on me. For the first time I truly saw myself clean, whole, and right with God. It was nothing I did. It was given to me through God’s mercy and grace. I received it by faith that day and have worn it ever since.

Our righteousness are as filthy rags. God’s righteousness is complete, covering everything in our life. We cannot do anything to add to it or take away from it.

Today, let’s put on the breastplate of righteousness and protect our heart from anything the enemy will try to hurl in our direction. God has given us powerful armor to wear everyday to defend and to offend the enemy. We are mighty warriors in Christ!

Your sister,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

www.krisbelfils.wordpress.com

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Belt of Truth

Belt of TruthEph. 6:14a Amplified Bible

“Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins…”

The Belt of Truth is the first element of the Full Armor of God.

In the ancient world, a soldier’s belt not only kept his armor in place, but it might be wide enough, as a girdle, to protect his kidneys and other vital organs. Just so, the truth protects us. Practically applied to us today, you might say the Belt of Truth holds up our spiritual pants so that we’re not exposed and vulnerable!

It must be extremely important for Paul to mention truth. We have to look at the opposite of the word to really grasp the full meaning. The opposite of true is false, and the opposite of truth is falsity, or untruth, better stated; “A lie!” God wants us to have the truth so girded about us, so tightly embedded in us that we are not shaken and never ever lose it.

“…having tightened the belt of truth around your loins…” The belt of a Roman soldier was typically a wide leather belt designed to hold the soldier’s tunic in place. The soldier tucked his outer garment under the belt so that the tunic would not hinder his running or fighting.

When his belt was tightened, he was ready for battle. On the other hand, slackened belt meant that the soldier was off duty and NOT ready for battle. As believers, we must always wear the belt of truth around our waist.

The belt on the Roman soldiers uniform was used to cinch them together and give them freedom of movement. God’s truth, when fastened tightly to us, gives us freedom to move and holds us together. We are not quickly swayed into believing what is false.

God’s truth gives us freedom to move and it holds us together.

1. Wearing the belt of truth means that we embrace Christ and his words as truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. (John 14:6)

It means adapting the truths He revealed and His ways. It believes that He did what we cannot do for ourselves. It is accepting the facts that Jesus accomplished for the believers.

Some facts/truth: His sacrificial death, forgiveness of sins, freedom to approach God’s throne of grace, and acceptance into the kingdom of God. We have to remember we are deeply loved by God. This is TRUTH:

1 John 4:9 – 10 NLT

“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love — not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”

We need to know that we are completely forgiven and made right in God’s sight once we ask for forgiveness. This is TRUTH:

Romans 5:1 NLT

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.”

There is nothing we can do to be accepted by God but what Christ did for us on the cross has made us acceptable. What Jesus did on the cross is total and complete lacking nothing. It is finished. Knowing this allows us to stand with no shame.  We are clean inside and out this is TRUTH:

Colossians 1:21 – 22 NLT

“This includes you who were once far away form God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.”

Nothing you have done will prevent you from knowing Christ. You are a new creation and the fresh and new has come. TRUTH:

2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified Bible

“Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!”

All these truths are found in his Word and knowing and embracing them would liberate us from the lies Satan inflicted on us.

Satan is one of the main sources of lies in our life. He wants to destroy you. What better way to destroy us then to use ourselves against us. Sounds funny but so true. He will speak lies to you about yourself to get you to self-destruct and make bad decisions. He will speak lies to you about your future. He will speak lies about anything and everything concerning you. Here are a few verses which show the enemy’s character.

 John 10:10 Amplified Bible

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”

John 8:44 Amplified Bible

“…he (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false.”

“…of all that is false.” That’s the devil’s character. He constantly tells us falsehoods about ourselves. If we are not careful, we will listen to those lies and act upon them. The enemy will fill your mind with feelings of worthlessness about yourself to destroy you. He’ll fill your mind with negative thoughts about you, your family and friends, and everything else you come in contact with. Thoughts like, “There is no good in me.” “Why did I do that? How stupid can I be?” or “No one cares about me or what I do.” “I will never overcome this situation” and so much more.

Please, if this is you, stop listening to false information. It’s not true. God has a hope and a future for each one of us (Jeremiah 29:11).

When you think you don’t have a future or your life seems hopeless, think again! Hold on to the promise that God has a plan and that it is a good one for your life. He has planned this for you from the beginning of time. He created you for that plan! In spite of your circumstances, in spite of the lies that you are listening to, God will bring you out. He will help you to overcome any challenge, trial, or temptation in your life today.

The key to following God’s plan is to trust Him and obey what He asks. There is something we have to do on our part to bring about God’s plan of a hope and a future. Our part is obedience. Our part is to trust God. These two areas the enemy will try to prevent in your life. He will lie to you that you can walk in your own ways and desires and still walk a godly life. The devil will tell you things to lose your hope and to stop trusting God. We have to be wise to the enemies lies.

We can’t go wrong when we abide to God’s word and follow it. This proves we are followers of Christ and not this world.

John 8.31- 32 NLT

“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Satan is a liar (John 8:44) and one of his primary attack strategies is to feed us lies or to entice us to lie to ourselves. The best defense against his lies is the truth.

“It’s imperative that you have a settled conviction that the Word of God is just that, the God-given, God-breathed, God-protected, and God-preserved Word of God. You must settle in your heart that it is without error and that it contains all you need in order to live righteously before Him. If you are not convinced of these things, then the rest of the armor will be useless.”

Kay Arthur

Buckle the belt of truth by embracing Christ and His Words as the embodiment of truth. Stop believing the lies that Satan feeds you. Be aware of his voice compared to God’s voice. There is a difference. God’s voice always has hope and peace in it, even when He is correcting you. The enemies voice is always condemnation or enticement to do something that you know is wrong. The devil is usually doom and gloom. Be aware!

2. Wearing the belt of truth means living a life of integrity and honesty. 

John 3:20 – 21 NLT

“All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

A life of integrity and honesty is being able to accept one’s limitation and weakness and still depend on God to live truthfully and honestly. Wearing the belt of truth means giving up deceptive behavior, hypocrisy, lying, and dishonesty.

On the other hand, we succumb to Satan’s temptations when we speak or live anything less than the truth. When we live a life of hypocrisy, the belt is not on us. When we live a life of deception the belt of truth is not on.

Do you consistently speak the truth?

Do you give in to temptations to tell “little white lies” or to avoid the truth?

Are your public and private lives consistent with each other?

Do you strive to be the same person internally as you are externally?

Are you currently covering up any lies?

Do you ever rationalize your wrong, even when you know God is displeased?

Do you ever lie to convince yourself that your particular sins are sometimes acceptable?

To win the battle of spiritual warfare, we must fight by knowing, believing, and living God’s truth. The belt of truth must be buckled tightly about our waist. Ask God for His help to wear the Belt of Truth tightly everyday.

If your life lacks truthfulness and integrity, take time now to confess to God your wrong and ask His forgiveness. Decide now that you will always tell the truth and live a life of integrity.

Truth is foundational to the rest of the armor. If we don’t know the truth and own the truth, everything else will fall apart.

3. Wearing the belt of truth means to stop lying to yourself.

Remember that the devil will lie to you. Know that we can lie to ourselves too. Our heart is deceitful and wicked apart from Christ.

We can tell ourselves the worst result will happen and inevitably will because of our negative attitude. We can lie to ourselves about how good we are and how bad our neighbor is. We can listen to ourselves instead of God’s word and make bad choices for our lives. We can sabotage our future. Here are a few scriptures to show this.

Proverbs 23:7a Amplified Bible

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…”

Jeremiah 17:9 Amplified Bible

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]?”

Ephesians 4:22 – 25 Amplified Bible

“Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old un-renewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another.)”

Listen, we all know how we talk to ourselves. We can cheer others on to victory and yet condemn ourselves. Learn how to speak godly truth to yourself. We can listen to the enemy and then run with that one lie he places in our minds and speak even more destruction to ourself. It is time to stop feeding lies to ourselves. If it doesn’t line up with the word of God, reject it and move on.

So what about you? Are you wearing the belt of truth by embracing Christ and His words? Are you cinching that belt up tighter by living a life of integrity and honesty? Are your loins girded with truth by not lying to yourself or others? Today is a new day with new choices and new beginnings. Choose to be set free with truth in your life. Don’t be swayed by any falsity. Wear your Belt of Truth well and get ready for battle because if you believe it or not, weather you like it or not, you are in a spiritual battle so dress for success!

From one mighty warrior to another,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

www.krisbelfils.wordpress.com

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Stand Therefore

Stand ThereforeWe are in a war spiritually. This war has been going on even before Adam and Eve in the garden. Lucifer (satan, the devil) was cast out of heaven, along with a third of the angels (Isaiah 14:12), because satan wanted to be worshipped and lifted up. This was the beginning of the war of good vs. evil.

The devil is the epitome of all evil. He is evil. The Bible tells us that he “comes to steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). This is his agenda with anything and anyone on earth. Don’t ever think for a moment that your enemy relaxes or gives up. No, he is relentless in pursuing you to destroy your walk with Christ, to make you think you are defeated, and to bring glory to himself while he is doing it. He is the father of lies.

 John 8:44 NIV

“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Everyday we are challenged in this spiritual war to either press in and attack or to retreat and give up. God has given us His Word to help us daily in this war. We are not alone in this battle, our Mighty Warrior is constantly with us, fighting along side of us, to overcome any attack of the enemy.

We have to remember that we are not in a war against people, although at times it sure feels like we are, but this war is against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12).

We are to dress for success in this battle. I remember hearing about the Armor of God and even reading about it and really didn’t give it any thought. I felt I had the armor on because I was a Christian, but that is not necessarily the case. The attacks from the enemy are harsh and wickedly evil and sneaky. Being fully dressed in the Armor of God daily helps us to fight this battle as a courageous soldier we all need to be.

Read Eph. 6:10 – 18

Eph. 6:10 – 11 NKJV

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

The Bible says put it on. Put on the full armor of God. Now, we’re not looking at metal, swords, leather, shields and helmets, but the armor that God’s talking about for us is a spiritual thing. It’s not something that you see. It’s not something that I see, but the devil sees it and God sees it. And the devil sees if it’s not there. Believe me, if he’s looking for somebody to attack, he’s going to pick the people who don’t have their armor on and don’t know how to use their offensive weapons against him. He’s going to look for lazy, passive people who just do nothing but sit around and whine and murmur about their problems all the time. We are in a war — a spiritual war. Paul tells us:

2 Cor. 10:3 – 5 NKJV

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for the pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

God didn’t leave us weaponless. We will see in this series that we have the biggest and only weapon of the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Eph. 6:13 – 14a NKJV

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…”

STAND

Eph. 6:13 – 14 NKJV

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore,…”

In Eph. 6:11 – 13 we see the word “stand” four times:

Eph. 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand…”

Eph. 6:13 “…that you may be able to withstand in the evil day…”

Eph. 6:13 “…and having done all, to stand.”

Eph. 6:14 “Stand therefore…”

Stand therefore! This is before Paul even goes into the different parts of our spiritual armor. Paul is telling us to prepare ourselves for combat.

Once a soldier has on their full armor or uniform for combat, they can stand knowing they are prepared and ready for battle. Stand in battle position.

There’s some new sayings that are slowly becoming old – yet fit the message I want to get across today. They are: “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything,” and “If we don’t stand together, we’ll fall apart!”

Sometimes we can’t do anything but stand. When we’ve done all we know to do – many of us will allow the weight of our tribulations and trials to drop us to our knees. We give up. We quit. We lose the fight. But, God is calling you and I to a place that requires determination and fortitude…He’s calling us to …stand!

There are times we find ourselves in the place of uncertainty, we fly off the handle or take matters into our own hands. We must get to the place where we’ll not speak, not move, not act – sometimes, we must do nothing but stand!

Standing our ground is still winning! We are not giving up territory. We are not retreating. Standing is a battle position.

Many of God’s people walk out of their house every morning naked! Spiritually naked that is. Without the Armor of God! You must remember the enemy is going to shoot his arrows where he finds the weak spots. So, you must have the ‘whole’ armor on! You see you can’t stand without the whole armor! It would be like you were standing naked in a snowstorm expecting not to get cold! Rather foolish don’t you think? And yet, that’s how some Christians live their lives. They think they’ve got it all together. They have this attitude – ‘hey I can stand!’ Problem is, they are trying to stand on their own. You can’t stand on your own! It may be your own two feet that you stand on, but it’s by God’s grace and power that you can stand at all!

Paul tells us to “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Without the armor on, You will not be able to stand.

1 Cor. 10:12 – 13 NKJV

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear (endure) it.”

The Amplified Bible goes into much more detail on these verses:

1 Cor. 10:12 – 13 Amplified Bible

“Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin]. For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.”

First Corinthians 10:13 promises us that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, but with every temptation He will also provide the way out — the means of escape. The end result will be that we are capable and strong to patiently bear up under whatever negative circumstances we face.

“Temptation” can be translated in the Greek; “enticement to evil or testing in general, including various kinds of trials.”

I think we look at the word “temptation” and think of a sinful act. It can be that, but it also can be that we are tempted to react ungodly in a trial or battle or hardship. God wants us to stand firm under any situation we face today.

Sometimes we don’t get answers or relief from the battle in our timeframe, but to Stand and not be moved, is a battle position. Standing is winning!

The thing about God’s armor is that it’s ‘one size fits all!’ When Saul tried to assist little David in his fight against Goliath, he invited him to wear his armor. But, David could not because it was too big for him. It didn’t fit.

Many of God’s people look at the Armor of God and try to leave some articles at home declaring that they don’t fit their lives. Some may say, “Well, I don’t need that shield of faith because I just don’t believe in all that faith stuff.” Then how in the world did you ever get saved in the first place without faith?

Some would say, “Oh, truth doesn’t fit into my life, I don’t need that belt of truth. Telling the truth just hurts too much.” Fact is, truth might hurt a little, but lying will flat out kill you! You might say, what is truth? The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no one goes to the Father accept through Him. The Bible is truth! Leaving the belt of Truth out of your armor is setting you up for failure and being vulnerable to the enemy.

No, this Armor of God is one-size-fits-all! In fact, if you think it doesn’t fit your life then you have to change your thinking or you are being deceived.

Eph. 6:13 Amplified Bible

“Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands],to stand [firmly in your place].”

“…and having done all…” There will come a time in every battle that, “after having done all,” after doing all we know, we stand and see the salvation of God. We stand, and watch God work.

This is exactly what happened to Moses and the children of Israel after fleeing from Pharaoh in Egypt.

Exodus 14:13 NKJV

“And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today you shall see again no more forever.”

On one side was the Red Sea and on the other side were Pharaoh’s army. The Israelites had no place to go in either direction. They were up against a wall so to speak. It didn’t make sense to them. One minute they were leaving Egypt and captivity and excited about their future and then the next they were surrounded by impossibilities.   Did God make a mistake? Did they make a mistake? Did they hear God correctly to go posses their promised land? They started to second guess everything.

Exodus 14:11 – 12 NKJV

“Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”

How quickly do we start grumbling and complaining about our circumstances when things don’t go our way or they seem impossible?  We are just like the Israelites. We complain when we don’t see answers to our prayers. We complain when we are challenged in life. We want out of hard situations instead of walking through them and possibly receiving a miracle of the parting of the red sea in our own lives.

Moses reminded them to Stand still and see the salvation of God. Too often we are busy and quick trying to get things done on our own power. We are busy complaining and murmuring to ever see the miracle God is trying to do in our midst.

We are to stand still. Stand therefore! Do not stir from the place where you are. Do not offer to run away, or to make your escape. We are to hold our ground. We are to look to God for deliverance and not our own abilities. Even in the midst of this possible tragedy God was protecting them.

Exodus 14:19 – 20 NKJV

“And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.”

Wow, God was intervening. He was protecting them and kept them hidden from their enemy during the night. This was the beginning of the salvation of the Lord for them. God was setting them up for an even bigger miracle and victory.

If they would have fled from where they were, only destruction would have happened. Standing in the middle of hard situations shows your trust in God. It displays godly character. It sets you up for God’s salvation, His miracles, and His victory.

Remember that Jesus is our armor. All that the Armor of God is, is Jesus Christ’s character and strength.

 Jesus is our Armor

Jesus Christ is the Armor of God, think about it. Paul tells us to have on the belt of truth. Didn’t Jesus say He is “the truth, the way, and the life…” (John 14:6b, KJV).

Paul said to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Walking in Christ and His righteousness is equivalent to putting on the breastplate of righteousness.

2 Cor. 5:21 NKJV

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Christ).”

Walking in peace is equivalent to putting on your shoes of peace.  Isaiah 9:6 calls Him the “Prince of Peace.”

Ephesians 2:13 -14a NIV

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace…”

Paul says to take the shield of faith. Is Jesus not our shield of faith? Does He not protect us from the evil one? God says he is our shield and the lifter of our head (Psalm 3:3).

Paul says to put on the helmet of salvation. Without Christ, there would be no plan of salvation. He is our help and our salvation!

Jesus is also the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. John tells us: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1, NIV).

In essence, what we need to do is ‘put on Christ!‘ Paul said, “…for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:27, NIV)

You can’t stand in this world without putting on Jesus! Once you put Him on, just stand!

Standing, ready for battle, in the middle of the battle, is a requirement. It is essential in winning the battle.

This is the introduction of the series; “Armor of God” that we will be having the next few weeks. Next week we look at the first piece of armor; “The Belt of Truth!” Be ready for battle. Be ready with your armor on everyday of your life. God gave it to us but we must put it on daily. Don’t leave home without it! Dress for success!

Your sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com

www.krisbelfils.wordpress.com

by

Open Heaven

open heaven_wide_t_nvHave you ever longed to be in God’s presence? Do you hunger for more of God and receive more of whom He is in your life?

I believe God is pouring out His precious Spirit upon all flesh and this out pouring will bring more and more souls into His kingdom. More lives will be transformed by just one moment in His presence. But there is a longing in my spirit for even more. You see, unlike our natural hunger that is satisfied after we eat, our spiritual hunger becomes more intense after we eat and partake from God. The more you spend time in God’s presence, the more you want to stay there. You want more and more of Him. He is so beautiful and loving. His joy will fill your very being. You will know that He has everything under His control.

It is a precious place to be in the everlasting arms of God. This is the beginning of an open heaven into more of God.

Open heaven happens in the natural as well as the spiritual and God’s glory is revealed…

OPEN HEAVEN IN THE NATURAL:

Deut. 28:12 NKJV  

“The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.” 

His good treasure, the heavens! Wow, The heavens are God’s treasure waiting to be

poured out to you and I as we obey His Word! How awesome is that? In this case it was in the natural. God was telling the Israelites that if they obeyed His commands, and followed His ways, He would open up the Heavens, where His great treasure was, and pour out a blessing they couldn’t even contain.

How many want the Lord to bless the work of your hands? The Message states that verse this way:

Deut. 28:12 Message

“GOD will throw open the doors of his sky vaults and pour rain on your land on schedule and bless the work you take in hand. You will lend to many nations but you yourself won’t have to take out a loan.” 

Here God is speaking to the Israelites concerning the many blessings God will give to them as long as they obey His commandments and stay close to Him. These blessings are available in the natural as well as the spiritual.

Too often people see the blessings part and ignore the condition of the blessing.

The conditions for the blessings promised:

1.  They diligently hearken to the voice of God 

Deut. 28:1 – 2 NKJV

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set your high above all nations of the earth.”

God was speaking to them and they were to do their utmost in obeying what He was telling them.

Deut 28:13

“And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.”

We are the head and not the tail. God has raised us up above our enemies and we will be eating at a table prepared for us in front of our enemies all because we love the Lord enough to obey His Word and walk in His ways.

2.  They observe and do all his commandments 

Not only do them for once, but keep them for ever; To set out in His ways and walk in them forever. God wants to see faithful people. Faithfulness is doing the right thing over and over and over and over again.

3.  They should not go aside either to the right hand or to the left 

Deut. 28:14 NKJV

“So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or he left, to go after other gods to serve them.”

It is so easy to be swayed by the things of this world, even false teachings. We must be diligent in our relationship with God and following His word. The United States use to be a nations under God, but today, there are so many critics of the Gospel. Be strong and stand up for what you believe in. Don’t be swayed by becoming “Politically Correct.”

People get offended by the truth, yet the Truth will set you free! ~ “And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 AMP)

Jesus offended many by speaking truth. He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can go to the Father except through Christ. Let’s be a people who make a stand for the Truth. We will be honored and blessed because of it.

“…they should not go after other gods (Deu_28:14), which was the sin that of all others they were most prone to, and God would be most displeased with.

What is an idol in your life? People? Things? Position? Past hurts? If we focus on them more then God, they are “other gods” in our life. Don’t give power to your past hurts by playing and replaying them over and over again.

Blessings follow obedience!

When we obey we are blessed

First, and foremost, we make good decisions when we choose to follow God’s Word. It is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.

Psalms 119:105 (NKJV)

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Obeying God’s word will help shine light on the next step you should take. We can look to God’s Word for any situation we may be facing in life. God has the answers for us. Are you willing to look?

Second, when we obey God, our life has less trials then one who disobeys and continues to make poor decisions for their life.

Proverbs 4:18 – 19 (The Message)

“The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine. But the road of the wrongdoing gets darker and darker – travelers can’t see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.”

“Right living = Right Results!” If we choose to live right, and follow God’s word, we will achieve right results in our life. Isn’t it awesome that God gave us His word to help bring right results and success in our lives? This makes me want to obey God even more. It shows His love for us.

Proverbs 3:35 (The Message)

“Wise living gets rewarded with honor; stupid living gets the booby prize.”

I don’t want anything except the very best from God. If my choices of obeying God brings good results, I will all the more obey Him.

Third, When we obey God’s word we choose life!

Deuteronomy 30:19 – 20 (NKJV)

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may life; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

We choose good health when we choose to obey God and His word. He is for us and His word has life. God will not lead us astray. No! God’s direction is always the right direction to take. We can trust God with our life. He created us in the first place. Surely the Creator knows what is best for His creation. He has given us a blueprint, a roadmap for our lives with His word if we choose to follow and obey it. We will live a prosperous, productive, successful life when we do.

What are some blessings when the heavens are open?

READ Deut. 28:1 – 11

1.  The Lord will Make your businesses and your farms successful.

2.  You will have many children.

3.  You will harvest large crops

4.  Your herds of cattle, flocks of sheep and goats will produce many young.

5.  You will have plenty of bread to eat.

6.  The Lord will make you successful in your daily work.

7.  The Lord will help you defeat your enemies and make them scatter in all directions.

8.  The Lord your God is giving you the land (territory)

9.  God will make sure you are successful in everything you do.

10. Your harvest will be so large that your storehouse (bank accounts) will be full.

11. God will make you His own special people.

12. Everyone on earth will know you belong to the Lord, and they will be afraid of you.

These are the promises of an open heaven!!!

God opens the Heavens spiritually too. God’s rain is more than just stuff but also revival and the bread of His presence. he is the true hidden manna of heaven.

OPEN HEAVEN IN THE SPIRITUAL

One of the most common manifestations of living under an open heaven is constant revelation.

Here are a few examples:

1. Ezekiel 

Eze. 1:1 

“Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.”

2. John the Revelator

Rev. 4:1 – 2 

“After this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the Spirit:”

Rev. 19:11 

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and true, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.”

3. Jacob

Gen. 28:12 

“And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.”

4. Peter

Acts 10:9 – 11 

“Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners.”

5. Paul wrote…

Eph. 1:15 – 23 (Amplified Bible)

“…[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him. By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, (Heaven opened) so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength…”

…of insight into mysteries and secrets in the deep and intimate knowledge of Him… This comes as we gaze into Christ’s beautiful face.

Hebrews 12:2

“Looking unto jesus the author and finisher of our faith,” the word “looking” is translated to Gaze or stargazer.”

Gaze: to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something, properly, to stare at, to see with the eyes, to see with the mind, to perceive to know, to become acquainted with by experience, to experience, to see, to look to or study intently. (Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon).

As we gaze into Christ’s face, we begin to see how beautiful He is. The more we seek Him, the more He will reveal Himself to us.

6.  Isaiah 6:1 – 5  (I saw the Lord sitting at the throne…)

Isaiah was given a vision through an open heaven of God on His throne. It was a powerful vision. After he saw the vision he couldn’t help but say, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.”

We become “undone” when we experience an Open Heaven of God’s glory. Yet, we long for and crave for more.

Isaiah 64:1 

“If only You would split open the heavens and come down! The mountains would quake at Your presence.”

God is here today and wants to His glory to be revealed in all of us. We are precious to Him.

WHAT IS AN OPEN HEAVEN?

Definition: When the heavens are open we have free access to everything in heavenly realms, a free flowing of Gods abundant graces and ministry power. Ministering under an open heaven is like toiling the soil without labor or sweat on the brow. When heaven is open for you God will be near and heaven will be manifest in the natural “on earth as it is in Heaven.”

OPEN: to be let loose, be thrown open, to loosen, to open oneself

Strongs Concordance states:   pâthach, paw-thakh’, A primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically to loosen,  break forth, let go free,

HEAVEN:  BDB (Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Definitions) – H8064, shâmayim  /  shâmeh, heaven, heavens, sky, abode of the stars, as the visible universe, atmosphere, heaven as the abode of God.

We can safely state that “Open Heaven” literally means: To open wide, throw open or loosen oneself, let go free the sky or atmosphere where God dwells!

How do we receive an open heaven? 

What opens the Heavens? 

What stirs the Heart Of God?

Intimacy is the key to unlock an open heaven. 

There is an intimacy that God longs for but, it will cost us something. The cost is dying to our flesh. We have to decrease so that God can increase in our lives. I know you have heard that saying before but let’s look at it more closely.

How do we receive an open heaven? 

1. We must decrease so God can increase

From the beginning of when we were born we have centered on ourselves. We are a selfish people. It is unfortunately natural to think about ourselves and look out for #1. That is why we have to teach our children to share and be nice to others. We have to teach them to think about the other person’s feelings. We never have to teach a toddler to think about themselves. One of the first words they learn, besides “no, is “mine.”

So it takes some deprogramming to change our thinking and to look beyond ourselves and focus onto God and what He may want. The first step in decreasing is brokenness.

a.  Brokenness

In our brokenness His love pours into our hearts and flows out to those around us like never before. Weeping and even wailing come forth in the pure presence of His sweet life giving sustenance of love. When we think that He has abandoned us and life has turned dark, the light of His pure love reaches us and flows like a river into our lives changing us forever. In brokenness our values and priorities are greatly changed. The things of building and doing become of little value and the reality of being in His presence becomes preeminent.

Acts 14:22

“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 

It seems through brokenness and trials and tribulations God prepares the soil of our hearts to receive from Him. They awakened us from our self-sufficiency and our spirit can respond in humility to the drawing and whooing of the presence of God.

Pride must go! Leaning on our self-sufficiency must go! We have to come to a place where we rely on God and God alone for our everyday needs. When pride is broken, God can move in our hearts in a real and powerful way.

Our self-sufficiency will destroy us and our pride will prevent God’s favor and blessing in our lives. The flesh is hard to tame. The only thing that will tame it is to lay it down at Christ’s feet and say, “Have your way in me.”

Christ said it well in Matthew 26:39b Amplified Bible,

“…My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire.”

Even Jesus gave up control to the Father when He literally laid down His life for His Father’s will.

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain,” Philippians 1:21 (NKJV).

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” 

These passages of scripture show how we are to view our lives. It’s all about what He wants. When we give our hearts to Christ, we are not our own but His.

You need to deal with your flesh immediately. Your flesh doesn’t want to die. It will scream out at you to stop. It will scream out in self-pity to have its way. Be aware of it when the time comes for you to let go of your control to God.

If self-pity wins, sin has won. 

Press through the pain of letting go of your will.

The world will tell you to look out for yourself, stand up for your rights, but God requires us to be broken and have a contrite heart, these sacrifices God will never despise (Psalm 51:17 NKJV).

It’s never fun to die. It costs us something. Our will has to die. Flesh wants to run when it is costly or painful.

We must die to our flesh, our pride, and self-sufficiency, because they can rob us of a close relationship with Christ, and prevent us from being what God created us to be.

Amy Wilson, with the Christian Literature Crusade, expresses this thought well;

God, harden me against myself,

The coward with pathetic voice

Who craves for ease and rest and joy.

Myself, arch-traitor to myself,

My hollowest friend,

My deadliest foe,

My clog, whatever road I go.

Our flesh will scream for us to have its way. We are only deceiving our self if we let it win. Part of our flesh is our pride. Pride comes in so many packages. One big package was my stubborn will.

I had to lay my dreams and goals at Christ’s feet. They were my crowns, or the precious things I had carried all my life, and really they amounted to nothing compared to God’s plans for me. Laying down my dreams and letting go of my self-sufficiency was making me decrease, and giving God back control and allowing Him to transform my life was allowing God to increase in my life.

When I decreased, it was no longer about me, but God. When God increased, He not only became the center of my life, but He increased Himself and His presence in me.

He increases areas of my life as I walk in obedience to His word. 

It is a fail-safe plan to decrease and have God increase. It is a “win – win” situation.

B. Obedience – Is also needed to experience an open heaven. We must obey His commands and we must obey His promptings we sense in our hearts.

C. Submission – Submission and obedience go hand in hand. We have to submit under God’s and possibly other’s authorities that God has placed over us. This kills pride on the spot and creates a broken, humble heart.

All three: Brokenness, Obedience and submission bring decrease and allow God to increase.

How do we receive an open heaven? (Cont…)

2.  Praise And Worship

As we praise and worship the Lord, it frees us to start focusing on Christ and not our problems or situations.

Worship is the atmosphere of Heaven

Brokenness is the currency of heaven.

When we worship, we bring Heaven’s atmosphere to earth, right where we are. Being broken and humble and coming and adoring God is the only place to be when wanting an open heaven. This creates an open heaven.

3.  Waiting and Soaking in the presence of God.

This quiets our spirits so we can hear God’s voice. Just taking the time to wait in God’s presence will create that atmosphere for receiving.

We get too busy and distracted. Soaking in God’s presence (laying down or humbly sitting) helps us to be still and to recognize who we are compared to God. He brings rest and peace. So many voices pressing to be heard from our jobs, family, responsibilities, and more will scream at you for attention. Soaking in God’s presence, with worshipful music on, will bring you right where God is. He is peace and rest. He is the lover of your soul.

4.  Being like King David, “A Man After God’s Own Heart.” – We need to chase, hunger, and long for time with the Lord. Intimacy is the key to an open heaven! David wanted to please God’s heart. He not only wanted to please God’s heart but he was after God.

Don’t be afraid to be intimate with God. Do you know He longs for this? He created you for communion and companionship.

Something happens when we allow God deeper into our hearts. We see things differently and we approach our daily life differently because we have a Savior Who is so intimate and real and Who cares about our everyday life. It brings change in our thinking an reasoning. Intimacy with God is a beautiful thing.

I have always known that God longs to be with His people in close fellowship, but to experience an Open Heaven first hand has changed me forever. 

I had an experience with God during prayer. My eyes were closed but saw vividly a vision and wrote it in my journal several years ago and wanted to share it with you today:

Atmosphere of Heaven

By Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

7/19/05

Revelation 22:1 (Amplified)

Then He showed me the river whose waters give life, sparkling like crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

I was praying this morning and sensed the Lord’s presence right away. I sensed a very sweet drawing in my spirit to come. As I was seeking the Lord, I saw a River and walked up to it. Soon I found myself swimming in the River and Jesus was with me. He looked at me and said, “Come with me and let me show you more!” He held me with one arm and we flew up in the air towards the clouds. Higher and higher He took me through the clouds until we came to an opening where a gate appeared. The gate was open. I looked into the field where the gate opened to and saw an immense structure. As we walked up to the structure I saw and heard a river flowing from the structure. Actually, the river was part of the structure. I looked at the River and followed it up with my eyes to see where the birthing of the River came from. It came from within the throne of God Almighty. It was the throne of God. It was so bright in appearance and glowing with beauty and strength. I found myself on the side of this great structure, listening and watching the River flowing from the throne, realizing the vastness and watching the water fall and flow downward to the earth. I could hear the strength in the water. As I watched where the River flowed I could see it flow down from Heaven, through the atmosphere of earth, into houses and places filling them with the River of God. People were drinking and swimming in their homes from this enormous River. Healing came from the River. Laughter came from the River. Peace and health came from the River. Any need the people had was met in the River. My eyes went back to the huge structure in Heaven and I longed to be in it. I heard Jesus say, “Jump in!” I don’t remember jumping, I just remember diving into this flowing, Mighty River. Jesus was with me and we flowed through the waterfall and floated to a calm and peaceful area of the River. Jesus splashed me and I splashed Him back. We laughed and played some more. As we laughed, Jesus took His tender loving arms and wrapped them around me and held me close. How did He know I wanted to be close to Him? I didn’t even realize my need for intimacy until He held me. As He held me He swayed from side to side. He placed His head on mine and just held me and swayed. He stopped and looked intently into my eyes and stroked my hair and said, “I love you, Kris.” “You are so precious to Me.” I wept and whispered, “I love you too Jesus.” Knowing my life and my imperfections, and knowing Who was holding me brought a sense of value into my soul. All my imperfections in my life washed away and I was perfect in the arms of Christ. I thought to myself, “The River was His love flowing from the throne of God.” Then I thought, “Shouldn’t Jesus be sitting on the right side of God?” As I thought those words I looked and beside the enormous structure was Jesus sitting on the right side of God. He was glowing with an orange yellow glow. He looked different to me then He looked when He was holding me in His arms just a few seconds earlier. He was a mighty warrior ready for battle. His eyes were surveying the land in front of Him. I knew He would win every battle. Defeat was never an option. I felt safe and secure gazing at this Strong Tower of strength. I looked and thought, “Where are the twenty-four elders and the creatures flying and crying, “Holy, Holy, Holy?” Before I could even finish asking that question I heard a screech and looked up above the throne and saw them flying, hovering over the Lord with grace and beauty. I looked down to the throne again and realized the twenty-four elders were a part of God’s throne.  All were giving glory to God in constant worship. I too was compelled to worship and realized I was worshipping all along from the instant I walked through the gates. It wasn’t even a thought to think about. It came naturally from within me. It was the atmosphere of Heaven.

Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

by

Fruit of the Spirit – RECAP

Fruit of the Spirit RecapGal. 5:22 NKJV

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

What fruit are you producing? Fruit that looks good on the outside but is really bad on the inside? Fruit that is immature or not ripe? Fruit that is good? People will come and “pick” your fruit.

Immature (not ripe) fruit is thinking you are a wonderful person when in reality you walk immaturely in Christ and expect others to like your fruit. Immature fruit is walking around ignoring issues in your life and expecting good results. It is thinking everyone else is wrong and you are right.

We can really do a world of hurt for others if we don’t take care of any issues in our own life. Issues like; pride, complaining, gossip, un-forgiveness, and so much more, if not dealt with, will produce bitter, unripe, even toxic fruit.

If you want to live like Christ, and have given your heart to Him, there will be times of correction and rebuking. If you are like me, you know in your “knower” that you need to be corrected so that you produce the fruit of the spirit.

God chose us before we were even born. He had a purpose for our lives and that is to bear good fruit.

John 15:16 NASB

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”

Love

Love, as a fruit of the Spirit, is a verb. It’s not a feeling, and much like faith, if only expressed in words, it’s essentially meaningless. Though we like to hear the words “I love you” they mean nothing if not accompanied by loving action. Remember actions speak louder then words. Show your love to people with your actions.

1 Jn 4:7 – 8, 16

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. … So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

This simplifies the idea of abiding if we see it as abiding in love because God is love.

Love is from God, we don’t have this kind of love if we don’t know God. If we are abiding in love, keeping it always in the forefront of all our interactions and choices, we are abiding in God.

All that Jesus did was motivated by love. His love for the Father, and His love for others.

This selfless, humble love that washes feet, seeks to build others up, is foreign to the human nature and our culture, but by the example of Christ we can practice this kind of love, and through the power of the Holy Spirit we can achieve this kind of love.

1 Cor. 13: 4

“Love is patient and kind…”

This is the character of God. Patient and kind. Life is hard and we all need a place where we can lick our wounds, be ourselves, rest, and feel safe and cared for. That is what love is supposed to do.

Love makes us feel safe and soothed rather than pressured to perform, or live up to some standard. Love comforts us when we are struggling. Jesus said he will give us rest and peace. We all need to ask ourselves, do the people I love feel soothed by me? Can my loved ones completely let down their guard around me? Are they emotionally safe?

There will be times to love those who are hard to love. Loving people with the love God has given us makes it easy to love others.

1 Cor 13: 7

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

God bears with us, he believes in us, he hopes with us, and he endures our constant disobedience and wandering away from him.

Has God forgiven you of much? Then you should love Him much, and in turn, we should love others much. It is hard to produce any of the fruit of the spirit without love. Love binds all the fruit together.

Joy

Joy is deeper then happiness. Happiness deals with what is happening. Happiness depends on circumstance. Genuine joy, on the other hand does not depend on what’s happening. Joy is an inner sense of well-being that has nothing to do with circumstance. Joy is an inside Job.

God wants to produce the fruit of joy in all of us. Often it comes with trials and struggles. James says to “count it all joy” when we experience trials. Jesus went to the cross with joy. Joy is an inner strength. It is a knowing that God is with you and you can walk through anything that you face because you are not alone.

Too often people try to find false joy. They acquire things thinking that will give them joy (Ron’s uncle). Sometimes people think they have joy when their surroundings and needs are all met. Our surroundings change daily. Other times people place their joy in relationships. This is a big false joy.  People will come and go. They will let you down. They are unstable, but God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

There are so many lasting things that bring true joy; our salvation, having a grateful heart, and trusting in God are just a few things.

Church remember: Pain, sorrow, trials, and tribulations, are temporary, but Joy is ETERNAL. Happiness is Outside, But Joy is Inside

Allow the fruit of Joy to grow inside of you. Walk in this promise daily. The Joy of the Lord is your strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)

Peace

Isaiah 26:3 Amplified Bible

“You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.”

This is how to keep yourself in perfect peace:

  1. Keep your mind stayed on God
  2. Commit yourself to God
  3. Lean on God and hope confidently in Him

Proverbs 3:5 – 6 Amplified Bible

“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.”

Trying to reason everything out will take your peace away. We will have unanswered questions. Ask God to help you stop reasoning and begin to live by faith, leaning on and trusting in Him and not on your own understanding.

Peace, when your in the Kingdom, is not the absence of conflict, rather its the assurance that in the midst of conflict, the Father has things under control. Learn to have peace with people and peace with yourself.

1 Peter 3:10 – 11 Amplified Bible

“For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good – whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]”

Patience

Patience is not an ability to wait. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that manifests while we are waiting. If patience doesn’t manifest in times of waiting, then we see the fruit of impatience.

It doesn’t matter why you are impatient. What matters is how you deal with it. Impatience is a counterfeit fruit. It can look like it is productive, but in reality, it only produces stress and turmoil for you and others. Impatience is very selfish. It only cares about itself.

James 1:4 Amplified Bible

“But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.”

We should rejoice in difficult situations, knowing that through them God tests our faith to bring out patience. Trials do eventually produce patience, but first they bring all kinds of junk to the surface such as pride, anger, rebellion, self-pity, and complaining. We need to face and deal with these ungodly traits before patience can come forth.

Waiting destroys pride. If God gave us everything the minute we wanted it, we would be so proud and haughty, we’d think it was us. We would expect our way always. God makes us wait because He is testing us.

Colossians 3:12 NASB tells us to “put on patience.” That tells me that patience is something that I have to do on purpose. Just because I don’t feel patient doesn’t mean I have to be impatient. We must put on patience.

We can’t expect our clothes to come on our bodies all by themselves. We have to put them on. Likewise, it is the same with patience. We have to choose, to purpose to walk with patience everyday.

Kindness 

Kindness is the quality of being kind. Kindness is being friendly and warm-hearted. It is truly caring about others. It is treating fellow human beings with respect and being beneficial or an asset in someone’s life.

~Pastor Kris Belfils

Kindness goes a long way! People respond positively to kindness. You will win people over with kindness. Love and kindness always go together. Love and Kindness is the opposite of selfishness.

Jesus was motivated by love and kindness. He had compassion on people and moved to heal them. Jesus always receives us and he never rejects us. This character trait is something we need to have in our life. When we show kindness people see we are real and approachable. Kindness builds the Kingdom of God.

Proverbs 20:28 CEB

“Kindness and faithfulness protect the king; he supports his throne by kindness.” 

This shows that if we allow kindness and faithfulness into our lives we will be protected and supported. It is a good foundation to stand on instead of building on a weak foundation of sandy efforts, works, and manipulation.

We are fortified when we are friendly and generous. When we are approachable instead of being an island unto ourselves. People will be strengthened around you and feel secure.

Listen to people. Hear about their life. Don’t be so quick to interrupt and share your needs or something about yourself. People want to know you care about them. Listening is showing kindness.

Kindness costs us something. It costs us our flesh. We die to what we might want to say and change it to be what God wants us to say. We realize what we are thinking will possibly hurt or hinder someone and let it go, and in turn, we say things that build up. This is kindness.

1 Thess. 5:15 Amplified Bible

“See that none of you repays another with evil for evil, but always aim to show kindness and seek to do good to one another and to everybody.”

Goodness

The Greek meaning for goodness is: “Uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness” (Thayer Greek Definitions).

Goodness is the action that kindness brings. Goodness is what God is. God is Good. God can’t be anything else but good. Because He is good, he is waiting and looking for people to be good too.

Isaiah 30:18a Amplified Bible

“And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you.”

Being gracious is being good. This is what God is constantly doing everyday.

Psalm 23:6 NKJV

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Only goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life. Only! Nothing bad, nothing negative.

Exodus 33:18 – 19 Amplified Bible

“And Moses said, I beseech You, show me Your glory. And God said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim My name, The Lord, before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy and loving-kindness on whom I will show mercy and loving-kindness.”

Moses asked to see God’s glory. God said he will make all His goodness pass before him. God’s glory is His goodness. That is such an awesome thought that Moses saw all of God’s goodness pass before him. God’s goodness, His glory, goes before us. When we show goodness we literally are showing God’s glory. We shine when we are good.

Each time you have an opportunity; be good to somebody. Don’t let one occasion pass you by to be good to somebody. If you want to be good to somebody, all you’ve got to do is listen to them.

Forgiving someone is being good to them, and yourself. Forgive people when they don’t deserve it. Before someone stops offending you, you can forgive them.

Remember whenever you are good to someone you shine God’s glory everywhere you go. This takes the pride out of us. We realize we are doing it for God and not our own glory. Shine for the King wherever you go by being good to others.

Faithfulness

A faithful person knows what God has put in their heart, and even though many times they feel like quitting, they don’t give up.

A faithful person is committed to doing whatever God tells them to do no matter what it costs them personally. If you start something, finish it!

A faithful person sees something all the way through to the end. There are so many divorces and so much job-hopping and church-hopping in society today because many people don’t understand what commitment means.

A faithful person understands that no matter where they may go to church they won’t like everything that happens. Stay where God has placed you. The way we grow is to stay planted in one place.

A faithful person arrives at their commitments early or at least on time. A foolish person is constantly late.

A faithful person is someone we can depend on – someone who shows up where they say they will be at the time they say they will be there, someone whom you can count on to do something they say they will do for you. Be a faithful person! Your reputation depends on it!

Too often we start out to do the right thing and then when we don’t get the right response we change and backtrack and do something else.

Galatians 6:9 KJV

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Your faithfulness and stability benefits others. It helps build the Kingdom of God. It brings security in the hearts who are close to you. They know they can count on you.

God never gives up on us, and we should never give up. We especially shouldn’t be the kind of people that give up on something because it is hard.

Don’t expect to be promoted if you are unfaithful. Don’t expect to be promoted if you do what you want to do and not what you committed to do. Bosses, Pastors, Authority figures are looking for faithful people. Being faithful is doing the right thing over and over and over and over and over again.

Gentleness (Humility and meekness)

The word “Gentle” in the Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language: “Mild; meek; soft; bland; not rough, harsh or severe; as a gentle nature, temper or disposition; a tame; peaceable, not wild, turbulent or refractory, soothing, treating with mildness, not violent.”

Are you a gentle person? How do you respond when someone rubs you the wrong way? Are you rough, harsh, or wild in your response or are you meek, humble, and peaceable?

Phil. 4:5 NIV

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

This fruit of gentleness should be seen by the world, Christian and non-Christians alike should see you as a gentle person. Gentleness preserves us and brings peace.

Meekness is not weakness. Meekness requires great strength. What about Jesus? Scripture tells us that he was “led as a lamb to the slaughter” yet cleansed the temple with a whip! Jesus didn’t have to go to the cross. He said, “Don’t you know I can call on a legion of angles and they would deliver me.” But He humbled Himself under the mighty hand of God because He knew that was what God wanted Him to do and what was going to be best for everybody else.

Jesus didn’t use His power to get out of something but humbled Himself to go through something that He thought God wanted Him to go through. It would be like if somebody really did me dirty and it made me mad and I knew I had the ability to get them back but I refused to do that because I knew it wasn’t what God wanted me to do. That’s meekness. When you have the ability to do something but you won’t do it because you don’t believe that is what God wants you to do. Amen!

If you have the authority or ability to get even or hurt the other person who spoke badly about you this is what you need to do: Forgive, pray, and bless (FPB) and allow God to take care of the situation.

Self-Control

1 Timothy 1:7 Amplified Bible

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”

The Holy Spirit is not going to ZAP you with self-control, no, it has to be worked out in us. We have to learn to take it as our own and walk in it. It is virtually impossible to show forth the other eight fruit of the Spirit unless we walk in self-control.

How can we remain peaceful in the middle of an upsetting situation unless we exercise self-control?

Self-control allows us to be patient when we feel impatient. You don’t wait to feel patience, but choose to be patient.

How about faithfulness? People commit to do something when they’re in the height of emotions, and then when all the emotional stuff is over, they don’t feel like doing what they said they would do.

How about humility? How can I exercise humility without self-control? You can’t. Remember the “50 Fruits of Pride” we looked at when we were looking at Gentleness?

It takes a willing heart and courage to look at ourselves and see the areas we need to change in, but it is so worth the change. God can trust us with more. Our lives are more organized and blessed. We are not being lead by our emotions.

As we abide in the Vine, we will produce much fruit.

I challenge you to decide right now that you will live the remainder of your life giving glory to God in everything you do. As you make that decision and carry it out in your life, you will find your life to be exceptional beyond anything you could ever have imagined.

Love, joy, peace, faithfulness, kindness, patience, goodness, gentleness, and self-control are the elements that make our lives exceptional; they are a reward in themselves. We were born to display them, and we will never be like Christ or be fulfilled without them.

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

www.krisbelfils.wordpress.com