hope

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A Cry For Revival Series: “Revival Of Our Hearts” (Part 2)

Revival Of Our Hearts Part 2 by Pastor Kris Belfils (Audio Sermon)

Guard Your Heart

When you think about it your physical heart is the most vital  organ  in  your  body. Without  it  you  will  die.  If  it doesn’t work properly your entire body will suffer. We strive to have healthy hearts by watching what we eat and getting enough exercise. We wouldn’t do something intentionally  to  harm  our  hearts.  By  getting  enough sleep, exercise, and proper foods our heart will work and function properly.

What about our Spiritual/Emotional heart? Are we vigilant in guarding and taking care of it?

Proverbs 4:23 (Amplified Bible)

“Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.”

In the King James Version of the Bible this verse reads like this: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

In the original Hebrew (Strongs Hebrew and Greek Definitions H3820 and H3824) I want to look at a few of the words we just read. The word “heart” means: “Feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything. Courage, mind, and understanding.”

As you can see by the definition, our heart has such a big roll in our survival. If we don’t have courage or understanding, we will not advance, but retreat. Again, what are you feeding your heart? Feed it with things that will build courage and bring peace. It is vital for your survival to do this!

Diligence means: “A guard (the man, the post, or the prison), office, ward, watch, hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect, attend to, etc., beware, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep, mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save, sure, wait, watch (-man)” (Strongs Hebrew and Greek Definitions H4924 and H8104).

From this definition we can see we need to view protecting our hearts seriously. To protect or attend to the condition of our hearts daily should be a priority. Everyday the threat of something or someone can infiltrate our hearts and cause us to fail or worse, give up. Surround yourself with encouragers. I would even go as far as to say surround yourself with “yes” people. People who will say, “You can do it!” They see you through God’s eyes and not your own! They are vital to your survival! Our hearts are in desperate need of life. Why would you surround yourself with naysayers? They only bring death!

Let’s go back to Proverbs 4:23 KJV again; “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

The phrase “issues of life” is translated; “To go, bear out, break out, bring forth, carry out, depart, escape, get away, go abroad, going out, grow, proceed, shoot forth, spring out, and take forth.”

It is the very thing that comes out of us on a daily basis. It’s the outgoings, the springs that flow or come forth from us. They are the thoughts we think, and the words we say. They will determine our present and our future. No wonder why we are told to guard with all diligence or vigilance, it becomes the very essence of who we are.

A guard at the Buckingham Palace never leaves their post. They never allow outside influence to distract them. They are there to make sure no one or nothing gets in the palace that shouldn’t be there. They are armed and always on alert.

This is what we need to do with our own heart! There are things we can do to protect our heart so it will work and function properly.

Guards to place in front of your heart:

1.     Don’t give your heart away so easily.

Too often we give our heart and trust way too quickly and easily. We want to think the best of others. It is nice to get attention, be it in a friendship or a dating relation ­ ship. I have witnessed single friends dating and on the second or third date they start making statements like; “He is everything I’ve dreamed of.” or “We will get married within the year.” I see them neglecting their regular friends, family, or duties to “be” with this new person. Too often these relationships end up leaving them empty or hurt. Why? Because they gave their heart away too quickly.

God has given us a command in Proverbs 4:23 to guard our heart with everything inside of us. We never think a sour relationship will happen to us, but they do. I like how the New Living Translation stats this verse: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” The entire course of our life can change for the worse just because we gave our heart away too quickly.

If we continue reading in Proverbs 4 verses 25 ­ 27, we will see some ways  to not give our heart away too quickly.

Proverbs 4:25 ­ 27 (NLT)

“Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what  lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet;  stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”

2.     Fix your eyes on Jesus!

Keep your focus on your relationship with Jesus and allow Him to be all that you need. Don’t turn your focus onto something else or someone else. If you do, they become your idol, your god, instead of the Son of God!

Remember that God is the strength of your heart and not someone else.

Psalms 73:25 – 26

“Whom have I in heaven but You: I desire You more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.”

Why would you give up the “strength of your heart” for something or someone on this earth? Many people want someone tangible to touch and be with. When that person becomes more in their heart then God, they are in an unhealthy relationship, and their feet are following evil (Proverbs 4:27).

3. Listen to what you are saying.

We can learn a lot about ourselves if we would just listen to what we are saying. Our heart can deceive us if we don’t take the time to listen. If you are repeating things often, or talking about a person or situation often, it is a good sign that is where your treasure is.

Matthew 6:21 (KJV)

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

What have you been saying lately? Is there something or someone that you find yourself talking about more often then other things? If so, take a really good look at why you are doing this. It is understandable if you are talking more often about a situation if it just happened, but if it is something or someone that has happened months or even years ago, chances are you are obsessed with it.

4.     What are you feeding your heart?

Are you watching inappropriate movies or television shows? Do you listen to music that is not edifying? Are you reading material that is questionable if it is good for you or not? We will become what we are feeding our heart.

Luke 6:45

“A good person produces good things from the  treasury of a good heart,  and an evil person produces evil things from the  treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

Just like our natural heart will be affected by what we are feeding our bodies, so too our emotional/spiritual heart will be affected by what we are filling it. One thing about a “treasury” is that it will accumulate what is put into it.

This is true of our heart; The more junk you put into it the more junk will pile up in your treasury. Your heart will flow with what is in it and the junk you allowed to pile up will flow out to others because that is what hearts do. They pump out what is put in.

5.     Exercise to strengthen your heart.

Spend time with God in prayer and Bible study. Allow God to be the strength of your life. Spend time helping others, as this will get the focus off of you and onto others. Remember point number 3; Listen to what you are saying. If you are talking about yourself often, you are not taking and giving. You are stagnating. What would happen to our natural heart if it never received blood and it never pumped out the blood inside of it? It would eventually get damaged and affect the entire body. This can bring death. We have to exercise our hearts on a regular basis to prevent this from happening to our emotional heart as well.

Keeping a guard over our hearts doesn’t mean to put up walls and not allow people into our life. Keeping a guard over our hearts is putting up healthy boundaries to protect us from creating an unhealthy heart.

If you feel like you have been hurt or struggling with heart issues, allow God to bring His healing. Prevent any heart issue from coming by guarding your heart with all diligence.

Don’t allow any heart issues to prevent you from experiencing true revival in your life.

6.    Don’t lose heart.

Luke 18:1 (NKJV)
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.”

Prayer is such a vital exercising component to help us not lose heart. We can pour our hearts out to God in prayer and tell Him all that is weighing on us. We can express our frustrations and our concerns. We are human. God already knows, but something happens when we are honest with God and share a true heart response.

Sometimes God will change our circumstances, and sometimes He changes us in the middle of the circumstance. Either way change comes and it is all because we didn’t lose heart, but went to the One who created us and told Him how we were feeling. Believe it or not, this brings  peace. When you are  all  upset  and  frustrated about life, nothing is better than to go to God and tell Him how you are feeling. You will be a better person to others if you take the time to go into your secret place with the Lover of your soul, and allow His peace to sooth and calm you down. Then, we can respond to people better. Then we can face our day better. Often just spending time soaking in God’s presence does a heart good.

7.     Don’t Harden Your heart.

A final note I want to leave you with is to always keep your heart tender. It is easy to harden our hearts after experiencing hard times in this life. Once our heart is revived, the enemy will try and harden your heart to God, people, and even yourself. Don’t let this happen. Pray for a tender heart. God will give it to you!

Ezekiel 11:19 – 20 (Amplified Bible)
“And I will give them one heart [a new heart] and I will put a new spirit within them; and I will take the stony [unnaturally hardened] heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh [sensitive and responsive to the touch of their God], That they may walk in My statues and keep My ordinances, and do them. And they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”

Allow God to soften your heart and bring revival to you today. Why stay in the place of complacency, fear, or torment any longer? Today is the day for our hearts to awaken to God and what He wants to do in our life, our church, and our world! You can make a difference everywhere you go and whomever you meet. Open your eyes and your heart to a dying world without Jesus and be determined to live your life to build God’s Kingdom and not yours. May your prayer be; “Wake me up Lord, burn in my heart and bring revival to this land for Your glory, in Jesus name, Amen!”

Your sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

http://www.krisbelfils.com

http://www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

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A Cry For Revival Series: “What Is Revival?”

“A Cry For Revival” series is based on Pastor Kris Belfils’ book: “Revive, Rebuild, and Restore.” You can listen to Pastor Kris preaching this message here: “What Is Revival?”

Psalm 85:6 (Amp)

“Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?”

Recently God has been talking to me about spiritual revival. I have always longed to see revival in my own church. As a little girl, we were taught about revival, and were told that revival was coming. All I knew was how hungry I was for God, and that hunger continues to burn in me everyday.

It is hard to imagine my life without being intense about God. I received Jesus Christ into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior at the age of nine. I remember I wanted to tell everyone I knew about God and what He can do in their life. Passion grew in me to see people transformed and changed by the power of God. Now, as an adult, I still feel the same, but that passion has grown immensely and my desire to see people changed sometimes overwhelms me.

What about you? Do you have a hunger, a passion for God? To what extent are you willing to satisfy that hunger? If you don’t, maybe you need to be revived in your spirit.

What is revival?

When you desire to see His name glorified – you are desiring revival. When you seek to motivate the Church – you are seeking revival. When you are burdened by sin within the Church – you are burdened for revival. When you ask the Lord to fan the flame within your own heart – you are asking for revival.

A revival is not the Church deciding to do something and doing it. It is something that happens or is done to the Church by God. It is an awakening to who God is and a longing to be close to Him and follow His word.

Psalm 119:159 (Amp)

“Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me and give life to me, O Lord, according to Your loving-kindness!”

If we were to start experiencing revival, what would it be like? Are we in revival right now?

Revival is…

1.  A spontaneous outpouring of the presence and power of God that moves the people to respond.

Only God woos and draws the heart to Him. His Holy Spirit pricks the heart to respond to His drawing. It is God who pours out His spirit upon all flesh. Something happens when you are in the presence of the Lord. Once you have experienced it, you are never the same. True signs of revival are people longing and lingering in the presence of God.

2.  A heart of repentance and obedience.

Repentance and obedience is another sign of true revival. Throughout the history of the church and the revivals that have taken place, repentance is one of the main signs that have been manifested. People can’t help but repenting and asking for forgiveness when the presence of the Lord has saturated the place.

3.  A hunger for God, and the things of God. 

Revival is an awakening of hearts to God and the things of God. It is an awareness of our need for more of God. Hunger makes one do desperate things. Desperation makes one run to the source to be satisfied. With God, He will always satisfy those who hunger and thirst after Him. We shall be filled!

4.  A desire to go deeper in Him, and to excel to a higher level spiritually.

Once we repent, and taste and see that the Lord is good, we want more. Natural hunger is satisfied after you eat a meal. Being spiritually hungry builds to more hunger and a desire to go deeper with God. It really makes you want to give your all, un-abandoned to your Creator. Complacency is not present in revival. Satisfying the flesh is never an option when true revival has come. Only satisfying and pleasing God is the main desire.

5.  A realization of our humanity and our need to repent.

In true revival, we see our humanity and our need for a Savior. We lose our dignity for His deity. We decrease with our desires to please our flesh and God increases in us. We see that God is God and we are not. Pride and arrogance is gone and humility and brokenness is present.

6.  It is seeing souls saved. It is seeing lives changed, not changed for just a few days, but changed forever. 

Seeing souls, people, come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior should be fruit of true revival. The revivals in history all have the common factor of people coming to Christ.

7.  It is bringing dead things back to life!

Remember during Easter 2012, I preached a sermon: “You Are Never Too Dead For A Resurrection!” Remind yourself there is nothing too dead that God can not resurrect in your life.

We all need to be revived! 

Maintaining and advancing in our relationship with God is a daily nurturing. We can get beaten down by the enemy because he doesn’t want us to have a relationship with God. His job is to bring division between you and God every chance he gets. The key is to not give him any chances. How do we do that? We guard our hearts and protect our relationship we have with God every second of every day.

Psalm 138:7 (Amp)

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.” 

You might be in a place where you are worn out or complacent in your walk with God. It is easy to get there. Little things every day can bring a separation between you and God. Remember one of the biggest peace robbers in our life is business!

Today, the church needs to be revived. Revival is desperately needed in any church to cause an awakening to what God is doing and wanting to do.

Are you dead spiritually? Are you dead in your heart or spirit? We are starting a revival series called; “A Cry For Revival” that will span the next few months at Hope Fellowship. This will help bring an awakening to all hearts. It will usher in the freedom of God’s spirit to have His way in all of us. By the time we are finished with this series it is my prayer for more freedom, more growth, and more of Jesus in all of us! AMEN!

A Cry For Revival

Revive, in the dictionary, is: “To activate, set in motion, or take up again; renew, to restore to life or consciousness, to put on or show again, to make operative or valid again, to bring back into notice, use, or currency, to quicken or renew in the mind, to reanimate or cheer (the spirit, heart, etc., or a person), to return to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, or a flourishing condition, to recover from financial depression, to be quickened, restored, or renewed, as hope, to become operative or become valid again.”  (Dictionary.com)

Wow, what an awesome look at what revival is! We need to be activated in our faith. Let faith arise in us. The enemy knows if he can put doubt in our hearts it will paralyze us from doing anything for God. It will put despair and discouragement in us and we become defeated. It is imperative for us to activate and celebrate our life in Christ. To walk and experience life more abundantly then ever dreamed possible. This is obtainable and available for all of us right now!

A Cry for revival is something that comes from deep within us and can’t help to come out and be heard by the ears of God. Crying out to God brings Him instantly to us. As we all cry out to God we become one voice, one cry and God is compelled to respond. In an orchestra, when all the instruments are playing at the same time, it is called a “full cry.” The listener is moved and it gets the attention of all who are present. It makes a statement that will never be forgotten. This is the same when we cry out in one voice to our creator to help us revive and become fully awake to Him and His presence.

There are many forms of revive; “Revivable, revivability, revivably, reviver, revivingly, revival.” Looking at these thoughts and the possible related forms makes me ask, “Do you have revivability? You might ask yourself, “Am I revivable?”

Do you feel dead? Are you struggling with life? Do you feel like you are doing the same thing over and over again and not feeling fulfilled? If so, maybe you have developed wet wood. I know a wet piece of wood is impossible to light on fire until it has dried out. We can get so immersed in this world and our hearts can grow wet and cold, and we feel very little when it comes to God, and the things of God. We can get so use to being in church and “churchy” things we don’t even see our flame has died. But if you put a bunch of combustible things around the wet wood and under the wet wood, and light it on fire, the wet wood will eventually dry out and ignite and burn. This is the same when it comes to lighting the fire of God in our hearts and catching fire to hearts of those that seem cold or dead around us.

Revival Is…

Revival is releasing any un-forgiveness, bitterness, or past hurts to God and allowing Him to bring a refreshing in your soul. It is walking humbly with God, hand in hand, and watching Him reveal areas in your life that needs attention or change. You see, revival is bringing dead things back to life. We can have dead relationships, dead finances, dead dreams, and dead emotions. We need revival spiritually, we need revival over our past mistakes or past regrets. We need revival for our future too. God breathes life into dead things. This is revival.

Revival comes in so many different forms, but the bottom line is; something was dead and needs life again. It can be your old way of thinking and God brings a new revelation of thought. It can be spiritual blindness and you couldn’t see God working, and God opens your eyes to see His mighty power at work.

Revival Feels Like A Fire In Our Hearts

Scripture talks about a burning in our heart or a flame. Does your heart burn when you talk about God, read about Him, or hear testimonies about what He is doing? Do you long to be in His presence? This is revival. Does your heart ache to see lives changed and transformed to be more like Christ? Do you have a passion and a deep love for God? This is revival.

The bible refers to a burning or being on fire in our hearts.

Luke 24:32 (KJV)

“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

I like how the Message Bible states it, “Back and forth they talked.” Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?” It is a burning in our hearts and spirit to know more of God.

I know when I have spent time with God, or talked about God, or have been in an awesome worship service, I can’t help but feel on fire. There is a burning in my chest and an overwhelming sense that God can do anything. It seems I have to share it and help others, or I will explode. Have you ever felt that?

If you have no desire to be revived, or even see the need to be, ask God to give you a tender heart towards Him. Sometimes we have to let go of the way we think in order to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Our intellect can get in the way and lead us astray when it comes to our relationship towards God. Let go of common sense and allow your faith to arise.

Common Sense vs Faith

Common sense says: I don’t have enough money to pay my bills.

Faith says: My God shall supply all my needs.

Common sense says: I better stay home from church today and catch up on my sleep as I have had to put in many late nights at the office.

Faith says: I will go to church and know God will invigorate me and empower me to get through my week!

Common sense says: There is a mountain in my way.

Faith says: Mountain be moved in Jesus mighty name!

Common sense says: I have failed before and will fail again, so I better not try.

Faith says: God is a God of the second, third, fourth, and more chances! God is for me and not against me!

Common sense says: I have always been overlooked for a promotion so why even ask for one.

Faith says: I am the head and not the tail! God has a plan and I will walk in it!

“Every time you venture out in your life of faith, you will find something in your circumstances that, from a commonsense standpoint, will flatly contradict your faith. But common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense. In fact, they are as different as the natural life and the spiritual.”

Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His highest – August 29th)

What “common sense” things are you holding onto that is preventing you from walking out this life of faith and bringing revival to your life?

When revival takes flight, we fly to new heavenly places and our hearts are revived. We soar to higher realms in the spirit as we allow ourselves to let go and fly in our spirit with God. We obtain a different perspective when we fly. Flying sets you free from things that hold you down. We do not get caught in bondage when we take the time to fly with God and be revived in our spirit. Revival is a setting free of the things that bind us. Nothing can hold you down. Nothing can take away the experience. In this higher realm you hear better and see clearer.

Let’s cry out for revival for Hope Fellowship and for all the churches in Spokane, nation, and the world! May God’s mighty army rise up in faith and take this land for God! Good things are a commin’ you just wait and see!

Psalm 119:154 (Amp)

“Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me and give me life according to Your word.”

Next for “A Cry For Revival” we will look at:“Revival Of Our Hearts!” It’s going to be good!

From one burning heart to another,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

Communion

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How To Handle Disappointments

Disappointments happen to us everyday. We put our expectations into something or someone, and when those expectations are not fulfilled, we become disappointed. Sports teams experience disappointments all the time. One team wins, and the other loses. The one who loses, I am sure, are disappointed at the outcome because they wanted to win.

Disappointment is the feeling of dissatisfaction that follows the failure of expectations or hopes to manifest. (Wikipedia.com)

dis·ap·point  (thefreedictionary.com)

1.To fail to satisfy the hope, desire, or expectation of.

2. To frustrate or thwart

3. To fail to meet the expectations, hopes, desires, or standards of; let down

4. To prevent the fulfillment of (a plan, intention, etc.); frustrate; thwart

Disappointments = Expectations not being met

Disappointments have the same flavor as regrets. The difference is that regrets usually have to do with the choices you make, while disappointments have to do with the outcome of what you put your expectations in. It usually means you didn’t get what you wanted or hoped for.

React in our flesh

The word “flesh” refers to self-nature or human nature or self-effort. To walk after the flesh is to do your own desires, usually it is the easy way out or it pleases you in an ungodly way.  Joyce Meyer states in “Living Beyond Your Feelings,” that “The nature of the flesh is to want what it thinks it cannot have, but once it has what it thought it wanted, the craving starts all over again. The one word that the flesh screams the loudest is more, and no matter how much it has, it is still never satisfied.” This reminds me of an older movie called, “Little Shop Of Horrors.” In it Seymour has a plant that needs to be fed all the time. When Seymour feeds it, the plant gets bigger and bigger and is never satisfied. It eventually takes over his home. This is exactly what happens when we feed our flesh instead of our spirit. The flesh is never satisfied and the more you feed it the bigger and more demanding it becomes.

It is natural to react to disappointments in our flesh. We might hold a grudge against someone who has let us down or has hurt us. Holding a grudge has a downward spiral attached to it. Holding a grudge is un-forgiveness and that is a sin.

Disappointments

a.  We put up walls. 

This happens often. We put up walls and don’t talk to someone or even totally close off all communication. I know because I have done this. It feels “right” at the time and it gives us a sense of control. We felt out of control when the disappointment came. There might not have been any thing we could have done to fix or change the outcome. It is a huge frustration to live with an outcome you didn’t have in your plans. It is very hard to live with circumstances someone else chose for you.

b.  We get mad at God

It is easy to get mad at God thinking He could have prevented what happened. Reality is God had nothing to do with it. People are given free will and they make choices all the time. Their choices might not line up with your choices or what you planned. Often authority figures over our life can make a choice that affects us. Our hands are tied as to the outcome. We can easily blame God, quit our job, or distance ourselves from this person or cituation. All of these choices are not good choices.

 c.  We get mad at ourselves

Handling disappointments is a process. Don’t get mad at your self if you are not over it quickly. It takes time to heal and to regroup after a disappointment. Give yourself permission to relax and allow God to heal you, and learn to worship in the middle of the Disappointment.

d.  We show emotion or get depressed

Often it is natural to be upset or get depressed when something happens that has disappointed or hurt you. There is a grieving process whenever there is a loss of any kind. There are 5 stages of grief when a loved one dies that can be applied to what we experience after a disappointment:

5 Stages of Grief or Loss

  1. Denial and Isolation
  2. Anger
  3. Bargaining
  4. Depression
  5. Acceptance

Video: “Stages of Grief”

Disappointment quotes:

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. – Martin Luther King Jr

Disappointments are to the soul what a thunderstorm is to the air.  – Friedrich Schiller

Our best successes often come after our greatest disappointments.  – Henry Ward Beecher

Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses and disappointments; but let us have patience and we soon shall see them in their proper figures.  – Joseph Addison

How To Handle disappointments?

Let’s face it everyone will be disappointed from time to time. It is what we do; our actions or reactions, that determine our character. Often disappointments shape our character. It is in these times we need to quickly seek God to help us heal and to learn from them. Know that disappointments can help you grow. They make you stronger for your future. We can try and fight having disappointments but really it is futile because we can never control people or circumstances. This is not what God wants from us; a bunch of controlling, manipulating people.

Here are a few things I have personally learned when it comes to dealing with and handling disappointments, and I pray they help you:

  1. Run to God

Running to God, and venting your frustrations about your disappointments, is the very first things you should do after being disappointed. Telling Him how you feel is the best way to get it out. Stuffing your feelings inside of you only brings turmoil. God knows and sees everything. He was there when it happened. He wants us to run to Him with our disappointments.

1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7 (Amplified Bible)

“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” 

God hears our cry. Crying out to God is a form of running to Him. Here are just a few verses in the Bible about crying out to God:

2 Sam. 22:7 (NKJV)

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry entered His ears.”

Psalm 18:6 (NKJV)

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.”

Psalm 30:2 (NKJV)

“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.”

Psalm 57:2 (NKJV)

“I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me.”

Psalm 61:1 (NKJV)

“Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.”

Psalm 77:1 (NKJV)

“I cried out to God with my voice – To God with my voice; and He gave ear to me.”

God hears our cry and our humble plea moves His heart to action. Just the act of crying out to God brings healing, but to know God will move on our behalf brings security.

2.  Worship

Worship in the middle of the disappointment. Worshipping God takes our attention off of our circumstances and ourselves, and places our gaze, our focus on our Creator. Worship frees our spirit of the cares of this world. It puts life in perspective. Worship also helps us to place our trust in God in the middle of the disappointments.

Worshipping God reminds us of how good He really is. It helps build our faith to arise in us to overcome the disappointment.

Isaiah 52:17 – 19 

“His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed. Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen!”

God only does wondrous things! He will do wondrous things in your life as you place your cares upon Him. Don’t try to figure it out on your own. There are many things we can’t fix or change, but God has a plan. Even if it is teaching us to endure in the middle of the process of handling disappointments, we will come out the other side better for it and with much reward.

Psalm 28:6 – 7 (NKJV)

“Blessed be the Lord, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.”

Remind yourself of God’s faithfulness.

Psalm 42:5 (Message)

“Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God – soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.”

3.  Forgive

Release the person in your heart. Forgiveness takes away the power the other person continues to wield in your life, and it gives it back to you. Realize no body is perfect. If you are having trouble letting go of a grudge or to give forgiveness, talk to someone you trust, who will give you wise, Godly, and compassionate advice.

Forgiving is a process, at least it has been in my life. I would go through the stages of grief and then come to a place in my heart I was willing to forgive. Then I would even pray and might say it out loud; “I forgive _______ !” Then, something else would come up that would re-open the wound, and all the forgiveness I gave that person went out the window! I would have to come to the place in my heart to be willing to forgive again and then release them. Sometimes this happened over and over again. I knew the verses in the bible about forgiving seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22). I knew if I didn’t forgive my sins would not be forgiven (Matthew 6:12). These are things that motivated me to forgive, but the actual act of forgiving always seemed to take time. I finally gave myself permission that it was okay if I wasn’t at the place of forgiveness with them, knowing that was my ultimate goal.

Wounds take time to heal. Allow yourself the time it takes to be made whole again.

Jesus is my hero. He went to the cross knowing what was in the hearts of people, and even forgave them in the middle of the act of being crucified. My spirit wants to be able to do that, but my flesh wins out more than not.

Some people don’t struggle with forgiving others. They look like they just shrug it off and have no issue, but deep down inside a wound was created and only God and time will bring true healing.

I came across a post on Facebook the other day that I think will help us all in the process of forgiving others who have disappointed or mistreated us. The post was from the “Called Magazine” and they stated:“TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Give someone who mistreated you a kind word (genuine compliment/encouragement) or a thoughtful gift. — CAN YOU DO IT?” This challenged me to reach out in the direction of someone who hurt me and say a kind word to them. It was a step in the right direction. Baby steps are better then not stepping forward at all, and even better then stepping backward deeper into un-forgiveness to becoming bitter and resentful.

I could go into a sermon all its own on this subject. This message is to bring us to the awareness that forgiveness may be needed if your disappointment has to do with someone letting you down.

4.  Break walls down

It is natural to harden our hearts to life; let alone to people. You might have tried and tried to do something and was disappointed every time. Putting up walls and isolating yourself is not the answer. It only makes your turmoil worse.

Life has been given to us to enjoy, not resent. God has blessed us with many blessings if we would just look for them. We have to break down any walls we have built up, or possibly want to build up, or we will dry up and never have a healthy life.

Have you ever been dehydrated? I have. Your body will tell you it is drying up by how you are feeling and the symptoms you are experiencing. Signs of dehydration are:

2% body fluid loss:

  • Thirst
  • Loss of Appetite
  • Dry Skin
  • Skin Flushing
  • Dark Colored Urine
  • Dry Mouth
  • fatigue or Weakness
  • Chills
  • Head Rushes

5% body fluid loss:

  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased respiration
  • Decreased sweating
  • Decreased urination
  • Increased body temperature
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Muscle cramps
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Tingling of the limbs

10% body fluid loss: (Emergency help is needed immediately)

  • Muscle spasms
  • Vomiting
  • Racing pulse
  • Shriveled skin
  • Dim vision
  • Painful urination
  • Confusion
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Seizures
  • Chest and Abdominal pain
  • unconsciousness

This is what happens to us spiritually when we put up walls and isolate ourselves from the real issue that God wants us to deal with. We become unhealthy and the signs will be seen. I think you get the point. What happens in the natural is similar to the spiritual. We have to keep ourselves spiritually hydrated, which includes breaking down the walls of isolation and anger.

5.  Be positive

Refuse to allow negativity to become a part of you after you have been disappointed. It is so easy to speak negative words about the situation, people, or life in general after being disappointed. Being negative about your circumstance never brings healing or help. Ask God to help you look at the situation through His eyes and from His perspective. Look to see what you can learn from it. Have a positive attitude that life will change in time. Know what you are going through is just a little bump in the road compared to the bigger picture of eternity.

I am sure you have heard the saying, “ You can either get better or bitter.” This is so true. Be determined to get better and to focus on the positives in your life. These are God’s blessings in disguise. We forget the good when we are faced with some bad. Learn to encourage yourself in the Lord like David did.

Psalm 30:10 – 12 (NKJV)

“Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!” You have turned for me my mo9urning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”

6.  Don’t try to get even  

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t speak evil against them.

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.”

This is very hard to do I know. If you have spoken evil about someone you have been disappointed and hurt by, ask God to forgive you and to wipe away the words you have said. Be determined to stop yourself when you start to speak evil against someone.

7.  Walk on

Get to a place you love people but you are not devastated when they let you down. Know life will have challenges but be determined to keep going, especially in the middle of a challenge.

Move on and keep going in your life. Disappointments do not determine your future if you have the right perspective and determination.

Walking on doesn’t mean you trust the person who disappointed you. It does mean you are willing to move past it and keep going. If you decide you are giving up, the enemy wins and what is life if you choose to give up? Nothing!

Know there is life after disappointments. Even if the disappointment is a life change, God can make beauty from ashes!

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.”

Your sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

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5 Stages of Intimacy in Worship

Christianity is a relationship with God. It is not religion or tradition. It is all about a growing, loving, intimate relationship with our Creator.

I want to give you tools to worship the Lord in a loving relationship that is so intimate and rewarding it will change your life.

Why is it that some Worship services, when we sing the songs during worship, it seems dry and meaningless, while other times the level of God’s presence is so high you never want to leave?

There are, I’m sure, many factors why that happens, but the bottom line is, I believe, the depth of our worship only goes as far as the depth of our love for God.

Why do we worship God? What has God done that makes you want to worship Him? Who is God that we should worship Him?

What happens when we are alone with the Lord determines how intimate and deep the worship will be when we come together as the body of Christ.

Worship blesses God; it is not just a preparation for the sermon. Worship is the act of freely giving our love to God. Worship is action! What if God approached you the way you approached Him in worship? Would you like it?

Some people sit down the entire time of worship when the Worship Leader has asked them to stand. They think they are too tired or it doesn’t matter if they sit or stand. It is true it doesn’t matter if you sit or stand to be able to worship God, but what does matter is our engagement in worship. Sitting often disconnects you from worship and allows you to zone out. I am not referring to those who may have a disability or an illness that prevents them to stand too long for a given amount of time. What I am talking about are those who decide to just sit and “check out” of the service until the sermon is preached. Singing or music might not be your “thing,” BUT, worshipping your Creator SHOULD be “your thing.”Our body language tells a lot about our relationship with Christ. If we decide to not participate in worship it screams that we are not interested in God. Remember the worship part of a service is our action, our part to give back to God. It is the way we should approach a Holy God, who has given us so much? How would you feel if God approached you and your needs the same way. What if He decided to “sit down” on the job of being God and was disinterested in communing with you? What if He decided to ignore listening to you and your prayer needs? Yet, this is what we do to Almighty God if we constantly zone out of worshipping Him during the worship part of any service.

How about being distracted constantly during the worship part of the service? Looking at your phone, or rummaging through your purse or pockets while people are focusing on God and singing His praises is a slap in God’s face. Again, what if God approached you that way? You see it is not about the songs, the Worship Leader or team, the volume, or even our desires, it is about God and giving Him what He deserves. He deserves our undivided attention. He deserves our entire focus and praise. Far too often people treat worship as a hassle or an obligation. This is not true, and so far from what it really is. Worship is our engagement, our heart and mind focused on the King of kings. We have lost the fear of the Lord if we treat worship with disrespect. It would be like the priests in the Bible to come with “profane” or “strange fire.” Fire that was not birthed from the Holy Fire, fire that was not commanded by God to give.

When I took on the role of “Worship Leader” many years ago, I read some verses in Leviticus that impacted me and changed my life forever.

Leviticus 10:1 – 3 (NKJV)

“Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. [] So fire went out from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.”

This shook me to my very core and sobered me to see the importance of offering my praise and worship with a pure heart and to always remember corporate worship is a holy event and to never treat it in any other way.

Worshipping God really shows you are hungering and thirsting after Him. True worshippers hunger for God. When a corporate worship service is open to them, they run at the opportunity to get their hunger satisfied. No need to “wind them up” to worship God, they enter in immediately. This shows good spiritual health.

Concerning worship C.S. Lewis states: “Inner health made audible.” 

You need to know that…

When you are feeling week…. You worship

When you are feeling vulnerable… You worship

When your time of solitude, or your creativity hits a dark moment… You worship

When you’re feeling tempted… start to worship

When you’re feeling angry… start to worship

When you’re feeling disappointed… start to worship

When you want to express your love to God… you automatically worship

There are some key stages to obtain intimacy in our worship. These are just a few I have realized.

5 stages of Intimacy in worship

  1. Remembering what God has done (He is faithful).

What has God done that makes you want to worship Him? Let’s take a look:

a. Because  God has redeemed us! Redemption/Freedom!

Psalm 111:9

“He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name.”

Nehemiah 1:9 & 10

“But you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name. Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand.”

In this verse in Nehemiah the word “redeemed” is translated:

Redeemed, padah: “To release, preserve, rescue, deliver, liberate, cut loose, sever; to free; to ransom. This verb describes God’s desire to free us!

Another meaning for the word “redeemed” is:

Redeemed, ga’al: “Ransom, redeem, repurchase; to set free by avenging or repaying. Ga’al refers to the custom of buying back something a person has lost through helplessness, poverty, or violence.

You can find the Hebrew meaning of ga’al in these verses:

Isaiah 52:9

“Break forth into joy, sing together, You waste places of Jerusalem! For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem.”

Jesus saved us from what we deserve… Hell! He has rescued us from sin and from ourselves.

Psalm 72:14

“He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; and precious shall be their blood in His sight.”

Jesus saved us from what we deserve… HELL. He has rescued us from sin and from ourselves.

I self-destruct without pursuing God in my life. When I choose my own way, I often make bad choices in the flesh. When I lean on, and trust in the Lord, I will never be disappointed because God is faithful to help me through anything.

Redemption alone is a wonderful reason to worship God. I am free from Hell. He has set me free from sin and death!

b. Because God has loving kindness and mercy that endures forever.

1Ch 16:34

“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.”

Psa 106:1

“Hallelujah! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.”

How long is FOREVER? Forever: Without ever ending, an endless period of time, for everlasting time, without interruption

Psa 117:2

“For great is His faithful love to us; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Hallelujah!”

Psa 118:1

“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.”

Psa 118:2

“Let Israel say, “His faithful love endures forever.”

Psa 118:3

“Let the house of Aaron say, “His faithful love endures forever.”

Psa 118:4

“Let those who fear the LORD say, “His faithful love endures forever.”

I think you get the point. There are many more scriptures that talk about God’s love, or righteousness, or mercy enduring forever.

God shows His loving kindness to us when He forgives us of what we have done. He allows us to go through hardships to make us stronger. This is His loving-kindness. He spares us from death and hell. This is His loving-kindness. He makes us to lye down in green pastures. This is His loving-kindness.

Psalm 23:2

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

This gives us reason to worship Him for always showing us His loving-kindness and mercy.

c. Because God is always with me!

Heb 13:5

“Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.”

God promises to never, ever leave us. He is always there wherever we go. He is your Best Friend. You can talk to Him anytime. There is never a moment that God is not with you.

Joshua 1:5

“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Forsake: To quite or leave entirely, abandon, desert, to give up or renounce, to give up (formally held dear), to leave someone who counts on you, to leave in a lurch.

Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

We never have to worry if God is with us. He is always there. That is a promise. That is a reason to worship Him passionately!

d. Because God longs to have communion with me.

He longs — not just desires or wants, but longs — to be intimate with us. God desires to be personally known by us, just as a young man desires to know and be known by the woman he loves.

“. . .As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” — Isaiah 62:5

The word marriage implies intimacy, and intimacy implies vulnerability. If a marriage does not involve these two profoundly personal and often frightening sentiments, it is only an indifferent contract between two people who know each other’s name and can recognize the other’s face — nothing more. It produces nothing of worth; it is just barely beyond the acquaintance level.

A true marriage is a union of one spirit with another. It is a deeply intimate binding of two souls, where more than just thoughts and secrets are shared. God wants to have relationship with His creation. He yearns to have a true marriage with us. God invites us beyond anything we could hope for or imagine: He invites us to truly know Him.

e. Because God hears, listens, and answers my cry.

Psalm 72:12 – 13

“For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper. He will spare the poor and needy, and will save the souls of the needy.”

2.  Draw close and place your trust in Him.

As we draw close to Him, He never rejects us!

When a couple is strongly married, they can draw close to each other knowing the other will not pull away or reject them. This brings security.

The closer we get to Jesus, the more we realize we can trust Him. Intimacy brings security. We are safe and secure from all harm.

We can trust God that He has the best intentions for us.

We can trust Him because His word never lies.

3.  Reveal your heart’s cry and desire.

When I am up close next to Jesus, I can share the most precious things in my heart. He wants to hear our desires (He already knows). He wants to share in our joys and our sorrows. He comes to our cry.

It is hard to share an intimate moment with someone when they keep their distance. ~ Pastor Kris

2Sa 22:7

“I called to the LORD in my distress; I called to my God. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help reached His ears.”

Psa 3:4

“I cry aloud to the LORD, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah”

Psa 18:6

“I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.”

Psa 34:15

“The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help.”

       4.  Listen to His heart’s desire, which is always towards you.

It would be very selfish if we just cried out to the Lord our needs and never took the time to listen to His heart. When we are up close and personal with God, we can’t help but hear His heartbeat. It becomes our desire to hear His heartbeat the more we spend time with Him. He will share intimate things about our life. He will bring healing and restoration.

      5.  Express your love to Him.

Those  have been forgiven much, loves much!

Luke 7:47

“Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

Do you realize you have been forgiven MUCH? You have not been forgiven little. We all have sinned a lot and fall short of the glory of God. For one to be forgiven much, we have to show our worship to Him in a passionate way. One cannot help but extravagantly worship God because of what He has forgiven in our lives.

Spend time alone with God. Realize how much He loves you. Express your love to Him.

Remember He is Your Portion! He is everything you need and more. It is easy to come to a loving God Who knows our ever need, thought, and desire. But it makes it even clearer to come to God knowing who He is and what He has already done for us.

Take some time and look up in the Bible some verses about praise or worship and apply them to your life.

Your Sister In Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

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12 Steps To Overcome Opposition (Part 2)

To recap the first three steps to overcome Opposition:

1.  Be wise to the words of the enemy.

2.  Be a strong and courageous soldier.

3.  Know your authority in Christ.

4. When the enemy mocks: Pray.

Nehemiah 4:4 (Amplified)

“[And Nehemiah prayed] Hear. O our God, for we are despised, Turn their taunts upon their own heads and give them for a prey in a land of their captivity. Cover not their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have vexed [with alarm] the builders and provoked You.”

The first thing Nehemiah did after hearing the taunts of the enemy is he stood his ground and prayed. He didn’t allow their words to penetrate his heart. He immediately went to his Source for strength and help. When Nehemiah became aware of the growing opposition; in the face of this fear he prayed. This is what we need to learn, and this is what we need to do – when we face fear; when we become aware of opposition we need to pray.

Far too often we look and listen to the circumstance and become overwhelmed. We start to listen to the lies of the enemy and we retreat or start to doubt if God can help us. Our faith begins to die and fear begins to grow. Remember we have the power and authority to overcome our enemy. We should take note of the opposition, talk to god about it – but never stop doing what’s right.

Nehemiah never stopped, but continued to rebuild the walls.

5. Have a heart and mind to work.

Nehemiah 4:5 (Amplified)

“So we built the wall and all [of it] was joined together to half its height, for the people had a heart and mind to work.”

It is easy to get distracted by the enemy and focus on his threats and stop working on the task at hand. I believe many people have done this and still are doing this. They get discouraged and never complete what God called them to do. Remember, if the enemy isn’t attacking you, you are not a threat to him. Let’s be a threat to the kingdom of darkness every day. We should never give up doing well. We need to learn endurance and perseverance.

I remember when God showed me I didn’t have endurance in my life. He started to reveal my character of how I would always bolt when times were tough. It seemed to be my nature. But God required me to go back to a place I bolted from and to “stick it out.” Many times I wanted to leave. From the very beginning of coming back I wanted to exit. Opposition came at me hard and I had to stay where I was. I would overcome and endure one hardship and think I was done, but right away other opposition came. During this time of learning endurance one of my daughters was given a bracelet that simply had the word, “Endurance” on it. It was bright lime green. I knew God was showing me that I was exactly where I needed to be; learning endurance. So I asked my daughter if I could have the bracelet and I would wear it every time I wanted to bolt. It seemed I would wear it for days on end. But it was a reminder, as I would look down at my wrist that I needed to “keep on keeping on.”

“…so the people had a heart and mind to work.” These people had the vision in their hearts. They didn’t lose sight of what God called them to do. In fact they set a watch against the enemy day and night.

6. The enemy will come in many forms

Nehemiah 4:7 – 8 (Amplified)

“But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians. Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem, were going up and that the breaches were being closed, they were very angry. And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem, to injure and cause confusion and failure in it.” 

The enemies hear of the Jews progress and they decide to get more intense with their threats. They gather more people with like minds to join together to injure and confuse the builders. There are Sanballats, Tobiahs, Arabians, and Ammonites out there today that will try and distract and discourage you. They may even come in the form of a fellow Christian, a family member, or a close friend. Bruce Wilkinson wrote a book entitled, “The Dream Giver.”

In it he refers to the “Border Bullies” who try and prevent us from going beyond what we know. They even come in the form of close relatives or friends. But we can’t allow them to. We have to remember Whom we choose to please.

7. Walking in discouragement gives the advantage to the enemy.

Nehemiah 4:9 – 13

But because of them we made our prayer to our God and set a watch against them day and night. And the leaders of Jerusalem said, The strength of the burden bearers is weakening, and there is much rubbish; we are not able to work on the wall. And our enemies said, They will not know or see till we come into their midst and kill them and stop the work. And when the Jews who lived near them came, they said to us ten times, You must return [to guard our little villages]; from all places where they dwell they will be upon us. So I set [armed men] behind the wall in places where it was least protected; I even thus used the people as families with their swords, spears, and bows.”

The enemy was very angry. They came back again and again, now this time with more force. The people became frightened and discouraged. They started to listen to their enemies’ threats. If we become discouraged the devil knows it and will try and capitalize on his progress. Our discouragement will become the enemy’s opportunity to bring more opposition and fear to stop us from doing what right. We have to keep our hearts and minds focused. We can’t afford a pity party. As soon as we start feeling sorry for ourselves, and bring others along to join our party, the devil sees our weakness and takes advantage of it. The more we “pet” the pity monster, the bigger it becomes, until we can’t see to do anything anymore. Self-pity is a form of pride. We have to stay focused and not fall into this sin.

Nehemiah didn’t flinch and assigned armed guards, even families, to guard the wall. Then the fearless leader gave a “pep talk” to the people.

8. Learn to encourage yourself in the Lord.

Nehemiah 4:14 (Amplified)

“I looked [them over] and rose up and said to the nobles and officials and the other people, Do not be afraid of the enemy; [earnestly] remember the Lord and imprint Him [on your minds], great and terrible, and [take from Him courage to] fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

As a leader, we have to give “pep talks” to encourage others. Most importantly we have to remember to give these talks to ourselves as well. There are enough things in this world that pull on us to get discouraged. We take ourselves where ever we go so it is imperative for us to learn to speak encouraging words to our self. This is faith in action. We can not rely on our emotions to direct us. In these verses the people were expressing their emotions to Nehemiah and not their faith.

9. Allow faith to arise in your spirit!

Proverbs 3:5 – 6 (NKJV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths.”

Bringing the word “understanding” down to the original Hebrew we find it means: “feel, or perceive” among other like meanings.

We can not go by our emotions or what we feel or perceive when it is contrary to the Word of God. We have to rely on God and His wisdom and understanding. We can lead ourselves astray with our own thinking if we have not diligently spent time with God, digesting His word,  and acknowledging Him for direction.

Allow faith to arise in you and stand on God’s word. Faith says: We can take this land. Faith says: God is for us so who can be against us? Faith says: No matter what my surroundings are I will trust in the Lord to bring me through. Faith says: If I can’t see God’s hand in action in my life I will trust His heart!

Nehemiah expressed that they should not be afraid as God is bigger! He reminded them to remember the Lord and how awesome His is and be strengthened in the Lord. This brought encouragement and the people kept on working. We should never stop working and doing what God assigns us to do. Don’t be a quitter even in the face of the enemy, endure and never quit.

10. Live everyday to work and fight!

Nehemiah 4:15 – 17 (Amplified)

“And when our enemies heard that their plot was known to us and that God had frustrated their purpose, we all returned to the wall, everyone to his work. And from that time forth, half of my servants worked at the task, and the other half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail (breastplate); and the leaders stood behind all the house of Judah. Those who built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves so that everyone worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other hand.”

We can learn so much from this story about spiritual warfare in our everyday life. I think often times people don’t realize the enemy never lets up. Everyday he is trying to bring us down and to defeat us. Everyday the enemy wants us to fail and to give up.

We have to be militant and look at everyday as an opportunity to do what God has called us to do and to be aware of the enemy’s tactics. We have to build and fight!

Hide the Word of God in your heart so you can use it like a weapon when the enemy tries to attack. Continue on with your life and your calling no matter what the devil throws at you. Never give up!

11. Remember God will fight for you!

Nehemiah 4:18 – 20

“And every builder had his sword girded by his side, and so worked. And he who sounded the trumpet was at my side. And I said to the nobles and officials and the rest of the people, the work is great and scattered, and we are separated on the wall, one far from another. In whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. God will fight for us!”

God is our Mighty Warrior! He cannot fail. He never loses a battle, never flinches under pressure, and never turns in defeat and gives up. If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? We are not fighting this battle alone. God is on our side. He will not leave us helpless or hopeless.

Psalm 118:6 – 7 

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side and takes my part, He is among those who help me; therefore shall I see my desire established upon those who hate me.”

Hebrews 13:5b – 6

“…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]. So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?”

“What can man do to me?” It doesn’t matter what people think. If they don’t approve of what you are doing for God, let their opinion wash right off of you. Don’t allow another person’s opinion of you to prevent you from fulfilling your ultimate purpose and destiny in your life.

We will never have the approval of everyone. There will always be someone who doesn’t like you or what you do. No matter how much you try to please others, it will never completely happen. If you live your life to try and please others and win their approval, you are living in turmoil and becoming their puppet. You will never be happy or satisfied in life. It is not about what others think, but what God thinks. Live for pleasing God and not man.

12. Surround yourself with intercessors.

Nehemiah 4:21 – 23

“So we labored at the work while half of them held the spears from dawn until the stars came out. At that time also I said to the people, Let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that at night they may be a guard to us and a laborer during the day. So none of us – I, my kinsmen, my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me – took off our clothes; each kept his weapon [in his hand for days].”

Surround your self with people who will come and pray and support you. It is vitally important to have faithful people who will be at your side when you need it — people who have the same vision and goal as you — who will battle the enemy along side you. Remember we are stronger working together then we ever can be working as a loner.

Regardless of all the Sanballats and Tobiah’s in the world, the battle belongs to the Lord. He cannot fail! It is not in His character. God will fight for you! Remember one of the enemy’s tactics is to tell you many lies and mock you for your work. He will tell you how bad you are and how terrible the work you are doing is. Remind yourself you ARE on the right side and cannot be defeated. Even though you may get opposition, opposition doesn’t mean you are doing something wrong. Use opposition for your benefit. Allow it to fuel your determination to finish what you’ve started. When opposition comes turn it around and allow faith to arise in you.

Don’t oppose yourself. Don’t beat yourself up by believing the lies of the enemy. Don’t think you are a bad person just because there is opposition.

As you are cleaning the rubble from your past and rebuilding your present, trust that God has great plans for your future. He is rebuilding you and making you more like His Son. We have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). Therefore we can, by His Spirit, think like Him, talk like Him, and act like Him. We are influenced by His Spirit.

Be strong and courageous in battle. Remember your Great Warrior is fighting the battle for you. Most importantly; Never Give Up!!!

Blessings,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

http://www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

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Peace Robbers (Part 2 of Pursue Peace)

It is hard to find peace in this chaotic world. So many things are pressing for our attention, time, and sanity. Once we have peace, we have to guard our peace at all cost. There are “Peace Robbers” out there that will steal our peace away from us if we let them.

This is a two part message. In part One; “Pursue Peace,” we found out how to get peace and now in part Two, we will see what robs our peace and how to protect it.

Peace Robbers

1.  Being Busy

Being busy is the biggest tool the enemy uses to rob us of our peace. Business makes you think you are doing good. Often being busy is where you wrap your identity in. Have you ever answered someone’s question; “How are you doing?” with “Keeping busy!” It is easy to fall into the trap of business. After all, we are usually productive and have good motives. Yet, being busy keeps us distracted from the true purpose for our life. God cannot bring you to your destiny if you are too busy with insignificant things, which you have chosen, to take up your time.

Not all the business is wrong or bad. We have to decipher between the pressing and the important. There is a difference. Most of the time the “pressing” wins out. We add so many extra things on our plate that we can’t even finish eating what was there before. Have you heard the expression: “Your eyes are bigger then your stomach?” This is a statement to show you want more then you can handle. Our stomach is only so big, but our eyes see more “good things” and grab it and place it on our plates thinking we can eat it all.

“Simple active work and spiritual activity are not the same thing. Active work can actually be the counterfeit of spiritual activity.”

Oswald Chambers

Utmost For His Highest

Being busy makes one look like they are accomplishing a lot, but in reality their spiritual life suffers. Even if what you are doing is for God, it is still “simple active work” compared to where your relationship is with God and cultivating that relationship. Spending time with Jesus, the Prince of Peace, allows us to be more like Him and His peace fills our hearts. It is imperative to grow in Christ. If we are too busy doing vague, thoughtless and foolish things, our relationship with God suffers.

Ephesians 5:14 – 17 (Amplified Bible)

“Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise [sensible, intelligent people]. Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.”

Do you find yourself tired all the time and never seem to get enough sleep. If you have ruled out anything physically wrong with you, chances are it is because of being busy.  Seriously, if you can’t “Be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10),” something is very wrong in your life.

You might be afraid to be still. Maybe there are issues in your heart you are afraid to look at or address. Maybe God is pricking your heart about something and if you slow down, you will have to look at them. Ask yourself; “Am I peaceful?” In other words, if these things are robbing you of your peace, then by all means address them and deal with them and stop ignoring the Elephant in your living room! You are waisting time by running into business to escape dealing with these tuff issues. You will be free and find your peace the moment you decide to stop running and start dealing. The enemy uses this weapon agains people every second of the day. The sad thing is people think they are “okay” or “have a handle on it” when in reality they are drowning in their business that will eventually kill them. Let go of being busy and grab ahold of God’s joyful peace.

If you are afraid of all your business being taken away, and it brings pain in your heart, this is a sign your identity is wrapped up in what you do, instead of who you are in Christ.   I know first hand how this feels. I always wanted to be busy in ministry. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving a church without another position lined up for me to walk in. The busier I was, the more important I was feeling. I didn’t realize I was placing what I did before my relationship with God. It became my idol. Yes, ministry became my idol. You see even the good can become bad if it is placed wrong on our priority list.

Remember that everything is the Lord’s. The earth, and all that is in it is the Lord’s (1 Corinthians 10:26). The heavens, and the earth were made by the Lord (Psalm 115:15). Who are we to get wrapped up in the things of this earth to the point it takes our peace away? It all belongs to the Lord. We are just passing through. We are renters and eventually we will be moving out and moving into our mansion in heaven when God calls us home. Hold on loosely to the things of this world.

Proverbs 11:28 (Message)

“A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.” 

Being busy is a peace robber. Recognize it and make some changes in your life to let go of the things that really don’t matter, and to hold on to the truly important. Your family, friends, and even yourself, will be happy you did. Don’t settle for the “good” when you can have the best! It’s okay to say; “no” to protect your peace.

Proverbs 16:3 (Message)

“Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; GOD probes for what is good.”

2.  Walking in the flesh

a.  Emotions – Our emotions can rob us of our peace. We can get ourselves all worked up over something or someone to the point we have no peace. Constantly thinking about, or even obsessing about something is not healthy. Having healthy emotions should be our goal. Allowing God to help us manage our emotions and applying His wisdom to them, will help bring peace back in our life.

Proverbs 15:15 (Message)

“A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song.”

Proverbs 14:30 (NLT)

“A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.”

Jealousy is like a cancer. Thinking, dwelling, and wanting what someone else has is a sin. It will corrupt your life and rob you of any peace. Jealousy is the opposite and an antonym of contentment. Contentment brings peace. Jealousy brings stress and strife. When someone is jealous, soon their actions will show it and others will see it. How you talk, and interact with others will be affected too. This is letting our emotions runaway with how we feel. It is walking in the flesh. I like how the Message Bible states that verse.

Proverbs 14:30 (Message)

“A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones.”

Emotions are fickle. They come and go and often we can’t rely on them. Emotions are not good or bad, they just are. That is why we need a proper perspective on them. God gave us our emotions to enjoy and experience life. Jesus showed and experienced human emotions by weeping when Lazarus died, or by getting angry when in the temple and people were using it for exchanging money and buying and selling things. So to say emotions are wrong or bad, is not truth. But to rely on and express negative emotions to the point of hurting or affecting others is a battle of self-control. It is what we do with our emotions that affect our peace.

Proverbs 14:29 (Message)

“Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.”

There are many emotions that rob us of our peace. The crime of uncontrolled anger vented towards someone or something is an instant peace robber. Believe it or not Self-pity is an emotion too and can rob us of our peace. Feeling sorry for yourself is trying to move forward by digging a whole underneath you. You will never go anywhere and end up in a big pit.

b.  Constantly being negative, critical or judgmental – Being critical often is an outward manifestation of an inward lack. We are feeling bad about ourselves or have low self-esteem and hate seeing others succeeding. Being judgmental is a sin. Pride is involved with judging others. Thinking you are better or could do better then they are doing.

It might just be that you don’t like a person and are critical of them and what they do or say. This peace robber happens all the time. The more you talk about another person, the more you condemn yourself. In reality we don’t see it that way, but we live in unrest and constant turmoil and don’t know why. When we judge others it will come back on us.

Matthew 7:1 – 5 (NLT)

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

Being a critical, negative, judgmental person will isolate you from others because they won’t want to be with you. They are afraid they will be the next topic of your gossip. Keep a guard on your tongue, this will keep a guard on your peace. Stop seeing the negative in life and in others. Negative people never reach their full potential. Critical people never enjoy life. Judgmental people will be judged with the same measure of judgment they give out. All of these people are robbed of their peace.

3.  Expectations 

a.  Expectations we put on people – Putting high expectations on others is a bondage builder. It puts people in bondage. They will never measure up to your standards and will fail in your eyes often. Yes, it is good to want the best for others, but not at the expense of someone always trying to please you. The only expectation we should have is in God and what He will do.

Psalm 62:5 (NKJV)

“My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.

Notice this verse states; “For my expectation is from Him.” We long for God to move. We have expectancy and it actually comes from God to us. He wants us to put our expectations in Him alone.

Psalm 145:15 (Message)

“All eyes are on you, expectant; you give them their meals on time.”

Are your expectations on God or man? When high expectations are placed on people and they are not met, stress comes to all parties, including ourselves. We can expect our friends, or our spouse, or our family to meet our needs. When they don’t, we get frustrated with them. It is not their job to meet our needs. Let people be themselves. God is the one who is more then enough for what we need.

Let go of high expectations you place on others so they can have peace and you can too.

b.  Expectations we put on ourselves – This is not easy to stop doing. We all expect more out of ourselves then we do others, especially if we are perfectionists. A perfectionist always feels they are never good enough, or that they never measure up. Their self-esteem is very low and they always feel there is something wrong with them. How do I know this? Because I have walked in those shoes a good portion of my life.

A perfectionist seldom has peace. Why would they after placing too high of expectations on themselves. They make goals and once they obtain them, they either feel it wasn’t done right, or they could have done a better job. Often times they reach a goal and never enjoy the reward because they placed higher expectations on themselves. Higher and higher the measuring rod goes for them to reach and they never really reach it because they push it higher. Give yourself a break. No one can live like that. Not only is there no peace in their lives, but no peace in their family, work, and anything they are connected with.

Let go of to high expectations on yourself. Allow God’s peace to flood your heart that you are acceptable just the way you are. It is okay to be yourself and being yourself brings peace and freedom.

4.  Unhealthy Relationships

If you fight low self-esteem, being a perfectionist, or feelings of inadequacy, chances are you pick unhealthy relationships with people that are not good for you. If it is not wrong people, then your relationships are extremely tense because of putting too high of expectations or expecting others to fulfill your needs. Co-dependency or emotional dependency comes when you are looking to others to meet your needs in stead of God. We can even be co-dependent on our friends or spouse. If you are placing people higher then God and your relationship with Him, chances are you are emotionally or co-dependent on them. This subject could stand alone in a book, but we don’t have time here. Mainly, I wanted to get your attention that unhealthy relationships can rob us of our peace, our time, our relationship with Christ, and so much more.

Hanging around the wrong crowd automatically puts you in unhealthy relationships. Their morals and standards might not be Biblical. They might not have any morals at all. We become who we hang around, so choose your friends wisely. Don’t allow your peace to be stolen by making a bad choice in a relationship. Ask God if you are questioning if you have unhealthy relationships, He will show you.

5.  Fear

a.  Fear of the unknown – Always worrying about tomorrow, or what is going to happen will put you in bondage and take away your peace. Remember the Prince of Peace holds your tomorrows. He knows what tomorrow will bring so it makes sense to rely on God every day. The good thing is that if you are a believer, we can rejoice that God is by our side. He is the One who fights our battles when we lean on Him. Remember that God loves you unconditionally. His love is perfect.

Perfect love cast out all fear, and this is the love God has for you.

1 John 4:18 (GW)

“No fear exists where his love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. The person who lives in fear doesn’t have perfect love.”

If you live your life in fear of the unknown you will never have peace in your life.

b.  Fear of man – Always fearing what people think or what they are going to do is bondage. It prevents you from being free to live your life. You will never please everybody. I have come to this harsh reality. For years I tried to make people happy. I was a Worship Pastor for many years and tried to do the songs or hymns everybody wanted, but I still heard complaints. I finally got to the point I would pick songs that the Holy Spirit told me to bring into the congregation. Then, when someone had an issue with a song, I just told them to take it up with the Holy Spirit. Soon, people stopped gripping about what kind of worship I would lead.

I also was afraid of what people thought of me. I could never be “myself” thinking people wouldn’t like me. But trying to be someone I wasn’t put me in turmoil. Christ died for our freedom, this includes being free to be ourselves. There will always be people who will disagree with you and think bad thoughts about you. Like me, you need to get over yourself and over this issue. It will rob you of your peace and put you in a trap your entire life. Then you will look back on your life and wished you lived differently. Now is the time to recognize you have the fear of man and what they think, and to release it to God and allow Him to heal you of any insecurities and events in your past, so you can truly live your life to the fullest being free to be yourself.

c.  Fear of failure – Always being afraid of making a mistake is torment. No one is perfect, even a perfectionist. Failure is only failure if you stop and give up. How many Inventors, Scientists, Entertainers, Public Figures, and more, who kept going even after failing time after time, till one day they found the answer? There are many. Don’t give up, you could be one step from your breakthrough. Don’t be afraid to fail. Just get back up and dust yourself off, and try again.

There is a story about a man who was walking across the street and tripped and fell down. The next day one of his friends walked by and saw him. They asked, “Are you okay?”  He said, “I tripped and fell down yesterday.” His friend asked, “Are you hurt?” “Do you have any broken bones or internal injuries that prevents you from getting up?” The man said, “No.” “You don’t understand, I fell down and I can’t get up.”

This would never happen in real life. If you tripped and fell on the ground, you would quickly get back up and look back to see what made you trip and fall. Far too often people fail and think they can’t go on. Even before they attempt to do something new, they give up because they don’t want to fail. They are afraid they will look bad in front of people. This will rob you of your daily peace. “If only’s,” and “should of’s” will haunt you for the rest of your life. Let’s be a people who are not afraid to try something new. The worse thing that can happen is it didn’t work for that attempt. Tomorrow is a new day, and with God on your side, all things are possible.

Matthew 19:26 (ESV)

“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

6.  Self acceptance

a.  How do you see yourself? – I have notice often that most people really don’t like themselves. If we don’t get along with ourselves, we won’t get along with other people. When we reject ourselves, it may seem to us that others reject us as well. Relationships are a large part of our lives. How we feel about ourselves is a determining factor in our success in life and in relationships.

Our self-image is the inner picture we carry of ourselves. If what we see is not healthy and does not line up with Scripture, we will suffer from fear, insecurity and various types of misconceptions about ourselves.

People who are insecure about themselves suffer in their mind and emotions, as well as in their social and spiritual lives. I know as I have talked to many and have seen what their insecurities have done in their life. Also, I know as I myself have suffered in this area. Studying the Word of God and receiving His unconditional love and acceptance will bring healing to our life.

b.  God approves of you – God never intended for us to feel bad about ourselves. He wants us to know ourselves well and have self-acceptance. God approves of you, shouldn’t you approve of yourself?

Jeremiah 1:5 (Amplified)

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew and approved of you [as My chosen instrument]…”

Proverbs 23:7

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

What do you think about yourself? Where ever you go, there you are. You can leave the presence of friends, family, co-workers, but you can never leave yourself. When you go to bed, there you are with yourself. When you wake up in the morning, guess who is right there? You are! Do you like yourself? Start today accepting yourself. You cannot get away from who you are. If you struggle in liking yourself, ask God for help, after all He created you.

Genesis 1:31

“And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, and a sixth day.”

Rejecting ourselves does not change us, it actually multiplies our problems. Acceptance causes us to face reality and then begin to deal with it. We cannot deal with anything as long as we are refusing to accept it or denying its reality.

Webster’s II New College Dictionary defines accept in part as: 1. To receive (something offered), esp. willingly. 2.  To admit to a group or place. 3.  a. To consider as usual, proper, or right. b. To consider as true.

Notice from this definition that acceptance involves the will. If we apply this definition to self-acceptance, we see that we can choose or not choose to accept our self. God is offering us the opportunity to accept our self as we are, but we have a free will and can refuse to do so if we so choose. We also see from this definition that when something is accepted, it is viewed as usual, proper or right.

People who reject themselves do so because they cannot see themselves as proper or right. They only see their flaws and weaknesses, not their beauty and strength. This is an unbalanced attitude, one that was probably instilled by authority figures in the past who majored on what was weak and wrong rather than on what was strong and right.

The word acceptance from the same dictionary is defined in part as “approval” and “agreement.” If we are having problems accepting ourselves as we are, we need to get into agreement with God that what He created is good – and that includes us.

Amos 3:3

“Do two walk together except they make an appointment and have agreed?

To walk with God, we must agree with God. He says He loves us and accepts us; therefore, if we agree with Him, we can no longer hate and reject ourselves. Self-Acceptance will bring peace, self-rejection will rob your peace from you.

7.  Not giving God Control

Many people struggle with this issue. They fight over having control of their life. Trying to make things happen or not happen in their own strength, and then get frustrated when things don’t go the way they want them too.

Not giving God control is a peace robber. If you have asked Jesus in your heart as Lord and Savior, that means you have made Him Lord of your life. Being Lord, means He has full reign in all areas.

Written from my journal July 12th, 2012: “There is a place in my love walk with God, a deep desire to please Him in every area of my life. I have to be pro-active and guard it. This love I have for God compels me to give you control. You see everything and know all. There is nothing I can hide from you, nor do I even want to. Having an open relationship for you to show me areas I need to lay down or change is what this Christian walk is all about. Why would I ever want to hide or prevent you to have total freedom in my life? This relationship is not like any other earthly one. My relationship with You is so precious and tender and stable. The fact that you would never leave me no matter what I do is truth that this relationship transcends all other relationships. I never want to allow my flesh or self-will to hurt my relationship with you, my loving God. I want to get to the point it grieves my spirit if ever I demand my way by not giving control.”

Giving God control doesn’t mean He will change you into something you don’t want to be, or do something you don’t want to do. Giving God control is saying, “Not my will, but yours be done.” Self-will is a peace robber when it comes to giving God control. It is not worth the struggle. To be truthful, the moment you give God control, you will find peace. You will say to yourself, “Why didn’t I do that a long time ago?”

Guarding your peace at all cost is vital to your Christian walk, and a healthy lifestyle. Don’t allow these []“Peace Robbers” to take away your peace. Be vigilant. Be alert! Be pro-active in who you are. Yielding to God’s correction and love is the only way for a peaceful life.

From one Peace Keeper to another,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

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Pursue Peace (Part 1 of 2)

If you were to watch a beauty pageant today, one of the question the contestants would be asked is; “If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?” The answer most likely would be; “World peace.”  It sounds corny and too simple, yet most people don’t have peace. Countries, nations, and governments long for peace. Children to adults thrive on peace. How does one find peace in a not so peaceful world?

Do you have peace? If not, see what is taking your peace away. Unhealthy relationships? Low self-esteem? Wrong viewpoint on life? Striving in relationships? Walking down the wrong road? Go to the Prince of Peace (Jesus) and give it all to Him. You will always find peace there!

This is a two part message. The first; “Pursue Peace” and the second; “Peace Robbers!” Let’s look into why we need peace and from where is our source of peace, then we will look into what robs our peace and how to guard against it.

Why Pursue Peace?

1.  Prince of peace

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. If you want to know what peace looks like, look to Jesus. The word “peace” in this passage means: “safe, well, happy, friendly; welfare, health, prosperity, and favor.” (Strongs Hebrew and Greek Definitions – H7965)

Jesus is the essence of safety, being well or happy, spiritual prosperity and favor. He is for you and not against you. He wants you to succeed and not fail. He is your biggest cheerleader in your life. In fact, He is everything you need. He is the Prince of peace. Prince indicates royalty and authority, or His very make up of who He is: Peace!

I am sure you have heard the statement:  “Know God = Know Peace, No God = No Peace?” In this case, know Jesus, the Prince of peace and you will know what true peace really is.

Peace in the Webster Dictionary means:  “1.) a state of tranquillity or quiet: as a): freedom from civil disturbance, b) a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom, 2.) freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions, 3.) harmony in personal relations, 4.) a) a state or period of mutual concord between governments, b) a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, 5.)—used interjectionally to ask for silence or calm or as a greeting or farewell.”

The Lord gives us peace when we call out to Him. Peace in our life, community, thoughts and emotions, those who we have had enmity with, or anything or anyone we may have strife with.

2.  The Lord gives His peace to us

Isaiah 26:3, 4 (NCV)

“You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on you, because they trust you.

So, trust the Lord always, because he is our Rock forever.” 

There is no one better to trust then God Himself. When we depend on Him, and trust Him He brings us His peace even in the middle of a storm.

John 14:27 (NKJV)

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

This verse is so powerful to show that God’s peace, and how He gives it, is not like the world’s peace. God’s peace is unshakable and all powerful. God’s peace comes even when the trial or storm is still present. The world’s peace comes only when the tragedy is passed. God’s peace calms and reassures us that He is in control and loves us. God’s peace is eternal and transcends all time and space. The world’s peace is flighty and unpredictable. It could be here one day (no war or turmoil) and gone the next. This is not true with God and His peace.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NCV)

“Now may the Lord of peace give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 

3.  Covenant of peace

Isaiah 54:10 (NKJV)

“For the mountains shall depart And the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed, Says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” 

We have a covenant of peace with God. He promises not to remove it from us. Yes, we can make bad choices or this world will try and take His peace away from us (See “Peace Robbers” in part 2) but God’s peace is always available for us to walk in daily.

Let’s look at the definition of the word peace again. Going back to the Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions, but taking it down to the primitive root (H7999): “to be safe (in mind, body or estate); to be completed; to be friendly; to reciprocate: make amends, end, finish, full, give again, make good, peace (-able), that is perfect, perform, prosper, recompense, render, requite, make restitution, restore, and reward.”

The covenant of peace guards our hearts and minds in Christ (Philippians 4:6 – 7). It washes away all anxiety that we may feel towards our circumstances. We feel safe and secure. We are complete in Him no matter what people or the world may say. A covenant is more then a contract. Covenant means to choose or be chosen, to be selected (Strongs H1262). We have been chosen to receive God’s peace. Why? The sacrifice of God’s Son has paid the price. The Prince of Peace has been crucified for you and for me. God never takes His covenants away. We can walk away from it, but it is our doing, not God’s. Therefore, If we fail to have peace, we have to look and see what is taking our peace away. We will discuss the “Peace Robbers” in our next session to better get a grasp on where our peace might have gone. In the meantime, we pursue and guard our peace every day.

4.  Peace guards and keeps us

Philippians 4:6, 7 (NKJV)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 

Are you praying your anxieties away? This is what I do daily in my prayer time. Thoughts can overwhelm us and overtake us if we let them, that is why we have to guard our peace. Interesting, as peace will guard us and protect us as we cast our cares on God. A guard is placed in front of a castle or palace to protect those inside. Their job is make sure no one, nothing, gets into the castle that is not allowed. Peace is our guard. It’s job is to protect us from anything or anyone getting into our thought life that will take our safety away. Peace guards our hearts and prevents our emotions and even logic to overtake our thinking. Peace is a friend to wisdom. When we apply Godly wisdom to relationships, emotions, circumstances, or anything trying to rob us from our peace, we make better choices in dealing with all of these things and our peace is never robbed from us.

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)

“You will keep  him  in perfect peace,  Whose  mind  is  stayed  on You,  Because he trusts in You.”

It’s interesting because the word “Perfect” means complete, and the word “peace” can also mean complete. (See Hebrew and Greek definitions) You can also read “perfect peace” as “peace, peace.” In other words, Complete, safe, soundness, and over all lacking nothing is what happens when we keep our minds on God and what He can do. “You will keep him in perfect peace,” the word, “keep” also means “guard.” How awesome is it that God guards us in complete safety and soundness as we trust Him and keep our focus on Him.

Peace is extremely important for our health and over all life.

Psalm 4:8 (AMP)

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety  and confident trust.”

5.  Pursue peace

Hebrews 12:14 (NKJV)

“Pursue peace with all  people,  and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”

If we want to have peace we have to pursue it. Just like if we want to have friends, or food, or anything we need in life, we must pursue it. Relationships are hard to maintain. When a man and woman get married, they have to work on their relationship to keep it going and to stay healthy. They have to pursue peace in their home and in their relationship or one or both will want to end the relationship.

Peace can be taken from us so easily that is why we have to pursue it.

Psalm 34:14 (AMP)

“Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for,  and  crave peace and pursue (go after) it!” 

Peace is like a rare jewel that we have to pursue and protect. It is precious. Do you thrive on chaos? Do you crave turmoil? No, we need to crave peace. Every day try and find peace, and if you are having trouble, look to see what is taking your peace away. Stress? Business? Relationships? Job? What is taking your peace away? Pursue peace in every area of your life. If you are constantly in turmoil, it will take a tole on your body and much more.

Romans 14:19 (AMP)

“So let us then definitely aim for  and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another.”

One of the biggest robbers of peace is being critical and judgmental. That is why we need to learn the art of encouraging and edifying others. It doesn’t take much to bring someone down with your words. Seriously that is the wimpy way of living. It takes a strong person, who loves people, to build others up with encouragement and love. This is what Jesus always did. He reached out to the sinners and tax collectors, the very ones the Pharisees rejected. When you encourage others, your life is more peaceful. When you judge others, your life is more in turmoil. So, make peace where ever you go and whoever you are with.

James 3:18 (NKJV)

“Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” 

6.  Be filled with peace to give hope

Romans 15:13 (AMP)

“May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.”  

Again peaceful people attract and hostel people repel. Peaceful people are hopeful people. Without hope, people give up. This verse talks about overflowing or bubbling over with hope. It is like joy, you just can’t contain it but have to let it out. Hope and peace go hand in hand. It is having that peaceful assurance that God is there, working things out for us, and has good plans for our lives. It is a sweet confidence (God confidence) in our everyday life. We are not here by accident. God does have plans for you and wants you to fulfill those plans. Being filled with peace is allowing God to calm all the anxieties and concerns in us. Knowing He will answer. Maybe not on our time table, but He will answer.

7.  Greet and send people in peace

In the New Testament the authors would either greet or conclude with a word of peace. Starting in Romans all the way to Revelations you will see this. They were trying to tell us something about peace. They were expressing the importance of having, keeping, and maintaining peace. Here are just a few:

Romans 1:7 (NKJV)

“To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be Saints:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Cor. 1:3 (NKJV)

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Cor. 1:2 (NKJV)

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Cor. 13:11 (NKJV)

“Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 

Live in peace. Choose to be peaceful. Choose to pursue peaceful relations. Choose, live, and dwell in peace. Peaceful people attract while hostel people repel.

Gal. 1:3 (NKJV)

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Gal. 6:16 (NKJV)

“And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”

1 Thess. 5:23 (NKJV)

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Peace” also means spiritual prosperity in the broadest sense. Submit your whole spirit, soul, and body completely to the sanctifying work of God, the God of peace. (New Spirit Filled Life Bible study notes)

2 Thess. 3:16 (NKJV)

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

Titus 1:4 (NKJV)

“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.”

Hebrews 13:20 (NKJV)

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete (perfect) in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

2 Peter 1:2 (NKJV)

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”

2 John 1:3 (NKJV)

“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”

Revelation 1:4b (NKJV)

“Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne…”

People need hope. People need peace. Let us be those who pursue peace within ourselves and with others. Showing hope to a hopeless world around us is our call in life. Let us be Peace Keepers and givers of peace. You will be more healthier if you do!

Don’t let any one or any thing rob you of your peace. Be looking for Part 2, Peace Robbers coming soon.

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com 

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God Working Within To Sustain Without (A Fresh Look At The Holy Spirit)

Have you had trouble lately maintaining your day to day Christian life? Has the worries and cares of this world weighed you down to the point you can’t see where to go or what to do? Maybe you find your self weak in areas of your life and wish those weaknesses would go away.

Whatever the situation, God wants to strengthen you and touch your inward parts to help you not only maintain your daily life, but to live above the circumstances you find yourself in.

Paul was in prison when he wrote a good portion of the New Testament. He was more concerned with the church and their condition then his own surroundings. He wanted to encourage them and pray for them.

Paul had to find something to help him maintain his daily life while he was in prison. He found it, and conveyed that truth in his writings.

Eph 3:16 – 21 (HCSB)
“I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, be strengthened with power the inner man through His Spirit in, and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think–according to the power that works in you– to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”



1. “[I pray] that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, ” (Eph 3:16)

“Strengthened with power through His Spirit…”

Have we let the Holy Spirit have His way in us completely? I believe it is a process of learning and growing with Him that brings us to a place of totally allowing the Holy Spirit to have His way in us.

The Holy Spirit is our Comforter. He is our friend, and our Counselor. The Holy Spirit can do more in us (if we let Him) then a Counselor can here on earth.

The Holy Spirit knows every aspect of our past, present and future. He knows us intimately. He knows our personality, character, and what we think even before we think it.

Amplified Bible
“May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty powerin the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. (Eph. 3:16)

What does it mean to have the Holy Spirit indwell your innermost being? What does it mean to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the Holy Spirit?

It means to not allow our flesh to be in control. It is a realization that we are crucified with Christ and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us! (Gal. 2:20)

We have to come to a place where we want to please God more then our flesh! We can’t be filled with the Holy Spirit if we are full of our self. We have to decrease. We have to die to flesh. It is submitting to the Holy Spirit’s voice even when we want to do the opposite. 

ACTS 2 (Pentecost)

The second chapter of Acts shows the infilling power at work in the Disciples and those present in the upper room. It was promised in Acts 1:4 – 8.

Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

They stayed in prayer, and were united and obedient, waiting together for this promise of the Holy Spirit. They had never experienced what they were about to experience before. All they knew was to wait for “the promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4).

Acts 2:1 – 4 (NKJV)

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They were consumed and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit wants to consume us daily. Do you spend time in the presence of the Lord daily?

Allowing the Holy Spirit to have His way in our hearts is part of letting the Holy Spirit indwell our innermost being, our “inner man.” This brings strength to maintain our daily life.

“…strengthened and reinforced with mighty powerin the inner man…” (Eph. 3:16) (Amplified Bible)

The Inner Man – Inner = eso ¯ in the Greek which means inside, or within. Inner man is also known as inward parts:
Inward parts – qereb – (BDB Hebrew and Greek Lexicon)
As seat of thought and emotion
As faculty of thought and emotion
Within self – heart, more than heart, it becomes your entire being.

Here are a few verses which speak of “inward parts:”



Psalm 139:13 “For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.”


Job 38:36 ” Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?


Psalm 51:6 “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.


Proverbs 20:27 “The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.


Jeremiah 31:33 “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Hearts in Jeremiah 31:33 is translated from the Hebrew as; “leb” or “lebeb” – mind, will, understanding, midst (of things), thinking, memory, determination, conscience; as seat of appetites, as seat of emotions, as seat of courage!

Inward parts and heart do go hand in hand in the Bible, but more than the heart, it becomes a part of your entire being.

In other words, getting back to the original scripture;strengthened and reinforced with mighty powerin the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. (Amplified Bible)

God wants to strengthen us with His Holy Spirit, to totally indwell our inward parts, our inner being, mind, will, understanding, appetites, emotions, and everything we are, with His Holy Spirit. This will help us to maintain our daily life and help us to follow after Christ. It will help us to not be tossed and turned with every little breeze that comes our way that is contrary to what we think should happen.

Strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man; strength in the soul; the strength of faith to serve God, and to do our duty.

Where Christ’s spirit dwells, He dwells.

2. “I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love…” (Eph. 3:16b)

Love should be our motivating force behind all that we do.

There was a song out in the eighty’s by Lori and Harry Browning called, “Lord, Teach us to love You.” It was a prayer asking God to teach us to love Him with the Love He has given us. Then it turned the love towards others and asked God to teach us to love others with the love He has given us.

John 13:34 – 35 (Message)

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples – when you see the love you have for each other.”

This way of looking at love and reaching out to others will help us to love each other unconditionally. Our motto should be: “Loving like Jesus loves me!”

Also, with this love, we can look at Christ’s love and how intense it is for us.

3. “…may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:18 – 19)

The Message Bible reads…
“I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit–not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength— that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love.“

There are so many dimensions to Christ’s love towards us. We have not even touched the surface of how much He loves us.

Our knowledge can’t comprehend His love for us.

What extent are His dimensions?

“…what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

The breadth (wide) shows its extent to all nations and ranks;
The length (long) continues from everlasting to everlasting;
The depth, (deep) its saving those who are sunk into the depths of sin and misery;
The height, (high) its raising them up to heavenly happiness and glory.

God will go to great lengths to rescue us. He will reach down into the farthest depths to show us how much He loves us and for us to experience that love as we sense His presence.

He will reach down to our inner man, our inward parts, where we live and have our being, and will give us revelations of who He is and how much love He has for us.


Have you ever felt God’s love?


The Message reads…
Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

That love is there for us to live full lives.

You can live without things.
You can live without position or recognition,
You can live without a lot of things, but for one to truly live, we can’t live without love. We will die prematurely without someone to love and someone to love us.

It is true that people who are ill will recover faster when their loved ones are close by; talking to them and encouraging them to live.

How much more we can live with the knowledge of God’s love for us.

God wants us to experience His love to know the fullness of who He is.

Fullness, not lack.

The Amplified Bible reads…
“…that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!” (Eph. 3:19b)

…all the fullness of God!

It is hard to comprehend the love of God towards us. Why would He love us after what we’ve done? Why would He lavish His love on us when we deserve judgment?

It is hard to comprehend His mercy and grace.


Mercy: Not getting what we deserve
Grace: Getting what we don’t deserve

This is what Christ did on the cross for all of us. Love was crucified. This love is there for the taking. Do you believe it? Do you want it? It is already there for you.

He is the lover of our soul.


4. “Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think–according to the power that works in you– to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph. 3:20)

What ever we can think of asking, God can do more.

The Message reads…
“God can do anything, you know–far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”

God is more than enough for our every need. God can and will do more than we could ever ask, think, guess, imagine, request in our wildest dreams. He is just waiting for us to recognize what He is doing.

Think for a moment what God has done for you this past year that has been beyond what you’ve ever dreamed possible.

This year ask God what He would have you do.
Think BIG!

What you think of right now, He can do more and will as you trust Him and allow His Holy Spirit to flood your inner man, your emotions, your will, your appetites.

Resolve to soak in His presence and love more. Expect BIG things to happen in your life. He is a BIG God and has BIG things in store for each of us as we trust Him to give us strength from day to day.

Blessings,

Pastor Kris Belfils

http://www.krisbelfils.com

http://www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

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Can God Be Trusted?

Can I trust God? Will He really pull through for me? Does He hear me when I cry out to Him? Am I in this alone, because God seems silent?

These questions and more have been spoken many times from God fearing Christians. We don’t see an answer and we get nervous and start to doubt. We expect our prayers to be answered right away; on our timeframe.

God is not moved by time or space. He sees everything. He knows everything. Your circumstance is ever before your Creator. He knows what you need, even before you need it. Trusting God is an ongoing process.

“Trust Jesus, and you are saved. Trust self, and you are lost.”

Charles H. Spurgeon (a sermon on personal service)

That’s a profound statement, and so true.  If we trust ourselves, we can lead ourselves astray. Our human nature wants to rely on our self. After all, we’re always there, always looking out for number one, and we think we know what’s best for us. Unfortunately we don’t see the whole picture to really make the best decisions.

God sees everything. He knows all about you and your character. He knows you better than you know yourself. He created you! Therefore, the Creator knows more about His creation then that creation knows about itself.

God created you for a specific purpose and plan. He “knit you in your mother’s womb,” (Psalm 139:13 Amplified Bible) and you’re “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalms 139:14 NKJV). He knows you. He knows how you will respond or not respond to things. It’s wise to trust the Creator of our lives for everything. For what He created is wonderful and marvelous, and our soul knows very well (Psalm 139:14b NKJV).

Trust is faith in action. It believes God is working on your situation. Even though we don’t know just how God is working, He is! Even if we can’t see Him working at the start, He is!

Our eyes and understanding are limited. When we don’t see the results we want, our faith falters, and we are left with worry and doubt. I know, I’ve done it many times. But, in those moments of looking and not seeing, tell yourself, “Hold on!” Say out loud, “I can trust Him!”

When you don’t see God’s hand working out your troubles, trust His heart. His heart is for you! He’s making a way where there seems to be no way. He’s restoring you. He’s working out your situation for His glory and in His time.

God wants us to trust Him with all things. How do we do that? If we do trust God, will He make us do something we don’t want to do? Would He change us into something we don’t want to be if we give Him total and complete control? It’s hard to trust until we read more about why we should trust.

The trust issue in my life was big. I fought and struggled with it. I was reading in the Psalms and noticed so many passages that mentioned trust and what happens when I do trust Him. I found over eighty-five verses between NKJV and CEV that talk about trusting God and what the results will be. In the Contemporary English Version, the word, “trust” is translated as “wait”, “hope”, “believe” or “steadfastness”. They seemed to be interchangeable; also “love” and “mercy” are interchangeable as well. Knowing the facts about trusting God helps us to trust Him.

In the chart below you will find some of the verses on trust in the book of Psalms. First column is the verse, then Translation, then Trust Factor, and then the results. (There is more of this article after the chart)

Psalms Trust Factor

VRS     TRANS     TRUST FACTOR                                                 RESULTS

2:12b    NKJV      Blessed are those who put their trust in Him      Blessing/favor

4:5 NKJV/CEV   Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and trust  Obedience/favor

5:11,12   NKJV    Let all those rejoice who put their trust          Joy, defense, favor

7:1 NKJV         O LORD my God, in You I put my trust               Safety, deliverance

9:10 CEV/NKJV   Everyone who honors Your name can trust You  God is faithful

11:1   NKJV      In the Lord I put my trust                                               Surety

13:5 NKJV       I trusted in Your mercy                                       Forgiveness, salvation

16:1   NKJV      In You I put my trust                                                Preserves me

17:7   NKJV      O You who save those who trust in You             Salvation/rescues

18:2   NKJV   My God, my strength, in whom I will trust      Rock, fortress, deliverer

18:30   NKJV   He is a shield to all who trust in Him                  Shield, protector

20:7 CEV/NKJV  Some trust the power of chariots or horses     We trust You, surety

21:7   NKJV   For the king trusts in the LORD                                 Shall not be moved

22:4   NKJV   Our father’s trusted in You                                           Deliverance

22:5   NKJV   They trust in You                                             They were not ashamed

22:8   NKJV/CEV   He trusted in the LORD                               Rescue, deliver

25:2   NKJV/CEV   O my God, I trust in You                    Not ashamed, not defeated

25:5   CEV    I always trust You                                            Guide, instruct, safety

25:20   NKJV    I put my trust in You                                  Keeps, delivers, no shame

25:21   CEV/NKJV   I trust You                                            Integrity and uprightness

26:1   NKJV   I have also trusted in the LORD                 Vindicates, shall not slip

27:3   CEV    I will trust You                                       No fear in the face of war

27:14  CEV    Trust the LORD!                                              Strength and bravery

28:7   CEV/NKJV  I trust you completely.                         Strong shield, help

31:1   NKJV   In You, O LORD, I put my trust                 Never ashamed, deliverer

31:5   CEV   I trust You                                                           Faithful, rescued me

31:6, 7  NKJV/CEV    But, I trust in the LORD                      Glad, Rejoice in mercy

31:14   CEV/NKJV    I trust You, LORD                                   I claim you as my God

31:19   CEV/NKJV    For all who honor and trust You    Blessings stored up for us

31:24   CEV     All who trust the LORD                                          Cheerful and strong

32:10   NKJV/CEV   He who trusts in the LORD            Mercy surrounds, gladness

33:18   CEV     Honor and trust His kindness                             LORD watches over

33:21   NKJV/CEV    We have trusted in His holy name                   Hearts rejoice

34:8   NKJV     Blessed is the man who trusts in Him             Blessed, God is good

34:10   CEV     But if you trust the LORD                           Never miss anything good

34:22   NKJV     Those who trust in Him                            Never condemned, saved

36:7, 8   NKJV    Children of men put their trust            Lovingkindness, satisfied

37:3   NKJV/CEV   Trust in the LORD and live right                     Desires of heart

37:5   CEV    Trust Him to help                                                           God will lead you

37:7, 9   CEV    Trust the LORD                                               The land will be yours

40:3   CEV/NKJV  They will honor and trust You                New song, blessing

42:5, 11   CEV    I trust You!                                                God removes depression

43:5   CEV     I trust You!                                                   Not discouraged/restless

55:23  NKJV/CEV    But I will trust in You.                         Destruction to evil men

56:4   NKJV/CEV  In God I have put my trust                       No fear, safety

56:11   CEV/NKJV  I trust You                                                   No fear, no harm

57:1   NKJV     For my soul trusts in You                                 Mercy, refuge

61:4   NKJV    I will trust in the shelter of Your wings       Fellowship, shelter

64:10   NKJV    Be glad in the LORD, and trust in Him     Gladness, shall glory

71:1   NKJV    In You, O LORD, I put my trust                        Never be ashamed

71:5   NKJV    You are my trust from my youth                          Hope

84:12   NKJV    Blessed is the man who trusts in You                    Blessed

86:2   NKJV/CEV   Save Your servant who trusts in You    Preserves life, salvation

91:2   NKJV/CEV  My God, in Him I will trust                  Fortress, place of safety

112:7 NKJV/CEV His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD   Steadfastness, no fear

115:11  NKJV/CEV  You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD      Help and shield

119:42   NKJV    For I trust in Your word                              Gives answers

119:66   CEV     I trust Your commandments                    Gives wisdom/good sense

119:74   CEV    I trust (hope) in Your word                      Your servants will be glad

125:1   NKJV    Those who trust in the LORD               Cannot be moved

130:7   CEV    Israel, trust the LORD!                               Mercy and salvation

143:8   NKJV/CEV  For in You do I trust                     Loving kindness, guidance

(I have a full and complete chart in my book:  “The Garbage Man Always Comes On Fridays.”)
Now that we’ve looked at the Psalms and what they have to say about trusting in the Lord, I have to mention one of my favorite scriptures. It’s been the theme of my life.
Proverbs 3:5 – 6

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

Waiting on the Lord was all I could do at times. I couldn’t rely on myself and my thinking because it brought too many bad choices. My wisdom is limited and self-centered. I had to lean on the Lord constantly and not my own understanding. I realized if I relied on my own understanding I would fall, but if I relied on God and his word, I was stable.

During my devotions and journal writing one morning, I came up with this little reminder to help me trust the Lord:

Total

Reliance

Upon the

Surety of

Truth

It’s totally laying yourself at the feet of Jesus, knowing he’s the only One who can help you. There were times when it was all I could do to just get out of bed in the morning, let alone trust that God would bring me out of my mess. You may have felt the same way at times. Feelings of fear and uncertainty can overwhelm us if we let them. Personally, I had to tell God, “I don’t feel like trusting You right now, but I will trust you for trust’s sake.” Believe it or not, it helped me get through that moment. God is trustworthy even when we don’t feel or believe he is. Trust God for trust’s sake, if you can’t find any other reason to. God will meet you there.

When we taste and see that the Lord is good, we forget our concerns and doubts about God.

Psalm 34:8 – 10 (NLT)

“Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the LORD, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.”

It is better to trust in the Lord then in anything or anybody else in your life. Trust God for He is trustworthy!

Your sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

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You Are Never Too Dead For A Resurrection

We just celebrated Easter. The very crux of our Christian faith. Christ came and died and rose again for all of us.

 Corinthians 15:3 – 4 (NKJV)

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

We know this all happened. We stand on this everyday of our lives. We believe that Christ was raised from the dead. There is a resurrection of the dead.

Corinthians 15:12 – 14 (NKJV)

“Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”

This concept is powerful. There is a resurrection of the dead. Not only did Christ raise from the dead, but there is story after story of people who were dead and were raised to life. I am sure you have heard of many, here are just a few:

  1. CBN – JOHNATHON ALDEE – 28 minutes without oxygen 
  2. Daniel Ekechukwu from Nigeria (2001) –  CBN.com
  3. God Can Breathe Life Into Dead Things –From Pastor Kris Belfils book: “Revive, Rebuild, andRestore”

God Can Breathe Life Into Dead Things

Eze 37:3 (KJV)

“And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.” 

My oldest daughter had a school project when she was in the 4th grade. The students were given a caterpillar in a jar. Each student was assigned to take care of their caterpillar and make sure there were plenty of leaves for them to eat. Soon, the caterpillars would make a cocoon and look dead. The students, including my daughter, were worried as they thought they did something wrong to make the caterpillar look dead. One by one the cocoons would open up and out came the beautiful butterfly they transformed into. My daughter’s cocoon didn’t open up as quickly as some of her class mates did. She was constantly thinking about it and telling me about her cocoon. I assured her that she will have a butterfly soon, and to just wait and let nature take its course. Before long, her cocoon opened up and a beautiful butterfly came out. My daughter was very happy, and when our family went camping, soon after the re-birth, we set aside a time for her to release her butterfly from the jar into the wide open space of our camping site.

This makes me think of God and how He is at work in the middle of what looks dead. He has the power to bring forth life from dead places.

Just like CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is used to help a victim of cardiac arrest or, respiratory arrest, to keep them alive, God can and will breathe life into dead things.

Eze 37:1 – 14 talks about the dry bones that came back to life as the breath of the Lord was prophesied and breathed into them. Eze 37:3 (NKJV) states, “…can these bones live?” The word “live” is translated: “To live, whether literally or figuratively, to revive – keep, make alive, promise life, nourish up, preserve, quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life) revive – Be whole.

As the wind breathed life into the bones, and as the word was prophesied, the bones received life. This is what God wants to do with our dead places. God wants to revive us. He wants to breathe life into our dead areas.

Eze 37:12 (NKJV)

“Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.”

God will bring us out of our graves and cause us to live.

The dead have to listen to God’s voice.

There is an old hymn entitled, “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing.” It has twenty verses, but there is one verse that pops out to me; “He speaks, and, listening to His voice, New life the dead receive, The mournful, broken hearts rejoice, The humble poor believe.”

Lazarus was one of the dead that listened to the voice of Christ (John 11:1 – 44). Jesus spoke and breathed, “…I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die…” this is what he breathed or spoke to Martha when she met Him after hearing He was coming. Martha knew where her source was. She said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” There was still faith even after seeing the dead.

He is the Resurrection and the Life! If you believe, though you were dead, you shall live. All it takes is a little faith to see the wonders of God.

Scripture states, in John 11:5 and 6 “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.” Jesus stayed two more extra days after finding out Lazarus was sick. Why would He do this? I believe for two reasons, First, He was setting the stage for a miracle so the people would see His glory as verse 4 states, “…this sickness is not unto dearth, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it,” but there is more to the reason why Jesus lingered where He was instead of making hast to get to the one He loved to heal him. Secondly, if Jesus would have hurried and healed Lazarus before he died, it would be like what He had done for many. If Christ had raised him to life after he recently died, it would be no more than He had done for some, but waiting so long gave Jesus the opportunity to do more for Lazarus, Martha, and Mary then He had done for anyone. This is His love.

I like how the Message Bible states John 11:11, “He said these things, and then announced, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, I’m going to wake him up.’” To God, raising someone from the dead is like waking them up from a sleep. It is no difficult thing for God to raise our dead things.

What areas of your life need to be resurrected, restored, or revived? Remember that the Father God is constantly watching you to bring resurrection life into your dead places. Look at delays as His love in action, just waiting for the right time to truly show you how much He loves you.

The prodigal son was dead and came back to life. We read in Luke 15:11 – 32 the story of how a father’s son asked for his inheritance before His father died. His father granted the request and gave the son what was allotted to him. The son went out and squandered all the money on extravagant living and ended up with no money wishing he could eat what he fed the pigs. He thought in his heart that even a hired hand, or a servant, was well fed in his father’s house. He came to the end of himself. He made up his mind to go home and ask to be a servant. But his father had other plans. His father missed him so much it felt like his son was dead. He grieved over the loss of his son. He longed for life to come back to him, to come back home. This is exactly like our Heavenly Father who sees the dead in our life and longs for life to come again.

God is waiting for us to “come to the end of ourselves” and come to Him for help. Resurrection power brings new life. What was resurrected, by the power of God, is even better than what was there before.

Everyone who calls on Jesus will be saved, will be revived, and will be brought back to life!

John 5:24 – 28 (KJV)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice…” 

Jesus said this concerning His coming, but we can truly apply this to anything dead in our life.

The dead have no choice but to obey the voice of the Lord to come back to life. God is the Beginning and the End; He is the Alpha and the Omega. He alone knows when someone will be born and when they will die. He is the one who breathes life into them. Since He is the Alpha and the Omega, He always finishes what He starts. Nothing ends without His permission.

Resurrection Advancement

The bigger the stone the enemy places on you to stop your advancement in life, the stronger, and bigger the stage of your advancement so rejoice! Just look at the stone the enemy tried to place in front of Jesus’ tomb. Even death could not keep that stone in place. If you feel a huge stone has been placed on you, get ready for a resurrection advancement!

Hebrews 10:35 (NASB)

“Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.”

Sometimes the fruit of our labor takes time to see. Planting a fruit tree it will take 2 or 3 years to see the fruit in an adult stage. We are to never give up!

James 1:12 (CEV)

“God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves Him.”

The Living Dead

There are people, who call themselves Christian, walking around as the Living Dead. They go to church, are much involved with the activities there, but hardly have life in them. They think they are alive just because of their activity. But reality is they are walking zombies. There is no life in them. They are not relying on the resurrection power of God or even expecting good things from God. Often they feel the way their life is will never change. “It is what it is” is often said from their mouth. This kind of talk is not standing on God’s word or promises. It is not activating the resurrection power in their life.

It is God’s will for us to live in His resurrection power. Let His resurrection power quicken or enliven us to do His will. He will give us eyes to see and ears to hear what is causing us to walk around as the living dead.

Peter 1:3 – 5 (NJKV)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Living Hope

“…a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!” Hope is something that is living and alive!~ I watched the movie “Hunger Games” this past week and one line in the movie stuck out to me: “Hope is the only thing that can stand against fear.” Having hope propels you to keep trying in the middle of your fears. Hope helps us to stay focused. If we don’t have hope, we will fall into our fears and doubts.

We hope in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. The word “resurrection” means: “Standing up again, that is, (Literally) a resurrection from death (individual, general or by implication (it’s author)), or (figuratively) a (moral) recovery (of spiritual truth): raised to life again, resurrection, rise from the dead, that should rise, rising again.”

Death could not hold Jesus! We have that same spirit dwelling in us everyday!

Romans 8:11 (NKJV)

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

Message Bible

“It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s!”

God can breathe new life into any situation, circumstance, or issue, and bring forth life again.

Jesus was raised from the dead. Resurrection Life came from the One who is the Resurrection and the Life. We have to remember that the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us.

God can resurrect your dreams and passions that seem to have died while you have been waiting for a miracle. When God gives us a dream it must first die. Just like a seed that is dead has to be buried, so our dreams have to die so they can bring forth life. And just like the growth from the seed that bursts from the ground, which is exactly what happens when life comes from dead things.

What dreams has God given you? Do they seem like they will never come true? Have you held onto them too tightly for God to breathe new life into them? We need to learn to “hold on loosely” to our dreams. Don’t hold onto something so much that it consumes you. Allow your dreams to die. Give your desires to God and watch Him make something from nothing.

God can make beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:1 – 3). What if the ashes where made from your own match? What if you started the fire that burned your life into ashes, can God breathe new life into our wrong choices? Can God birth life from our mistakes? I say, “YES!” God specializes in making beauty from ashes.

What is dead in your life, your emotions, your finances, your relationships, your family, or circumstances? Maybe you feel dead inside? Do you feel God is far away and you don’t feel close to Him? Allow God to come and breathe new life into your spirit.

You might be feeling dead inside due to sin in your life. You might be feeling dead because of something you had to walk through. No matter the reason, God is there to breathe new life into your spirit today!

All our powerful God has to do is to speak or breathe life into dead things and the dead have to listen.

Do you have faith to believe God can breathe life into you? Ask God to come and breathe His life into your situation. Believe that situation will listen and be born again.

Remember “You Are Never Too Dead For A Resurrection!”

Blessings,

Pastor Kris Belfils