Life in Christ

The Word for today is found in Ephesians 1:22-23*

And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Satan is under Christ who is the head of the Church. That means that the Church–or Christ’s body—has been given authority over Satan through the power of his name. When we use the name of Jesus Satan has to bow and stop his attacks against the believer.

It is only the Body of Christ that can use that name, as the seven sons of Sceva found out when they tried to use the name of Jesus to cast out an evil spirit.

The spirit said “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Satan knows those who are Christ’s and have the legal right to use his name.

As the human body takes its orders from the head, so we as the body of Christ must take our orders from the Lord. To do otherwise brings in confusion and disorder.

We need to learn that we no longer are our own, and have been bought with a price. We are Christ’s and need to put all our wants and desires under his authority.

This is sometimes hard, since people do not ordinarily like to submit to authority.

I have learned to do as the Lord directs. It will go well for me in the end, for Christ and only Christ knows tomorrow and what is in my best interests.

Love in Christ, Pastor Louise.

*22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (NIV)

The Word for today is found in 2 Timothy 1: 12-13

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Paul was bold to proclaim who he believed in and what he believed.

Today many Christians are ridiculed for their stand on what they believe to be the truth. This is not a time for us to draw back, but to stand fast in our commitment to Christ.

Faith and love always work together along with patience. If you are going to hold fast to the Word then you need to continue in study and prayer. Make it the center of your life, for it is the only way to be fully persuaded that God will always do what he says in his Word.

Love in Christ, Pastor Louise.

The Word for today is found in 1 Corinthians 2: 10, 12-14

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the Words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

So often we try to understand God’s Word and his ways by our natural thinking, and it never makes sense to our natural thinking.

God is a spirit and when we relate to him or his Word it must be by the revelation of the indwelling Holy Spirit. God wants you to know his Word and have a deep understanding of it. That’s why he gave us the wonderful Holy Spirit to teach us all things.

The only thing that the unbeliever can wholly understand is the teaching on Christ’s salvation message.

Once they are born again, then the Holy Spirit will open up the New Testament teaching. The New Testament is for the believer so we can grow up in Christ and enter into all the wonderful promises he has provide for us on the cross.

Love in Christ, Pastor Louise.

The Word for today is found in Psalms 26: 1-3

1Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. 2Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. 3For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.* (KJV)

Often times we think we know ourselves but no one really knows us like the Lord.

He will reveal to us where corrections should be made, if any, and how to stay on the right track. Not many of us really like to see the areas of correction for we feel it will be too painful to examine.

What would really be painful is refusing to see ourselves in the light that the Holy Spirit shines on us and do nothing to line up with God’s Word.

Love in Christ, Pastor Louise

*NIV reads: 1 Vindicate me, LORD,
for I have led a blameless life;
I have trusted in the LORD
and have not faltered.
2 Test me, LORD, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;
3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love
and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness

The Word for today is found in 3 John: 2

Beloved I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in heath, just as your soul prospers.

Prosperity is a result. It is clear that God wants His children to prosper. How can anyone deny that?

However, prosperity should not be the end in itself. It ought to be the result of a quality of life, commitment, dedication, and action that is in line with God’s Word.

In this text from 3 John the Word “prosper” literally means “to help on the road” or “succeed in reaching.” Or, in slightly other words, to be a blessing.

It clearly implies that divine prosperity is not a momentary, passing phenomenon, but rather it is an ongoing, progressive state of success and well-being. It is intended for every area of our lives: the spiritual, the physical and emotional, and the material.

However, God does not want us to unduly emphasize any one area. We must maintain a balance.

Be a blessing to someone today,

Love in Christ, Pastor Louise

The Word for today is found in Joel 2: 12-17

“ Now, therefore,” says the LORD,

‘ Where is their God?’”

Joel’s prophecies explain how a people must deal with corporate sin.

His prophetic warnings and exhortations are addressed primarily to the spiritual leaders. He calls them first to lead in wholehearted repentance, and then to confront the people’s sin.

Corporate fasts and solemn assemblies to cry out to the Lord are some of the practices Joel recommends to deal with corporate sin.

In Chapter 2:12-14 Joel tells us to repent quickly with mourning when sin is discovered in us. Confess our sin and let God work in our heart. Continually turn to God and set our affections on His will and His ways.

And in Chapter 2:15-17 Joel calls for revival. Enjoin the elders to lead in fasting and prayer.

Love in Christ, Pastor Louise.

The Word for today is found in Philippians 2: 13-15

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

The Israelites murmured against God and never did enter into the Promised Land that God had planned for them. They walked around in the desert for forty years because they just did not get it.

They were so ungrateful of all the wonderful things that the Lord had done to deliver them from the hand of the enemy. In the end it cost them the blessings that God had planned for them. Only their children entered Canaan.

Murmuring, and disputes among Christians, do not speak well of the love of Christ we are to have one for another. The world is watching us, and some of our lights do not shine well in the world we live in today.

Strife will stop the work of the Holy Spirit not only in your own life but also in the work that he want to do in the local church. Where there is strife there is every evil work.

We all need to work day by day on our love walk and put our flesh under the authority of the Word of God.

Love, In Christ. Pastor Louise.

The Word for today is found in Proverbs 6:16-19.

These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood; An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief; A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

All of these are sins of the heart except one outward sin, and that is the shedding of innocent blood.

You may wish to reflect on these sins and why God hates them so much.

If any of these are a problem to you then you need to clean them up because it will really block the blessings God has for you in the Kingdom here and now.

I am pointing a finger at myself first, for as one who stands in the office of a pastor I am held to a high standard and must walk the walk.

Love in Christ, Pastor Louise.

The Word for today is found in 1Peter 3:8-12

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For “He who would love life and see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

A pastor friend of mine said once that he would rather spend time with some unbelievers than fellow Christians. When a Christian starts attacking another Christian it hurts more than when an unbeliever attacks you. You expect the world to act as such, but not your own brethren. How sad that we are the only army that beats up its own wounded!

Love always stops evil in its tracks. Have you ever tried to have an argument with someone who just stands there and smiles at you? It cannot be done.

When you have a handle on your tongue, then you have really grown spiritually. Jesus said that sweet and bitter water cannot come from the same well. What comes out of your mouth is what is so often hidden in your heart.

Turning from evil and choosing to do good is up to you. If it was not possible to do it then God would be an unjust God, but he is not.

He has never will ask us to do anything that he has not made it possible for us to do. All things are possible to those who truly love the Lord.

Love in Christ, Pastor Louise

The Word for today is found in Philippians 4: 6-7

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.

If there ever was a day and time that people are anxious it is today. We are bombarded with news from every corner of the earth that has nothing but fear in it. In the past you knew only the basics, but today we know all.

God is telling us that we are to pray, in faith, knowing that he will hear us, and then be thankful that our request has been answered. Too often we are anxious because we are not really sure that God has heard or is willing to answer our prayer.

We are to pray in faith that we have the full assurance that God does hear and is more than willing to answer our prayers. It is not a ‘if it be thou will, Lord’ but knowing the will and knowing that God will stand by his Word.

Peace comes through Grace. If you do not truly understand Grace then you will never enter into the peace that God has for you.

Grace is God reaching out to you, and you by faith accepting what God has freely given.

You cannot work for it but only accept what God wants to do for you.

Then the peace and Word of God will set up a fence around you and guard you even in the worst of times.

Go in peace, Pastor Louise.