Once we lose our strength, it is easy to take our vision.

Dieing spiritually is a process. Nothing can die unless it was once alive.


 James 1:15 Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death.

Sin in its infancy doesn't bring death but mature sin brings forth death. This gives hope where there seems to be no hope.

To prevent dieing spiritually we must deal with our sin when it starts and not let it grow bigger. We must deal radically with it, whether it is personal sin in our body or whether it is sin in the body of Christ (the church). Both have to be dealt with radically!

Matthew 5:29-30 (New King James Version)
If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
If we don't deal with sin radically the original text warns us; that when sin is full grown, it WILL bring forth death. What is funny is that people don't realize when they have died spiritually. They still carry a reputation of being alive.

Revelation 3:1
[ To the Church in Sardis ] “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

Judges 16:20-21 (Amplified Bible)
She said, The Philistines are upon you, Samson! And he awoke out of his sleep and said, I will go out as I have time after time and shake myself free. For Samson did not know that the Lord had departed from him.
21But the Philistines laid hold of him, bored out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with [two] bronze fetters; and he ground at the mill in the prison.

Notice that after the Lord had departed from Samson, Samson didn't even realize it....notice the first thing that was taken was his strength. Second, was his vision and third he was bound up.

Once we lose our strength it is easy to take our vision.... Vision can be your dream and it also is seeing spiritually. Once we cant see...we are easily ensnared by our sin again. Shackled by it. Slave to it.

God has given the dead church a warning:

Revelation 3:2-6 (New King James Version)
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

Pretty sobering if you ask me.

1. WATCH

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

2. STRENGTHEN

1 Corinthians 14:3
But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
3. HOLD FAST

2 Thessalonians 2:15
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter

4. REPENT
Matthew (The Message)
7-10When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It's your life that must change, not your skin! And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire.

I am just Renee....

 

 

Mark 6

Just a Carpenter

   ^{1 -2} He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. "We had no idea he was this good!" they said. "How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?"
   ³But in the next breath they were cutting him down: "He's just a carpenter—Mary's boy. We've known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?" They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further.
   ^{4 -6}Jesus told them, "A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child." Jesus wasn't able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that's all. He couldn't get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching.

The Twelve

   
   ^{7 -8}Jesus called the Twelve to him, and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority and power to deal with the evil opposition. He sent them off with these instructions:
   ^{8 -9}"Don't think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple.
   ¹⁰"And no luxury inns. Get a modest place and be content there until you leave.
   ¹¹"If you're not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way."
   ^{12 -13}Then they were on the road. They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits.

I do not think its a coincidence that the story of Jesus just being a carpenter and then how to deal with people that don't listen to you are next to each other. If it happened to Him, it will happen to us! The bible promises this.

I was reading and I realized that I have experienced this same thing. People that have come to know me well, like family(even in the church): at first are really shocked about what I have to say and get really excited with me. Then in the very same breath they become offended at my words. At first they are teachable and then end up saying things like "who does she think she is".... I may not be a prophetess, but I do believe  I hear from God and I believe God leads me to say things. It has taken me awhile to realize, no matter how careful I am; people get offended; unless their heart is right with God. It doesn't matter how careful I am. I have even seen the most gentle people offend them.

In verse 11, it says,  "If you're not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way."!

This is a sad thing to me. I love my peeps and never want to just quietly withdraw; I want to fight for their soul with everything in me! God help me to learn how to do this. I truly want to do all God has commanded me, just not the stuff I agree with.

I have seen so many people love God and be about His business and then all of a sudden they are done and want nothing to do with God or Gods people.

These 2 stories have really helped me today. Jesus couldn't get over how stubborn they were. He was God in the flesh and dealt with the same stuff.

The Foolish Woman -vs- The Wise Woman

Job 2:8-10 (New Living Translation)
8 Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.

When things are falling apart around you; its easy to throw in the towel. People may look into your situation... but have no idea what its like to be in your shoes. Jobs wife, alot of times gets the bad rap. She says "curse God and die"....but if you look at her with a self righteous attitude, be careful, that might be you next month! I truly believe that this woman loved God but that she was being pressed like never before! Its always easy to judge when your on the outside of the boxing ring, but if you are in the fight, you get tired.

Notice: Job replied."you talk like a foolish woman", this is why I did this study. I have been where Jobs wife is. Tired of the trial, tired that my husband is being so strong... while I am pathetically crawling to survive. The trial Job went through, effected his whole family! His wife, kids, even his animals! I don't want to "talk or act like a foolish woman" when I am in these situations....and I don't want to act all righteous when I see others in thier trial either.

Proverbs 14:1 A wise woman builds her home,
but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

How many times have we gotten so mad, we act like we don't care, we say forget it! no more! I am done! I quit! While things are hard we need to be very careful, and remember that our trials and decisions can effect our spouse and children. If we are foolish we will tear our house down.....the bible says that this is not wise. The question is: will our spouse and children be able to recover from it if we act foolish? Even in the face of adversity we must develop a home that we can build our families up! A peaceful invironment for our family. A sanctuary we can run to, feel safe from the world. It shouldn't be a place where our family dreads coming to, because of fighting and turmoil. Or because they never know what to expect from us.

Notice in the next scripture that wisdom is referred to as a woman!

Proverbs 9:1 (NLT)
Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved its seven columns.
The seven pillars: the number 7 represents completeness and pillars represent stability. She has carved them...she has labored and worked hard for the completeness and stability in her home. It doesn't come natural....it isn't easy, it was hard.

Proverbs 9:2 (NLT)
She has prepared a great banquet,
mixed the wines, and set the table.

The wise woman prepared a feast! The banquet included MEAT, WINE  and A LOVELY TABLE.
Meat was the mark of a feast in biblical times. Feasts are not thrown together, they are well thought out! A homemaker would add spices to the wine to make it smell good. She pays attention to the details. Similar to when we put a bouquet of flowers on the table for decoration, or season the food to make the flavor better. It would also bring a smell that would improve the taste to the meal. She is a good hostess! Wisdom was busy while the foolish woman sat at the entrance of her house with very little to do.

Proverbs 9:13-14 (New King James Version) A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city

This verse contrast the previous verse....a foolish woman is loud brash and lacks understanding. She doesn't prepare a banquet nor does she pay attention to details. She SITS with nothing to do, bored!

Its interesting if you continue to read the two different scriptures about the foolish and wise; both women call out to the people but the foolish woman calls out with a bit of a twist.

The Wise Woman:
Proverbs 9:4-6 (NKJV)
4 “ Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
5 “ Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.
The Foolish Woman:
Proverbs 9:15-17 (NKJV)
15 To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way:
16 “ Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 “ Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

Its amazing to me that both are reaching out! We will outreach for God or for hell, whether we think so or not. We are either foolish or wise.

I believe all of us have a desire to be good wives and mothers, but we need to be very aware of what we are doing. This will testify whether we are being foolish or wise. Even the godliest woman can fall. (Jobs wife) If we have strayed off that straight and narrow path, God is faithful to restore us. We need to repent, ask for forgiveness and press for the mark! Just like the seven pillars...we need to strive for completeness and stability! Our emotions (women) can be very unstable at times...I have been praying that God would stabilize my emotions and that He would make me complete! We can't do this in our own power....It has to be God! Trust in Him and do not lean on your own understanding!

Pray like it all depends on God, and act like it all depends on you. Be busy about your fathers business. It will keep you. I have noticed when I stop doing my Fathers business; church and stuff becomes boring....but when I am about His business it comes to life, fun, fullfilling, exciting and most of all it brings joy to my household!
The Joy of the Lord is our strength! The Joy comes from works!

Galatians 6:4 (AMP) But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [^[in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.

Matthew 25:3-4 (NKJV) Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

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