Insecurity is Rooted in Fear

2Timothy 1:7

7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

This scripture has often been used regarding a spirit of fear. But did you know it's also about insecurity? Yes, the Lord revealed that insecurity is rooted in fear. He had me look up the definition of insecurity as defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary. Insecure is defined as: 1) uncertain 2) not protected: unsafe , 3)loose, shaky , 4) not highly stable , also: lacking assurance: anxious fearful.  God then confirmed it by having me see the background of this particular text. First, the apostle Paul was encouraging Timothy. Now Timothy was young but strong in the Word of God and called to lead the church in Ephesus. He was raised by strong women who knew God and instilled wonderful teaching in him. The apostle Paul took Timothy in as a son in the Spirit. The apostle Paul was talking about walking in whatever gifts the Holy Spirit had bestowed upon him but also that as he grows in his walk, so too the gifts would develop. But what the Zondervan's NIV Study Bible records is that lack of confidence was a serious problem for Timothy and it references 1Corinthians 16:10-11 when the apostle Paul asks the church at Corinth to welcome him and make sure he has nothing to fear and is accepted. Fear of non-acceptance is insecurity. Not being sure of who you and if you can stand will develop the characteristics of insecurity but it's root is simply fear. This fear is not of God. When you know who you are in Christ, there's nothing to fear but God himself out of reverent love. So how do you come to know who you are in Christ? It requires a willingness to grow and develop in Christ as the apostle Paul mentioned to Timothy. You are not to stand on your own but on the shoulders of Christ. When you rely on you and you alone, you will always fail. But when you rely on God, Christ's love and the strength of the Holy Spirit, you will stand with a new boldness and confidence.

May deliverance go forth this day and the spirit of fear of be broken in Jesus' name!!!

Do you have Saturday, August 25th marked on your calendar? I will be at Family Christian Bookstore in Elkridge, MD so drop by anytime between 12-4pm and get a copy of the book Get Your JOY In The Morning! I look forward to seeing you!!!!

Have You Turned to the Lord in Prayer?

Isaiah 35:5
5Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

The prophet Isaiah was given a glimpse of what the coming Messiah would bring with Him. As documented in the New Testament, what God showed the prophet Isaiah was joy, peace and healing. The healing being both physical and spiritual. Jesus healed not only those who had physical ailments but those plagued by evil spirits. Those healed by Christ as Isaiah saw would receive joy. What some people don't realize is there are physical ailments that are indicators or manifestations from what is happening in one's spirit. Worry and stress do what? They cause physical ailments. Jesus said in Matthew 6:27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Jesus wasn't just saying this for the sake of speaking. We've seen what worry and stress can do. Oh but God! There's a remedy!! The man after the Lord's own heart, King David, learned early that when facing illness, take it to the Lord in prayer! In Psalm 6 David was facing terrible illness. For him it was a rebuke or discipline from what he had done. Even still, David cried out to the Lord. Why? Because he knew the Lord could heal him. Deuteronomy 28:15-20 talks about the sickness that the Lord brings for one's sins. However, not all sickness is because of wrong doing. Some sickness like that of Job, is an attack from Satan in the spiritual domain as a way to hinder and distract. The Lord allowed it to show that Job would not be stopped by it but would turn to Him. Not that modern medicine doesn't help but many do not understand who the true healer is. So then when you are facing illness have you ever asked yourself is it a spiritual manifestation? What is it that you are doing for the Lord? Is it something major? Is what's happening a distraction factor? Or is there something you need to seek the Lord's forgiveness for? Either way, it's all meant for you to turn to the Lord in prayer.

Remember to check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network at www.live365.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!

Clearing the Myth

This is not a typical message.

2Corinithians 6:14

14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.

What did the apostle Paul mean when He said this to the church at Corinth? First, the church at Corinth had been plagued with false teachers. Now just in case there is any question, just like there is only one of two places your spirit will go after death, Heaven or Hell, so too you can only be a child of God or a Child of Satan. We know that Satan is the father of Lies while God is the Father of truth. Jesus is the way, truth and the life. So anything false has it's origin in what? Satan. False teachers and or anyone who is full of lies is a servant of Satan not a servant of God. As the Zondervan NIV Study Bible puts it, they have "charming and persuasive ways". More like deceitful. Secondly, this example extends to every aspect of our walk as believers in Christ. We are not to surround ourselves with those who have NO DESIRE to grow in Christ. Doing so pulls one in a direction away from Christ, especially if that unbeliever has "charming and persuasive ways".

Just a little over a week ago I saw something on Facebook regarding marriage. The caption pointed out that just like your relationship with God is important, the second to that is your marriage, which is true. It said that you are responsible for upholding and nurturing that relationship with a godly perspective even if the other spouse doesn't. Immediately, God brought to my remembrance what I have learned from my church through the study of the Word of God, which is you are not to marry one who is unequally yoked. If you are looking to grow in your walk in Christ, marrying someone who isn't creates nothing but discord and God cannot get the glory from it as He is designed to. It means that you married them based on worldly standards not God's. Marriage is a ministry. For it reflects the relationship that Christ has with the Church as said by the apostle Paul.  The ministry isn't just for the outside world to see but for your children. If your children see nothing but discord, what do you think they will search for when they are adults if they have not been delivered by Christ? My assistant pastor quotes Amos 3:3 How can two walk together unless they have agreed to do so.  I must say before I move forward I want to thank my pastor and assistant pastor for their following Christ and letting us know that first and foremost, God is the one who ordains a marriage. If you are with someone that God did not call you to be with, He may honor it but he doesn't have to bless it. To honor as defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary states in the second definition: 1) to regard or treat with honor 2)to confer honor on 3) to fulfill the terms of; also to accept as payment. There are many blessings with a God-ordained marriage. To bless according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary states: 1) consecrate by religious rite or word 2) sanctify with the sign of the cross, 3) invoke divine care for 4) PRAISE, GLORIFY 5) to confer happiness upon. So in other words, God will honor or recognize your commitment if you sincerely made it even if it's to a person He didn't call you to be with but just because He recognizes it doesn't mean it will be one filled with happiness. Those benefits are solely for those who pick the godly mate He has made especially for them. Second, the one who officiates the ceremony is also held accountable to God. For they are to uphold the Word of God at all times no matter who the two people are. The minute it is discerned and made known that the two are unequally yoked, the officiant has the responsibility to God and for the good of the two to call it out. Otherwise, that is spiritual blood on the hands of that officiant. I say this because what the caption said would be understood by the other spouse if they are equally yoked. Now the misconception and misrepresentation of 1Corinthians 7:12-15 is how and why many are set up. The verse says, "To the rest I say this, (I not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her."  The apostle Paul was talking about couples who were already married when the husband became a believer as quoted in Zondervan's NIV Study Bible. This actually supports that the couple when starting out were on equal footing. So it's not to say that a believer is to marry an unbeliever or one who has NO DESIRE to grow in Christ from the start. God does not operate contrary to His word. So if you are married, is your marriage reflecting the relationship that Christ has with the Church? If you are single, is your concern with that of Lord's business? God will put in front of you who He has for you. Until he designates otherwise, your ministry, as the apostle Paul states in 1Corinthians 7 is to be about the Lord's will.

BLESS THE LORD!

Remember to check out my man V of the Artist to Artist Show on Mondays on www.Qliveone.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!