On good days, or bad days invariably someone will ask us "How are you feeling?" Becoming aware of how we actually feel is to be honest with God. When we say "I feel great"...are we covering up the truth? "You, therefore, have NO excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself...So when you a mere man, pass judgement on them...do you think you will escape God's judgment?...With your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself ...God will give to each person according to what he has done" Romans 2 --- Are you holding anger inside? Here are some emotions that we would be wise to identify and then confess.
ANGER: Fury rises inside with each remembrance of an offense. No forgiveness or mercy offered towards those who hurt you. You feel angrier each time you repeat the tale of the offense. Nothing forgiven, nothing forgotten. Are you drunk with anger?
SHAME: The desire to hide, or lie because you FEEL defective, inferior or superior by comparison to others. You FEEL unable to change and you cover-up your insecurity or pride.
GOOD GUILT: The desire to repair a wrong doing, or confess an apology because you FEEL responsible and remorseful for causing injury to another.
ENVY: The motivation to destroy, attack or diminish an ability or resource or possession of another because you FEEL that you could never accomplish what another has. Envy makes us restless as we strive to minimize what someone else said or did.
JEALOUSY: The desire to compete because you FEEL less valuable than...
"So then, let us NOT be like others, who are asleep, but let us be ALERT and self-controlled....Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for
this is God's will for you....Do NOT put out the Spirit's fire; do NOT treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good....May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28 For those who sleep, sleep at night...they are ignorant, they are in the dark and they grieve over unimportant things..but since we belong to the day, and as we are called sons and daughters of the Light... let us act like it, let us not grieve the Spirit by holding onto anger, unforgiveness, shame, envy, or jealousy. So how do you FEEL, really? Name it, claim it, pray about it, and get past it by immersing yourself in God's living and active Word. Work out your salvation and actively erase all unholy thoughts that are born in darkness. The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night and we should be READY and delightfully surprised, because our hearts are pure. We are to warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak and be patient with everyone. If we are obedient to confess our struggles with the dark, we will find the JOY of contentment and the peace of God.
Notes from Pastor Bob Hendrick of Lake Chapala Baptist Church on Sunday July 27, 2014. His message entitled "ARE YOU AWAKE?" Barbara Hoyle read the Word. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, other readings Isaiah 2:22 + Romans 5:9
ReplyDeleteWell, miracles are still happening, Barbara sang in the church Choir and I bet she looked so good doing it too. Love my babe, wishing her peace, joy and tons of love for her last week in July. Very good post on prayer. I thank Jesus for my beautiful and talented writer wife. Love Mike
ReplyDeleteThe Day of the Lord - Reading for Sunday July 27, 2014 LCBC 1 Thess 5:1-11
ReplyDeleteNow, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.