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Conviction Crisis Psa. 119:28 “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.” When burdens are too heavy, we want to give up. The key is to be saturated with the Word of God. Psa. 119:25 “My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.” The writer is telling us everything in life was falling apart. The pressure was so great all he could do was to weep. The burdens were too heavy, so all he could do was to meditate on the Word with the promises of God to bring him hope. Psa. 119:48-50 “ My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. (49) Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. (50) This [is] my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.” We must learn that in the midst of affliction we must constantly meditate on the Word of God. It is this kind of constant meditation that will bring hope. God’s Word will revive you, causing you to come alive spiritually. Psa. 19:7 (KJV) “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” We can go to doctors, we can take medicines, we can ask for prayer; but if we want our spirits, souls, and bodies restored, we must continually mediate on the holy Word of God. Psa. 49:3 (KJV) “My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.” In order to receive spiritual reviving, we must see life from God’s perspective. Psa. 119:130 (KJV) “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” To get the Word into your hearts: Hear the Word - Write the Word - Speak the Word You are hearing the Word now. Write these verses down so later you can meditate on them and speak them forth. To meditate means to “mutter.” We can open our mouths and speak the Word of God continually as we meditate throughout the day and night. If we do this, our faith will grow because faith comes by hearing. Psa. 116:10 (KJV) “I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:” Meditating is speaking the promises over and over. If our ears hear our mouths continually speaking God’s precious promises, our confidence will grow and we will overcome the afflictions. The Lord wants our inner man quiet and calm. As we speak we release great spiritual power – power to the realm where ministering angels can come and fight for us. Most of us have learned to speak the name of Jesus over and over. Open your mouth and say it…….“Jesus” As we speak in the midst of adversity, we release great spiritual power. But now we are in a place where we need the Word to back us up. He wants His promises which are greater than any problem to be real to us. We can’t understand the great power of these promises with our intellect. We can only begin to comprehend this power if we get the Word inside of our spirit man and bring it forth from our hearts. We should not hope or wish the promises of God are true. We should know the promises are true. Then we will find the conviction of the Lord in times of crisis. (Psalm 112:1-8) Please don’t compromise this time of your life. Hold tightly to the Word and this too shall pass. Pro. 4:4 says to “hold fast to the Word.” Psa. 119:165 (KJV) “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Have you ever been knocked off your feet because of something you weren’t ready for? Psa. 37:31 (KJV) “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” (AMP) “nothing will knock us off our feet;” WE WILL ALWAYS REACT TO A CRISIS SITUATION BASED ON WHAT IS DEEP IN OUR HEARTS. The outer person is not the one who responds to a crisis situation. Remember what Peter says (3:4) “Let the hidden man of the heart not be corrupted, but of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” The hidden heart is the real person, and this is what we will be judged for. This truth is what the Lord wants revealed in this hour. This is what reveals our true trust in the Lord no matter what. What is truth? John 17:17 says, “Your Word is truth.” Psm. 51:6 says, “God desires truth in the inner being.” If we get this truth into our inner man, we will align ourselves with the Holy Spirit who is called “the Spirit of Truth” which means the “truth-giver.” (John 16:13). It is the Holy Spirit speaking to you throughout the day and night – hear ye Him! John 18:37 says “Everyone who is of the Truth (who is a friend of the Truth, who belongs to the Truth) hears and listens to My Voice.” The more Word you have in you the more you will hear His voice – to bring peace, comfort, quiet, calm, confidence, and assurance. The Holy Spirit is your teacher and He wants to teach you all things (John 14:26). The Kingdom of God is within you – it is a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken. The Lord wants to identify with every person who belongs to Him that which can be shaken and that which remain firm. The only way to do that is to look upon Him instead of your problem: 2 Cor.13:5 “Do you not realize and know that Jesus Christ is in you?” 1 Cor.3:16 “Do yo not know that the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Col.2:9-10 “The fullness of the godhead is in Christ and you are complete in Him.” What is your problem today? Rom.8:11 “The same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you.” The Holy Spirit wants to solve it all for you if you are conscious of the fact that His power cannot be exceeded. If He could raise Jesus from the dead, He can raise you to life anew. “He who lives in you is greater than he that lives in the world.” 1 John 4:4 Most of our crisis times come when we are alone. Why? To see if we will turn to the greater one that lives in us. Heb. 13:5 (AMP) “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, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” This is the conviction of life that will enable us to get through the days ahead. Take comfort, be encouraged, have confidence and boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not fear or be alarmed, I will not dread or be terrified.” Heb. 13:6 Isa. 43:1 through Isa. 43:3 (KJV) “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” -Pr. Steve
August Newsletter 2006 | Conviction Crisis | Wholeness part 1 of 3 Pastor's Journal August 2005 | Increase Not Supplement | Circumstances |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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