Category: Woman to Woman

“For the hearts of these people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes have closed.” Act 28:27

It is easy to grow dull in remaining diligent in discipline when all is going great, and ease of life is normal. We grow disinterested in those heading for hell, we focus on laying up treasures for our retirement in comfort and become casual about the consequences of sin in our lives.

These fleshly traits blind us in remaining steadfast in our walk and we fail to redeem the time for the days are evil. Today, join in as we learn more Lessons from Laodicea.                      

. 

“God is Spirit, and those that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  John 4:24

We are created as 3- part beings, each having its personalized importance. When we choose to do the right thing in the wrong way, we open ourselves up to the deception of the enemy. His craftiness blinds our hearts to become captive to his dealings. Today, be alert and informed, avoiding the decline into deception. 

“We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us, we implore you on Christ’s behalf be reconciled to God. “   2 Corinthians 5:20

To be an ambassador is to hold an office or position as an official representative for a king or government. Believers living under the government of God who has rule of everything as He is the Creator of all is a privilege beyond compare. This representation is for reconciliation in bringing world order that glorifies God Almighty. Listen as we discuss –  How do we function as Ambassadors for Christ? 

“Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever” 2 Peter 3:18

In this day and age knowledge is abundant, everywhere we turn we are gaining knowledge, but is it the knowledge that will have lasting benefits? We send our children to school with a priority to get an education with life skills to be a success. Are we equally as dedicated to understanding grace, how it functions, and why it must be a priority, as grace and knowledge walk hand in hand? Let’s open the only Book that has the wisdom to guide us to a successful appreciation of the Gift of God’s Grace. 

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

It can be hard to boast when failings and loss show up in areas that allow disappointments and discouragements. We are thankful for salvation secured by the gift of grace, but then, we want to be strong in our own strength, rather than His, for the miracle of grace. That formula doesn’t work.

 Today, as we review church history over the last 2000 years, we can trace GRACE operating in each age, overcoming the doubts that rob and restrict us of a God-Given Life in His Amazing Grace.

“Without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11 looks at a list of lives that reflect the character of faith. Only to be what He wants me to be is the heart of the Philadelphia Church, located in the city of brotherly love. The Church’s commitment comes from the heart of love because Christ first loved us and gave Himself for us. Let’s investigate what makes up The Faithful Church.  

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 19:19

In today’s world with changing values and priorities, we have forgotten the exhortation to be wholly dedicated to a PERSON, God Almighty through the life of our Lord Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit to guide us.

We substitute a system of works, performances, planning events, duties, and deeds believing we are fully surrendered to the Lord.  Let’s remove our second best, return to our First Love, and learn His heart so we may walk in True Christianity. 

“I know the works that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” Revelation 3:1

How often do we struggle with overwhelming circumstances that keep arriving in our lives, unplanned, and upsetting the comforts and security that we still own? It is so easy to blame others for being guilty of creating the stress and strife we fight. However, we need to turn a pointing finger back to ourselves and question if we have ignored the security blanket that was our protection. Are we to blame for our own problems to some degree? Today, we are talking about the mess we have today, knowing that God’s grace is available with the solutions to live and thrive as He has promised: “to make a way of escape that we may be able to bear it.” As we focus on Hope in Jesus Christ, our eyes are opened, and we see what needs to be corrected to enjoy Deliverance from Deception. 

“Remember therefore how you have received and heard, hold fast, and REPENT.” Revelation 3:3

The Lord knows all matters as He knew the weakness of this church. He announces that His character is complete wisdom, knowledge, and love. If they had ears to hear and applied His character in their lives they would walk in spiritual health. However, Sardis did not want to listen but wanted to build for themselves a name and trust in their wealth, wisdom, and works as a means of being successful “for the Lord.” They were coming out of the “dark ages” where the Word of God had only been available through a select few. They needed a Great Deliverance from ignorance of the mind and awakening with all diligence the heart, for out of it spring the issues of life. Then they would live delivered from deception of the flesh. 

“I know the works that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” Revelation 3:1

There is a principle in the Scripture that says, “Point of departure – point of return.” As these letters were circulated to all the churches Sardis needed to remember where the Church had its beginnings and return to the Truths that Jesus Christ gave in these letters. At a great price a few good men lived worthy lives and translated the scriptures into different languages and invented the printing press. The Scriptures were now available to the people who had lived in darkness for hundreds of years. They could return to Truth and Come Alive once more. Are we still living in that freedom? 

 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, “I will” put on you no other burden on you and hold fast till I come.” Revelation 2:24

This promise of hope that came to Thyatira was so needed to the faithful few standing for truth as they were being forced to live a pagan lifestyle of compromise for survival. Rules founded on Satan’s thinking of releasing spiritual responsibility and substituting intellectual enlightenment of love for self – first, last, and always were heading up the program.  

We can see the same type of controls being placed on different people from different countries demanding those inhabitants follow the dictates of man-made thinking today. As these controls become “new laws” for all; Do not be deceived when this way of living is called progress.  It is a self-centered, selfish system from false views of philosophy that depraved souls embrace for their own purpose. Join our conversation to Stand Strong and reap the promise.  

“Walk as children of light for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:8-10

Do we establish what should be our authority in how we live? Many times, we decide what we think is best for us and that becomes the standard that we choose to live by, without ever consulting the mind of God. We simply send Him our request in what we want Him to do for us. We may sound spiritual, but it is really childish selfishness in wanting our way for our own goals. Let’s return to the standard that the Word of God sets as He, only, knows what is best for our lives here and forever. We need training, as a child, to know how to grow in His Grace and Knowledge. 

 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8

If there was ever a command to keep your mind on matters that mandate the heavenly calling it is this verse. We are often told to just focus on the here and now, which definitely is a part of the Christian walk., but unless we are grounded in our Source of knowledge, Jesus Christ, we will fail in our endeavors to live with confidence in understanding the here and now. We have opposition in keeping our hearts and minds guarded against the minds of men that are the decoys of deception – using their wisdom instead of the Wisdom of God which requires knowing the fear of the Lord.  Join us as we discover the decoys of deception. 

“Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.“ Galatians 5:16

Two paths to choose – the Spirit path or the flesh path – one leads to life, and one leads to death. The flesh profits nothing and can sure make our lives miserable. So why do we make decisions guaranteeing pain? In today’s world, we are becoming dull of hearing by building our own walls of protection that don’t protect but separate us from the Spirit’s Source of strength pointing us back to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Let’s tear down the walls that divide and weaken us so that we can KNOW, UNDERSTAND, and DEFEND the freedom we have IN CHRIST. The Holy Spirit is the defender of our walk of faith so we are not deceived by what we see in our worrisome world.  

“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.” Proverbs 28:26

Pergamos, one of the 7 churches in Rev. 2-3 was a cultural city with one of the largest libraries in the known world.  Knowledge was premium and a man of science was considered more of an authority than a man of faith. The intellectual mind was looked upon with great authority that crept into the church life with the congregation compromising and following the opinions of man. Slowly but surely, they made soft choices, little things did not matter if they were keeping the big issues upheld. Pleasing self is always one of the greatest dangers we can do. Compromise destroys from the inside out. Do not lean to your own understanding. How did the deterioration occur? Let’s find out.