Maturing in Christ

Your Trial is your Trainer!! James 1:2-8 & I Peter 4:12-19

James 1:2-8

² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Do Not Pray Like the Hypocrite!! -Matt. 6:5-7 NKJV

Matthew 6:5-7

 

⁵ “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you ^[b]openly. ⁷ And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Who has done this? (Does the enemy know your name?) Judges 15:1-8

When demonic attacks become more frequent and intense, it is only a indicator that you are becoming know in the demonic realm. Something has to be done to try to put a stop to what you are doing to and in the enemy's kingdom.

The Purpose of your Haters- 1 Samuel 23:13-18

1 Samuel 23:16-17

New King James Version

¹⁶ Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. ¹⁷ And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.”

The Empowering Effects of Fasting and Prayer -Galatians 5:13-26 NLT

 

 

 

The Battle Field of the Mind!! Nehemiah 4:7-12 & Nehemiah 6:1-9

Nehemiah 4:11-12 NKJV

¹¹ And our adversaries said, “They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease.”

¹² So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, “From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us.”

7 Reasons why the believer should embrace fasting and prayer

Matthew 6:16-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ¹⁷ But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

The "Old Man" must be put in its place! - Romans 6:1-14 (NLT) & Gal. 5:16-25 (NLT)

Romans 6:5-6 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁵ Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. ⁶ We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.

Hated without a Cause - 2 King 6:8-23 & ! Samuel 19

1 Samuel 19:9-10 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ Now the distressing spirit from the Lord came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing music with his hand. ¹⁰ Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night.

The Power of the Old Man (The Flesh) - Romans 8:5-8

Romans 8:5-8 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁵ Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. ⁶ So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. ⁷ For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. ⁸ That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.