Category Archives: worry

Don’t worry about The Church!

I wrote another article not too long ago and had this as my featured image,

the church is a body The Church is not a building, it is made up of people that have been redeemed, baptized in His name, covered by His blood and filled with His Spirit. They endeavor to keep the faith and live by the Word of God in everything they say and do.

When we say, “Don’t worry about The Church” we are speaking of the Bride of Christ; the Body of Christ. Our Lord said, “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18.

We understand and are aware that we have more persecution of the Church in this generation than we have seen in quite a while and friend, if you are not aware, it will get worse. Just as in the early days of The Church, the Bible tells us that in the last days many will literally give their lives for the Gospel. There are many who have a so-called agenda to do away with Christianity all together and it is their life’s goal to see it come to pass in their generation.

We have many things pushing against The Church: Legalizing of gay marriage, civil unrest, racial division, and of course the aborting of BABIES, murdering the unborn, terrorism, and even division within the Body.

And of course the list could go on and on but you get the point. Sin is everywhere, it always has been and it will only escalate until the Lord returns. Persecution will get more and more common and more and more violent, if that is even possible. It will also come to our country, to our communities, to our doors.

All of these things must come to pass before the Lord returns! And return He will…soon! The signs are all around us that He is almost ready to blow the trumpet, split the Eastern Sky and make His grand appearance. I promise you, The Church will be ready!

dont worry about the church

We are not talking about denominations, groups, particular buildings, pastors or congregations. We are talking about the BRIDE of CHRIST that has prepared and made READY for that great and glorious day.

Jesus Christ WILL have a BRIDE to return to and to catch away, forever to be with the Lord. The Bible tells us to comfort one another with words like this.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.

This is our hope! This is what we live for if we say we are The Church. It’s not just going to a gathering on Wednesday night and Sunday morning…and those are important! You need to be in service with those of “like precious faith” for your growth, fellowship, worship and bringing those that you have witnessed to about Christ to a place where they can worship with other believers and hear the Word of God.

Paul said in Ephesians 5:25-27 ESV, Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”

He gave Himself for us, The Church, that He might be able to present it back to Himself in splendor! The King James version says He might present to Himself a glorious church, a radiant church, one that has been made that way by the Spirit of our God, the Comforter that He promised the disciples that He would send so long ago. And the scripture says, But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11.

IF that same spirit dwells in you, you will be raised, or quickened by that Spirit and rise to meet Him in the air.

Don’t worry about The Church!

We have always had those that live on the edge, those that wander in and out, those that sow discord among the brethren, those that despise authority, those that want to live it my way and do their own thing and those that question and find fault with everything (there is nothing wrong with knowledge) trying to make things easier on themselves.

But that isn’t The Church!

The Church is on fire.

And don’t worry about this next generation. I know, as an example, our particular organization, just had its biannual Youth Congress where over 20,000 youth and chaperones gathered in Oklahoma City to worship God! This was The Church of today, and they didn’t show up to play games. You can see a little of the worship here.

 

They came together in unity, they came together in the Spirit and they came to hear the Word of the Lord. This is the NOW generation that is so vital to the Body of Christ and The Church is in good hands! You can testify of the same in your church, your community as well. The youth of today are ready to take on the enemy. They are not intimidated, not afraid and not about to drop the baton. I am encouraged by their tenacity and determination. Don’t sell them short!

“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.” Joel 3:9, 10.

I don’t believe in just barely making it across the finish line. What I mean by that is I don’t want to go in dragging, defeated and weak. I want to go in victorious, running and on fire with the Holy Ghost! I also do not want to go in alone. I want to take not only my family but anyone I can encounter along the way. I want to compel them to join us, to make that City their home.

Wake up the Mighty Men, let the weak say, “I am strong”!

The Church will be ready to meet the Lord in the air…the only question that remains is,

 

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When your WHAT IFS control you

“Worry gives a small thing a big shadow.”—Swedish Proverb.

When your WHAT IFS control you.

Do your What ifs control your life? Are you scared of every shadow, every possibility and every sense of dread known to man? Do you get up with worry, carry worry all day long and since it’s been with you for the majority of the day do you decide to just take it to bed with you again every night?

It is said that at least one in four of us, that’s over 65 million Americans, will experience anxiety disorder some time in our life. One in four! That’s a whole lot of anxious people filled with fear, worry, doubt and distress. And the other three might not have a panic attack but you can rest assured they are worriers.

Did you know the Old English origin of the word worry meant to strangle? Even to wring, annoy, bother and vex were some of the earliest versions of the word. And in 1804 it was defined as anxiety arising from cares and troubles. 

Is worrying a sin? The Bible doesn’t come right out and specifically say so but if we search scripture we will find that worrying is a clear indication that we are not trusting God with our problems!

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” Psalm 55:22.

Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount not to worry. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” Matthew 6:25.

So, to continue to allow worry and anxiety to dominate our everyday life is surely a lack of trust and confidence in the One who created us with purpose in the first place!

Isn’t it amazing as a child of God that we can believe He is able to save us, gave His life for us, redeemed us and will come back to take us to our eternal home but we can’t find enough trust and faith in Him to carry us through the day?

If we can trust God with the big things, such as salvation, do we not think He is capable of handling the day to day worries of our lives?

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:6-8.

Peter tells us to let God handle our problems because He cares. But looking at the rest of the verse, isn’t he saying if we worry that we are fair game for the enemy? If we allow worry and anxiety to be a regular part of our diet the enemy has gained a foothold into our minds, and little by little, he will gain more control until we are easily devoured and deceived.

Controlled by your circumstances or casting your care?

How will you choose to live out your life? With worry and dread, consumed with what might happen and what could happen or would it not be much easier, less stressful even, to give those worries to a God that never slumbers or sleeps? He invites you to surrender and let Him handle the issues that keep you awake at night. When we learn to hand them over to Him, and realize we have no control over them anyway, we can rest in peace that all is well. He sees down the road and has our best interest in mind!

Remember that worry is a lack of faith and trust in God.

Spend time in His Word every day, take the time to pray every day and get to know Jesus, who gave His life for you and promises you eternal life.

And if you can trust Him with your eternity isn’t it safe to say He can handle what you face today?

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22, 23 ESV.

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