1 Peter 2:19-21 HCSB “For IT BRINGS FAVOR if, mindful of God’s will, SOMEONE ENDURES GRIEF from suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if you sin and are punished, and you endure it? But WHEN YOU DO WHAT IS GOOD AND SUFFER, IF YOU ENDURE IT, THIS BRINGS FAVOR WITH GOD. For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps.”
Are you really, “Blessed and highly favored?” Are you suffering unjustly for doing what is good? And are you enduring it patiently? If so you are indeed favored by God the scripture says. Your endurance is commendable to God. That’s not something we hear often is it? Most folks think being, “Blessed and highly favored,” means all is well financially, or everything is going right in other areas. No, God says the blessed and highly favored ones are those who patiently continue to do good and share in Christ’s sufferings for it. These folks are UNCOMPROMISING in their faith:😊
Matthew 5:10-12 KJV “BLESSED are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. [12] REJOICE, and BE EXCEEDING GLAD: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
See who Jesus says have God’s favor? Those who are being treated like garbage because they refuse to compromise in following Jesus’ teachings. If you do not suffer (NEVER EVER) as a Christian your faith needs serious repairing. This is not my opinion. I am simply agreeing with what God’s word says?
2 Timothy 3:12 KJV “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
ALL who desire to live godly lives in Jesus will suffer persecution the Bible says. So if you NEVER EVER suffer persecution (persecution as a Christian that is) how can you be living a godly life?🤔
THE SUFFERING APOSTLES HAVE GOD’S FAVOR
1 Corinthians 4:9-13 HCSB “For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are poorly clothed, roughly treated, homeless; we labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, WE ENDURE IT; when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the world’s garbage, like the dirt everyone scrapes off their sandals.”
The apostle Paul was homeless and highly favored.😊 So are many others like him. The Bible says first in the church are the apostles (1 Corinthians 12:28), but they’re not first in the world, they’re last. (Matthew 19:29-30) These Jesus lovers are treated like scum. But they are indeed blessed and highly favored by God because they endure trials patiently, and joyfully:😄
1 Peter 2:19 HCSB “For IT BRINGS FAVOR if, mindful of God’s will, SOMEONE ENDURES GRIEF from suffering unjustly.“
Acts 5:40-42 HCSB “After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, REJOICING that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name. Every day in the temple complex, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.”
The apostles were flogged, beaten in the worse way for teaching people about Jesus. They were indeed, “Blessed and highly favored,” not because they were persecuted, but because of their attitude in the face of persecution. They did not compromise their faith. After they were badly whipped they went out, “REJOICING that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name [Jesus].”😊 They knew what their beating meant and focused on that. They knew they were blessed for having direct fellowship with the son of God through sharing in His sufferings. (2 Timothy 2:122 Corinthians 4:8-122 Corinthians 11:23-27)😊 They remembered and obeyed what Jesus says at Matthew 5:11-12: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. REJOICE, AND BE EXCEEDING GLAD: for GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” The apostles were not deterred from their mission. They kept on preaching Jesus is the Messiah in spite of being severely punished for it. How unlike these fake preachers today who shut up (when it comes to the true gospel) and do what they are told.
Will we patiently endure harsh treatment for doing good when God permits it? Let’s be in constant prayer about such things not just for ourselves but for all of our brethren. (Ephesians 6:18) Will we even REJOICE when persecuted for Jesus’ name as He commands us to? Like the apostles did?
James 1:2-4 KJV “My brethren, count it all JOY when ye fall into divers temptations; [3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. [4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
James 1:12 KJV “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
1 Peter 2:19 HCSB “For IT BRINGS FAVOR if, mindful of God’s will, SOMEONE ENDURES GRIEF from suffering unjustly.“
Ever felt like you were riding in a hot air balloon that was about to pop?😩 The Devil wants us so exhausted that we snap crackle and POP! We must remember that even in the worse of circumstances God takes care of those who love Him.😊 Remember Daniel, Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego? Remember how the Lord took care of them even while they were slaves in Babylon? (Daniel 2:48-49) We may not become rulers in this life like they did but we will rule with Jesus forever as a reward for keeping our faith.😊
In this life guys there will be troubles. Sometimes we won’t experience financial blessings like we think we should. But God promises to care for all our needs. (Matthew 6:33-34)😊 Think about it: if the Lord used money to make all of our problems go away we would worship money more than God. God Himself is our gain! He is our reward! If you are in Christ you have the person who is in charge of everything, including money! We have the source of every good gift and every perfect present: (James 1:17)
Matthew 6:25-34 NKJV “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS , and ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
We are so prone to trying to figure out things without seeking God’s guidance it’s a shame.
WE NEED FAITH NOT A PLAN
Worrying is so easy to do but Jesus warns us not to. Worry does nothing but harm the worrier. So many ailments physically, mentally, and spiritually are linked to anxiety. What a loving command from our Father not to worry.😊 God knows what we need before we ask. We must learn to trust Him, and instead of worrying seek FIRST God’s kingdom and His righteousness knowing everything we need will be added to us. We need faith not a plan to solve our problems:
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” God guarantees He will lead us and give direction to our lives if we acknowledge Him in all we do.😊 Sometimes those directions may not be what we want or expect. This is where faith comes in. We are so prone to trying to figure out things without seeking God’s guidance it’s a shame. God says we need faith not a plan.
I’m not saying that planning is evil. (Proverbs 15:22) What I am saying is too often we depend on our own plans (our own understanding) instead of God. (Proverbs 19:21) This needs to stop!✋ Our God works miracles. He makes a way when there appears to be none. Remember what He did for the Israelites at the Red Sea? Nothing is too hard for God! (Jeremiah 32:27) Not one of us has that kind of power but our God does.😊 And Jesus says:
John 15:7 KJV “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
Shouldn’t this encourage us to accept God’s plans in faith over our own?😊
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:6 HCSB “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK HIM.” Please share this with a friend😊
Matthew 24:9-12 KJV “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and SHALL KILL YOU: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. [10] And then shall MANY BE OFFENDED, and shall BETRAY ONE ANOTHER, and shall HATE ONE ANOTHER. [11] And MANY FALSE PROPHETS shall rise, and shall DECEIVE MANY. [12] And because iniquity shall abound, THE LOVE OF MANY SHALL WAX COLD.”
Above is part of the sign Jesus said would signal when He’s about to return. I find this part of the sign is something not many Christians want to talk about as it predicts severe sufferings for believers. But we must discuss and teach this just as we do all the scriptures. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Imagine being arrested for your faith, and killed? Jesus said this will happen to some. Now imagine right before that happens you are betrayed by a spouse, a Christian friend, a child, a father, or a mother, etcetera? Jesus said that too would happen to some. Now imagine while incarcerated for your faith thinking; how could your friend, your mother, your father, your child, your pastor even, betray you.😪 While this pain pierces your heart your mind tells you (or the Holy Spirit says), “You must snap out of it, shake it off,” and instead fix your eyes (your mind) on Jesus Christ, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, scorning it’s shame. (Hebrews 12:2) What a test!🤔
MANY have went through and will go through what was just described. Jesus Himself went through it. He was betrayed by a very close companion named Judas. “A slave is not greater than his master,” right? (Matthew 10:24) One thing I can say brothers and sisters regarding our sufferings: we know that we will one day reign with our Lord forever if we are willing to suffer and even die for Him.😊 (2 Timothy 2:12Revelation 12:10-11)
Matthew 5:10-12 ESV “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”😊
There’s an old saying, “If you are not being persecuted for your faith you need to really check and see whether you are in the faith.” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
WILL I BETRAY MY BRETHREN? JESUS SAID MANY WOULD
Webster’s Dictionary definition of “betray:” 1 : to lead astray especially : SEDUCE 2 : to deliver to an enemy by treachery 3 : to fail or desert especially in time of need
Do you gossip about people in your church? Is that loving? Is that unifying? What I’m asking is do you practice telling other Christians how much another Christian annoys you? Again, is this your practice? PRACTICE is the key word here.
Matthew 5:22-24 NIV “But I tell you that ANYONE who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
The passage above is chilling.😬 Because it says ANYONE who remains angry with any brethren can find themselves in a hot hell.🔥 In light of this can we justify speaking ill of, name calling, or remaining angry with another brother or sister? Isn’t the best option for us to obey the Lord and forgive them, or just let it go?
Matthew 18:21 NIV “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
WHY DO SOME STRUGGLE WITH GOSSIP? EVIL SPIRITS 👽👹👺
Did you know that gossiping is an evil spirit?😳 It comes through the tongue; through the mouth, and words are spirits. (John 6:63Revelation 16:13-14) It doesn’t mean necessarily that we are possessed by an evil spirit if we are gossiping, but we are definitely being influenced by at least one. With gossip comes malice, slander, hatred, pride, rebellion, etcetera. Demons operate in gangs to gain control over someone. (Luke 11:24-26Mark 5:1-9) Did you know you can cast this evil spirit and others OFF from yourself in the name of Jesus? (Matthew 4:10-11Matthew 16:23) Notice I said, “OFF from yourself,” not OUT of yourself. We’ll explain more on that later. If you recognize you have a problem with gossiping and have made the choice to repent, and do see that this is indeed an evil spirit you are battling with, and you believe in the power and authority of the name of Jesus Christ, when tempted to gossip say with authority, “Oh wicked gossiping spirit in the name of Jesus get away from me!😠 And watch what happens.
Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”😳
Dear brother/sister if we don’t forgive others God plainly says He won’t forgive our many sins. We must repent in order to restore our relationships not only with our brothers/sisters but also with our Heavenly Father:
1 John 4:20 “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
1 John 3:16 NIV) 16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
Can we honestly say we are ready and willing to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters if we are angry with them?🤔 Be careful. Be careful. And repent.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 HCSB “Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, IS NOT PROVOKED, and DOES NOT KEEP A RECORD OF WRONGS. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. IT BEARS ALL THINGS, believes all things, hopes all things, ENDURES ALL THINGS.”
WAKE UP CALL
What’s going on worldwide right now is not a wake up call just for the world like some think. It’s a wake up call for you and me: God’s elect! The time is short! Some of us act like all we care about is life returning back to normal. What if it never does? Have you ever thought about that? Or what if going back to normal has a price tag, a cost? Have you thought about that? (Revelation 13:15-17Matthew 16:24-26) Whether things go back to what some call, “normal,” or not it’s time to wake up and not just get ready but BE READY!
This is not the time to be falling away, betraying, and hating one another. This is the time to love one another more strongly than ever before! Yes, Jesus did say many would become offended, betray, and hate each other. But that doesn’t have to be me or you.
GOD WILL FORGIVE
God tells us to care about and to care for one another. We should be on fire 🔥 in our love for one another! Don’t you know we are being tested on all of that right now? Don’t you know that the Father is watching how we react during this crisis? It saddens God’s heart❤️ when we don’t love like He tells us to. This grieves the Holy Spirit:
Ephesians 4:30-32 ESV “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let ALL BITTERNESS and WRATH and ANGER and clamor and SLANDER BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU, along WITH ALL MALICE. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, as God in Christ forgave you.”
I beg you and me to fall on our knees, even on our faces while there is still time, and cry out (literally) to God and repent! Beg Him to change our hearts! Ask Him like David to, ‘Create in us a new heart and a new spirit oh God:’
Psalm 51:9-11 ESV “Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.”
Tell Him the truth; confess that we have gossiped, we have been angry, even hated our brothers/sisters at times perhaps without even knowing it. Confess to God that we have not really cared about what happens to our fellow believers at times like we should. That we have not been willing to feel their pain, like Jesus was willing to feel all of our pain on the cross. That we have told them, “Keep warm and well fed,” when we knew they were in need and did nothing to help them:
James 2:15-16 NET “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it?”
1 John 3:17 NET “But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?” We’ve all been guilty of this at one time or another. WE ALL MUST REPENT! ALL OF US!!! If you think this is talking only to you please don’t take it personal, you are not alone. Messages like this are going out across THE WHOLE WORLD to the entire church! You may be one of the blessed ones who see the need to repent:😊
Psalm 32:1-5 NIV “BLESSED is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. [2] BLESSED is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. [3] When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. [4] For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. [5] Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I SAID, “I WILL CONFESS MY TRANSGRESSIONS TO THE LORD.” And YOU FORGAVE THE GUILT OF MY SIN.”😂
If you know that the Holy Spirit is speaking directly to you regarding matters such as this it means HE LOVES YOU! Please do not listen to your flesh and resist the counsel. Go to God in prayer, confess your sins to Him, ask Him for His forgiveness, and ask him to change your heart. HE WILL FORGIVE YOU AND ME. He will do it if we are truly repentant. He is a merciful and good God.😊 Don’t put it off. The time is TOO short.
THESE THINGS ARE EVIL SPIRITS Y’ALL👽
Ephesians 6:12 KJV “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
I have another confession: there are times I get very nasty, lustful, unholy sexual thoughts that don’t wonna go away no matter how hard I try to think about something else. It happens when I pray sometimes and even when I study the Bible. Sounds familiar? I’ve learned that when this happens I am under demonic attack; demonic oppression that is. But as soon as I say with authority, “Oh wicked, lustful, fornication spirit, in the name of Jesus go away!”😠 I suddenly can think clearly. No lie! Those wicked thoughts IMMEDIATELY go away. This really works y’all.😊 And this means that what we think about sometimes are not just our own thoughts and feelings. They are in fact wicked spirits attacking our minds.👽 I’ve done the same thing in the past when I felt very angry and it worked: “In the name of Jesus wicked angry spirit leave me!” And I suddenly felt peace.😃 I was no longer angry. No lie! I remember talking to a new Christian who had a serious problem with anger. I explained to her the authority and power we have been given in the name of Jesus. (Luke 10:17-20) I then told her to believe God gave us this authority. Then I told her to speak out and tell that angry spirit in the name of Jesus to go away with authority. She did it, and was amazed at how clearheaded and joyful she felt right afterward. I witnessed this with my own eyes. She went from an angry lion to a smiling, joyful, pussycat in seconds.😊
Let’s be clear: I’m not saying we shouldn’t take our faults, sins, and problems to God in prayer, or do personal Bible study regarding them, or that we shouldn’t confess our sins to one another and pray for one another like the Bible says. (James 5:16) And I did not say that we are casting demons OUTSIDE of ourselves. But we are indeed casting them OFF of us, or commanding them to GO AWAY from us in the name of Jesus. Jesus Himself when tempted by the Devil told him to, “Go away Satan!” Remember?🤔
Matthew 4:10-11 NET “Then Jesus said to him, “GO AWAY, SATAN! For it is written: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” THEN THE DEVIL LEFT HIM, and angels came and began ministering to his needs.”
Matthew 16:23 NIV “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “GET BEHIND ME, SATAN! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Luke 10:17,19-20 NIV “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “LORD, EVEN THE DEMONS SUBMIT TO US IN YOUR NAME.” [19] I HAVE GIVEN YOU AUTHORITY to trample on snakes and scorpions and TO OVERCOME ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY; nothing will harm you. [20] However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Believe in the power and authority of the name of Jesus Christ. Yes, even the demons must submit to us in His name when we believe. Tell that gossiping, unforgiving, angry, wicked spirit👽 to go away from you in the name of Jesus with authority!😠 And watch what happens.😊
1 Peter 5:8-9 NET “Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering.”
If someone asked you, “Are you an easy target?” nearly all of us would say, “No I’m not an easy target.” Who wants to be viewed as weak? Sadly guys some of us are easy targets and the enemy knows it. It is my prayer that this article will encourage us to accept the truth that sets us free, and make us hard targets to the wicked one.
Let’s discuss some things that make us easy targets and please keep this passage in mind:
Proverbs 27:6 AMP “Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda].” If what we hear next hurts a bit remember the purpose is to help us repent. Are you watching pornography? I once did. Are you engaged in any sexual sins? I‘ve done those too. This make us easy targets. Are you harboring resentment in your heart? Are you unforgiving, unmerciful, or hard on other people? This makes us easy targets. Are you a gossiper? A slanderer? Do you complain to others about how a fellow Christian annoys you? You’re an easy target. Do you say, “I’m a Christian,” but you don’t study the Bible, REGULARLY? Easy target. And if you are a Bible reader do you let God’s word have the final say in your life? Even when it’s hard? If the answer is, “No,” easy target. Do you pray only SOMETIMES? Or just when you’re in trouble? Easy target. Are you discontent and even have anger in your heart against God because of something you don’t have you really desire? Like a husband? A wife? A house? A car? That job? Money? That position in life? Etcetera? Yep, if you’re mad at God because of what you don’t have you’re an easy target. If you and I are compromised in our faith in any way shape or form we are in more danger than we may know:
Romans 8:1 KJV “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, but after the Spirit.”
“When the enemy steals your identity, his strategy is to make you compromise and when you are in a compromised state, you are more likely to give up your authority, dominion, and power that God has given you. Once you lose authority, dominion, and power, you cease to be fruitful; you stop growing and you stop being effective in the kingdom of God. You will take the nature of the enemy and become rebellious in your behavior (stubborn), and you will work against the order of God on earth.” Excerpt from ebook, THE WIDE PATH – THE REALITIES OF END TIMES CHURCHES (ebook location 415) Prologue “Spiritual Identity Theft” Author: Zama-Zoe Grace, available on Amazon
STEAL KILL AND DESTROY
John 10:10 NKJV “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Do we really understand how Satan steals, kills, and destroys people? Let’s talk about how he steals. We’ve been talking a little about what makes us easy targets, “Easy targets for what?” one might ask. Easy targets for Identity Theft. No, not being robbed of your credit card numbers, personal documents, computer passwords or other sensitive data. We’re talking about being robbed of yourself.🤔
To illustrate let’s look at the prodigal son Jesus talks about. Here’s a guy who demands his portion of the inheritance from his rich father. The father grants his son’s request. He then goes on a journey and in a short amount of time squanders his entire fortune on loose living. The man is now dirt poor and desperate. Times get so hard for the man that he desires to eat the same food that pigs eat.😳 Then something great happened Jesus says:
Luke 15:17-20 KJV “And when HE CAME TO HIMSELF, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! [18] I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, [19] And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. [20] And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”😊
Jesus said the man CAME TO HIMSELF. Yes, he was gone; lost, robbed of his own self.😳 This is not a metaphor. Jesus is shedding light on what happens to people. The man was stolen or robbed of his identity, and no longer knew who he was. This is what Satan seeks to do to all of God’s elect. Only when the lost man repented was he restored to himself.
The rich father was so happy to see his son again (all in one piece) and especially glad to see his son had come back to his senses that he ordered his servants to throw a big party and said:
Luke 15:24 KJV “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
Jesus says the same thing happens in heaven every time one sinner repents:
Luke 15:3-7 NET “So Jesus told them this parable: “Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’ I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.”
IDENTITY THEFT
To be identified with the King Of Kings and Lord Of Lords Jesus Christ is no light thing. It is the highest honor any human being can be given. (Luke 12:8-9) The privileges we enjoy now and for all eternity are mind blowing. To have our identities in Christ stolen from us is no small thing either. As Zama-Zoe Grace says in her book, THE WIDE PATH – THE REALITIES OF END TIMES CHURCHES the results are staggering:
“When the enemy steals your identity, his strategy is to make you compromise and when you are in a compromised state, you are more likely to give up your authority, dominion, and power that God has given you. Once you lose authority, dominion, and power, you cease to be fruitful; you stop growing and you stop being effective in the kingdom of God. You will take the nature of the enemy and become rebellious in your behavior (stubborn), and you will work against the order of God on earth.”
Sadly this is happening to many people. (Matthew 24:10-13) Some are making it easy for the Devil to steal their identity in Jesus Christ. May we repent like the prodigal son if this has happened to us. And if it hasn’t happened to us please stay in a constant state of repentance before God. This will prevent us from ever becoming easy targets and having our identities in Christ stolen. Remember, the Devil comes to STEAL, kill, and destroy. Guard your identity in Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-11 HCSB “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. Therefore, brothers, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you.”
Like The Bereans 