We Can Fail Forward or we can Remain in the City called Regret!

  I John 1:9

                                                        

 Okay, you sinned!  You have been plagued with a daily visitor.  He has visited your heart and mind every day since you sinned.  He reminds you that you are worthless; that your life is now irrelevant, and absolutely unable to be used of God again.  The visitor’s goes by the name of Guilt. 

The truth is, as you would readily admit, is that you are guilty.  You have committee the sin against God.  There is no covering the sin.  You have acknowledged this sin. You are not proud of it,and even wonder how it could had happened in the first place.

However, what Guilt does not want you to recognize, is that once you went to God seeking His forgiveness, that God has already forgiven the offense.  Our text makes this clear from  I John 1:9.

Unfortunately, many people, including those in the Christian family, will not let you forget what you have done wrong.  There will be articles written; Facebook posts printed; Tweets dispatched to remind the world of what a failure you have become.   Even though they claim for themselves, the forgiveness that God has for all believers, when it comes to another Believer, they seem to slam the door of grace shut!

 So my advice to you, should you find yourself expecting to find grace, from those living in the “Grace is for me and not for you neighborhood” is simple.  If you’re holding out for the universal acceptance and grace from this community, I’m afraid that you will be holding up in your room for a very long time.   While is it wonderful whenever others accept that God has forgiven you, you cannot, and must not allow another’s treatment of you to negate what God has already given to you: forgiveness. 

 

How Can and Should we Face Failure?

 

1.   First, we must CONSIDER our sins and failing.  The Bible speaks of this in Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:   And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  The word for search means “to ransack.”  It carries the idea of a thief breaking into your home and going through every area of your house to search for valuables.   We must invite and the cooperate with the Holy Spirit, as He searches our hearts to reveal that which is offensive to a holy God.  No attempt of a cover-up, like many governments and people are prone to do.   Complete cooperation with the Holy Spirit. Once our sins have been revealed, we may now go to God to confess our sins.

 

2.  Second, we must completely CONFESS our sin and failing to God.   We cannot compromise the sin.  We must admit that we had sinned against God and perhaps to others. 

 

• Jeremiah 33:8: And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

 

• I John 1:9:  “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”   The word confess carried the idea of completely agreeing with God about our sin.  It means that we will now take sides WITH God against our sins!  Once we do this, we now have a great promise of complete cleansing! 

 

3.   Next, we are required to CAST-AWAY our sins.    Proverbs 28:13 says: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

 

Create an Environment where You are not Placing Yourself in an Area of Temptation.

 

If a person’s sin was drinking, then one might want to write down the things which could lead him to the cesspool of sin and make a commitment to God to avoid these areas of temptation. .    It would be wise to stay away from liquor scenes.  Simply turn the channel when they appear in a commercial or in a TV program.  Avoid any connection with liquor at all costs. You might need want to stay out of restaurants that serve it; avoid parties that would make it easily available to you.

 

The Principle of Replacement

The Principle of Replacement is found in the Book of Ephesians Chapter Four.  We are to replace lying with truthfulness; stealing with giving; anger with kindness; unforgiveness with forgiveness; bitterness with dealing with the offense we have with another, before going to sleep at night.   

The practical application would be to replace the sinful, old behaviors with new positive, Biblical habits.  This is how we will get victory over that which has caused us failing and sin in the past.

• An encouraging verse to every Believer that has failed is:  Proverbs 24:16, ‘For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he rises again.”

 

•  Listen, EVERYONE FAILS God at some point, and perhaps even frequently.  What we need to remember is that we do not have to stay down.  As Goldsmith said, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising each time we fall.”

 

Bearing Spiritual Fruit: God’s Desire for Every Believer

Bearing Spiritual Fruit: God‘s Desire for Every Believer

Pastor Brock Evans, Pittsboro Baptist Church, Pittsboro, Indiana USA

John 15:8 says: “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.”

                                     God Desires that Every Believer Bear Much Fruit

Christians often miss the greatest blessings of their standing in Christ, as well as the entire purpose for this standing in Christ. John chapter fifteen tells us what God’s will for the Believer is. Jesus informs us the purpose of this unique standing is that God’s Children is “to bear much fruit” and His purpose in this will is “My Father glorified.”

We would say as Christians that we want this will to bear fruit to the effectual pure motive that the Father is glorified. The mechanics of such are not produced by our own ambition or faithfulness but by His workings in our lives. There is a process or formula for this “fruit bearing” and it is found in the immediate preceding text.

The Process God Uses in Enabling the Christian to Bear Much Fruit

1.    The text makes it clear in the first few verses that all fruit is the product of the “true vine.” This “true vine” is of course Jesus Christ. This does not simply mean doing things in Christ’s name or for His cause but doing them within the specific bounds of His will. It is a surrender not an ambition. The vine will produce if we are connected to it. If we are in Him we are connected to it. This fruit is the evidence of true salvation not the means of true salvation.

2.   It is important to understand that “without me you can do nothing.” This does not mean that we set forth and then pray for God to sanction it. It is not the equivalent of a building permit. Christ wants to be the architect of our lives from the very first blue prints. We cannot get off the ground without His plans for us. We submit to His plans instead of the opposite. Jesus Christ is not looking for people with a great plan but people with a great obedience to what He can do.

3.    I would point out the key to an often misinterpreted verse that is taken out of the text, and then interpreted without consideration to its principal standing. It is verse seven which says “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” We see here a strict stipulation to prayers answered concerning this fruit bearing.  It is not only “abiding in Him” but also Him “abiding in you.”

This does not just mean seeking Him in prayer and the word but being connected to Him by Holy Spirit guidance. It is as if you and Christ have the same will and therefore the same specific desires which produces “much fruit.” These requests are the very heart beat of God. They are not mystic but specific. This is how the Father is glorified. He is glorified because of the magnanimous way He has produced every aspect of the fruit in our lives. We must continually decrease in order to produce this fruit. We must submit to grow. We can’t make this happen. We can only surrender to what He wants to make happen through us.

Has the Father been able to produce fruit in your life? What do you think hinders Christians from bearing ‘much fruit” on a consistent basis?

COURAGEOUS: Living your Life without Fear

 

 

Fears, we all have them.   Some are beneficial; many are crippling.  I am not referring to the type of fear which prevents you from walking up to the Lion’s cage in order to pet it; or to walk in the middle of your major interstate during rush hour.   Those fears are beneficial.

I am Focusing on the Fear of Failure!   If it were not for God using Brother Dave Hyles, I might never of answered the call to preach.  I listened to his message over 30 years ago entitled:  “We must have Revival in America.”  I listened to that message 25 times in a six day stretch.   I had such a fear of failure, that God spoke a different truth to my heart each time I listened.   I finally answered the call in spite of my fear of public speaking.

 

God is Aware of our Fears and has provided the Answer as we Face it

Many are asking silently right now, “Can God REALLY help me?  Will God help me as I Face and Fight my Fears?”   The solution is found in the Bible and in our total submission to doing whatever He wants us to do!  You may be thinking, “I am not ready for this kind of commitment.”  Can you not see that everything you have tried has failed to remove the fears, or even allowed you to operate successfully up to this point?

 

 

 

1.      Revelation of your Fears to God.     The disciples, as we, were commanded by God to spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  However, they faced a real problem, they were frightened.   Just as millions of Christians have this fear of sharing the Gospel, these men, who wanted to, simply could not due to their fear.       Acts 4:29, 31:    And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.    Prayer changed Everything for them!

 

2.      Responsibilities neglected because of your fear.  What responsibilities have you neglected because of the destructive power of fear?   Go ahead and list them.

            a)      I will not teach or preach because of my fear of public speaking.

            b)     I will not attend Church because of my fear of crowds.   My own Mother had a fear of crowds which prevented her from enjoying many people and events.

            c)      I will not share my faith because I am afraid that I will not know what to say or that they may wish to argue with me.  The list could go on, but be specific.

 

3.      Recognition of the power of Love.   I John 4:18 says, “Perfect love casteth our fear.”   What does this mean?   Love is a far greater emotion than fear!    Consider the story I have shared hundreds of times to help people overcome fear.   Love will lead a hundred and something lady, who only days earlier stood on her table-top because she saw a mouse ; will stand between her son or daughter and a pack of ravenous wolves.   Love is the emotion which leads us to do the right thing in spite of our fears. 

 

4.      Review Scriptures on fear to provide you the courage to act in spite of you fears. 

Psalms 56:4;    64:1;     78:53;    115:  11, 13

 

If we will do that which we fear most,  we will have conquered fear!

Facing Your Fears in Witnessing

   “If I only had some courage,” the lion in the Wizard of Oz often said.  Can you identify?  Can you relate to him?  I certainly can.  In both Jr. and Sr. high school I nearly hyper-ventilated during public speaking classes.   God understands how real the emotion of fear is to humans.  He even recorded 365 “Fear Nots” in the Bible to help us Face our Fears.

Recently, a 69-year-old lady contacted me to share her remarkable story of “Facing her Fears” in the sharing of her faith.

This dear lady signed up for my International Tract Challenge: Going Global with the Gospel.” Distributing tracts to people was not something she had been accustomed to doing. She did place tracts in envelopes, but not handing the tract to an individual.

There are three facts to know about this Christian lady to appreciate her story. First, she loves the Lord and wants to please Him in all that she does. Second, when she makes a commitment to anyone, including God, she takes it seriously. Recanting on her commitment is never an option. Third, although I do not know her exact weight, she cannot be much over 100 pounds, if that.

On one particular day she had sat down to eat. As she was eating her meal, the Holy Spirit spoke to her heart about giving another customer a gospel tract. She did what a lot of us have done when God speaks to our hearts, she became fearful. I am not certain as to all the emotions which permeated her mind, I can only surmise. What will she think of me? Will she turn me away and embarrass me in some way?

She decided to honor her commitment to God, and bravely walked up to the table in obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and offered her the tract. The lady graciously accepted it. Good experience!

What I believe to be later in the day, she visited a local fast-food drive through restaurant. Again the Spirit of God prompted her to offer the Gospel Tract to the lady at the first window. She looked at this lady who by sight intimidated her. She began to reason with God and herself. “Yes, she is intimidating. But what is the worst she can do TO me? She certainly would not beat me up? She will not yell at me.  Okay God, I will once again Face my Fears and offer her the tract.” As she pulled up to the window, true to her word, she offered the worker her tract. The lady accepted it, scanned the from page of the tract and then leaned out of her window as much as she could and spoke these words. “Miss, I would like to thank you for caring about me and others in passing out your religious material.”

Armed with a huge smile she proceeded to the second window and gave this worker a tract which they also graciously accepted.

Later this same day, God once again spoke to her heart about passing out a tract to a man. Once again the fear arose. She silently prayed and “Faced her Fears” yet again. Again, the tract was kindly received.

Her final comments to me were: “Thank you for the International tract Challenge! God has convicted my heart about witnessing and to continue passing out tracts.”

What is my point? We all have fears in trying new tasks. Yet those that grow in their spiritual lives are the ones that take their fears to God, asking Him to provide the necessary courage to obey His leading and commands.

My next article will be on this subject:      How to Biblically Face your Fears.     This will be published on Monday.  In the meantime, please read Acts chapter 4 and take special notice of the verses dealing with subject of fear.

What has been the fear which you have fought much of your life?

www.JimKilgoreMinistries.com

Boring Bible Time? Simple Steps to Transform Your Bible Time from Endurance to Enjoyment!

A 2012 survey found 90 percent of churchgoers had a strong desire to please and honor Jesus Christ with their lives.  However, when asked how often they read their Bible, the following answers emerged: 

• 19%  responded “Every Day”
• 18%  said “Rarely or Never”
• 25%  specified they read the Bible “a few times a week”
• 14%  said they read the Bible “Once a Week”
• 22%  said “Once a Month” or “A Few Times a Month.”

This past week I was asked by 10 – 12 Christians to teach them how to study their Bible.  They were all trying to read their Bibles daily, but felt frustrated with the results.  Their minds were continually drifting; they could not remember what they read; they did not feel as though they were growing.    

Does the above describe your “private time” with God and His Word?

 

 If so, it does not have to remain this way.  There is hope.    There are several good ways to read one’s Bible that are very effective.  However, I will share a way in which I have studied my Bible for years during my Personal devotions.       

This method is not earth-shattering, but it is a simple, structured method that keeps me focused on reading and recording certain facts during my Bible time.  It is offered here to you to lead you enjoy rather than endure this daily time with the inerrant, infallible Word of God!

 

1.      I start with a time of Prayer.   I use the acrostic PRAY to keep me focused.

 

• Praise God for Who He is and for What He has done for me!  At times I will even sing a few hymns or choruses.

• Reflect upon my sins and Repent of each one God reveals to me.  Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

• Ask God to meet the needs and desires of others and then for myself.   Matthew 7:7:  encourages us to ask of our Father:   “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

• Yield myself to God’s will.    My attitude is, “Father, show me what you expect of me and I will obey.”

 

2.      As I read, I pause several times to Meditate upon what I am reading. 

      

   I practice the following three steps during my time of meditation:

 

• I VISUALIZE:   This is where I place myself in the passage or story which I am reading.  I see myself as part of the crowd.

 

• I PERSONALIZE:   For example, if I just read John 3:16:   “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”    Here is an example of how I personalize this great verse on God’s love for the world.

For God so loved the world (ME), that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever (that if I) believeth in him (that I) should not perish, but have everlasting life.

• I SCRUTINIZE:    Look for the second part of this article coming in a few days.

 

 You have some solid steps to transform your time alone with God this week.   I ask that you use each phase I listed in this article.    However, you will NOT want to miss the Scrutiny stage as it reveals what I search for every time I read my Bible each day.  I use this method regardless of studying for a message or for my personal devotional time.  

The Bottom Line:  I enjoy this time; I am engaged during my Bible study;   and I benefit each day!

 

 

I Want to Live the Victorious Christian Life: Signed: Tired of Living in Defeat!

Living the Abundant Christian life is undoubtedly the greatest need for many Christians. Perhaps even you are reading this to find out what a Life of Victory is all about. The good news is that Jesus has freely offered the Abundant Christian Life to EVERY Christian. Jesus said in John 10:10: “…..I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

What exactly is this abundant life Jesus has offered to me?

The Abundant Christian Life is one of continual Victory! It is one which has the following Characteristics:

1. You will know blessings such as “Specific Answers to Prayer.”
James 5: 16 – 18 says: “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” Elijah was living the type of life Jesus was referring to. He experienced power with God through prayer, and what a prayer it was!

The Person Living in Victory Will Receive Regular Answers to Specific Prayers

2. You will receive fresh insights from your time alone with God.

You will find yourself saying often, “I have never seen this before as you study you Bible. What fresh insights have you discovered lately from your Bible reading? A few this week for me were:

* The Devil will leave after we resist him, BUT he will come back (Luke 4:13).
* David fought the giant Goliath by himself, but he needed others to help him defeat the other giants. There are some battles that we can fight alone, but many times we NEED the other Christians to help us as we fight the battle.

3. You will begin gaining victory over sin in your life. You can and should be getting victory over sin in your life. You do not have to say yes to every temptation and commit sin. The tragedy is that most Believers do not put up much of a fight. Most have no idea how to use the “Armor of God” and in what particular situation. (Another study soon to arrive here).

4. You will experience great Joy. Psalm 16:11 says: ” Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” God desires that you have “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (I Peter 1:8). You can have joy in spite of adverse circumstances; in spite of another’s treatment of you; in spite of the economic condition when you are living in victory.
Psalm 51:12 says: “Restore unto me the JOY of Thy salvation…” We can get the joy back into our lives! It comes through Prayer and spending time in the Presence of God.

Are you living in Victory or in Defeat? Defeat brings the following characteristics: Discouragement; Fear; a Critical spirit; an Unforgiving spirit; Envy; and a life committing the same sins over and again.

This life can be yours by sincerely doing the following:

1. It begins with SALVATION. Romans 10:13 promises you that: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

2. SIN must be dealt with each day. I John 1:9 promises the Christian: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confess means to agree with God against your sin. Ask His forgiveness sincerely, and Jesus WILL forgive ALL your sins!

3. SUBMISSION to the Scriptures. This is Obedience to the Bible.

Which life do you want to live? The choice is Yours!
Email me under the contact tab and I will get in touch with you to help with Knowing How to go to Heaven or How to get started living this life of Victory!

An International Challenge: Going Global with the Gospel

I want to challenge 650 Christians, from at least 25 Countries, to pass out 5 tracts each day during the month of July.    I look forward to hearing that Representatives from across America and the World, are signing up for this soul-winning endeavor.  Will you commit to getting the Gospel of Jesus Christ out to your City, State, and Country?

This is a deep passion and burden which Our Father has spoken clearly and decisively about to me.  Romans 10:1:  “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”

I am extremely confident the spiritual results will be staggering.  This would mean a minimum of 100,750 lost souls receiving the Gospel in their very hands – and in only 31 days! 

Do we believe the time is short?  Do we believe that Jesus could come at ANY moment?   If so, this is our opportunity to join a focused effort with Believers all over the World in handing God’s plan of Salvation to those who are one breath away from hell!

Daily, I remind myself that I am living in the final years of my life.  What I need to do for Jesus Christ, I MUST do NOW!   Will you join me?

Just think, Christians from different countries, speaking different languages, teaming up in an earnest effort to distribute the Gospel.  We WILL see the hand of God upon this missionary enterprise.  Souls WILL be saved!   This is your opportunity do something which is far greater than yourself!

I would love to publish a brief testimony of your soul-winning experiences for the purpose of Glorifying Jesus, (Matthew 5:16) and to encourage those who are new at witnessing.

Please email me to sign up today.  I will NOT share your social information with anyone.

The information I will need in your email is: 

1)   Name

2)   Email Address

3)   City,  State,   Country

Matthew 28:18-20.   Will you sign up now? Will you pray DAILY for this soul winning effort today?

* I will in turn email you a simple, easy to use “Tract Tracking” spreadsheet. 

JimKilgoreMinistries@gmail.com

Four Principles to Use Against the Enemies of our Victory (Principle One)

The Christian Life is not a Playground; the Christian Life is a Battleground
As a Christian, you MUST understand that the Christian life is not a Playground, rather it is a Battleground!  The earth is the battleground for the souls of men.   Like it or not, you have an enemy.  I Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 
Satan knows that he cannot take away our salvation, for salvation is an eternal transaction.          I John 5:11-13 states:  11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  Since Satan cannot take away our salvation, he uses what I believe to be his most effective weapon, “Discouragement.”  Discouragement often leads to a loss of joy and  of victory.  Any military person understands that to be successful against your enemy, you must understand that enemy.  We had previously studied the four enemies of victory; today let us learn how to fight the first of those enemies.
How Can I Battle Against the Four Main Enemies of Victory?.

In Philippians 1:12-14 Paul reminds us that our enemy often uses adverse circumstances to attack us.    What were Paul’s circumstances during the time he is writing about victory?  Paul was sitting in a Roman prison.    He was uncertain as to whether he would be set free or be put to death.  Yet his attitude was: “It really does not make any difference what happens to me as long as Jesus is glorified and I have another opportunity to present the Gospel.”   Amazing!  We must understand that this man truly lived to honor Jesus Christ and to win every unsaved person he could to the Lord.  Philippians 1:21 Paul said, which I believe was not a flippant comment, but one born out of the depth of his soul: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  You could not threaten Paul with Heaven!  His focus was not on the Problems, rather in the Possibilities which Presented themselves through the Problems. 

To win the war against unfavorable circumstances, we to must focus on the Purpose and Plan of God in our lives.  We must truly accept Romans 8:28 as an unshakable truth in our lives.  It reminds us: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”  Once you accept this verse as a promise that God uses EVERY adverse circumstance in your life for your good and His glory, you will begin asking  4 critical questions which will lift you above the adversity.

The Four Crucial Questions to Ask Your Father During Adversity

1. What are you trying to Teach me through this situation?

2. How can I use this adversity to Glorify Jesus Christ?

3. How can I use my Situation to Encourage others?

4. Are you Opening a door of Ministry for me?  (Many of the great ministries were born out of adversity).

I honestly believe that the possibilities are numerous once we decide to act Spiritually and not react Emotionally.”

Someone has well said, “Your Outlook WILL determine your Outcome.”   Our outlook on the adversity must be one of: “I will Glorify Jesus through this situation, and I will search for people whom I can share the Gospel with. 

We want God to change our circumstances, but God wants to use our circumstances to change us!     Romans 8:29.

Will You Get Back Up?

A football coach was showing a film to his team in which a player was being tackled again and again.    Each time the football player would get back  up and try again. Yet the opponent would tackle him yet again.    This went on until he had been knocked down nine or ten times. 

The coach suddenly stopped the film and asked his players, “You have all seen what happened.    Which player would we want on our team?”  “The one that keeps knocking the player down,” the players all agreed.   

“No,” said the coach, “we want the one who keeps getting up!”

 

This player represents what we Christians must learn to do.  That is, we MUST get back up once we have experienced a difficult issue, or, perhaps a series of setbacks.

 

The Bible says in II Corinthians 4:8-9:   “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;   ⁹Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” This passage of Scripture is most certainly a Soft Pillow for a Troubled Heart!

 

The words Paul used are Quite Interesting

 

Troubled means, “to press.”  The idea is that our troubles are pressing in on us; squeezing the hope, the very spirit out of us.

Distressed means:” to cramp; to pin.”  The meaning of these two words are, “we are pressed, but we have not been pinned.”

Perplexed means: “to be without resources; to have no place to go;  no place to turn to.”

Not in Despair means, “Not without resources; “The meaning is this.  I have nowhere to turn;

my situation is very bleak at best.  Yet Paul said, that as a Christian, you ALWAYS have a place

to turn.   There are always options in the life of a Believer.   God’s Word provides this hope!

Persecuted means, “to fall behind.”   It carries the idea of a runner who is running in a race and yet for one reason or another has fallen behind.

Forsaken means “not abandoned.”    Again, the teaching is simple.  Paul said that you may be

running the race of life and have fallen behind, perhaps through wasted years; missed

opportunities; or even fallen behind because of sin.  Yet, he said, you have not been abandoned

by God!    God is where he has always been.  He is still sitting on His throne.

Cast Down means, “To be knocked down; to be cast down.”  It carries the idea of being knocked

down with a great deal of force.

But not Destroyed means   “to lose; to die; to be rendered useless.”  The meaning is that we

may be knocked down, but we are not knocked out!

 

Scripture Provides Hope when there Appears to be NO Hope

I love this passage as it provides hope to those who have lost hope.  There are some right now who feel as though there is no hope for a better tomorrow, due to the complications of life.

This could be as a result of poor choices or circumstances.  You are on the canvass about to be

counted out.  Yet this passage reminds us that we can be knocked down, without being knocked

out; that we can be pressed, without being pinned; that there may “appear” to be nowhere to

turn for both Hope and Help; that you may have fallen behind in the race of life, but you have

not been left behind by God!    These verses should remind us that we can ‘Fail without being a

Failure!’    Failure ONLY happens when we give up.

 

How to View Your Problem

 A problem is merely a GAP between where you are and where you want to be, with obstacles

existing which prevent EASY movement to close the gap. Problem solving involves discovering

new ways of dealing with the obstacles in our lives.

What tangible steps can you take today that would close the Gap?

Tired of Feeling Defeated? You CAN Have Victory in Your Christian Life!

You have been struggling in your walk with God. You aspire to walk much closer with God. You want very much to live a life of Victory. Within your heart, you have been longing for more than what you have been experiencing. This letter is TO you and FOR you. I desire to “Add Value” to you in sharing this article with you.

Living what we call the ”Abundant Christian Life” is one of the greatest needs facing Christians today.  At the outset, please understand that Victory in your life is exactly what Jesus desires for you.   In John 10:10 Jesus said: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  This Abundant Life which Jesus desires for Christians IS available to EVERY Christian.  It was never meant to be an exclusive club where only a few could live and enjoy this life.   God wants YOU to live this style of life.

Recently, I drove to Illinois, (I live in Indiana), to visit my aged Parents.  I asked my Dad how important that it was too  he and Mom that all six of their Children graduate from high school, since they both went through the eighth grade.

 His response led me to prepare this article to inspire you.  He said we did without.  We did not have toys.  We made our baseball out of trash bags covered with yarn and tape.  We made our bats out of a 1 by 1 board.   We chiseled into a reasonable form of a bat.  He literally walked into school barefoot during the summer.  During the winter they would go to a thrift store and get shoes which always had holes in the bottom.  He would cut and place a cardboard box inside his shoe in order to walk to school in the snow.

  At age 12, he was working two hours BEFORE school and then two hours AFTER school.    He would then go home to do his chores, which were quite extensive.  He quit school after the eighth grade so he could work 8 – 10 hours a day shoveling coal, plus continue working the job before going to the coal mines and then work his night job. He would often work 16 hours a day.

Listen to what he said next.  “Jim, I always wanted better for all of your kids.”  Did you know that your Heavenly Father wants BETTER for You, just as my earthly Father desired for me?   What a truly liberating this thought should be to you right now.

Your Father does not desire you to “just get by” spiritually;  He does not wants to see you experiencing so little joy in your life;  Your Father does not want your Prayer and Bible study to be so boring.  God deeply desires more for you! 

Aren’t you tired of feeling a great distance between you and God?   Are you weary of “just showing up for Church?”   Aren’t you exhausted from the mediocrity in your “relationship” with Jesus?   Have you not experienced far too much defeat in your Christian walk?

In my next articles, we will ask and answer the following questions together:

• ·         What really is the “Abundant Christian Life” Jesus spoke of?
• ·         How can we tell if we are living a “Defeated Christian Life?”
• ·         What must we do in order to “Enter into” the walk which Jesus and our Father desire of us?

I will further develop the Biblical answers to these questions and share them with you SOON!

 

If I can be of further help to you, please contact me at JimKilgoreMinistries@gmail.com

And visit my website at:  JimKilgoreMinistries.com to read more articles designed to “Add Value” to YOU!