Teaching I shared today---
I am not a Halloween fan. My kids are because of the candy and costumes!
I
AM a fan of lost people though.
There are great opportunities to reach
people in your neighborhood with the gospel during Halloween.
"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders;
make the most of every opportunity."
Col 4:5
The book “RedeemingHalloween” gave me GREAT creative ideas to incorporate when it comes to
Halloween.
One year, we had a “Fear Not”party in our back yard and turned our backyard into a carnival with booths, facepainting, and balloons. I had banners with Scriptures like “Fear Not, I am
with You”.
We invited the neighborhood and paid tons of money for prizes with Bible verses and scripture
cards, etc..
It was tons of fun and A LOT OF WORK!
Another idea is to put your
Christmas lights up for Halloween and turn them on so that your house is
obviously LIGHT in darkness, then you are one step ahead for Christmas. :)
You can hand out cool gospel tracts.
My kids love doing that. Especially the young ones.
My kids love doing that. Especially the young ones.
But as I prayed about what
to talk about the Lord led me in a different direction.
Because HE knows that it is
much more necessary for us to learn to navigate darkness everyday,
not just on
Halloween.
This is kind of funny:I drive
past the haunted house at Ruby Falls a few times a week on my way up to Lookout
Mountain. I seriously look at it like, PFFFFF… chainsaw man? Scary haunted
house guys???… talk to the hand. I am seriously NOT afraid of them. After all I
have been through in the last 2 ½ years, I honestly think I could walk through
any haunted house without flinching. I would probably scare them more than they
scare me!
I would definitely tell the scary guys they need to be rescued from the dominion of darkness and give them a gospel tract.
You see we don’t battle
flesh and blood.
We battle unseen forces of evil.
We battle unseen forces of evil.
Eph 6:12
As Christians, we aren't fighting chainsaw guys… we are fighting THE RULERS OF
DARKNESS. Yikes.
I don’t know about you but I am scared of the dark.
And the RULERS of it.
Thank goodness the rulers of darkness were disarmed when Jesus rose from the dead.
"In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities.
I love John 8:12-
Jesus says…
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me
shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
That’s a promise we can hang on to!
We may pass through some spiritually dark places
but we won’t LIVE
in them.
He will ALWAYS lead us out with His light.
He has chosen His Word to be our greatest source of light here!
"We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."
2 Peter 1:19
God's Word is completely reliable and we will do well to PAY ATTENTION to it. In the Greek, that means-
to apply one's self to, attach one's self to, hold or cleave to a person or a thing
to be given or addicted to
to devote thought and effort to
Until the day dawns and the morning star rises... meaning the return of JESUS!
It's so close, friends.
Unless God intervenes, we
are getting to enter into the greatest time of darkness we have ever
experienced as a nation and as a Church.
The sin in our country is piled high.
Abortion
Euthenasia
(packaged in pretty words like comfort care/dying with dignity)
Sexual Sin
Betrayal
Removing God from Schools and Government
Drugs
Things that are CLEARLY sin against a holy God being celebrated. :(
***************************************
God has put it
on my heart to warn you and PREPARE you for what is coming.
I also want to give you some
EXCITING truth to stand on.
You probably know a story in
the Old Testament about PLAGUES. (By the way, it’s ok if you don’t!) God was
angry that his people were being held hostage by a wicked ruler who would not
allow them to serve and worship Him.
Because of Pharoah’s
wickedness, God sent 10 plagues to get him to let God’s people go.
Pharoah was a
cruel, oppressive leader who HATED the people of God.
The people were trapped
under his oppressive power as he laid burdens on their backs too heavy for them
to carry. In Ex 6, The Lord tells Moses that He was going to bring them out
from under the heavy burdens and the bondage. When Moses tells the people, it
says they did not listen to him because of their broken spirits. It was really
bad.
"they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of
spirit and cruel bondage."
Anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. :(
Maybe that
is where you are today. Maybe your spirit is broken or full of anguish. Maybe
the enemy has had you under cruel bondage and oppression for so long you can’t
even BELIEVE there is a way out.
Well, be encouraged because salvation was not
dependent on them and it’s not dependent on you either! God’s plan of salvation
was already unfolding whether they believed it or not.
If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.
What were the first words
God spoke?
Let there be LIGHT.
He spoke light into the
world and He will continue to speak light into our worlds.
Jesus said HE is the light
of the world.
When we accept Him as our
Savior and He lives IN US, WE BECOME THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
Because His light
shines THROUGH us.
Like I said before, He has chosen His Word to be our source of light.
When you read the Bible, it is like charging your light.
PLUG IN!
This Book is the only
TANGIBLE thing we have to hold on to in the supernatural battle we are in. It
is a lamp unto our feet.
“The unfolding of your words
gives light” Ps 119:130
One of the plagues that God used was
darkness. Let’s look at it in Ex 10
“Then
the Lord said
to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads
over Egypt—darkness that can be felt. So Moses stretched out his hand toward
the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. No one
could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites
had LIGHT in the places where they lived.”
I wanted to turn out the
lights and give you a visual of light pouring out when I opened my Bible. I was
going to use a flashlight. But there is no way to make it dark enough in here.
This darkness was darkness that could be FELT. I don’t know if you have ever
been on a cave tour where they turn out the lights for like 10 seconds and you
have a heart attack. It was that kind of darkness. They couldn’t see ANY light or
each other for 3 days.
They couldn’t even move it
was so dark.
But it wasn’t dark in Goshen
where the Israelites lived!
You have to wonder what this
looked like?
You know how I talked about
putting your Christmas lights up on your house for Halloween? This was even
better. The houses of the believers had a supernatural LIGHT in them EVEN IN
THE MIDST OF DARKNESS.
So I started jumping up and down when I realized
that not only did the people of God have LIGHT in their homes in the midst of DEEP
darkness. But, y’all get this…this word “light” is talking about the light of
their faces too! Their countenances had light!
They were HAPPY!
They had light in their faces! They had JOY!
They weren’t sitting inside their homes crying
and complaining, they were HAPPY!
Honestly, this really convicted me. Because I
have gone through deep darkness during the last 2 years. My dad died, my mom
got diagnosed with cancer, 3 of my grandparents who I ADORED died… it has been
darkness that has been felt. My countenance has shown it too. I have wrinkles
from sadness. I haven’t had much JOY.
When I realized that the people of God were full
of JOY, my countenance changed.
I think this whole teaching was for me!
I thought, wait… I don’t have to keep walking
around in sadness. Light and JOY is available to us in Christ!
Ask Him to make His face shine on you so that your face can shine!
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” ’
Numbers 6
That makes me want to dance!
Our homes should be full of light and JOY. They
should look different than the world’s! We have been rescued from the dominion
of darkness! Now and forever!!!!
So, mommas, let’s make sure our homes are FULL of
light!
And also make sure you aren’t letting “the
Egyptian darkness” in. Be careful of what you allow in your homes through TV
and computer and anything else that belongs to the Kingdom of Darkness. The
Word says our EYES are the lamp of the body. If they are good, we are filled
with light. If they are bad, we are filled with DEEP DARKNESS.
Fill your homes with the LIGHT of God’s Word!
With praise music and dancing and worship!
We have MUCH to celebrate! We don’t have to live
in depression and despair. Ask God to LIGHT up
your home and your countenance! Focus on light, not darkness.
There is a time to grieve. I’ve been grieving for
years over darkness and death.
But the JOY OF THE LORD is our strength.
Remember, it says
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me
shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Grieve and be sad over the enemy’s work here but
don’t STAY there.
That isn’t where you belong.
This isn’t the only time during the plagues the
Israelites were supernaturally protected.
Look at God’s hand of protection on His people.
"Tell Aaron, 'Stretch out your staff and
strike the dust of the ground,' and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will
become gnats."
Ex 8:16
“But the Lord will make a distinction between the
livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the
Israelites will die.”
Ex 9:4
“The only place it did not hail was the land of
Goshen, where the Israelites were.”
Ex 9:26
“No one could see anyone else or move about for
three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.”
Ex 10:23
“But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at
any person or animal.' Then you will know that the Lord makes
a distinction between Egypt and Israel.”
Ex 11:7
Even in captivity, even in the MIDST of evil, God
protected His people.
Is darkness coming? Yes, I believe it is.
BUT... God protects His people.
We may get persecuted and be surrounded by darkness but it cannot overcome us.
"I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
Matt 16:18
Why did God tell Pharoah to let the people go?
What was the goal?
What does the Lord keep telling Moses to say?
Let my people go so that ?????
They can play select soccer?
They can go to Starbucks?
They can watch Dancing with the Stars in their
recliners?
SO THAT THEY CAN WORSHIP ME.
Isis and terror attacks aren’t trying to wipe out
America. They are trying to take away our freedom to worship the LIVING GOD.
The enemy’s goal is to oppress people SO THAT
THEY CANNOT WORSHIP GOD.
Worship is a privilege. It is a freedom.
It cost God the life of His Son.
We take it for granted.
This election, freedom to worship hangs in the
balance.
Our pastor said, “Vote for the candidate who will
provide the safest atmosphere for the Church”.
You don't have to love the candidate but be shrewd.
Cast your vote.
Darkness is coming girls. You need to be
prepared. We need to mourn over the freedoms that the enemy is robbing of us
and our children. The loss is REAL. But we will always have light in our homes.
No matter how deep the darkness is.
You get this bright yellow piece of paper out when you are in darkness. Read it out loud and remind yourself of the truth. The enemy can throw us into a downward spiral when we let go of the TRUTH of God’s Word.
Light
“Then the Lord said
to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads
over Egypt—darkness that can be felt. So Moses stretched out his hand toward
the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. No one
could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites
had LIGHT in the places where they lived.” Ex 10
“And God said, “Let there be light,”
Gen 1:3
“In Him was life, and that life was
the light of all
mankind.” John 1:4
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the
world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
“You are the light of the
world.” Matthew 5:14
“God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.” Gen 1
“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a
pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to
give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.”
Ex 13:21
“Let the light of your face shine on us.” Ps 4:6
“You, Lord, keep my
lamp burning; my God turns my darkness
into light.” Ps 18:28
“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? Ps 27:1
“in Your light we see light”. Ps 36:9
“It was not by their sword
that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right
hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.” Ps 44:3
“Blessed are those who
have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.” Ps 89:15
"Light shines on
the righteous and JOY on the upright in heart." Ps 97:11
“Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and
compassionate and righteous.”
Ps 112:4
“The unfolding of your words
gives light” Ps 119:130
“For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light” Prov 6:23
“for darkness is as light to you”. Ps 139:12
“The path of the
righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” Prov 4:18
“He reveals the deep things of darkness and
brings utter darkness into the light.” Job 12:22
“I will turn the darkness into light
before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I
will not forsake them.” Is 42:16
“Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though
I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” Mic 7:8
“ what
fellowship can light have with darkness?” 2 Cor 6:14
“For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light”
Eph 5:8
(“Therefore,
“Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.” 2 Cor 6:17)
“You are all children of the light and children
of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.” 1 Thess 5:5
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who
called you out of darkness into
his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9
“God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
1 John 1:5
“the darkness is passing
and the true light is already shining.” 1 John 2:8
“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of
a lamp or the light of the
sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”
Rev 22:5
1 comment:
I know you must be so busy with your family, but I sure wish you blogged more often. Thank you for always being inspiring and a role model!
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