RCCG Victory Temple Chantilly's Podcast

There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors." 1Jn 4:18

AMPO

When you were young and said a bad word, your parents may have threatened to wash your mouth out with soap. Well, if fear is a dirty word, then faith in God's unconditional love for you is like soap! Too many put the cart before the horse. We believe that God accepts us based on the degree of our love for Him rather than on the degree of His love for us. The Bible says, "We love Him because He first loved us" (V. 19 NKJV). God's love for you is not based upon your performance but Christ's performance on your behalf. When you put your trust in Christ, God sees you "in Christ" (2Co 5:17) from that moment forward.

Do you want to know how God sees you at this moment and every other moment? "As He [Jesus] is, so are we in this world" (1Jn 4:17

NKJV). Does that mean you can disobey God and get away with it? Not a chance! "For whom the Lord loves He chastens... Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Heb 12:6, 11 NKJV). But God's correction is not rejection!

It's proof of His unconditional, unlimited, unwavering, undeserved, and unearned love for you. God doesn't love you more on those days when you're victorious and less on those days when you're defeated. His love for you doesn't vary or vacillate. Knowing that truth will boost your faith and take your fear down a notch!

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"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Eph

6:4 NIV

The story is told of a man in a supermarket pushing a cart with a screaming baby. He kept repeating softly, "Keep calm, George.

Everything's going to be okay, George." A lady watching with admiration said to the man,

"You are to be commended for your patience in trying to quiet little George." The man replied, "Lady, you've got it wrong; I'm George!" If you're a parent, you can relate.

Instead of saying, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children," doesn't it sometimes seem like the Scripture should read, "Children, don't annoy your fathers"? But it doesn't. That's because parents are called to be an example of God's love, and children learn best from observation. Shopping at the grocery store is an opportunity to show your children the proper way to behave. There is no greater role model for children than a parent. And there has never been a greater need for godly parents than today. Colossians 3:21 says, "Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged" (NKJV). That means being a model of patience and love to your children. From potty training to education-parents are put in place by God to be a tool that transforms the teachings of the Bible into a living witness to their children. In a time when we're paying a high price for the lack of real fathers in the home, Scripture reminds us, "The father shall make known Your truth to the children" (Isa 38:19 NKJV).

Father, commit yourself to following the Lord, and leaving footprints for your children to walk in.

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"Put on your new nature, created to be like God -truly righteous and holy." Eph

4:24 NLT

Dealing with crucifixion, Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. He felt intense emotions. "Being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Lk

22:44 NKJV). So strong were these emotions that He prayed for the cup of crucifixion to pass. But that night, Jesus broke the domination of emotions by obedience to the will of His Father, saying, "Not My will, but Yours, be done" (V. 42 NKJV). Not only can emotions be ruled by obedience, but they will obey faith. Emotions will do what we, in faith, order them to do. David said, "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name" (Ps 103:1). David ordered his soul, the center of his emotions, to bless the Lord.

He believed his soul and everything in him would do what he commanded. Feelings can be transformed from drama to blessing. Paul believed that negative emotions can be put off, and positive emotions can be put on. "Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy" (Eph 4:22-24 NLT). Again he writes, "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts" (Col 3:15 NKJV). It is clear from the Scriptures that emotions can be governed, and the will can respond to God's power and faith rather than the drama of emotions.

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"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need." 2Pe 1:3 NLT

Following God means finishing what He has called you to do. Not everyone who starts out well finishes well. Occasionally we're shocked and saddened to learn that a leader has been brought down by a moral or a financial problem. Paul writes, "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you" (Col 4:14).

Later, he writes, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world" (2Ti 4:10).

There are three forces arrayed against you, and they never let up: the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world will try to pour you into its mold, your fleshly nature will try to drag you down, and the devil will use every trick in the book to defeat you. Paul was aware of these three forces when he said,

"My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus" (Ac 20:24 NLT). So, make up your mind to complete the assignment God has given you and enjoy every minute of it. How can you finish strong? "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises" (2Pe 1:3-5 NLT).

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"Put me together again with your Word."

Ps 119:107 MSG

When everything in the psalmist's life began falling apart, he prayed, "Put me together again with your Word." That's what your quiet time with God does. So, why don't we have a consistent quiet time with God? Two reasons:

(1) We think our quiet time must be a long time. Start small. Reserve five minutes to open your Bible and meditate on a brief portion of Scripture. Chat with God about it.

Tell your needs to Him and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through the whole day. Good news! You have just experienced a quiet time!

So, tomorrow, repeat it. As your spiritual appetite grows, you will find yourself putting aside more time-ten minutes, then twenty, and that time will keep on growing. (2) We think our quiet time must be free of all noise!

Instead of avoiding hustle and bustle, Jesus wants to connect with you there. Begin to find creative ways to connect with the Lord all day long. Listen to worship music while you clean, and sing along. Pray in the Spirit. Learn memory verses. "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord" (Col 3:23 NKJV).

Listen to the Bible while you drive-excellent apps are available. Pray while exercising-develop your faith muscle! Go for coffee with God-do your Bible study at a café. Go for a walk with Jesus-pray for others, and praise God for the outdoor beauty He created.

Welcome Him into your routines, and the mundane will turn into holy moments. Give the Holy Spirit your consent to interrupt, then do what He says. To put it another way do life with Jesus.

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"This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses." Heb 4:15 NLT

One of Satan's most successful strategies for keeping us away from our quiet time with God is reminding us of our sins and shortcomings.

That's a lie; don't believe it. In the Old Testament, the High Priest went into the Holiest of Holies to atone for the sins of the people. When he came back out, the people rejoiced, knowing that they were fully accepted by God. With that in mind, read this Scripture: "[Jesus] understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most" (vv. 15-16 NLT). 

Another strategy that Satan will use to intimidate you and keep you away from your quiet time is to remind you that the greatest saints spent hours each day praying and studying the Scriptures. That's true, and one day you may become like them. Meanwhile, what should you do? Start small but begin! Pastor Greg Laurie sees spiritual hunger as the opposite of natural hunger: "When you're hungry in the natural, you eat and are satisfied. But with spiritual hunger, it isn't until you begin eating that you discover how hungry you really are!" So when you fail to keep your quiet time with God, you shouldn't feel guilty; you should feel hungry. When you "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Ps 34:8), you will want more and more time with Jesus--which is wonderful because He longs for time with you.

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"You're my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me." Ps 119:114
MSG

What's stopping you from having a regular quiet time with God? Maybe the very thought feels filled with "shoulds" and "ought tos"; like another item to add to the unending checklist of your life. So, you think, "Maybe later, when life slows down." We need to shed the myths and impractical expectations the Enemy uses to prevent us from experiencing the joy of knowing Jesus and being known by Him. 

David wrote: "The one thing I ask of the Lord-the thing I seek most-is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord's perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me...My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me. And my heart responds, 'Lord, I am coming'" (Ps 27:4-6, 8 NLT). 

When David wrote those words, there was no temple or "house of the Lord." So, what did he mean? That God is as close to you as a prayer; that you can seek the Lord, delight in the Lord, meditate on the Lord, and talk with the Lord anywhere and anytime. The words "you're my place of quiet retreat" mean you can withdraw from people, pressures, and problems and draw fresh strength from the Lord by communing with Him in your heart and mind. It can happen anywhere and anytime.

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"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." Jn

10:11 NKJV

Jesus told of a shepherd with a hundred sheep. When one of them was lost, he left the other ninety-nine in the fold and searched until he found the one lost sheep. Then he put it on his shoulders and rejoiced as he brought it home. Good shepherds don't care about some of the flock, or most of the flock, but all of the flock. That becomes most evident when one sheep gets lost. The story is told of a little girl who wandered off into the woods and got lost. As darkness fell, fear clutched her heart. She shrieked and cried until, worn out, she laid down and went to sleep. Her father, his voice husky from shouting her name, had been looking for her for many hours when he found her lying in a grassy area. Crying out to her, he rushed to her side.

The little girl woke up, leapt into his arms, hugged him, and said, "Daddy, I'm so happy I found you!" That's our story. But we don't find Jesus; He finds us. And He finds us-because He is constantly looking for us. Jesus ended His parable in these words: "I tell you... there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent" (Lk 15:7 NIV). Every time one lost person is found, heaven celebrates. "You mean I matter that much to the Lord?" Yes. Just as the shepherd left ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that was lost, Jesus loves you and died to save you. So, come to Him today.

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"Which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" Lk 10:36 NKJV

Jesus told the story of the Jewish traveler who was robbed, beaten, and left to die on the Jericho road. Two Jews, both in the ministry, walked past him without helping.

Then a Samaritan rescued him. No race of people was more hated by the Jewish people than the Samaritans. They were openly cursed in the synagogue and were barred from temple worship. What this Samaritan does is nothing less than incredible. He utilizes all his resources--personal clothing, oil, wine, his time, animal, money, and energy

-to attend to this Jewish man in the best way possible. Then he risks his life by taking the wounded man to lodging in a Jewish area. On top of it all, he pays the innkeeper for the man's food and room for many days and promises to return and pay for anything more the man owes. This was crucial because anyone who could not pay their bill could be sold as a slave by the innkeepers so that they could receive full payment for a debt. Jesus ends His story in these words: "Which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" No law will ever cause you to be a good neighbor, but the love of Christ will. You see, a neighbor is not identified by color or creed; a neighbor is identified by the nearest need. So, here is a prayer for you to pray: "Lord, give me the courage to recognize and help a neighbor in need." That's a prayer He will answer!

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