Abide

John 15:5

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Abide in Jesus…

Abide in Jesus.

Not in anything or anyone but Jesus.

Abideth is a verb. It’s an action word.

to remain; to sojourn, tarry; not to depart; to continue to be present; to be held, kept, continually; to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure: to survive, live

Already, we get a picture that abiding takes intentionality. We have something to do. It’s not a post for us to rest on. It’s more of a position we actively stand in. Abiding in Jesus requires us to do some work.

Jesus says He is the vine and we are the branches. Automatically we envision a tree. Jesus says He’s the one that keeps us rooted and grounded. He’s the one that ensures we get access to all that we need to live, to thrive and stay alive. In essence, He’s our life line; our life source. 

In Acts 17:28, Luke says, 

“For in Him we live, and move, and have our being.”

If we remain in Jesus; sojourn with Jesus, tarry in Jesus; don’t depart from Jesus; continue to be present with Jesus; endure in Jesus, we will bring forth fruit. 

The Bible says that we know a tree by the fruit it bears. Jesus is letting us know that the evidence that we are connected to Him, as the vine, is us bearing some very specific fruit.

This fruit is what identifies us as children of God. It’s our Christian character. It’s not the fact that we are members of a congregation. It’s not the fact that we read our bibles. And it’s the fact that we’re in ministry of some kind. 

But the fruit we bear is literally the result of you pouring out of yourself what you’ve postured yourself for Jesus to pour into you through a surrendered life in Him; this fruit that we bear as branches, our own Christlikeness.

Galatians 5

22 ”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control…

The only way we can consistently bear this fruit, sharing in the character of Jesus, is if we abide, remain, don’t depart from Jesus.

Abiding in Jesus is not some casual connection. It’s not a Sunday and Wednesday connection. Or a hit and miss kind of occasion. 

Think about it: if something gives us life, we can’t afford to miss a day. 

If my heart only beats on Sundays and Wednesdays, I can’t live. If my blood only flows through my veins occasionally, I can’t live. If my lungs only functioned when they feel like it, I couldn’t live. 

So abiding in Jesus is not something that’s casual. It’s not something that we can be on and off about. 

Abiding in Jesus is so important for our spiritual wellness and survival that we can’t afford not to be connected. Not only do we risk not bearing fruit, but we risk spiritual death when we’re not connected to and abiding in the vine, Jesus. 

How do I abide in Jesus? How do I remain in Jesus? 

Abiding starts with your belief in Jesus, but it doesn’t end there. It’s not enough for us to be consistent in proclaiming our belief in Jesus, but not demonstrate it. We have to be about what we talk about. We must be doers of the Word and not hearers only. James 1:22

And I’m not talking about ministry. I’m not talking about getting busy in the church. The reality is, way too many of us believe that ministry work secures us in our relationship with God. 

We’re trying to replace surrendering to God with service in the church. 

We can’t work our way into God’s will or into His favor. 

You can give God your hands without ever truly giving Him your heart. But if you give Him your heart, you will give Him your hands too.

So ask yourself…

Have I given God my heart? Am I all in? Am I sold out for Jesus? Is Jesus my day and night?

It does us no good to embellish the answer to this question. It won’t get us any closer or committed to God. You have to be honest with yourself and with God. He already knows anyway.

Abiding in anything is about commitment and consistency. And you’re not committed or consistent with anything that’s not on your mind. This is why we have to surrender our thought life to God.

Colossians 3:2-4 NKJV

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

You have to die to yourself. This means that God’s will takes precedence over your own will. You understand and embrace the rule, dominion and sovereignty of God.

Your life in Christ, no longer belongs to you. But it belongs to God.

And so, your mind is fixed on Jesus and you filter everything and every part of your life through His Word and according to His will. 

Therefore, it’s imperative that our thought life is aligned with the Word of God. Because wherever your mind is, the rest of you will follow. 

This is why 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to “Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.”

Am I thinking on those things above?

We sing…🎶 “I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus.”

Is that really true or are we singing lies? Is the thought of God/Jesus the content of your thought cup or just overflow into the saucer? 

Are we filtering our lives through the expectations of Jesus according to His word? 

Or is He an afterthought or a last resort? 

People say “I have no choice but to trust Him.” 

Well…. 

Yes you do have a choice. Even when you have no more options, you still have a choice to trust in Jesus. And truly trusting Him is not because you have no more options. As a matter of fact, that’s not choosing or trusting Him at all. 

If we are abiding in Jesus, He has to be our first option, not our last option. He has to be our number one priority, not an “if I get around to Him” or “If I have enough time” option.

1 Peter 1:15

Just as he who called you to be holy, holy, and all you do. What is written, be holy, for I am holy. 

God has called us out of sin, into righteous and holy living. 

You can’t abide in Christ if you’re living in sin.

John 15:5

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

We have a life in Christ. As long as we are in Christ, we are alive. To be separated from Christ is death. Without the vine, Jesus, we can do nothing.

Without the vine, Jesus, we are nothing.

There are a lot of walking dead in the world today. They are without Jesus. They exist. But they’re not alive.

In Jesus, we have an abundant life, and bear much fruit.

Stay connected to the lord! Abide in Him and He will abide in you.

And if you are one that believes that you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, today is a good day to get connected.

Despite your past life without Jesus, Jesus has been pursuing and calling you to Himself and wants a relationship with you.

*Tressa Jo

I am forgiven!

I was talking to a friend the other day, and she expressed some grief over a sin that she had committed many years ago. I’m talking 40+ years ago. She had repented and moved on with her life. However, there were some people that knew her then that were still bringing up from her past.

We know that the Bible teaches that the devil is the accuser of the brethren. But it’s something else when the brethren become accusers of the brethren, always bringing up the past. Not allowing a person to move forward in their forgiven state.

I was grieved for my friend because what those people thought of her held her hostage to her past even though God has freed her.

We may all have some knowledge of the story of David in the Bible. Even though God used him in a mighty way, David didn’t have a pretty past. And oftentimes, when David is mentioned, we still mention him along with the sins he committed. But even with David committing what we would call “big sins”, in 1 Samuel 13, God says that David was a man after His own heart.

Psalms 32:1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

This verse let us know that we are blessed because we have had our sins and our transgressions forgiven. But we have to understand that repentance proceeds forgiveness.

Romans 8:1 …there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…

You can be confident that you have been forgiven of your sins if you are in Christ Jesus and have been covered by His blood. This is the part that some of us can shout about. God does not hold your sins against you. He does not count them against you. Even when people hold them against you and won’t let you live down the things that you have done, God does not.

Psalms 32:3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

Some of us aren’t walking in the liberty we have in the forgiveness of God because our secrets are making us sick. I’m not saying that you have to tell anybody. But you haven’t even talked to God about it! And if you haven’t talked to God about it, you have not repented of it.

The Bible teaches us that the blessings of the Lord are rich and adds no sorrow to it. Forgiveness is a blessing. When you walk in the forgiveness of God, you don’t have any shame. There’s no shame because God has removed it. But you won’t experience this liberty when you are consumed with what other people think about you, and with what other people are saying about you. You have to consume yourself with what God is saying about you.

Psalms 32:5 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.

Confess your transgressions to the Lord. This is the only way we can experience the forgiveness of God and freedom from guilt. If you can’t confess your sins, you won’t repent of your sins. David confessed his sins. And God forgave him.

Psalms 32:11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

We want an upright heart before the Lord. We don’t want a wicked heart. Does this mean that you have to be perfect and sinless? Absolutely not. That’s impossible. The goal is to pursue holiness and righteousness. The goal is to resist Satan and sin. God will honor our sincere efforts to do His will, even if we fall short. His grace is sufficient and the blood of Jesus continues to cover us.

Romans 3:23-24 reminds us that everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the impurity of our sins by sacrificing His own life for our sins.

Did you hear that!?

We all fall short. Because we all fall short, we all need the grace and mercy of God. So don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re beyond God’s forgiveness. You can joyfully walk in the forgiveness of God. You can tell everyone that keeps bringing up your past that you’re not worried about where you’ve been because you know where you’re going.

Tell them, “I am forgiven!”.

*Tressa Jo

Audience of One

If you’ve ever been to a movie theater or play, you sit in the audience as one of many. If you’ve ever attended a sports event, you sit in the stands as one of many. If you sit in the privacy of your own home, watching television, you’re still one of many. We sit as spectators, observing.

After we finish watching, we formulate thoughts, assessments, reviews and opinions about what we just watched and observed. “That was good!” “That was a waste of my time.” “I wouldn’t mind seeing that again!” “It was too long.” “I hope they have a part two.”

Truth is, as we go through life, we have opinions, assessments and reviews pretty much about everything. And if we’re not careful, we’ll start believing that our personal opinions about everybody and everything has to be known.

Every now and then, we get a rude awakening that what we think about people and things really don’t matter as much to others as it does to us or as much as we’d like for it to. Sometimes our opinions and assessments get lost in the crowd, right along with what everyone else thinks. Nevertheless, we still continue to have and share our opinions.

Nevertheless, there are people that are building notoriety, careers and followings simply by sharing what they think. Whether it’s based on facts or feelings, people’s opinions get attention.

Truth is, too often, we position ourselves in houses of worship with this same approach – ready to give our opinion, our review. We become spectators, observers, watchers, and critics, seated comfortably on our pews as part of a perceived audience. Some have even become the praise and worship police. Critical of how others express themselves in their own wisdom to God.”

That was good!” “That wasn’t good.” “That went too long.” “It doesn’t take all that.”

The preacher preaches. The singer sings. The usher serves. The greeter greets. The members fellowship. No one and nothing is exempt from being observed and given a personal assessment.

The applause, the affirmations and the recognition of a job well done, become our gauge for how well we serve and worship. The “Amen” from the audience voices our agreement. But as we seek to voice our opinionated assessments, “Amen” becomes our way of voicing our approval.

In the House of God, being in the audience, or even on the stage, has deceived many of us into believing that our opinions matter. We’re blinded to the fact that we are the ones on the stage when we assemble in the presence of the Lord. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the pulpit or sitting in the pews. We’re all being observed by an audience of One. And the only assessment, opinion, thought or review that matters of us, is God’s.

In the book of Leviticus, God makes it clear that He determines what should be offered up to Him as worship and He determines if what we offer is acceptable or not. God doesn’t consult the opinions of others or listen to see if the majority thinks the way He does, when He decides to accept our offerings of worship or not. God doesn’t observe the crowd to see who else is liking what we do or how we do it. Neither is He consulting us for our thoughts before He accepts the worship of another.

God is literally the only one in the audience. He’s not just watching what we do. He’s assessing and discerning our hearts. He knows when our “Amen” is sincere and intelligent. And He knows when our “Amen” is to agree with His Word or just to approve of His servant. He knows when we sing songs and are more concerned about sounding good than we are concerned about connecting to the significance of the lyrics. He knows when we’re clapping, shouting or standing just because everyone else is and we want to be seen as engaged as everyone else. He knows when we sit still and composed if we’re connected to His presence. He knows that as the Word is being preached, if our minds are focused on Him or something or someone else. He knows when we’re scrolling through Facebook on our phones and not the scripture. He knows when we’re having a conversation via text messages with someone else when He’s trying to have a conversation with us through the preached Word.

God knows and He’s not impressed just because we showed up. He’s not impressed just because we dressed up. He’s not impressed because we received lots of amen’s as we preached or taught His Word. He’s not impressed because people stood up as we sang that song. He’s not impressed how long you’ve been committed to that work or service at church. He’s not impressed.

As an audience of One, God’s opinion about us is the only one that ultimately matters. He’s not looking at the quality of our performance. He’s looking at the posture of our hearts. He decides if what we’ve offered up to Him as worship is acceptable or not.

God is assessing our lives and about to give us His final review. As our show comes to an end; as the final buzzer sounds; as the credits of our lives start to roll across the screen, God will give us His final assessment of our lives. He will either say “Well done!” or “Depart from Me!” The Audience of One has spoken.

*Tressa Jo

Spiritual Warfare – intro

As we study the topic of spiritual warfare in the Bible, we discover just how vulnerable we are to Satan’s attacks. But we also discover the power and protection we have in God. As we consider those things that pertain to our spiritual security, we’re challenged to address those things we can do. But we’re also challenged to address those things that we cannot do.

One of the awarenesses God brought to my attention is that when it comes to ministering to others and trying to meet them where they are, we can spend years trying to convince them of point B, assuming they understand point A. But they have no clue or understanding of point A. And so, initially, I want to consider point A of spiritual warfare and not assume you already know point B. Plus, it may even help us all be better able to teach and minister to others.

Ephesians 6:10-18 is the key text in the Bible when addressing spiritual warfare. But several other verses are necessary to understand before fully being able to understand the Ephesians 6 text.

Whether or not you are mature in the faith, spiritual warfare this is something we’ve all experienced. As a matter of fact, we’re ALWAYS experiencing it.

I pray consistently that God removes the scales from my eyes so that I can see what He wants me to see. And that He opens my ears so that I can hear what I need to hear. I’ve asked God to deliver me from the blind spots of religion and that He anoints me to understand so that I can walk in the power of His Truth. That is my prayer for all of us because I believe that God has given us power through the Holy Spirit to live boldly and courageously in the face of adversity and the enemy.

Let’s define Spiritual Warfare.

What is spiritual warfare?

Fighting against the works of evil forces (things happening in the unseen) spiritual realm that manifest in the physical realm/world.

Realm – kingdom, domain, sphere

So as we consider Spiritual Warfare, we understand that they’re are two opposing worlds, kingdoms, domains or spheres.

I don’t want to perpetuate a mindset or approach of fantasy at all. Because Spiritual warfare is very real. But let’s just consider this in 4 parts.

Characters of Spiritual Warfare

Place of Spiritual Warfare

Plot of Spiritual Warfare

Finale of Spiritual Warfare

Characters

Who are the characters or the individuals that are involved in Spiritual Warfare?

God, Satan, Jesus, Holy Spirit, demons, angels & us.

With all of these in mind, we need to also think about what we actually believe about them. Or even if we believe in them at all?

Why?

Some people believe in the god of their imagination, opinions and assumptions. But not necessarily the God of the bible. Some people believe in heaven but they don’t believe in hell. Some believe in angels but not in demons.

But all of these characters have significant roles in Spiritual Warfare.

Be on the lookout as I talk about the role God plays in Spiritual Warfare.

Ephesians 6:10-18

10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

*Tressa Jo

The Gospel saves!

THE gospel of Christ will ALWAYS include a call to repentance. Remove repentance, you no longer have THE gospel. You have ANOTHER gospel.

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Galatians 1:6-10
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!
9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

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Bible verse about repentance

2 Chronicles 7:14—Then if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and will pray and will seek My face and will turn from their evil ways, then I Myself shall hear from the heavens and will forgive their sins and heal their land.

Ezekiel 18:21–23—But if the wicked returns from all of his sins that he has done and he keeps all of my statutes and he does justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die! All of his transgressions that he committed will not be remembered against him. Through his righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I delight by any means in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord Yahweh, and not at his turning from his way, so that he lives?

Matthew 3:2
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 3:8
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

Matthew 3:11
I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 11:20–21
Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”

Matthew 12:41
The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Matthew 1:15
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

Mark 1:4
John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark 6:12
So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.

Luke 3:3
And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 3:8
Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you , God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

Luke 5:32
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

Luke 10:13
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

Luke 11:32
The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Luke 13:3
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Luke 13:5
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Luke 15:7
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:10
Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Luke 16:30
And he said, “No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.”

Luke 17:3
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

Luke 17:4
And if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, “I repent,” you must forgive him.

Luke 24:47
And that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Acts 2:38
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 3:19
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.

Acts 8:22
Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

Acts 11:18
When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Acts 13:24
Before His coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Acts 17:30
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent.

Acts 19:4
And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the One who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”

Acts 20:21
Testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 5:31
God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 26:20
But declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

Romans 2:4
Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

2 Corinthians 7:9–10
As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

2 Corinthians 12:21
I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

2 Timothy 2:25
Correcting His opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

Hebrews 6:1
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.

Hebrews 6:6
And then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding Him up to contempt.

Hebrews 12:17
For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Revelation 2:5
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Revelation 2:16
Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Revelation 2:21–22
I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works.

Revelation 3:3
Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Revelation 3:19
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Revelation 9:20–21
The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Revelation 16:9
They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

Revelation 16:11
And cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

Are you angry with God?

Are you angry with God?

Recently, I attended a Bible class where we studied Psalms 23 for the entire month. The teacher asked many questions to prepare us for the study. He wanted us to reconnect to a time of hardship we’d experienced. 

He then made a statement that I struggled to receive. He said, “It’s ok to be angry with God.” He’s not the first I’ve heard say this. But each time I hear it, there’s something in me that just can’t accept this.

As I consider who I am and who God is, I’m reminded that we were created for God. God wasn’t created for us. When our perception of either is not aligned with how God reveals Himself and us in scripture, we end up thinking too highly of ourselves and not highly enough of God. This is one of Satan’s traps to discredit God in the eyes of people.

As we hold up Truth about God and ourselves in light of suffering, it helps us accept and understand the necessity of suffering for God’s children.

Jesus, Himself, said that He learned obedience by the things He suffered. 

He was sinless. We are not. How much more would we need to suffer in order to learn obedience, when we’ve actually been disobedient? 

Believe that even in your suffering, God will cause all things to work together for your good. (Romans 8:28)  This is why it’s so important to pursue humility. Pride will provoke a spirit of entitlement in us. Yes. We can expect blessings from God. He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. But pride will cause us to believe we actually deserve those blessings. We don’t. It makes us forget what we really do deserve even on our best Holy Ghost filled day – the wrath of God. 

For those that reject God, they will suffer in this life. And they will suffer for eternity after this life. But all suffering is temporary for the child of God. 

When we experience suffering of any kind, we have to be especially watchful of our hearts. When life gets hard, not only do we struggle emotionally, but we also become more vulnerable to sin.

Job comes to mind. He responded to suffering in a way that we can learn some very valuable lessons from.

The Bible says that Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. He’s a real person with real emotions. So are we. There’s nothing wrong with responding emotionally when we’re hit with suffering.

Job grieved.

In addition to grieving, Job worshiped. It says that he fell to the ground in worship. I don’t believe he fell to the ground to worship. I believe Job was so emotionally distraught that he collapsed to the ground in distress. But there was something that Job realized or remembered about God and himself while he was down there. (This goes back to what I said earlier…how we perceive God and ourselves play a major role in how we respond to suffering.)

Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” 

First, he acknowledged something about himself. He said he had nothing when he came into the world and he’ll have nothing when he leaves. Job is grieving because of his great loss. But he doesn’t respond with anger. He doesn’t accuse God of doing anything wrong. He acknowledges that God gives and takes away.

Job is letting us know that everything received in life is a blessing from God. It’s not a transfer of ownership. It’s an assignment of stewardship. God gave it and He can take it away. It belongs to Him anyway.

The Bible says, “In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”

If we’re angry with God, it’s a strong possibility that our perception of ourselves and our perception of God is not aligned with Truth.  Satan wants to discredit God. And he wants us to do the same. He knows tempting us in anger against God will accomplish that. Before we doubt God, we should doubt our doubt. The fact that God doesn’t make mistakes is not a cliche’. It’s true!

Understanding this, Job says “may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Even though God took away, He did no wrong. He took back what He had given. The enemy is trying really hard to program our thinking in ways that will cause us to reject God and His will for our lives. 

As difficult as loss of any kind can be, we must seek to have the mind of Jesus. Not my will, but Yours be done. 

Like Job, in spite of loss, tears, grief, sorrow and suffering, we will praise the Lord. “In all this, we will not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”

*Tressa Jo

What does God want to save you from?

What do you believe Jesus is calling you to or out of? Struggle? Hardship? Pain? This demonically influenced world will have you believing that all God wants to do is give you your best life here. It’s all about how you prosper here. That’s not what it’s about. The Bible says, “What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”

God’s invitation is for us to come out of darkness, out of our sin and to be joined with Him, in the Light of righteousness. Our sin and darkness can’t mix with the Light of God. This is why Jesus came. He is our way to God. If you accept God’s invitation through fellowship with Jesus, you gain access to all spiritual blessings. And that includes eternal life.

Satan doesn’t want us to believe that heaven and hell exists. Neither does he want us to believe in God and Jesus. But the Word says, “Let God be true and every man be a liar.”

All of us are benefactors in this life of God’s blessings. (Even when we experience hardship and suffering) However, hell is to be eternally separated from God — No light. No blessing. Just pain and torture forever. Every person on this earth will have to answer to God. We all need to be saved from the penalty of our sin. Jesus came to make this possible. He came to pay the debt we owed for our sins. This makes it possible for us to become His children. But He won’t force us into fellowship with Him.

The world wants us to believe that we’re all heaven bound just because of the way we feel or the way we think. Jesus is the Way to heaven. God already determined Him to be the Way – the only way. It’s dangerous and self-destructive to reject God and The truth of His Word.

God’s love is not like man’s love. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus didn’t wait for us to acknowledge Him as Lord or to love or honor Him before He chose to give His life on our behalf. We should have all have to hang on a cross for our own sin. This is a God kind of love! It was not based on reciprocity. Jesus loves us and gave His life in our place in spite of us. We did nothing to deserve it, but because He loves us so much and He desired to do His Father’s will, He did what we could not do for ourselves. He saves us from sin, Satan and even ourselves. But we have to make a decision to accept this awesome gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. There is no other way.

My prayer for us all is that God removes the scales from our eyes that we may see. That He opens our ears that we may hear. And that He opens our hearts that we may receive.

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

John 14:66 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit..

Matthew 11:20-24

20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

*Tressa Jo

The Philippians 4 Formula

Philippians 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

When we read these verses, it gives us a list of things we need to do if we’re going to enter in the peace of God and into the presence of the God of peace. Just reading these verses won’t get you peace. But doing what these verses say will.

So here’s the checklist when you need the peace of God.

“Rejoice in the Lord always”
Rejoice means to be glad. This is not an adjective. It’s a verb. It means to delight in, to be conscious of and to experience God’s grace. This is an attitude check.

“Let your gentleness be evident to all”
This is spiritual discipline. In other words, make sure you continue to conduct yourself as a child of God. This is a behavior check.

“Do not be anxious about anything”
This word anxious, means distracted; drawn in opposite directions. This is a focus check.

“In every situation, by prayer”
Make sure you are talking “to” God and not “at” Him. Make sure you’re connected with His presence. Make sure you’re intentionally seeking Him, His face. Make sure you have an expectation for God to respond. This is an intention check.

“and by petition”
This is a heart-felt supplication and request arising out of deep personal need. We know what we want from God. But do we know what we need from Him?) Do we know what really matters? (priority check)
with thanksgiving. This is a gratitude, humility and pride check

Notice that all of these things require us to have a specific heart posture. This is not just about what you say to God. It’s about the heart behind what we say to Him.

This heart posture is what the enemy wants to bully us out of. He doesn’t want us to delight in God’s grace. He doesn’t want us to conduct ourselves in a holy way. He doesn’t want us to be focused or intentional. He wants us to be prideful and to seek sufficiency within ourselves.

This is why when we’re having a hard time walking in faith, we don’t have the best attitudes. We don’t behave righteously. We’re focused on the wrong things. Our prayer lives are weak or self-absorbed. And we lack humility.

The verse says once you get your heart in the right place, now you can present your requests to God.

Why do you think it’s important to have your heart in the right place when requesting something from God?

James 4:3,7
3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

So when I do my part, God does His. He ushers us into a place of peace. Our part requires discipline and temperance. And then, God does for us what we can’t do for ourselves. That is to bring us into a place of peace.

*Tressa Jo

Me and God?

Let’s talk about our relationship with God.

Imagine yourself in a two-seater airplane.

There’s just you and God in this plane. Of course, God is in the pilot seat. You’re in the passenger seat. Not only is God in the plane, but He is the airplane and the entire course.

He’s the run way/starting place. He is the way, the Truth and life.

He’s the wings/elevation. He will lift you up.

He’s the engine. He gives you life. He’s the gasoline.

He is the reason you live, you move and have your very being.

He’s the exterior body of the plane. He formed you in your mother’s womb.

He’s the navigation system. He directs your steps.

He’s the windows you see through. He removes the scales from your eyes that you might see.

He’s the electrical system. He looks at your heart.

He’s the seat that you’re sitting in. He is the place of rest.

He’s the fire extinguisher. He is a very present help in the time of trouble.

He’s even the parachute. He will catch you when you fall.

He’s the black box. He ALWAYS know where you are and when you’ve been.

He’s every part of the plane.He’s the destination/the landing strip.

Acts 17:28 In Him we live, we move and we have our very being.

In this two-passenger airplane, God gives you operating rights, entrusting that you’ll honor His presence. He says, even though I’m your everything, I’m giving you free will to steward this plane and everything in it and about it. Even though I’m your everything, I won’t force you to honor me, do what I want you to do or go where I want you to go.But I want you to understand a few very important things about Me.

I want you to Love Me.

Not love the airplane. Not love where I can take you in this airplane. Not love the things I do for you. But love Me.

Matthew 22:37 … “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command.

I’m a jealous God.

I didn’t create you for you to be about everything and everybody except Me. I created you for Myself.

Deut. 4:24 “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God”.

Exodus 34:14 “For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God”

Light has no fellowship with darkness.

I can’t and won’t dwell in darkness. If you choose to live in darkness/in sin, understand that I won’t be there with you.

Darkness opposes and rejects My presence and My light.

1 John 1:5 NIV This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.

2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

In other words, God has standards for our relationship with Him. We don’t get to decide these things.

Jeremiah 10:23 KJV O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Understanding that we need God for everything, it’s a wise and smart thing to allow Him to tell us what to do. Especially in our relationship with Him. Because every bit of our journey in this life will be determined by our willingness or unwillingness to let Him do just that — tell us what to do.

*Tressa Jo

Trust The God of the Process

The God of heaven is not bound or limited by process. All He has to do is speak and it will be. But He allows and uses process to:

*Afford His children opportunities to exercise the faith they profess. What would be the purpose of being required to have something that you never needed to use? Faith isn’t faith until it’s exercised.

*To prepare us to behold His glory – Yeah, you need to know that God did that. It didn’t just fall out of the sky. It has nothing to do with the universe, chance or luck. It was God!
You can be amazed but don’t be shocked. God is more than able. And nothing is too hard for Him.

*And to glorify Himself – The greater the gory, the greater the glory. God can be glorified in the valley just like He can be glorified on the mountaintops. We are the “thru”. God is the “to”. God gets His glory THRU us. But all the glory belongs TO God.

You better believe, it doesn’t take all that for God to do what He does in the lives of His children. God doesn’t need process. We do.

God doesn’t have to “show up and show out”. He is not limited or bound by location and/or time. He’s magnificent all by Himself. He doesn’t have to do anything. All He has to do is BE! He is the Great I Am!

He is everywhere at the same time. And He is who He is, all of the time, wether we recognize it or not.

So while we’re waiting on Him to “show up”, He’s waiting on us to recognize that He’s already there.

He’s already there!

So…. Way too many of us are trusting processes, but not trusting God. It’s not about trusting the process. It’s about trusting The God of the process!

*Tressa Jo