BELIEVING BRINGS COURAGE

I am always amazed that the more I know God, I realize how little I know. Have we only scratched the surface of the awesomeness of Gods wisdom and knowledge? My answer would be a resounding YES. When we spend quiet time with God and seek His face, ask Him questions and give thought to His direction, He reveals so much insight to those who will spend time to seek His wisdom. For one thing, I understand when reading His Word that He is most pleased when we have that courage by having that strong confidence in God. He is direct at telling us that He is not pleased if we shrink back in fear (Heb 10:38). He even tells us that people who are cowards will not enter the Kingdom of God (Rev 21:8). If you read this verse in the Amplified Version, it really hits hard about the repercussions of being a coward (being fearful). It strikes me to notice that the word "coward" tops the list in amongst other characteristics such as adulterers, people who are contemptible, murderers, lewdness and those who practice magic arts will have their place in the lake of fire. Just like in items we purchase at the store, the most amount of any ingredients are listed at the top and this particular word is listed at the top. Therefore, I find it very needful to take heed to this. I did not understand in the past "why" this would be. After thinking on this, I believe it's because people who have a form of cowardice, don't end up believing His loving trust for them in which He takes great offence to this. Although we often know what the Word says, I believe many times alot of people don't know the "How to" method of obtaining this reality. So I would like to put it in simple terms to help each one be able to use the tools to develop that strong God-confident courage within us that is pleasing to God. First, we have to believe that having courage is not only pleasing to Him, but we need to know that He takes great offence to His Children shrinking back in fear, like I just mentioned in the previous paragraph. Secondly, if we will take time to KNOW HIM so we can believe Who He really is, we will walk and live by having strong confidence and being courageous in Him. We can't truthfully say we KNOW HIM when we live in fear. It's simply a matter of CHOOSING to believe Him. It has nothing to do with any natural ability or human strength. Otherwise, we are relying on our own ability which will also fail. Therefore, it has nothing to do with any anyone's natural ability, but has to do with making choices. Choose to BELIEVE HIM (Who He really is; What He can do by simply looking at what He has already done and His un-matched loving character towards us). If we believe He is ever so present with us, we will never have to fear because we are confident and believe He is always with us. "Thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil because Thou art with me"(Psalm 23:4). Whatever we are going through, we can choose to BELIEVE His love, His goodness and His care for us. And if we happen to be going through situations that may not be favourable, we can still choose to believe He is preparing us to be the type of people He can equip us to be by going through whatever type of circumstances we may need to go through. What more does He have to prove His love for us when you see the life of humility, sorrows, pain, suffering right to His last breath He took for us? How can we not receive or believe His love for us when we take the time to consider what He has done? For alot of people, we simply have to stop making excuses and choose to believe in His love and care for you no matter what. Having that strength and courage of Christ within is so precious and priceless. Just the fact that we choose to simply BELIEVE HIM is so simple which many don't understand because we make it more complicated then necessary. I like what it says in Rom 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the Power of God working unto salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jews, then for the Gentiles". Notice that when it mentions not being ashamed and having the Power of God working within anyone. But it only works in those who BELIEVE. Just simply choosing to believe Him empowers us and gives us courage. This is primarily the reason why people remain fearful, doubtful remain fretful is because they don't believe Gods love and care for them. We forget who God is when we continue to worry, being fretful, fearful and doubting about situations that comes our way. Being concerned about what we don't understand is one thing, but it is another issue when we fail to remember the One whom we should know and/or choose not to believe. People who choose not to believe are destroyed (read John 3:18b). I see time and time again the people who choose not to believe or deny Gods love and care for themselves are the ones who never have any joy or peace within. What more does God have to do for us to prove His love and care for us when we look at the life of Christ Jesus Himself and what He accomplished for us? To find practical ways of fanning this flame of courage within us, we need to speak this assurance and make an example of confessions to Him such as: "I Trust You dear Lord because of Your great love for me". I find when I say this to myself over several times with a smile on my face (putting action to what I believe), I can feel an overwhelming sense of His peace within me that is priceless. I enjoy seeing a vision of that spirit of fear running away from me when I believe and know His love and presence is always with me. Paul says in Phil 3:10, when we know Him (His love and care for us), we will have that Resurrection Power of Jesus working within us. We have confidence and courage in the Lord because we KNOW HIM and not just know about Him. I believe the amount of courage we have from trusting in the Lord goes hand in hand of how much we choose to believe in Him. You will never develop courage when you fail to believe. It all comes down to this: CHOOSE to either believe Him, His love, His care for you that will give you His Peace, His Strength and courage to move forward by being confident in God, or choose not to believe and remain fearful and continue to live in doubt and worry that will never bring true peace. Be blessed and Choose life (Him) so that you and your descendants may live (Deut 30:19). In the Matchless Name of Jesus Richard Ministry Encourager Answers2Prayer http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife http://www.answers2prayer.org/

STRONGER THROUGH TRIALS

Dearest Saints, First I want to give each one of you Gods richest blessings and His strength to work within you and through you ever so much more in 2015 and be molded to be a strong Advocate for the Lord then ever before. But knowingly, it often takes a person to go through "the wilderness" of life to get to "The Promised Land" where we all want to get to. We all want the blessings, but in order to be disciplined and become that strong Man/Woman of God that we would all like to be, we have to understand that we need to go through circumstances that we may not like to go through during any particular time in life. It may not be what we want, but God knows it's often what we need in order to reap greater eternal benefits. When you read Matt 20:20-22, it mentions that the Mother of Zebedees Children came to Jesus with her two children and asked Him if each one of her sons can sit on either side of God in His Kingdom. Jesus replied back and said to her: You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? In other words, many people want to be blessed and have a place of honor, have a big ministry or fulfill other high ambitions in life, but are they willing to put up with alot of "unfavorable situations" or go through many valleys to do what they would like to do? Are they willing to drink out of the same cup that Jesus drank out of to be able to do what He did? Many of the people who have great and powerful ministries are the ones who learned much as they went through alot of testings, trials and valleys. It has often cost friends that weren't really friends in the first place. It may mean opposition when people say to you: "You can't do this/that". It may be times of feeling lonely and there is no one but just you and God. I may not like what God has to say at times, but am thankful He is honest because He doesn't tell us that He will spare us from storms, but tells us that we will go through many trials to enter into the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). However, He does promise never to leave us, even through the storms of life. Just like when He was in the boat crossing the Sea of Galilee with the other Disciples and He was there with them through the storm. God doesn't just want anyone to go through storms or valleys for no purpose, but the reality is that these are the times/places that make a person stronger by having gone through them. God Himself understands all about trials because He went through greater trials than anyone will ever go through. One of my many trials was dealing with people who often tried to discourage me, which has caused me to fight back with the Power of Gods help to get me through as I held my ground and believed He would strengthen me through those times. Now strangely enough, I find myself to be an Encourager to many people world-wide. Maybe it's because I know the pain of being discouraged and want to encourage many of you in the Lord and to tell you there is Hope when we put our trust in Him. In one instance of dealing with many discouragements, I was told by one of my Supervisors that I would never be able to do the job in an isolated military community and be an effective Warehouse/Retail Manager. I felt drained of all energy just hearing those negative words. I thank God that I was able to fight back and rise up in the power of Gods might to break those chains that the enemy (satan) tried to make me a prisoner of. I had to rely on God and learn to fight back by boldly declaring the Word and getting to know the God whom we serve. Having opposition has taught me to use His Word boldly, courageously and to fight back by having that Victory mentality He tells us in Rom 8:36-37 and Isa 54:17. I can tell you that I would not have developed a bold God-confident spirit within me had I not had to face these challenges and learn to fight back with the Word of God. I know often times that people want whatever storms in life to veer away off track so they don't come our way (whether it is physical storms, relational storms, spiritual storms, "financially-Challenging" storms), etc. However, we need to see them as an opportunity to rely on the Power of God to see us through. Many times, God will have to put people through storms all because many refuse to put their Trust in Him which is where He wants to end up placing each of us for our own benefit. After seeing what God has brought me through, I would not dare want to live a day without the Lord taking full control of my life. In fact, it scares me to leave God out of any part of my life. It's an amazing liberation to trust in God and see how He moves in the lives of many who have come to that place and learned to put their total trust in Him. Again, if we want to be that Bold, dynamic man/woman of God to rise up in His power to be His Representative, are we willing to drink out of the same cup as others have in order to do the type of work they are are doing? Going through "financially challenging" storms may be far better than winning the lottery. It caused me to have my chains broken from that strong spirit called "covetous" which often keeps many of Gods children in bondage. But to be released from this bondage, it often takes people going through challenging times. I have always liked Robin Williams as an Actor. But unfortunately, ended his life by committing suicide. So what did all his $50 Million dollar estate he left with his family end up doing for him? Putting our hopes and affections on the things of this world rather then on God and His Kingdom are temporal and are eventually going to come to a drastic end. Going through trials is a "necessary evil" because this is where people are challenged to examine their heart and motives and make those life altering decisions to decide to Trust in the Lord that will be better for us in the end. Do our hearts still long for Egypt (worldly ambitions, world riches, worldly cares, etc)? These are the times God has transformed my thinking and made me realize that I was putting all my cares and ambitions into something that was only temporal that will not last. Having gone through trials, I no longer have those worldly ambitions by caring to have what the neighbours have or compete to have the latest and most up-to-date gadgets. My heart is now set on things above and living for the Lord. But again, I had to go through trials and valleys to be released from bondages and get to where I am at. I want to encourage each of you to be purposeful in your heart in advance to make a decision that You are going to trust in Him. This is that hedge of protection by preparing our hearts and mind in the first place. Just like Jesus was always prepared in advance by being prayed up before He went into ministry who faced many oppositions. Therefore, don't just simply ask God to spare you from trials/storms, but ASK and BELIEVE our loving God to help You trust in Him to whatever He brings your way in life and ask Him to help you cooperate with Him to become that mighty Man/Woman of God who can be most useful for the advancement of His Kingdom which is the only Kingdom that will last forever. Why put your energies, heart, ambitions and time into something that will never last? With His help, put your energies and ambitions to serve Him and increase the work of His Kingdom. He tells us to set our affections on things above, not on things of this world (Col 3:2) because He wants us to cooperate and be recipients of what is eternally best for us (Read 1 Cor 3:10-15 and 1 Cor 9:24,25). Let's declare to put our Trust in the One who KNOWS what is BEST and He KNOWS what we need to go through. We know what we want, but often do not know what we need, but HE KNOWS what we NEED. The more we resist His leading and fail to put our full trust in Him, we may have to do a journey through the wilderness longer then expected. It took the Israelites 40 years to do an 11 day journey. In Gods economy, as long as we resist from surrendering our lives and wills to Him, we are likely go through more trials and testings until we learn to come to the place of surrendering to His will. I would like each one to pray that God inspired prayer in Eph 3:16-19 so that whatever we have to go through, BY HIS GRACE, we are going to cooperate with Him and be better off eternally because of it. Make a declaration: That by Your Grace Dear Lord, 2015 is going to be a year of surrendering to God and allowing His power to move through our lives like never before. In the Matchless Name of Jesus Richard Ministry Encourager Answers2Prayer http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife http://www.answers2prayer.org/ Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders? (Exod 15:11)

Bible Study on Jesus and the Kingdom of God, Jesus Walk Bible Study Series

Bible Study on Jesus and the Kingdom of God, Jesus Walk Bible Study Series

BENEFITTING the MOST of HIS WORD

Blessed Saints of the Most High, As a continuation of the last message about the strength of having heart knowledge, I can't emphasize enough of the benefits of taking quality time and meditating on the powerful truth of His Word. When a person becomes strong in the Lord, it has nothing to do with any natural ability that we have inherited, so no one is at any disadvantage over anyone else because of any greater intellect or physical endurance. Individuals who benefit the most by becoming stronger in the Lord are the ones who spend quality time with God by meditating on the Truth of His amazing attributes, His love and care for them and knowing deep within that only His Word brings eternal LIFE. The strength of a Godly character of a person is more evident when he/she listens and takes heed (taking time to meditate) to His instructions more and more. It's always about getting the powerful truth of His Word into our heart which is why it takes time and effort on our part. A person cannot expect to be strong in the Lord if they will only listen to a message once or read a message once and think they get it. To get the most of His Word and benefit from it the most, we need to take time to meditate by first seeking His guidance and studying and meditating over and over in our minds until it gets into heart. It always comes down to the "heart issue". This is why God says He sees the heart of man and not the outward appearance (1 Sam 16:7). That's why to Him, the heart of a person is more important than anything else, and He knows what we spend our time on the most is whatever is within ones heart. Any individuals who are the most intellectually gifted people in the world will NEVER benefit from receiving any Truth of Gods Word within them as long as they have a hard and unbelieving heart. Just like the parable of the seed that falls on hard ground, which allows the enemy to steal from you what is meant to bring forth richness of life (Luke 8:12). The Word of life spoken will never benefit anyone whose heart is hard. For our heart to be conditioned right, we have to strip that ugly pride from our heart and see our desperate need of His instructions for us. I know I mentioned this many times, but I always like the response Peter gave to Jesus in John 6:68 after many of the Disciples left Jesus and He questioned the remaining twelve if they were going to leave Him also (John 6:67). Simon Peter replies: Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words to eternal life! I would like to add "Selah" to that so we will take time to meditate on that powerful truth. The problem today is that we want so much in an instant and we don't want to take time or effort to meditate or study to get the most of His Word. When we do try to grow too fast and not taking the time to study His Word, its like the parable of the seed that grew too quickly that had very little roots, and when trials came, it didn't last and the plant quickly died (Luke 8:13). Knowing His Word takes time and He knows when a person is young in Him, He doesn't expect a new Christian to be thoroughly knowledgeable in the word, but He does expect us to continue to grow. For those whom they have been saved many years, Paul tells us that some of them ought to be teaching others, but continued to be taught the same elementary principles of Gods Word (Heb 5:12). My guess is that these people failed to spend any quality time in prayer, failed to take time to seek greater revelation or failed to utilize any time to give any thought to what they have read or heard. When we do take the time to know the Word, we have the ability to rightly divide the word of truth from what is false in order to benefit the most that is meant to edify you and help you be strong in the Lord (2 Tim 2:15). When we do come to know the Word by meditating on it more and more, we know when to shut out and refute the lies of the enemy and benefit by allowing His Word to build us up that is able to help us stand under any pressures (Eph 6:13). I believe all would agree that we would rather benefit from Words that edify and build us up rather then simply listening to every false pretense that only brings doubt and fear. Therefore, I want to encourage each of us to take some scripture each day and take time to meditate on it so it gets into your heart. Jesus tells us that when we take time to seek, we will find (Matt 7:7,8). It doesn't have to take hours, but take some quality time to think His Truths over in your mind. Seeking treasures takes time, but when it is found, it is priceless. When the life of His Word gets into our hearts, it is priceless because no one can take the life from you when it is in your heart and this only comes by spending quality time with Him and allowing the power of His Word to reside within you. God promises in Joshua 1:8 that when we do meditate on His Word, this is what will help us be prosperous (by having that inner Peace and Joy within), be able to deal wisely and have good success by not living under the lies of the enemy. Let's benefit from the One who KNOWS BEST and LOVES US THE MOST.

STRENGTH OF HAVING HEART KNOWLEDGE

Blessed Children of the MOST HIGH, I have been thinking of how many Christians suffer. Not only that, but many suffer in silence. I know because I suffered in silence also and regret not reaching out more to those whom I know can and are more than willing to help earlier than I did. Because it is NOT SAFE to suffer in silence, I believe God has equipped many of His Saints within reach to one another and be His hands to each of His hurting Children. A true Christian should always be willing to help others in their time of need or at least be willing to lead them to someone whom you know can help. You may not be a counsellor, but just the fact that you tell others that you are praying for them and have their best interest does more than you think. The enemy (satan) will always make a person think that those who suffer are alone and no one else is going through what you are going through. In fact, God tells us in 1 Pet 5:9 that many of your Brothers and Sisters suffer the same way as we do. When I read several verses before and after that from 1 Peter 5:7-11, He starts out by telling us to cast all of our cares, our anxieties our fears and anything that holds us back from moving forward in Him. We are to cast it ALL to Him. However, we can only be effective to cast all of our cares upon Him when WE KNOW deep within us that He truly does care for us (vs 7b). In other words, if we don't have that revelation knowledge that gets down into our heart and our spirit that He truly does deeply care for us, it is going to be very difficult for any of us to be able to cast all of our cares unto Him. This is pivital to know first and foremost that HE CARES FOR YOU and I. We need to know He deeply cares for us before the remainder of the text found in vs 10 and 11 will be of any value to us. This is the promise that after we have suffered alittle, we will be grounded, be secured, be strengthened in Him and settled with His Peace within us (vs 10). So when you read this context, it starts out by knowing He cares for you. And when this reality goes from our head to our heart, we can stand firm in our faith because we know He cares for us deep within our heart. Just thinking over this thought this past week, I realize that when people strongly believe a thought or opinion, it is because they thought about a certain idea long enough that it travelled from their head to their heart. Once any thought becomes a belief within their heart and they continue to meditate on this certain agenda, they become stronger and bolder in their opinion because it is now lodged into their heart wehre it becomes a strong conviction of belief. Ever notice that many times when things happen, we can forget they happened in a short period of time. But when we give special attention or thought to a certain event that happened in our life and meditate it over again, it's something we will remember for a long time. So when people say horrible words to one another that tear down their confidence it becomes a stronghold within their heart when they give thought to what was said to them over and over again and it becomes a strong belief they have towards themselves even though it is nothing but a lie. I gave an example several years ago about reading Psalm 91. When you read this Psalm, it talks about everyone in general terms. When you re-read this same Psalm, insert your name and speak this Psalm audibly to yourself and go over it several times as though God is speaking directly to you. Don't just read this, but speak it over you by inserting your name. This goes for any other encouraging scriptures by inserting your name and hearing you speak them over you and envision that God is speaking directly to You with the interest of His heart for you. When you do this enough times, you will start to build a strong bond of Gods Word that will get into your heart and you will be strongly convinced that Gods Word is Truth and you will become stronger in resisting the devils lies over you. This is why the Lord encourages us to spend time meditating on His Word like He tells us in Joshua 1:8 as follows: This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success For those of you who are struggling, I would ask you to please invest even a short time each day by doing this because you owe this to yourself and the One who loves you and cares for you like no other. Even just thinking each day the pain He suffered by taking your place being nailed on the Cross will become strong within our heart and our love for Him will become much stronger when this Truth becomes a revelation that gets into our heart. By meditating on this truth through time and being consistent, you will see the benefits of His Word that gets into your heart will really work for you. You will be strongly convinced of how much God loves you and knowing your identity in Him when you read His Word (His love letter to you) and you meditate and speak it over and over yourself until it gets into your heart. May the Truth that is only found in His Word richly bless you. In the Matchless Name of Jesus Richard Associate Director Answers2Prayer http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife http://www.answers2prayer.org/

A Call for Justice - Part 2

Dear Blessed Saints, As a continuation of seeking true Justice from all the injustices we see around us or directed at us, I often have failed in the past of a more serious concern. And that is the question: Have I committed any injustice against Christ? If so, how? Few of the many possible circumstances I would like to reflect on are the ones I particularly had caused such as: a. Do I fail to put God first in my life and fail to see my need of Him for everything in my life? b. Have I failed to put my trust in Him by doubting His love, His faithfulness towards me and His pardon to receive His total forgiveness after I have repented by hanging on to guilt? (1 John 1:9) c. Have I failed to maintain a healthy reverential fear of Him? d. Have I become desensitized to some of His instructions by my heart to become calloused? God tells us that He was angry with His own who failed to maintain a reverential fear of Him (Jer 2:19). He was also angry with a nation who became so laxed by thinking we can now live on our own agendas by living with ease (Amos 6:1) by failing to understand that we are always at His Mercy & Grace every moment of our lives. Do we ever fail to take any quality time to consider the interest of others? (Phil 2:4). These are just some of the many many questions we can ask ourselves. I have heard it where someone had come to a Church service for the first time and no one acknowledged this person to just take a minute to share a smile or a warm handshake. All the great preaching that may have been mentioned will mean nothing if we don't demonstrate Christ to others which to me is a great injustice towards Him. There are multiple millions of other examples where we have caused our Lord injustice. This is by no means meant to be condemning. Otherwise, we do the bidding of the evil one himself. However, we need to be open and honest and reveal what may be concealed in our hearts so that we can be liberated and be healed which is what God wants to do for us (James 5:16). For myself, a person would have to write several large volumes of books just to list the injustices I have caused against the Lord. But thankfully, because of His love and mercy, none of us ever has to be a prisoner of the evil one by holding on to any guilt or shame. When God chose me (as an example), He knew what He was getting in to because He knows all that I will ever do. But yet, He still chose me and has now forgiven and forgotten all the wrong I have ever committed all because of His unlimited Grace and Mercy towards me. This is why none of us who are in Christ will ever be justified feeling condemned or hanging on to guilt. A Christian hanging on to guilt is an injustice against Him because we limit His Pardon and Grace for us that He paid in full. Our God is a God of Justice as much as He is Love. The foundation of His very Throne is built on Righteousness and Justice (Ps 89:14). The Justice He wants us to have is to be set free from every bondages because He tells us that He came to set captives free (Ps 146:7) of which I was one. He wants justice to help us become stronger in Him by believing His Word, that He(Jesus) is the perfection of God, that the Word (Jesus) is truly Faithful who wants only the very best for us. When He tells us to "Fear Not", this is true Justice that we do just that. Therefore, if we remain fearful and are full of worry, this is another form of injustice because it goes against His Word which is His perfect will. We are justified in Christ simply because we believe wholeheartedly of what He instructs to us in His Word (Gal 2:16). His Justice towards us is for us to believe and receive the fullness of His love, His faithfulness towards us, His protection for us, His constant provision to us, His utmost care for us. When we fail to see His Love, His Omnipotent Power, His Omnipresence of His promise never to leave or forsake us and His omni-sapience of unfathonable wisdom, we cause Him much injustice because we failed to believe the fullness of who He says He is and His perfect love towards us (John 6:29). He wants to turn every Injustice that we may have had towards Him and replace it with His Justice for us. It's like Him taking all of our sin(s) and replacing it with His Righteousness. Even though He tells us we are Justified in Him (Rom 5:1), we end up being prisoners instead when we fail to receive it by faith. As an example, even though God took the curse upon Himself when He chose to hang on a tree on our behalf, this doesn't become a reality for many when we fail to acknowledge this and receive it by faith. Many of Gods people will believe they remain cursed from their past when God Himself tells us the He already took the curse away from us and took it upon Himself when He hung on the cross in our place (Gal 3:13). Many often fail to realize that the One (Jesus) who resides in us is greater then he (satan) who is in the world (1 John 4:4). I want to encourage you that with Gods help, not allow us to cause any further injustice against Him by doubting and limiting His love, His goodness, His forgiveness towards us and utmost care & provision for us. Let's call out for Justice like He tells us to in Isaiah 59:4 and receive His total goodness for us in every way as His inheritors and believe Him to manifest His power to help us become stronger each day in the Lord. The Lord is ever so willing and faithful, are we willing and obedient? In the Matchless Name of Jesus Richard Associate Director Answers2Prayer http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife http://www.answers2prayer.org/

A Call for Justice - Part 1

Dearest Saints, I have been thinking a lot lately about the one scripture in Isaiah 59:4 where God questions us: "Why does no one call out for justice"? I sense the Lord dealing with me on several issues including this one. These insights I like to share is simply to help us so that we can become more like Christ, which is what our purpose of growing in Him is all about. Becoming more like Christ. In other words, if I feel like I am learning more and more of what He is teaching me, I believe this is an injustice towards Him if I cannot take the time to share these insights to help and bless each and every one of you. It reminds me when Jesus talks about that wicked servant who didn't bother to use the one talent his Master had given him. He hid the talent instead of using it (Matt 25:24-30). Therefore, I want to use what He has given me in order to richly bless you that will help you become stronger in Him more and more. When I think of my past, I have often been angered at the injustices done against myself. But I hardly ever gave thought about the injustices that prevalently takes place that personally comes against our Lord every moment of each passing day. I now realize how selfish I have been by being more concerned about myself rather than Gods reputation. In other words, when I feel violated by others actions, I was concerned about my reputation and the injustices that came my way when I should have been much more concerned how they are coming against God Himself personally. Having this mindset of only being concerned about myself was a set up by the enemy to make one feel like a victim all because we were concerned with "self" rather then having Godly sorrow that brings forth life (2 Cor 7:10). How often have we seen ourselves like this? When we see how God personally loves us just because of the great suffering He chose to go through on our behalf, we would be more concerned how the world is immeasurably causing Him far greater injustice than any injustices we have or will ever receive. I like what the one thief said to the other as they hung on the Cross beside Christ. He said to the other thief "we are getting what we deserve, but He has not done nothing wrong to deserve this"(Luke 23:41). And yet, He (Jesus) chose to take our place on the Cross where we should have been. The thief who had more concern for Christ then for himself was justified by Christ. When we keep our focus on His love for us, it no longer becomes a great concern about seeing us being a victim as it does to see how He has often become the One receiving injustice by being ridiculed by the world. When we see how the world has created much injustice against Him, we should no longer be a victim of seeing any injustice against ourselves, but be more concerned about the injustices being done against Him who loves like no other. This alone is liberating because we will no longer be a prisoner of having "self pity" or being a victim because we won't be concerned with "self". When we become angry at injustice the way God instructs us, I believe this is that Righteous anger as opposed to having anger that becomes sinful. Notice how Jesus Himself never became angry when people came directly against Him. However, you will notice that He was angry when He saw how moneychangers desecrated the House of God when those inside were buying and selling items rather than keeping His Fathers House as a House of Prayer (Matt 21:12,13). His Righteous anger was identified when He was more concerned about His Fathers House then being concerned about Himself. When I remain focus on His love and favor He has towards myself, I now turn my anger more and more against the injustices being done against Him rather then being concerned about myself. Self pity is an avenue the devil often traps many of Gods people all because we have focused on concerning our self and our reputation being violated rather then seeing God Himself and His principles of love being violated. I find it more serious to see how the world has turned against Him so much of which they will be accountable like nothing anyone had ever experienced. And yet, how much love could He have possibly shown any more then He already did (John 3:16)? It's OK to be angry because Jesus Himself was. But not let your anger become sinful. I think a good way to tell whether anger is sin or not is whether we are angry at people coming against us and we take it personally that often wants to take vengeance. Or is our anger against the sins of injustice that come directly against our God? The greatest weapon we can come against real evil is praying for our physical enemies all because we want to do His will. We will find this much easier to accomplish when we understand His love and passion towards us. Jesus tells us that we show our love for Him when we obey His teachings. Therefore, when we understand how much He suffered for each of us personally, we will find it much easier to obey Him, even though it would otherwise be difficult to do in the natural. All too often, many of Gods people within His Church fight against each other and we have become a great enemy of Him by this great injustice of not following His commandment of love in the first place. Disobedience that comes against the greatest commandment to love Him and to love one another is a violation and a great injustice towards Him personally. When God questions us to call out for Justice, let's call out for His Justice by fighting FOR one another and fight AGAINST the spiritual enemies who mock and violate the law of Love that comes against Him. If we will fight for the one we passionately love here on earth, should we not fight for true justice by what He has suffered towards us that much more? Let's fight against injustices that violate His will by praying one for another, and come to honour and believe in the One (Jesus) whom the Father has sent (John 6:29). In the Matchless Name of Jesus Richard Associate Director Answers2Prayer http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife http://www.answers2prayer.org/ www.helpingcopewithhope.blogspot.com Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders? (Exod 15:11)