People Aren't Your Problem! pt.3

For the past two months, we have looked at the issue of dealing with people and seeing them from a spiritual perspective.

This month, we will look at what God expects of us and how we should be operating when we are dealing with people. As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are responsible for maintaining a Kingdom-like culture wherever we go. Genesis 2:15 We are also responsible for obedience to God's Word. Every manifestation or miracle that takes place in our lives is preceded by an act of obedience. Romans 4:21-24 AMP Any failure we experience is on our part. God is always faithful. Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:18 Because of the Law of Dominion, God allows you to determine what he can do in your life. Luke 12:16 We have to submit to God for Him to do anything in the earth. James 4:6-7 AMP

Knowing how to operate around people is extremely important because of who we are in the Kingdom of God. Spirit filled man is God's representative in the Earth. We have to exercise our dominion. We are responsible for speaking only what God tells us to speak through and in line with His Word. John 12:49-50 AMP When we run into a situation where a confrontation with a person ensues, we must walk in the spirit. We can call out the spirit behind a person. We have to recognize that the devil has no power over us. Luke 10:19 When we speak to a situation, we are operating with authority and taking dominion for the Kingdom. Mark 11:22-24; Genesis 1:26-28 We are expected to change our area of influence so it reflects the Kingdom like culture. Matthew 16:19 AMP In order to change the culture to reflect the Kingdom, we have to be willing to look past ourselves and put God's Kingdom first. We have to make advancing His Kingdom a priority in our lives and we must ask God for wisdom on how to do this. Matthew 6:33 We also must maintain our authority and not be victim to something we have authority over. We must not allow the devil to converse with us. There is no discussion with the devil. You say what God says and that is it. 2 Timothy 3:5

I pray this lesson has been a blessing to you and will help you look differently at contrary people. Walk in love towards people who are being used. They need to see the Kingdom of God in action to even want to come out of the kingdom of darkness. It is awesome to watch someone in God's Kingdom operating with authority, power and love!

Casting Down Despair

Casting Down Despair

If you have ever gone through a traumatic experience in your life or lived through a period of time when you could not see your faith at work, then this lesson is for you.
Times of despair come into everyone's life, but how you handle those times will determine whether or not you will live a victorious life or a defeated one.

Before we get into the lesson, we need to make sure we know what despair is. To despair according to Webster's Dictionary is to be utterly at a loss, to no longer have any hope or belief that a situation will improve or change, to lose all hope or confidence, or to lose heart and become despondent. In 2 Corinthians 1:8 and 4:8, the apostle Paul shares some of his experiences with despair.

Instead of being caught up in despair and giving up based on our situation (which is temporary), we have to focus on what the complete opposite of despair is; hope.
To hope is to cherish a desire with anticipation, to desire with expectation of attainment, or to expect with confidence.

In order to have hope, you have to know something. James 1:2-3 Our hope must always be based on God's Word.Psalms 119:114, 116; 130:5; Lamentations 3:24, 26; Romans 4:18; 15:4  When we place our hope in God and not in things or people, we are never disappointed.Romans 5:5 Problems with despair come when we place our hope in the wrong thing. We have to stay aware of the fact that we do have an enemy who tries his best to fulfill his job description (John 10:10) by bringing trials and temptations into our lives, which depending on our reaction to these situations can bring despair or hope. We also need to remember that the enemy comes after our faith, which will not operate without hope. Our faith has to have something to work through. Hebrews 11:1; Romans10:17 When times of  trial and testing come into our lives, we need to have God's Word planted firmly within us so we will know how to react to each situation that arises and we will be able to walk in victory. 1 John 5:4 

Why does despair come?

• Because you have an enemy who is after your faith in God's Word. Matthew 13:19-21; John10:10
• We can open the door to despair based on our lack of faith or wrong reaction to a situation. Job3:25

What do we need to do when despair comes?

• We must remember who we are in Christ Jesus. 1 John 5:4
• We must remember Who God is. Hebrews 6:18-19 AMP
• We have to remember to seek God's wisdom concerning our situation. James 1:5, Proverbs 4:5-7; 9:10
• We have to use our sword (which is God's Word) Ephesians 6:10-17

How do we cast down despair?

• We must speak the Word of God out loud when the enemy sends evil thoughts our way. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
• We must keep our minds stayed on God. Isaiah 26:3; John 16:33 AMP
• We can use praise as a weapon against despair. Psalms 71:14
• We can encourage ourselves with the Word of God. Psalms 42:5,11; 43:5

Remember, when despair comes your way in any situation, you can place your hope in God and His Word. Times of despair may come into our lives, but it is up to us to choose hope and to operate in victory!

People Aren't Your Problem! pt.2

In part one, we talked about situations where we are surprised or upset by the behavior of people. We also talked about the need to see everything from a spiritual perspective. Hebrews 11:3 AMP To see things from a spiritual perspective, we must understand the Law of Dominion. God gave mankind dominion over the earth in Genesis 1:26, 28. So now, if God wants to do anything in the earth, He has to use the free will of a human being to do it. The same is true for the kingdom of darkness. They cannot do anything without a person's free will. Exodus 3:7-10
Dominion is a product of us operating within our area or domain of assigned authority. When we walk into a room, we bring the Kingdom of God with us. The problem with that is that the enemy does not want us to take back our territory. So, he stirs things up with people who are in darkness. Dominion is also a product of partnering with God to manifest His will in the earth. The enemy does not want God's will coming to pass in the earth. So the enemy uses people and the law of dominion to try to stop God's will. We immediately need to recognize that the enemy is at work when a person is acting contrary to God's Word. The devil knows God will not break His own law to intervene in the earth. That is why it is so important for us to be used by God in the earth.
It is also important for us to be in the Kingdom of God. When you are separated from God, you are just another creature subject to the circumstance. Mark 16:15-20 We also must understand that God is restrained by His Word from intervening in your situation without your permission. Mark 10:51-52; Luke 18:41-42; Matthew 13:54-58 The enemy is also bound by the Law of Dominion and has to find a willing body in order to manifest. Acts 13:6-12; 16:16-19 AMP
Religion has been a hindrance to the body of Christ and stopped us from waging successful warfare. We must have our minds transformed by God's Word, learn how to operate in faith and walk in the unseen. James 2:17-19; 2 Corinthians 5:7

People Aren't Your Problem! pt.1

If you have ever been in a situation where you were taken back by the behavior of people, even those you know and love, then this lesson is for you.
Ephesians 6:12 AMP "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere."
You may be asking, "If people aren't the problem, then what is?" I am glad you asked. The problem is that we are participating in two realms: spiritual & physical. In order to be effective in the Kingdom of God, you must be aware of what is coming against you. There is always a resistance to you operating in the Kingdom of God from those in the kingdom of darkness. The enemy does not want you to take territory that he is currently occupying. We must be aware and we must not ignore God's Word. Ephesians 6:11 We also need to remember that the devil does not possess any omni attributes. The devil can only be in a certain place for a certain season. Job 1:6-7; Mark 1:21-27
These are the things that the devil attacks in spiritual warfare: God's character, God's will for you, and your identity. Genesis 3:1-7 The weapons that the devil uses against you are: your appetites, your doctrine, and your allegiance to God. Luke 4:2-12 The enemy's tactics are to steal, kill and destroy. John 10:10 When you are dealing with people who are being used by the kingdom of darkness, they are coming against you because you have made the choice to do things God's way while they have chosen to do things their own way. Matthew 11:11-12; Luke 16:16

Don't Be Weary!

Don't Be Weary!

After conversations with several homeschool parents, I am concerned with the complaints of weariness and attitudes of ineptness. I understand the resistance that homeschool parents experience from societal pressures to the peer pressures their children deal with daily. I want to take this opportunity to encourage homeschool parents to continue to invest their lives into their children. To invest is to endow with quality, which is exactly what homeschool parents do with their children. I know it is difficult to go against the norm, but the results of your investment will make up for the temporary discomfort. I have been a homeschooler for eleven years and I am seeing the rewards for the investment. No good farmer expects to see a crop one day after planting it. No good investor promises great returns for your investment short-term. Homeschool parents have to be willing to stick out the tough times when all you want to do is quit and send your children back to a system you know is not working. What is comfortable and familiar is usually not the best choice nor will it produce the results that caused you to make the decision to homeschool in the first place. Please recognize the contribution you are making in your child's life and do not be weary! "And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint." Galatians 6:9 AMP "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love," Hebrews 6:10a KJV

The Fight for the Kingdom of Education

There is definitely a battle ensuing over the minds of the youth in this country. But the boundaries of this battle are expanding into distant territory. The battle is now reaching into the homes of the children with negative consequences for the whole family. Despite the things that are coming against the family, it is still our responsibility as Kingdom citizens to bring the culture of Heaven into every realm we participate in here on earth. We cannot blame any system we are not willing to change. God has given us dominion in the earth. This dominion certainly covers our households. As parents, we are responsible for making sure our children are properly educated. We are responsible for directing our children in their area of gifting; not for letting the system turn them into carbon copies that are dependant on the system. Let's step up and change the culture.

How to Homeschool Successfully When Your Supply Seems Limited

If you have ever experienced the anxiety of not knowing what to do or not having what you think you need in terms of supplies or curriculum, then this article is for you.

In this society we live in, we can be tempted to believe that we are lacking things we need based on commercials and advertisements. The world's system is a system of consumption. The problem with thinking like the world is that the commercials and advertisements are aimed at making you a consumer.

Consumers are receivers and depend upon the world's system to receive what they need. They do not produce anything. To be a successful homeschooler, you need to be a creator. Creators are not dependant on the world's system because they create what they need. When a need comes up, creators become producers, using their ability to think and imagine.
If you have been operating as a consumer, it is time to transform your way of thinking and become a creator. Romans 12:2

Do not allow yourself to be limited by what seems like a lack of supply. Your supply is based on what you are willing to create. Your only limits are those you place on yourself. Start homeschooling like a creator.

Here are a few tips to get you started thinking like a creator:

1. Spend time in prayer asking God for wisdom and creativity daily in your homeschool.

2. Spend time in the Word of God to enable yourself to receive wisdom and understanding for your day.

3. Take inventory of the things you have around you and think of creative ways to use what you have already in your possession.

4. Take advantage of the public library. Your tax dollars are already paying for it. You need to take advantage of that resource.

5. Check out local homeschool groups or co-ops to see what they offer.

6. Recognize what you have on the inside of you. Do not hesitate to create lessons, art & science projects, and even curriculum. Check to see what your state's requirements are for each student depending on their grade level and work from there.