Learning How To Be Free

Learning How To Be Free

Ephesians 2 : 4 – 9, But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. NKJV

If we are made complete in Christ, and we are according to scripture, why do believers struggle with such feelings as rejection, unworthiness, isolation, etc., after accepting Christ? Paul teaches us about salvation in a way that helps us to overcome the feelings of our heart. As we have accepted the gift of God, salvation into our heart, we have also received the Spirit of Truth as well. He begins revealing to us the inadequacies of our flesh nature- the old man.

This is where many Christians begin to struggle in their faith walk and might make a premature decision to give up and believe their feelings. This struggle stems from being a carnal being that has lived according to their feelings and desires their entire until salvation set us free. Now we are required to walk by faith. As we learn to walk by faith and not be driven by our feelings or desires there will be times of weakness where our old mindset will try to pull us back into walking according to the flesh through guilt and shame of having those old feelings. We can overcome the feelings of our heart by continuing to walk by faith.

Let’s use an example to help you grasp what the Lord is saying to us today. A person isn’t feeling well and they go to their doctor. Once the doctor has listened to the person’s description of the symptoms, he begins to examine the patient to determine what is causing the discomfort of the person. After the examination the doctor determines that his patient is suffering from a health condition that is treatable through proper diet and exercise. This would be the equivalent of someone beginning to walk by faith according to the truth and hearing the Holy Spirit reveal to them the weaknesses that have held them back from obedience in the past. Like the patient who receives directions from their doctor, we should be willing to hear instructions from the Holy Spirit as He reveals the weaknesses in our walk.

Instead of listening to the Lord for instruction, we tend to get hung up on the fact that we have a weakness or desire that must be corrected. Instead of moving forward by obeying the Holy Spirit, there is a tendency to want to give up because we now know what the root cause of our issues is. If we draw back into unbelief instead of walking with the Lord in faith it can cause us to either begin to take ownership of the feelings of rejection, unworthiness, etc. as a being a part of our new identity or try to do works in the strength of our flesh nature to earn what is only given to us freely.

If this word describes what you have been fighting in your spirit and know that it is truth than submit to what the Holy Spirit is saying and follow His instructions. Just like the doctor gives people a diagnosis and then a prescribed cure, so does the Holy Spirit but in a spiritual context. This means we have to accept it and obey His direction by faith.

As we learn to walk by faith and listen to the leading of the Spirit of God, we are now walking in our new identity by God’s grace. Sometimes as you follow doctor’s orders on the way to recovery, you will have flare-ups from the condition; it can also be that way in our spiritual walk of faith to recovery of leaning on the understanding of our flesh nature. There will be those times when the flesh nature will hinder your development because we’re all human, but we must also remember that this battle with our flesh nature and weaknesses is fought and won by faith that it might be by God’s grace. Salvation is the gift of God and no one can earn it through the works of their flesh. Obey and walk by faith and you will see victory in your life.

Learning to accept the free gift of God,
Pastor Asa Dockery 

A Whole New World

John 7 : 37 - 39, On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. NKJV

Paul teaches us in his writings that we are ambassadors of God’s kingdom on the earth. Jesus told His disciples and us that we are in the world but we’re not of the world. You may ask, “How is this possible, that I can be a Christian who lives in the world but not be a part of the world?” You have been born again by faith in Jesus Christ. Now you’re a citizen of the heavenly kingdom of God and you are to fulfill your heavenly assignment.

Everything to do with God and His kingdom must be understood, accepted and inherited by faith in His Word. We live in the reality of a fallen world but as Christians we are not to live in bondage or under the power of the sin that is in the world. We have been made free through our faith in Jesus Christ and have been called to serve Him in the earth.

Jesus gave us an example of how the principle of faith operates in the heart of a believer. He told those present at the feast that day, if they were thirsty to come to Him and drink. If you read His invitation with a carnal mind, you would draw the conclusion that He must have had a container of water and was offering some refreshment to the guests. If that were the case then the next statement that He made about “living water” wouldn’t make much sense. When we make the transition over to faith, our faith opens us up to a whole new world where God supplies all of our needs and not man.

As we become introduced to operating in the realm of the Holy Spirit as spirit beings, at first it seems strange to us. As we grow in our faith as children of God and become comfortable with the understanding and speech of the kingdom, the ways of this world become foreign to us. This is how you will know that your faith in God’s Word is changing your heart and causing you to become spiritually minded and no longer carnally minded.

The key to walking in the understanding of the Spirit and accessing the promises and provision of God while in this world, is to walk by faith in God’s Word. As they believed on Jesus, He gave them the power to become children of God and to have the living water begin to flow out of their innermost being. By faith we can tap into the realm of heaven where God dwells and bring into this realm all that is needed to protect and sustain us in this life.

Once we establish in our hearts that we’re going to always live by faith in Christ and His Word then we will grow in confidence that He is a very present Help in times of trouble. We will have the certainty that He is with us at all times and in all situations. At this point, we will then understand what God’s grace has done for us. Through our faith in Jesus we can be transformed and live in the world as pilgrims or sojourners waiting for the day of Christ’s return. Faith takes our attention away from how we began in the garden and changes us to look forward to the future when we shall be reunited with Christ.

Changed by faith in Jesus,
Pastor Asa Dockery

A Change of Heart

Ephesians 4 : 20 – 24, But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. NKJV

It’s very easy to become a born again child of God but it’s very challenging, to say the least, for a Christian to become Christ-like. The Lord gives us natural examples to show us spiritual principles. Whenever Jesus taught the people of His day He would use physical things and human problems in order to communicate and relate to people who were carnal thinkers so that they could comprehend spiritual concepts.

When a woman gives birth to her baby she realizes the infant is going to act and speak as an infant. It is the parents’ responsibility to nurture and train that child up in the way that he or she should go. When you look at a new born baby or an infant, you don’t always know if they are a girl or boy. It takes time and development for a baby to take on its own characteristics that distinguish its’ identity.

If we don’t understand that a Christian has to be renewed in the spirit of their mind where they begin to look Christ-like, we might have a tendency to say they’re not really saved based on their actions. Just because a person believes in Jesus for their soul’s salvation doesn’t mean that they have allowed the Word to change their heart.

Spiritual immaturity is manifested in our actions. If we haven’t taken the time to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into the truth then we will remain carnally minded and our actions won’t always align with our beliefs. When this occurs it causes others to question the authenticity of our faith. Paul definitely understood the transformation process of being changed from a carnal minded person into a spiritual minded disciple of Christ. He had to undergo such a transformation in his own walk and life.

The Bible is our moral compass. It teaches us how we should behave, vote, conduct business and how to settle disputes within the body of Christ. Therefore, Christians are to show their love for the Lord by keeping His commands. Until the Word of God is revealed to our heart than it is possible for a Christian to walk in carnality or the ways of the world.

If your actions contradict the Word of God and people see the contradictions, than your witness of Christ is made ineffective. In other words, there will be no fruit in your life. Jesus said that we should live in such a way that men will see our good works and cause them to glorify the Father because they know our works are of Him. Let me challenge you today to align any area of your new life that doesn’t agree with the Word of God.

As a Christian, our conversations are to be holy and not filled with gossip and filth. Jesus asked how sweet water and bitter water can flow from the same fountain. It was in the context of Him teaching about doing His will and not just being religious that He spoke of this fountain in us. He doesn’t want us to only have a form of godliness but He wants us to be clothed in humility and godliness as the children of God. To seek change means that you must first seek God and He will cause the change to occur that you seek.

Being changed from the inside out,
Pastor Asa Dockery

A Higher Standard

Matthew 5 : 21 – 22, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. NKJV

Matthew 5 : 27 – 28, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.'  But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. NKJV

Matthew 5 : 43 – 45, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; NKJV

Do you remember the moment you asked the Lord to save you from your past sins and failures and to accept you as His child? Didn’t you feel clean and brand new when God applied the blood of Jesus to your sin stains and your guilty conscience through your faith in Christ? It reminds me of the time when God used Moses to bring the children of Israel out of the land of bondage and away from the oppression of man.

The children of Israel were crying out to God because of their anguish and the oppression of their taskmasters. As slaves to Pharaoh and having to live in the land of bondage, the Jews knew what hard labor without reward was all about. We can’t even begin to imagine how these “slaves” were threatened and beaten on a daily basis by their enemies. But God heard their cries and saw their afflictions and brought them out of their bondage with a high-hand.

As these former slaves were leaving what had been their prison camp for 400 years, they were taking with them all of the memories and scars of their experience of that land. Once they saw God drown Pharaoh and his mighty army in the Red Sea, they knew their days of bondage and anguish was over.

As hard and painful as slavery was for the Jews and their families to have to live under and to endure, they discovered something in the wilderness that challenged them even greater.  Once they had crossed the Red Sea and were now alive in the wilderness, they soon discovered that the land didn’t have the resources that were needed to supply their need for food and comfort.

This nation of former slaves knew what hard work was all about but God was going to introduce them to a new principle called “living by faith” apart from their works. He was going to supply all their needs and fight their battles but all He asked of them is that they would obey His voice and keep His commandments. When the people realized that the land couldn’t handle their needs it caused them to begin to worry for their lives. Instead of trusting God they allowed unbelief (God had forsaken them) to fill their heart. In spite of their unbelief God supplied all their needs and fought their battles. He remained faithful to His people even though the people had turned in their hearts against His voice.

As they saw what was ahead for them, they begin to reminisce about how “good” they had life in Egypt. They obviously had selective memory because they had forgotten about the days and nights of anguish and crying out to God for deliverance from their oppressors. Yet, they chose to harden their hearts to God’s voice even though they knew God was taking care of them. We must guard our hearts from unbelief when life doesn’t go according to our terms. If we belong to God then we must also believe that God knows what we need and also realize that it’s not always found at a store or a job, but from Him.

As they hardened their hearts because they didn’t agree with God’s plan of getting them to the land of promise, it prolonged their stay in the wilderness. You see, the Promised Land would only be granted to those who lived by faith and they weren’t willing to hear God’s voice, so God couldn’t bless them for their disobedience. So all that came out of Egypt and was filled with unbelief died in the wilderness. You may be asking what does this have to do with me. Well, here is where we come into the story.

Look back at today’s passages. Jesus introduced a new principle when He began to preach to the Jews that involved, not the Law, but truth and grace. Jesus took what was hard to keep under the Law and made it impossible under grace. I gave you three examples from all that Jesus taught that day on the Mount of Olives, to show you how much harder it is for a believer under grace than those who were under the Law. (JEWS)

Why would Jesus take something that people struggled to obey in the Old Testament and make even harder under the New Testament? So we would realize like Israel that man doesn’t have life by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. We can’t keep Jesus’ commandments in our flesh so we must humble ourselves and realize that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus taught us that what is impossible with man is now possible with God. Through faith in Christ we have become children of God and GOD IS WITH US!

With God all things are now possible. You can obey Jesus’ commands even though they require more than sacrifice, because He has given to you, His Holy Spirit. Now you must be willing to walk humbly by faith and receive the grace to inherit the promises of God’s kingdom through your faith. You and I can’t live a holy life in the weakness of our souls but we can live holy before God through His grace as long as we humble ourselves to His voice. Be encouraged today and know that God is with you. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

Praying for you to succeed,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Setting The Record Straight

Matthew 5 : 17 – 20, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. NKJV

A very important lesson concerning truth! Peter admonishes us in his epistle that no prophecy that is contained in scripture was given by personal interpretation of the prophets but was God-inspired through the power of the Holy Spirit who moved upon them.

When God invited Israel to meet with Him at the base of Mount Sinai to become acquainted with Him, His presence and power made them afraid. Out of fear, they chose not to hear the voice of God but they wanted to listen to Moses instead. This is dangerous for two reasons. This gives place for people to dismiss man as their spiritual authority, as we see in the account of Israel under the leadership of Moses. Also, it gives place for leaders to begin to misinterpret the Word of God and to lead people astray. Jesus didn’t come to earth as our High Priest to get in the “way” of mankind getting to God, but He came to be the “ONLY WAY” for man to know God.

The latter reason that I mentioned is where the Holy Spirit is leading us today. In the context of today’s scriptures from Matthew’s gospel, we see where Jesus is establishing truth with those who were present that day. He told the Jews that He had not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it. In order for Jesus to fulfill the Law had to mean that He was sent by God. This statement set Him apart from the other leaders of the temple and Judaism.

He proceeded to inform the people that anyone who disobeyed the Law and taught others to follow suit was the least in the kingdom of heaven. He went on to say that whoever kept or obeyed the Law completely and taught others to do the same would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Once again, He set Himself apart from the religious leaders of His day with this statement. If you read Matthew chapter 5 you will notice how Jesus begins to teach them what has been said of old and then He begins to set the record straight. He continued on to tell the crowd that their righteousness had to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees or they wouldn’t be allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven.

When Israel rejected the opportunity to hear the voice of God, it opened the door for Satan to lead God’s people astray from the true righteousness which comes by faith and not through works of man. When the Law proved to be more than demanding on them than the people wanted to bear, they simply interpreted it to mean what they wanted it to say, according to their own lusts and sin. They allowed men to lead them according to their own point-of-view rather than God’s intended view. This caused Israel to establish their own form of worship and righteousness according to Matthew 15 and Romans 10. 

Therefore, Jesus began His teaching ministry with His longest sermon, revealing the false doctrines of the Pharisees. Later, Jesus privately warned His disciples of the leaven (sin) of the Pharisees. You can see through today’s word what happens when God’s people ignore or refuse to listen to the voice of God. It gives place for the flesh of man to misinterpret the truth of God’s Word to fit our carnal ways and lusts.

Jesus tells us in John 10 that His sheep know His voice and another they won’t follow. If you find it hard to hear and know when God speaks to you as one of His own, then you must invest time in His presence and seeking His face. He will open your ear to hear the Holy Spirit. As Israel ignored the voice of God, it gave place for a group of men to arise on the religious scene and to lead them astray. As the Old Testament closes, you hear of prophets, kings and High Priests and priest but who were the Pharisees?

I guess you could call them lawyers who took it upon themselves to correctly interpret God’s Law when they themselves didn’t know God, according to Jesus’ teachings. They come on the scene between Malachi and Matthew’s gospel. Doesn’t it seem as though we are living in a time when men are trying to rewrite and misinterpret the Word of God through political correctness? Just sayin’

You shall know the truth,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Trapped

Philippians 4 : 13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. NKJV

As a pastor for more than twelve years, I have seen many Christians fall into the traps that were set by Satan, the adversary of their soul. To fall into a trap of Satan simply means we believe a lie about ourselves, and we, therefore, remain in bondage to a demonic stronghold. A lie of Satan becomes a stronghold the moment we believe what he is telling us about a situation or a condition we are facing instead of standing on the Word of God.

In the natural, a trap brought on by a lie may be an addiction, an emotional wound, a crutch, or anything that forces you to believe or think that you can’t get past a certain issue or vice. If you think that you can’t overcome a problem or an addiction in your life, then you are bound in your walk. Christ didn’t come to save us from sin so that we could die in bondage to its power. According to Luke 4: 18, He was sent and anointed to set us FREE!!

I, myself have fallen prey to Satan’s lies in recent years and thought I would never break free, but God was faithful. Satan had me blinded and convinced that things would never be any better. For a while, I believed his lies because I was weary from the battles. Nevertheless, through prayer and continued obedience, Satan has lost the strangle hold on my life that was brought on by fear.

Like many others, you may be in a trap of Satan today. Are you fighting a battle against something in your life that won’t seem to let go? Then you need “MORE GRACE." This is not a cliché. Instead, it is a truth that can set you free so that you can begin to walk out of the trap. You must not accept defeat. If you are a Christian, then Christ will cause you to triumph ALWAYS. The key is to turn to the Lord and submit yourself (including any doubts, fears, or unbelief) you may be holding onto in your heart. God is for you. However, you must be willing to believe and accept this truth before He can give you the power to come out completely.

Just because you have a stronghold in your life, it doesn’t mean that God has abandoned you. The Lord has promised that He would never leave or forsake us. Even so, we must give Jesus our full attention and cooperation in this matter. When the Holy Spirit instructs you to make the first step or to take action, you have to obey His voice and let Him take care of the details. This will require you to submit to Him and trust His instructions at all times. As you take the initial steps, doubt, fear, and unbelief will begin to scream out, “You can’t do this." Nevertheless, don’t worry; once you obey God’s voice, it’s not you doing the work. It is God’s strength and grace flowing through you.

With each act of obedience and faith, you will find that it will become easier to obey because of the new grace that has been given to you.  "You" have gotten out of the way, and grace has taken over. Remember, before grace, you couldn’t even attempt to walk out. However, now that you have submitted, God’s grace is moving you forward to freedom. You can walk out of the trap and never look back. Before I leave you today, let me share the verses that God gave me for you:

James 4 : 5 – 7, What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us, jealously longs for us to be faithful? He gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, "God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble." So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. NLT

The more we submit by faith to God’s will and His Word, the more grace He will extend to us so that we can come out of the traps of Satan.

Walking in Freedom through More Grace,
Pastor Asa Dockery

 

The Power of Prophecy

Acts 12 : 5 – 7. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. NKJV

In the context of today’s scripture, James has been killed by Herod. Therefore, when Herod saw that it pleased the Jews, he captured Peter as well and was going to execute him. However, Herod had to postpone Peter’s execution because it was Passover; and it was unlawful to perform such a deed on that day.

Can you imagine what it must have been like for Peter during this time? His friend and fellow servant of the Lord had been killed, and he was now being held by armed guards. Nevertheless, even on the night before Peter was to be killed, he slept. How was Peter able to sleep with all the turmoil and danger surrounding him?

Like Peter, you may be facing uncertainty in your life. You may have recently received an evil report that has you upset. Please cast your care upon the Lord and rest in His love so that He can guard your heart from fear with His peace.

Peter had great peace in his heart about the outcome of the situation because He had a promise from God. What’s more, Peter had faith that what Jesus had promised him would truly come to pass in his life. It was because of Peter’s faith in what Jesus had previously spoken over him that gave him the assurance that this night would not end in death, but victory. Therefore, he slept.

What did Peter know?  Jesus had already told Peter how he would die. He also told him that he would die as an old man. Because Peter was given this prophecy, he could rest while everyone else was worrying and wondering what would become of him. Here is the scripture reference that I am writing about:

John 21: 17 – 19, He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me." NKJV

In this world, we will all face hardships. Therefore, we are required to make a choice when trouble enters our lives. Will we place our trust in God and stand on His Word like Peter, or will we allow fear to rule our hearts and rob us of our peace in Christ? We all have a promise in Isaiah 54. No weapon that is formed against us shall be able to prosper. Consequently, when you hear of a weapon being formed against you, you have to exercise your faith in God’s Word until victory is won.

In Psalms 23, David stated that even though he had to pass through the valley of the shadow of death, he would not fear evil because the Lord was with him. Jesus is with you because His Spirit lives within you. Hold onto your peace and let fear pass you by. God has got this!

Leaning on the Arm of Jesus,
Pastor Asa Dockery

 

The Principle of Honor

Deuteronomy 28 : 1 – 2, "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: NKJV

Whenever Adam sinned against the Lord, he lost the blessing of the Lord on his life; you can read about that blessing in Genesis 1. As a result of Adam’s decision to dishonor God and His commandment, he had to live under the curse of sin. As a sinner, he discovered what hard-labor and sorrows were all about. There was something else that man inherited from the sin nature besides hard work, and that is a “works” based mindset. The fallout from living in sin and the neediness it develops in us and from being separated from the life of God is to feel “unworthy.”

It doesn’t matter how guilty we may feel when we choose to live in sin; nor does it matter how hard we may try to work to earn the blessing of God, it can’t be earned. People who refuse to submit to God’s will for their lives, but, instead, choose to live on their own terms will, likewise, try to compensate for the void of God’s life and blessing in their heart by working harder. It isn’t just about getting their needs and desires met; if someone who dishonors God in their heart becomes successful, then they will also seek to draw their identity and self-worth from their accomplishments. Too many times, we equate success with being blessed. However, blessing has everything to do with honoring God in our hearts and not in the riches or acceptance of this world.

Through Adam’s decision and failed example, we can see more clearly that we shouldn’t try to earn what can only be freely given through honor. Once the Lord reveals to us that we struggle with a “performance” mentality, instead of trusting and honoring Him, He can then teach us how to learn the principle of honor… and, consequently, we will be blessed. As we honor God and His Word in our hearts, His favor will grant us entrance back into His blessing of increase, fruitfulness, and multiplication.

This new journey to spiritual liberation from dead works and to becoming blessed by God’s presence begins when we seek the Lord with our whole heart. As we endeavor to please Him and to live according to His Word and His will, then the blessing of the Lord will come upon us and overtake our lives. You see; the blessing of the Lord can’t be earned. Nevertheless, it surely will be given to those who live to please God.

Do you find that most of the things that you set out to accomplish are difficult and produce very little joy, peace, and contentment? If so, then stop seeking those things and begin to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all the rest will begin to follow you. It’s time to get our hearts in agreement with God’s heart, to get our lives in proper order, and to live the blessed life in Christ.

Honoring God,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Who Is Like Our God?

Hebrews 12 : 1 – 2, Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. NKJV

I want to take this opportunity today to encourage you to keep your focus on the Lord. Ever since Lucifer (afterwards known as Satan) fell, he has always tried to upstage God. In every major conflict between God and Satan, Satan has been defeated and demoted without fail. When Lucifer rose up in rebellion against God, God cast him out of heaven. Consequently, he lost the position and prominence that he enjoyed when he was an arch angel of God.

Whenever Satan embodied the serpent in the garden and caused man to sin against God, God cursed the serpent. As a result, he went from walking to crawling on his belly. Furthermore, when Satan opposed God by nailing Jesus to the cross, God highly exalted Jesus and, once again, stripped Satan of even more of his dominion over mankind.

In chapter 12 of the Book of the Revelation, we read that Satan will declare a war against the kingdom of God, and the church; however, we (the church) will overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, and loving not our lives unto the death. At which point, God will cast Satan out of the second heaven, and he will live on earth for a season… after the church has exited earth.

So why am I sharing about the failed attempts of Satan opposing our Great God? We all know that Satan is no match for God. Nevertheless, “we” can struggle with doubt and fear when the enemy attacks us. When we come under attack from Satan, we must guard our hearts against doubt and fear. Why? If we don’t guard our hearts with all diligence when the enemy strikes, then we allow Satan to gain access through our doubts about God’s protection. As a result, fear will consume our hearts.

Do you remember what happened to Simon when, for only a brief moment, he took his eyes off Jesus while walking on the water? He began to sink and drown in the same water that he was previously walking upon. Just like Simon, we, too, lose spiritual courage and strength when we allow the world’s problems to captivate our heart’s attention. When this happens, it can cause us to give over to worry, doubt, anxiousness, and fear; and we began to sink in our own weaknesses. Greater is He (Jesus) that is in us, than he (Satan) that is in the world.

When you see calamity, or you hear about all that is going “wrong” in the world, please remember to keep Jesus at the center of your heart’s attention. Don’t be pulled into believing the enemy’s reports and becoming overwhelmed. God is still in control; and even though it’s getting darker in the world, the Light of Christ is at the same time shining bright in us.

If you find it too difficult to keep your focus on Christ because of the severity of the storms that are looming overhead, simply enter your prayer closet and seek the Lord with your whole heart. If you will choose to pray and seek God’s face about the concerns on your heart, you will experience the power of God in your heart and life. The Lord will strengthen and encourage you to, once again, walk on the water in victory over your enemies.

You Can Do This,
Pastor Asa Dockery

 

Stop Running Away

John 8 : 31 – 32, Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." NKJV

Since the fall of man, he has been afraid of God. Whenever God’s presence descended upon Mount Sinai, there was thundering and lightning, the ground quaked, and the people trembled. The sight of God was so overwhelming that the Jews refused to hear God’s voice. Let me interject something here. If the presence of God was so terrible and frightening, why was Moses not afraid to enter the thick darkness and speak with God?

The answer to this puzzling question is very simple. The children of Israel allowed unbelief to rule their hearts; and, consequently, they rejected God. Moses, on the other hand entered God’s presence with faith and, therefore, understood what was really going on that day. In Exodus 20, Moses told the people not to be afraid of God. God was only revealing His power to them so that they might possess a reverential fear of the Lord that would keep them from sin.

Jesus gives us even more clarity as to why people, and many Christians, are either afraid of God, or they are fearful of “facing” the truth. John 3: 19 – 21, And this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." NKJV

It’s not that we’re afraid of the truth, itself; it is that we understand that the truth of God will force us to face our fears. The Jews in their unbelief didn’t want to have to face the realization that they had unconfessed sin in their hearts. God wanted them to come into His presence in faith so that He might use their faith to overcome the fear that held them in bondage to the power of sin.

Are you on-the-run? Is there something from your past or hidden in your heart that you don’t want anyone to know about? Does the fear of being put to shame cause you to run instead of trusting God to defend you? When God appeared to Moses at Horeb, he had been on-the-run for murdering an Egyptian. Therefore, when God revealed to Moses the plan to send him back to Egypt to free the Jews from Pharaoh’s power, Moses was afraid to return. God explained to Moses that the Pharaoh who pursued him was dead.

When Moses turned his life over to serve the Lord, it caused him to have to go back and face his past. Even so, because Moses was obeying God, he returned to Egypt with power and liberty. Like Moses, God has a far better plan for your life than to see you run from your past or from a failure. If you turn your life and the outcome of the situations that have made you afraid over to God, then He can set you free from the fear that is caused by unbelief. Remember this: God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.

Walking in God’s Love,
Pastor Asa Dockery

 

Sounding An Alarm

Luke 12 : 42 – 48, And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. NKJV

We are truly living in the last of the days that lead to the returning of the Lord. We know this because we are witnessing the fulfillment of the prophecies that were foretold both by Jesus and many of the Old Testament prophets. Therefore, we, who have been born again, must guard our hearts so that we don’t allow the world and its influences to derail us from being and remaining faithful until the Lord returns.

Remember, Jesus tells us that in the last days it will be like it was in the days of Noah before the flood. People will be eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage; nevertheless, they won’t discern the times. For them, the Day of the Lord will come upon them as a thief in the night. They will be caught unaware.

We are living in very troubling times. However, I’m not speaking of the violence and the threats of war that loom over us daily; I am just reiterating what the Bible has been saying all along. Times are troublesome because people are doing exactly as Jesus foretold in Matthew 24. Millions have lost the fear of the Lord; and, as a result, they’re entering into temptation by disregarding God’s Word and warnings. The Holy Spirit is prompting me to sound an alarm in His holy mountain (Joel 2).

America is at a crossroad. This country was founded upon the principles of God’s Word. Consequently, these statutes are embedded in our constitution, as well as other civil documents that frame our government and beliefs as a “Christian” nation. It is because of its faith and willingness to live sacrificially unto God that He has caused His grace to shine on this nation and made it great.

Nevertheless, in recent decades, we have seen a “turning-away” from God and His Word in our nation. As a result, those who were previously committed to Christ and His service to God’s kingdom have begun to cast off restraint, just as Jesus said in today’s scripture. Pastors, ministers and churches are not adhering as closely to the true precepts and commands of God’s Word as they once did. Both churches and society have become lax in upholding the Godly principles which cause and sustain life. The further our nation slips away from God’s commands and the love for His kingdom, the more our nation descends into darkness and degradation.

As Peter stated in his epistle, it is time for judgment to begin in the house of God. It’s time we call ourselves back to living a life that is holy and acceptable before God. It’s time for the church to become “salt and light” in the world again. We, the church are Christ's ambassadors; we possess the Word of life and Jesus’ authority to exercise His will in the earth. I am very concerned (putting it lightly) that if we don’t return to the Lord, we as a nation are headed into darker days and troubling waters.

God is calling America and the churches in America to repentance and to “man” our posts in His kingdom. We must be about our Father’s business. Therefore, we must forsake the allure and temptations of this evil world. Let us not get caught up in the widespread deception that is taking this world by storm. Instead, let us humble ourselves and pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways.

God doesn’t want destruction to occur in America. Nevertheless, if we don’t heed His warnings and pray for His protection to cover our sins, then what option will He have? He will have to allow the seeds we’ve sown in rebellion to produce corruption.

God’s heart is still for America, but He needs American Christians to wake up, rise up, and return to righteous living. He needs Christians in America to begin to pray and call on His name so that He can bless us with a mighty revival of repentance, like He did in Nineveh. God isn’t willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The Lord wants to find us as faithful and obedient stewards when He returns so that He can reward us for a job well done. It’s a huge task, but know this: Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.

Sounding An Alarm To The Church,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Prioritizing Your Life

Luke 10 : 38 – 42, Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." NKJV

God created us in His own image and likeness. Consequently, since God is a triune being… Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we, too, carry the distinction of being triune; this sets us apart from any other creature. If you have received the Holy Spirit into your life, then your spirit has been regenerated. God now occupies that part of our being, and He gives us the authority to die to the weaknesses and lusts of our flesh nature. Remember, Jesus told the disciples when they fell asleep in the garden that their spirits were willing, but their flesh was weak. So instead of praying, they slept, and this caused them to enter into temptation.

As Christians, we are to utilize the power of the Holy Spirit through humility to bring our fleshly nature under control so that we might serve God and not self. This will require that we invest the time that is needed to seek God’s face through prayer and being faithful students in God’s Word. These simple steps will assure us that we will have the spiritual strength to overcome the wiles of the Devil when he tempts us with distractions.

It’s easy for us to become distracted and not even realize that we have allowed those distractions to cause us to neglect being in God’s presence. This was the case in Martha’s life as she sought to “serve” Jesus, who was visiting her house. Although it appears that Martha is being a gracious host, if we peer deeper into the story, we soon discover that Martha’s heart isn’t filled with pure motives. She resents the fact that her sister, Mary, is just sitting at the feet of Jesus and hasn’t offered to help her with serving Jesus. If Martha were doing this service unto the Lord as a way to honor Him, then she wouldn’t hold resentment in her heart against her sister, but it doesn’t stop there. She is so consumed and driven by a “works mindset” that she demands that Jesus tell Mary to help her serve.

Luke tells us in this story that Martha was “distracted.” I find his assessment of her to be somewhat strange considering that someone needs to serve the others if the evening is going to be a success. King Solomon tells us that there is a time for every purpose under heaven. Martha was distracted because her life was driven by works and was off-balance. Mary, on the other hand, sought to learn from Jesus and not be driven by the “works of man” as a means to please others. Because Mary prioritized her time and gave honor to Jesus, she was persecuted by her own flesh and blood. You see, if we’re like Mary and aren’t driven by distractions to perform, then we will be persecuted with feelings of inadequacy because we’re not “doing our part.”

Mary was listening to Jesus, who was imparting eternal truths into her life. Satan doesn’t want us to focus on eternity; instead, he uses the weaknesses of our flesh to drive us so that we become consumed with the temporal and lose sight of what is really important. As Christians, we have certain duties that demand large portions of our time on earth, but we must not allow these duties to become distractions where we give more honor to the temporal than we do to listening to the Holy Spirit about the eternal. Jesus gently, but firmly corrected Martha by telling her that what Mary was receiving from Him would never be taken away from her. Martha forsook an eternal moment with Jesus for a temporal moment with the dishes.

When we take the time to ignore the distractions in this life to meditate and listen to the voice of God, He will impart truths into our lives that will sustain our souls and can never be stolen from us by Satan. The Word of God endures forever, and when we choose to hide God’s Word in our hearts, Satan can’t rob those “promises in the making” from us. If you find yourself constantly driven to the point that you can’t rest in the presence of the Lord, and it grates your nerves to watch other people sit at the Master’s feet, then this is your eternal word for today… REPENT.

Times of Refreshing in God’s Presence,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Altering The Truth

Matthew 15 : 1 – 6, Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread." He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. NKJV

Where did the Pharisees come from? They are a sect of Jews, who were wealthy and who saw themselves as better than their fellow countrymen. The Hebrew word for Pharisee means: separatists or to be separated. They sought the accolades of man more than God. The entirety of their worship was the outward expression of certain customs and practices. The earliest record that I have found dates the emergence of this sect of Jews and their customs as far back as 150 years before the birth of Christ.

By the time Jesus had arrived on the scene, this group of self-righteous men had found prominence in the eyes of both the Roman and Jewish leaders. Through their vain form of worship of God, they had greatly influenced the Jews and led them astray from the true meaning of God’s Laws. They took upon themselves the role of interpreting and enforcing the Laws of Moses which they felt were applicable to their own philosophies. Today, we would call it “picking and choosing” the parts of God’s Word that we desire to keep and being dismissive of the rest. It was amid all of this confusion that God sent Jesus to begin to preach “THE TRUTH” to His people.  

God, through Jesus was calling His people back to Himself to worship Him in Spirit and in TRUTH, so He could, once again, bless them. As Jesus went about preaching the truth, many times He would reference the “false beliefs and teachings” of the Pharisees and the scribes.

Throughout the gospels, you can read where Jesus would dispute the teachings and the traditions of the elders, Pharisees, and scribes by preaching the truth according to the Law of Moses and the faith of their father Abraham. As Jesus’ influence grew among the Jews and especially among the poor, the Pharisees watched as their power and influence began to erode. This “threat” caused them to begin to devise plots where they could trap Jesus in His own words.

However, when their feeble attempts to discredit Jesus failed, they sought ways that they might destroy Him and bring an end to His earthly ministry. The people of Jesus’ day who listened to His teachings were set free, not only from their sins against God, but were also set free from demonic possession and oppression.

Consequently, the people experienced the freedom that obeying the truth can provide. Through these encounters with the power of the living God, Israel began to be torn between the traditions of man and the truth of God. Today, that same battle is still being raged in the world, the battle between religion and the truth. Jesus tells us in John 8, if we will continue in His teachings, we will come to know, or recognize the truth, and the truth that we know will set us free from bondage. God desires for His people to be free to worship Him with their whole hearts… not according to man’s traditions. 

You Shall Know the Truth,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Family Violence

Genesis 4 : 6 – 8, So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. NKJV

The Word teaches us that Adam and Eve committed the first sin against God. Unfortunately, mankind has had to suffer the consequences of their actions for thousands of years. After they sinned in the garden, God told them what would be the consequence of their sins. It never occurred to them that one day they would have a son, who would take the life of his brother and cause them unbelievable pain and heartbreak. I can make that assertion on their part because they had no record or way of knowing what sin really does to the human race. How could they know what murder was or that their own flesh and blood was capable of such a horrific act of violence?

Adam and Eve transgressed the commandment of God, and it caused them to have sin in their hearts. However, when Cain slew Abel, it was the first act of sin recorded in the Word against another human. Satan used the sin that was hidden in the heart of man to afflict deep sorrow and hatred upon the first family. All through the Old Testament, we can read where family violence was a way of life for many Jews, who followed the Lord. Just because we know Christ, it doesn’t mean that Satan won’t attack us or our families and cause us to have to endure some horrible trials.

When Cain discovered that God showed respect for Abel and his offering, but rejected him, it caused Cain to become violently angry and filled with jealousy. Paul tells us to be angry, but not to allow sin to rule our hearts or actions. It was one thing for Cain to be mad, but he also had a jealous heart against his brother’s accomplishments. Jealousy is a work of the flesh or the result of sin in the heart of humans. It drove Cain to take the life of his own brother.      

As Cain allowed sin to fill his heart with violence and turn him against God, Satan also used that occasion to turn his heart against the family. The Apostle John wrote in his epistle, “How can we say we love God, whom we have not seen, when we don’t love our brothers, whom we have seen?” Sin not only turns our hearts away from God, but it is manifested through our actions by turning our hearts on each other.

God warned Cain not to allow sin to rule over his heart. He also told him that he should rule over sin. Every believer in Christ has the power to rule over sin, but they must be submitted to God and His authority. The Apostle James tells us to submit first to God, resist the Devil, and he will flee from us. If we refuse to submit to God or His Word, then we can become just as open to violence or violating God’s Word as Adam, Cain, or David. David was considered by God to be a man after God’s own heart and look at the violence he carried out. The result of David’s sin brought domestic violence to his home and family, and cost him and Bathsheba great sorrow and loss.

God instituted the family before He introduced His church to humanity. He ordained marriage before He introduced the family. It seems to me what God esteems and holds dear or sacred, Satan loves to defile and destroy with hatred and violence. The Holy Spirit had to “constrain” me to write this as a devotion to you today. I enjoy writing words that encourage and uplift our spirits. However, today, the Lord wants us to realize the need for prayer to be directed to help families that have been torn apart and\or destroyed because of family violence.

You may be a victim of family violence and wondering if God knows or even cares. This is your WORD from Him today, a Word to show you He not only knows, but He also cares for you.

The Name of the Lord Is a Strong Tower,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Christ Alone

Romans 10 : 1 – 4, Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. NKJV

Only Jesus Christ can offer the world true salvation. When Jesus died upon the cross at Calvary, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom. The writer of Hebrews tells us that we have a High Priest, Jesus, who has gone before us and poured out His blood on the mercy seat in heaven. Now we can enter that holy place through faith and find help in times of trouble. Consequently, what does all this mean for the person who places their faith in Christ? Our salvation is complete in Christ! We don’t have to sacrifice animals and believe in Christ. We don’t have to add works of the flesh and have faith in Christ. When we accept Jesus, the Father accepts us freely and pardoned.

Does this mean that we are perfect when Christ enters our hearts? No, it doesn’t. Now that we have received Christ, we must become Christ-like. The church of Galatia was filled with Jews, who had come to faith in Christ. However, soon after they believed, they were tricked by unbelieving Jews to add the works of the law to what Christ had done for them. We all struggle with feelings of inadequacy and insecurity in our souls, even after we come to faith in Jesus. This is why we’re told in Romans and Hebrews that the JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.  

Now that you’re in Christ, you must continue to walk by faith, even though your salvation is complete in Christ. As we obey by faith, we are then transformed from being carnally minded people into becoming spiritually minded Christians. Even though we are saved in Christ, we haven’t been made perfect in love. Let’s look at this process in a different light.

When a baby is born and begins its new life, the parents soon realize that their bundle of joy has many demands that must be taken care of by them. As you and I begin our new life in Christ, we also discover that there are many needs, which can cause us to look outside our obedience to God in order to obtain them. Paul tells us in Galatians 3 : 1 that we are to obey the truth. As Christians, we obey the truth by adhering to the doctrines and commands found in the Word of God and by obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit. As we obey the truth and leave the religion of works behind, the Father can change our hearts and mature us to become His sons and daughters.  

Does this mean we won’t have any more challenges as believers? No it doesn’t. Even so, through the knowledge of the truth, we will learn how to go to God and trust Him to bring us successfully through all of life’s problems and situations. Christ teaches us to rely on our heavenly Father… not on our own abilities. This is true faith.

Worshiping God with My Whole Heart,
Pastor Asa Dockery  

Do Christians Have To Sin?

Romans 6 : 1 – 4, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. NKJV

Romans 6 : 11 – 13: Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. NKJV

What does it mean to be a disciple of the teachings of Christ? Does it mean that we have salvation, and we’re just waiting on the return of Jesus to take us out of this body of sin? Paul taught Timothy on the importance of rightly dividing the Word of God so that, as a minister, he wouldn't be put to shame.

Anyone can twist the Word to fit just about any belief out there in the world. If someone should alter the Word of God to accommodate a lifestyle that isn’t consistent with the entire gospel of Christ, then it ceases being truth and has no power to save a soul or change a person’s heart.

Paul didn’t mince words when it came to establishing the principles that God, through Christ, has set in His Word for the believer. Our old sin nature that was given to us by the sins of Adam cannot inherit the promise of eternal life. Therefore, God had to offer up a spotless Lamb to pay the price for man’s sin debt so that we can be bought (or ransomed) from the rule of Satan over mankind’s soul.

When Jesus died on the cross, He stripped principalities and powers of their authority and made an open spectacle of them through the cross. He descended into hell and took back the keys of authority over hell and the grave. Now that Christ has ascended into heaven and shown Himself as the Lamb and the High Priest to the Father, we all have been given the opportunity to leave the domination of sin and die to our flesh nature and live a holy and righteous life before God.

Since Christ has died for all humans and redeemed us all from the curse of the law of sin and death, we no longer have to live our lives in bondage to Satan or sin. The key to living free from the sin nature, or the Adamic nature, is to surrender our hearts to Christ and make Him our Lord and Savior. If this is true, and the Word declares to us that it is, then why do so many Christians choose to live in sin and not walk in righteousness and holiness?

The answer is found in Romans 6 : 11 – 13: Likewise, you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. As long as we choose to walk by faith in obedience to the voice of God and the Word of God, we won’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh. If we die to our flesh through obedience to God’s divine will, we will no longer be ruled by sin through the lusts of our flesh nature. So if we die to the flesh nature, we won’t sin. The flesh nature gives place for sin to rule our hearts and ultimately, our lives. However, this does not have to occur in a believer’s life.  

As Christ’s disciples, we must not live this new life according to the old lusts of the carnal or flesh nature. We must submit to God, resist the Devil, and he will flee from us, just as he did with Jesus, who was submitted to God in the wilderness. If you find that today’s word demands more than you’re able to offer, then today can be the first day of the rest of your walk.

Begin practicing your faith by obeying God and allowing Him to set you free from any habit, addiction, or relationships that might be holding you in bondage to the flesh nature. As you obey daily and seek God with your whole heart, He will do the work of setting you free from the old man and renewing you to become the person in Christ that He ordained from the foundation of the world. You can do it, and these devotions can help you succeed. Now place one foot in front of the other and begin to walk out your salvation through faith. You can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you.

Walking It Out by Faith,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Your Enemy Has Been Defeated

Revelation 12 : 10 – 12, Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. NKJV

Do you still fight voices of accusation, even as a Christian? Does guilt have a stronghold on your mind to the point where you will draw back from seeking God or obeying Him in your walk? Anything that comes against a believer with the intentions of pulling them away from God is a lie of the enemy. If you hear a condemning voice in your mind or have a person in your life that beats you down and causes you to grow weary in serving God or in doing well, then know that it is an attack of Satan.

If the questions and the descriptions that I have written sound like my computer is in your living room, then God is speaking a word through me to you. If you struggle with any of the aforementioned items, you must first submit to God in prayer and resist the Devil’s strategies that have been formed against you. As a Christian, you must know and understand that you don’t derive your identity from your actions or your weaknesses, but from Christ. So when attacks of the enemy strike don’t try to dig deeper in you, but rather dig deeper in Christ.

You’re not the source of your righteousness; Christ is, and that is why we must go to the Rock of our salvation, run into the Refuge in times of conflict and find peace for our weary souls. As you train yourself to begin to recognize an attack as being just that, and you can stop giving completely over to its suggestions or its condemnation, then you have begun to overcome Satan’s arsenal. The next step is to remember to “run to the Rock” or get your focus off the voices or storm and look to Jesus. He will empower you with His righteousness and show you how to respond properly to your attacker(s).

In today’s passages, you will notice that after the accuser of the brethren was cast down, the Kingdom of God and the power of Christ was released. You see; you’re in a battle, and you must remember not to take the conflict personally. This battle isn’t over you or your righteousness, but over your faith in Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Satan wants to make it about you; you are to remind your accuser it’s all about Jesus.

Once you arrive at the place in your faith walk where you’re gaining understanding to overcome the lies and assaults, then you will begin to experience the power of Christ (confidence) in your heart. The Lord will begin to restore your focus on your future in Him and off of your past in sin. The Devil is a liar, but we must grow to the place where we no longer receive his lies as the “gospel truth.”

You must exercise the gifts that God has given you as a believer, and one of those gifts is discernment. If something or someone speaks out something that seems to fit you, but causes you to begin to pull back away from God’s will or His presence, then know that you need to discern this as being a voice of the accuser.

Let the Lord fight this one. Jesus forewarned us that in this world, we would have tribulations. Nevertheless, He went on to say that we were to be of good cheer because He has already overcome this world. We’re in Him and not of the world; therefore, we have also overcome.  If God wants to correct us, He can do it. He doesn’t need Satan to tell us what is wrong. Amen? I thought so!

You Belong to God,
Pastor Asa Dockery