Happy Monday folks! I was doing a little searching through my 600 plus note memos and found this little nugget I wrote a couple years ago for my life group. (After reading over it I was like, what, I wrote this?) The statement below has been a slogan of mine since 2017. I realized we are better together, and when you find the right people with the right energy, destiny is unlocked and purpose is found. I hope you enjoy.
You Are the Key to Unlocking Me!!
The notes below are written in a more lesson type format and can be used for Sunday School or a Zoom topic, if desired. There are 4 points I believe will help us stay connected to our small groups, neighbors, and family.
1 - Accountability helps keep doors closed that need to stay closed.
Do we truly want to know what the Father is asking from us? Or are we racing towards goals for ourselves rather than asking Him what His plans are for us?
We are called to be a resource. It’s the ministry that helps to keep each other on course. Here are some ways I have found that have helped me:
1. Coming to church regularly.
2. Coming to a life group regularly.
3. Making a choice to stay connected with people.
4. Making time with the Father through devotions, prayer, and worship.
5. Asking each other how can I help.
“Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.’”
John 10:7, 9-11, 16 NKJV
“A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect — life in its fullness until you overflow!”
John 10:10 TPT
The thief—He comes to steal our innocence, our joy, our mind space, our reputation, and our voice. He comes to kill our dreams, our future prosperity, and our marriages. Ultimately, He comes to destroy our legacy.
But God came, and so it’s time to expect fullness, to redeem the times, to restore marriages, and to set minds free. Destinies will be revealed and set in motion. We will receive help with our kids. We will hear from God. We will prevail.
Faithfulness to your local church strengthens the band of brotherly love sent from the Father above who is the Author of love.
2 - Your prayers keep me from harm.
“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Romans 13:10 NKJV
There are three types of prayers:
1. Prayer of supplication: this is a strong, intense, spiritual kind of prayer that brings specific results because of its specific nature.
2. Prayer of agreement: “Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:19-20 AMP) This means Jesus is with us and agrees with us too.
3. Prayer of intercession: this is a prayer that pleads with God for your needs and the needs of others. Intercession involves taking hold of God’s will and refusing to let go until His will comes to pass. Intercession is warfare.
Prayer is the strongest weapon, and the enemy can’t steal it. All he can do is try to silence it. So, when you pray, don’t pray with the spirit of fear about a situation. Pray with a faith-confidence into the situation. Speak life into it, and wait and see what becomes of it. Prayer protects. I can attest.
3 - Your encouragement helps affirm right thinking or right decisions.
We are each other’s helping hand, but the best helping hand is the Holy Spirit.
Self check: Ask the Father before you ask another. It’s a choice of whose voice we will serve. I’m finding it’s an honor to follow His voice because you see His hand in every choice. Peace comes when you trust The Captain sending out today’s runs.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
Titus 3:5 NKJV
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”
Romans 8:26-30 NKJV
4 - Your testimony has the power to unlocked me.
The honesty about your struggle up to this point in your life is powerful. The life testimony of an overcomer or the one still overcoming is powerful. The enemy is hoping you will stay locked inside your sin. He can hang it over you there. He can torment you there. He can guilt you there. He can remind you of the things you are still overcoming there. But, once you admit and shine a light on your regrets/sins/attitudes, he no longer has the power. Your identity is not known by your worst sin. That is what the enemy will tell you. But, Jesus said, “What sin? I already forgot what you did.”
They conquered him completely through the blood of the Lamb and the powerful word of his testimony. They triumphed because they did not love and cling to their own lives, even when faced with death.
Revelation 12:11
Freedom is living the life of an overcomer. When we believe, we have overcome by the Blood of the Lamb. We are no longer embarrassed about our shortcomings. They don’t sting us anymore. We have liberty, meaning the enemy has no power through our thought-life or feelings.
“So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples.’…Jesus answered, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, everyone who practices sin habitually is a slave of sin. Now the slave does not remain in a household forever; the son [of the master] does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free.’”
John 8:31, 34-36
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom].”
2 Corinthians 3:17 AMP
“And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace. Just make sure you ask empowered by confident faith without doubting that you will receive. For the ambivalent person believes one minute and doubts the next. Being undecided makes you become like the rough seas driven and tossed by the wind. You’re up one minute and tossed down the next. When you are half-hearted and wavering it leaves you unstable. Can you really expect to receive anything from the Lord when you’re in that condition?”
James 1:5-7
Do you trust this Man called Jesus? It’s hard. Do you remember every good thing He’s done for you? Again, it’s hard. Out of darkness, He called you. Rejoice! Into breakthrough, He comforted you. Again, Rejoice! When we surrender to Him, He will give you an exchange of His goodness, His kindness, and we will be reminded of His faithfulness. Amen.
Finally brethren, a cheerful heart is like medicine to a weary soul. So, bring your cheer and smile from ear to ear, because the Lord gave you another day here and that’s something worth some cheer.
#YouAreTheKey #MyMendedHeart #Inthesendingcomesthemending