WEEKLY MESSAGE
SUN, 12/07/26 - SAT, 18/07/26
ON THE MESSAGE THIS WEEK: BE AN 'UP' PERSON
KEY VERSE: “HE PICKED US UP...” (EPHESIANS 2:6)
In order to become an ‘up’ person, you must do these three things:
1) Expand your concept of God. How? By reading His Word and getting to know Him better. Be like the little boy in Sunday school whose teacher asked what he was drawing. He replied, ‘God!’ The teacher said, ‘But nobody knows what God’s like.’ Confidently he replied, ‘They will when I’m finished!’ What is your God like? Loving or judgmental? Distant or available? Limited or powerful? Your concept of God will determine your confidence in Him, so spend time getting to know Him.
2) Recognise Satan’s limitations. The devil is the world’s oldest loser, a former employee of heaven who got fired because of arrogance and who is headed for destruction. And the only power he has over you is the power you give him by remaining ‘ignorant of his devices’ (see 2 Corinthians 2:11). The Bible says, ‘Submit yourselves... to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (see James 4:7). You have power over Satan, use it.
3) See yourself as God sees you. He sees you not just as you are, but as you will be. If you’ve been conditioned by past experiences to see yourself as worthless, starting now you can change your self-image by believing what God says about you in His Word. When you have His opinion, what else matters? (read Jeremiah 29:11; Isaiah 43:1-3; Ephesians 2:6). As you work on these three things each day, you’ll become an ‘up’ person in a ‘down’ world.
But having the right perspective is only the beginning. As your understanding of God grows, as you recognise Satan's limitations, and as you begin to see yourself as God sees you, those truths must shape the way you live every day. Spiritual confidence is not about swinging to extremes; it is about walking in dependence on God while remaining alert to the enemy's schemes. The same Bible that tells us to trust God's love also tells us to stay watchful. A healthy Christian life holds these two truths together. And so to have a balanced life you must live by these two Scriptures:
A) ‘God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him’ (see 1 Peter 5:7).
B) ‘Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack’ (see v8).
When you fail to do either of these two things, you’ve opened the door for Satan to attack you. Too much of anything, even a good thing, is a problem. For example, work is good. But too much of it causes stress, which can result in sickness, resentment, depression, and the breakdown of your relationships. Food is good. But too much of it can lead to serious health problems. It’s good to be organised. But if you become a perfectionist you can drive yourself and everyone around you crazy.
Any area of your life that gets out of balance will rob you of the joy God wants you to have. Maintaining a life of balance is one of the biggest challenges you’ll face. The bible in Philippians 4:5 says, ‘Let your moderation be known unto all men.’ If you’re a highly driven personality, note the word ‘moderation’. It means ‘Don’t go to extremes.’ Pastor, excel in your ministry but don’t neglect your family. Parent, don’t just make a living, enjoy the people you’re making it for. It is fine to care about your appearance, but don’t be obsessed with your looks because they’re not the true measure of your worth as a person.
Take a look at your life and ask, ‘In what areas am I out of balance?’ Then ask God to help you get back into balance.
Have a prosperous week in Jesus' Name, Amen.
(Article/ extract from ucb,wordfortoday)
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Did you know: There are almost 20 different passages in the Bible where it is mentioned that we are God's people.
Ref: Jeremiah 32:38 / Ezekiel 14:11 / Zechariah 8:8 / 2 Corinthians 6:16 / Hebrews 8:10 / Ezekiel 11:20 / Ezekiel 37:23 / Jeremiah 7:23 / Jeremiah 31:33 / Ezekiel 37:27 / Jeremiah 31:1 / Revelation 21:3 / Exodus 6:7 / Leviticus 26:12 / Jeremiah 11:4 / Jeremiah 30:22 / Ezekiel 36:28.