The 3rd John 2 Program - Real Healing From Food Addiction for God's People - Week 5 - My Hiding Place

My Hiding Place

Psalm 32:7

Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

My Experience, Strength & Hope

I recently heard a new revelation about these songs of deliverance. It was glorious. I would like to share it with you. Our pastor is very much led by Holy Spirit in what he preaches. One day he said that as we sing of the deliverance of the Lord, He is in those songs and working our deliverance even as we sing of it. Isn’t that glorious?! I was very excited to hear that – how about you? Do you know that Jesus can deliver you even as you sing of His deliverance? Do you know that He inhabits (takes up residence in) your praises?

We are looking at hiding places. As an addict, people can look for lots of places to hide. They hide from stress, abuse, and a host of other worldly troubles. When we hide ourselves in Jesus, we can be preserved from trouble. That means every kind of trouble. When a person who has been addicted to something runs to Him, He will hide them from the trouble that addiction brings. It is true. I have seen Him do it for me. Lately I have seen the results of what it really means to hide oneself in the Lord. I am in a new season of victory in my life and I give Him all the praise and glory for that. That’s why I am excited to share it with you. Freely I have received – freely I give.

It's all about focus. What we think about, what we talk about, and how we act are all ways that reflect what will happen in our day to day activities. If we focus on the food for example and hide ourselves in that, we will remain ensnared by it. But when we run to Jesus and hide there; remain with Him and focus on Him, we can be free of that thing, whatever it may be.

There are a lot of things vying for our attention in this world that are not of God. We have a choice every moment of the day. Do we focus on the things of this world, or do we focus on Jesus and remain in Him – hidden away from the trouble that addictive behaviors can bring? The choice is ours.

Remember when you were young. Maybe you liked to play hide and go seek. You were so excited to go find that special place to tuck yourself into where nobody could find you. Or maybe you liked to build a treehouse, or a fort in the woods. I did a lot of that as a young girl. Ok, a bit of a tomboy, but so what. I enjoyed it. It was a way of hiding from the troubles going on in my home.

When I was in the fort with my friends, I felt safe and secure. Or when I would climb a tall tree, which I really enjoyed doing – the higher up the better, I would feel like I didn’t have a care in the world as I gazed down at the earth below. I even used to like to climb up on top of our refrigerator at home and just look down at everything. I liked being up there. It felt safe and peaceful. Having a place to go hide can be a very secure thing for anybody. But the hiding place must be right, or our efforts are in vain.

Stuffing our mouths with food is no place to hide. Drinking a bottomless bottle of booze is also a false ‘fort’. No matter where we have run to in the past to hide, we can run to the Savior right now and hide ourselves in Him. There is a picture online that is one of my favorites. It reminds me of Psalm 91 which is a good reflection of hiding in the Lord. In fact, we will use that Psalm in this message. In the picture, a beautifully colored bird is nesting her two babies underneath her large, comforting wings. They look so safe and happy there. 

My friend, we may think we are ‘hiding out’ when we are alone in our houses or cars; wherever we may be as we cram down volumes of food, alcohol or drugs - but trouble is right there with us when we are doing that. The enemy is in the middle of all that. It is a wide-open door for the enemy to steal, kill and destroy. It is no safe haven – I assure you. It’s a fort with paper thin walls that will not stand.

But when we hide ourselves in the sweet arms of Jesus, trusting in Him to protect us and feed our longing souls, then the enemy cannot enter into our ‘forts’, aka, our hearts. The doors are barricaded shut against him. Like the big bad wolf, he may huff and puff, but he can’t get in. The walls will remain strong and intact. He will not succeed in blowing our forts down because we are dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. May you be encouraged today to just go to Him. Cry if you have to. But rest in Him, trust Him to calm, relieve and refresh you – and He will, I promise, because He promises. Praise His name forever!

Psalm 91:1-4

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Scriptures from This Message…

Jeremiah 23:24

Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.

Psalm 17:6-9

I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

Psalm 27:5

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 

Psalm 57:1

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

John 15:1-11

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Colossians 3:1-3

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Psalm 61:4

I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

Thoughts to Meditate On:

What to Do…

·         Cry if you have to, but don’t stay there any longer than is necessary to get what’s bugging you out.

·         Rest in Jesus’ arms.

·         Trust Him – really trust Him. 

What We Get in Return…

·         Encouraged

·         Relieved

·         Refreshed

This week, write down how this message ministered to you the most. Get out things that you know are bothering you right now. Take it to the Lord in prayer. Start reading Psalm 91 out loud every day until you start to really get it down deep into your heart. Keep it where you can see it often. Rejoice in how much God loves you and wants to comfort and heal you. Allow Him time to do the work in you and allow yourself time to rest in Him. Be patient with yourself. Remember that no strong house was built in a day, a week or even a month. This is a lifelong process.

If you would like to join our weekly call, please send an email to the following:

The3rdJohn2Program@yahoo.com

Be blessed! 

Hanny Stearns

The 3rd John 2 Program - Week 4 - He Gives Us The Victory

He Gives Us the Victory  

1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

My Experience, Strength & Hope

When I wrote this, it was the end of a great and victorious week for me. I am so excited to share my testimony with you. God is a good God and He has been so good to me. The week was a challenging one. It started off with symptoms in my body. I had to keep stating out loud that “By Jesus’ stripes I am healed.” I put faith in His word and thanked Him that it was already done. I didn’t look at the symptoms – I looked at His promises.

That morning, as I went outside to walk our sweet puppy, I looked up and discovered a beautiful rainbow. Every time I see the rainbow, I am reminded that God keeps His promises. That week He certainly did for me! He has told us in His word that He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I have seen this promise come to pass in my life. I need to give away what I have received so freely  and wonderfully from our God and King.

I was tempted several times with food that particular week, but as the Lord taught me through those circumstances to watch and pray, I came out on top of the enemy’s devices. The devil even tried to set me up for the upcoming Sunday when Denny and  I would go out to eat after church. He put the thought in my mind, “Why don’t you make that a splurge meal?” I grabbed a hold of that thought and took it to the Lord. I said to the Lord that I really didn’t think that thought was coming from Him.

As I got into my shower (the Lord can speak to us anywhere, LOL!) He reminded me that not only was this a set up, but that I had previously planned to have one day a month where I eat other than my normal diet, but it is a planned thing, not a result of the tempter’s suggestion. Now many months later, as I review this message before it goes to print I have a new revelation to insert. Watch this because it is very pivotal to your success overall.

When we plan any type of a ‘binge’ meal, we are committing sin because it is covetoueness which is idolotyr and it is setting us up for a fall. I used to think it was OK to plan a monthlky ‘treat meal’, however, the Lord has since shown me that this is not good. He wants to be able to lead us in what we eat and when no matter where we are sat. At home or away, we need to be prepared to eat according to our healthy plan of eating. This will keep us on a sure footing.

That day I woke early, at 5:00 am. I exercised at 5:30 and then took my shower. I was done in time to fix breakfast and spend time with my husband, and I felt great! I was right on track with my exercises all week. The Lord showed me in my time of prayer to count it all joy when we fall into various trials. The testing of our faith will produce patience. Once this happens, we will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Hallelujah!

I was so blessed when He showed me this as I came to the end of a victorious week in Christ Jesus, my Lord. The Father showed me that every week can be just like this, taking it one day at a time. After all, that is the only way we can live this life, isn’t it? Just one day at a time. I don’t have to think about tomorrow, or deal with its issues until it gets here.

I only need to live in today and be 100% in the moment I am in. In so doing, I can benefit from every single part of my day without carrying baggage from the past, or trying to bring in tomorrow’s cargo and try to carry it today when I don’t even know what it is yet. That’s victory! That’s what Jesus died and rose again to give us. Hallelujah!

Friend, I believe I am supposed to share this with you so that you also can see the word of God and a testimony of practical, lived out examples of how it works from day to day. Anyone who has struggled with addiction in the past knows how important it is to stay close to a strong source for help each day. Well my friend, our Savior is right here, ready, willing and able to come to our aid. We have Holy Spirit and His written word- they travel together. When we need something, all we do have to ask. Then we have to receive. And lastly, we have to do our part. Without those three components working together, we will fail. For me, failure is NOT an option – how about you?

We are in a race in this life. Anyone who is in Christ has already been given the victory. It’s a done deal. The only thing left in the equation is for us to reach out and receive it by faith. May you be blessed and encouraged as you continue to fight the good fight of faith and allow Your Savior to lead you to Your victory. It’s yours. It’s there. Its finished! Now receive it in Jesus name.

Scriptures from This Message…

2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Luke 4:1-8

And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Peter 1:5-9 (AMPC)

For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), and in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety), and in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love.

For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). For whoever lacks these qualities is blind, [spiritually] shortsighted, seeing only what is near to him, and has become oblivious [to the fact] that he was cleansed from his old sins.

Let’s look at the word DILIGENCE, noun [Latin , to love earnestly; to choose.] WEBSTERS 1828 Dictionary; Steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken; exertion of body or mind without unnecessary delay or sloth; due attention; industry; assiduity.

James 1:2-8, 12

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Matthew 6:25-34

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 

Points to Ponder:

·         We have already been given the victory through Jesus.

·         We have to reach out and receive God’s promises by faith.

·         We must continue daily to fight the good fight of faith.

·         We must live in the moment we are in. If we are always thinking about our past, we cannot see our future. If we are always thinking about tomorrow, we are missing our today. Be where you are!

·        Write down your thoughts about this lesson and how you can make positive changes this coming week. You’ve got the victory in Him!

If you would like to join our weekly call, please send an email to the following:

The3rdJohn2Program@yahoo.com

Be blessed! 

Hanny Stearns

Asking, Seeking, Knocking - Some Great Notes to Meditate On Jan 16 2018

Notes from a service I attended. I wanted to share with you and hope this puts a whole lot more fire in you for this year! 

Blessings! Hanny

Read Luke 11:5-10

The difference between asking, seeking and knocking. He progressed and became a knocker. More aggression and effort. More umph.

He asks for three loaves and got the bakery. It’s not the asking. It’s how you go about it. How serious are we to receive our answer or healing or provision?

Intensify what you already know to do. We are touching it at some level.

The intensity must be there. After seeking we begin to knock. God doesn’t want to withhold anything.

There is more for now than what we see. More peace, more joy, more satisfaction. The more we have of heaven makes is easy to do without stuff in this world. Amen to that!!

We don’t pray with enough intensity. We might be here acting fired up but how are we at home in our prayer closet?

Our resurrection is something that happens on the inside.

We need to seek and search for Him with all our heart. When we seek our own it delays the healing and the money. He heals us to serve and prospers us to serve.

To keep anything we have to change our intensity. It becomes a part of us and a permanent internal change.

Mountains don’t move easily and sycamores don’t come up easy and giants don’t fall right away.

We intensify a lot of things to get what we want. Like solving an insurance problem, or getting a refund for something, etc.

We are wired to be intense but we do not apply that intensity to some very important things in our lives. We take short cuts and bargain deals.

This man became a knocker and intensified what he already knew to do. It wasn’t something that was out there. It was right in front of him. He had to beat on that door consistently and that’s what opened the door.

The energy behind our push to be healed matters- to get the knowledge we need, the provision or direction or answers.

We don’t want to get discouraged and quit. Most of the things we are after are important enough to push hard to get. God is looking for us to show some level of intensity.

In Billy’s example from a trip to the gym one day. He saw a guy with a chiseled body. He explained that it came with hard work day after day.

He was serious about what he wanted to have. Are you?

We don’t really put enough effort into what we say we really want.

For all the time we put in, should we be seeing more breakthrough than we do?

What do we stay up all night for to pursue?

Be consistent and that’s where we intensify. It’s doing the thing He has told us to do over and over again.

We don’t know when our praise is going to bring a glory cloud or cause Him to send an angel that night, etc.

How much passion are we putting into what we are doing where the things of the Lord is concerned?

Pure intercession is where we identify with something so much we take it on.

The devil may be a loser but he is so consistent in what he does. He chips away at a person’s passion and resolve until he gets them to break down and stop pursuing what they are after. Then they think God failed them and they quit - he wins and they lose.

Success is in the communing every day.

It’s what we do every day that forms habits that brings results.

What happens when we lose the fire and passion in prayer, etc.?

We are good at asking and seeking and then we wonder where it is at. We don’t get serious enough or urgent enough to keep pounding on the door until we get the answer like the man because of his importunity who got his bread for his friends and even more that he asked for!

God wants all of our heart. If we really want to experience all of Him we have to rise up and press in with intense passion!!!!!

Get more intense. That’s what knocking is. The man took importunity. He wasn’t just knocking. He began to bear on the door.

How intense have you been for something you really wanted?

The kingdom is for violent people who want to take it by force. Our anger gets misappropriated.

We should make the enemy pay and suffer for putting thoughts in our head. If he knows he will take a beating when he shows up he may come around less often.

The devil is a thief before he is a killer. First he works to wear us down. He chips away at us. He is consistent.

How much more should we be? Resist him.

Where he attacks us we need to respond immediately. He needs to know that when he strikes me I will bite back. Even if it takes leaving the room to deal with his attack.

We need to use our war chest. The word of God, that sharp two edged sword!!

We have to want some ground that is not conquered yet. He doesn’t give up easy. How much more bold should I be?

We are kept from being promoted because he is looking for more combustion. It takes a lot of combustion to launch a rocket.

Are you knocking on all levels?

Are we pressing for the healing and not the money or other things we are wanting?

It’s not what we get in life that counts. It’s what we keep. Why don’t we have it? Because we didn’t know how to keep it.

Becoming insistent and being radical is what will give us what we are seeking.

Remember when you prayed so boldly?

How passionate are you to get those answers and provisions and healing. Where is the fire?!!

Turn up the energy. Excellence. How do we exercise the information He gave us already. How are we doing with what He has already given us?

Where do we place our energy and our best effort?

We really chase after what is most important. It shows in how we spend our most intense effort in any day.

INTENSITY!!!!

All the time we spend on cell phones and none of it has to do with pulling from heaven.

Begin to be consistent. Put some emotion in it.

When He says to do something, just do that and don’t add 5 other things to the list!

More perfect obedience and passion for the changes we want to see and the provisions we need.

Many stay in the asking and seeking mode and don’t become knockers.

If God doesn’t see us deem it urgent why should He affirm something we don’t affirm?

What we bind He will bind and He will loose what we loose. He backs up our efforts and energy because He has us covered.

Get serious today. Don’t let an urgent matter be the thing that gets us serious about the things of God. It should all be important.

What measure we give is the measure that comes back at us. This is a key principle of kingdom living. Sowing and reaping. You get back what you put in.

He wants to hear about the stuff in us that hasn’t been channeled His way yet!

His cry for healing with passion was a turning point. He did it with great passion.

Look at the money and tell it that it is serving me. When we are desperate it works.

Boldness!!!!!

Show some emotion that conveys that you mean what you say and are asking for.

Don’t be hot and cold. Ratchet up that intensity. One day a week get up earlier and forgo the coffee.

Send healing through email. Practice your gifts. Tell them you are praying for them.

Send someone an email. Practice being a blessing to others. A word of encouragement or a verse, etc.

Are you were willing to drop everything and go when you are called?

Holy Spirit is trying to intensify our search and we will get the prize. He has healing and restoration and wholeness for me!

ASK. SEEK. KNOCK. THAT DOOR WILL BE OPENED!!

THINK ABOUT THE GUYS WHO DROPPED THEIR FRIEND IN THROUGH THE ROOF.

JESUS NEVER SAID TO STOP THEIR PURSUIT. HE WOULDN’T STOP THE EFFORT AND ENERGY.

THE MAN NEVER REPENTED AND JESUS FORGAVE HIM IMMEDIATELY. HE LET THEM GO THROUGH THE PROGRESSION. Think of the centurion and his faith.

Try something different than what we are doing with intensity.

The 3rd John 2 Program - Real Healing From Food Addiction for God's People - Week 3 - Watch and Pray

Watch and Pray

Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

My Experience, Strength & Hope

I was being led to talk about what it means to watch and pray. What does it really mean to watch and pray? I personally believe that in this season of my life the Lord is really showing me the real meaning of this scripture and how to really make it work for me.

The weekend prior to this writing I prayed and asked for help in one situation, and the Lord provided. Yet, in another situation I did not ask for His help and I failed. And the night before I wrote this the opportunity came again at dinner time. Maybe you can relate. I started out with a plan to eat one thing, but at the last minute I felt ‘prompted’ to add a little something else to my meal. That thought was coming from the voice of the tempter. He knew it would take me over my limit for the day.

I left the room and asked the Lord if I should do it. Then I proceeded to start the food on the stove. The next thing I knew, our sweet puppy Jesse started scratching on my leg to go out. I thought it odd because it hadn’t been that long since he had been outside. My husband and I proceeded to harness him up and go out. We talked as we walked, so I was distracted from hearing from the Lord.

Soon my husband’s cell phone rang and he took the call. While he was busy talking to his client on the phone, the Lord got busy talking to me in my spirit. He said to me, “Don’t eat the chicken. Put it in the refrigerator for lunch tomorrow.” That was all I needed to hear. When we got back home, I finished cooking the chicken and promptly placed it in the fridge for the next day’s lunch.

The bottom line is this. We know in our hearts when we are considering doing something that we shouldn’t. That’s the time to step aside from the situation and ask the Lord to help us. He is ready, willing and able to help as the scriptures say. This is taking a look at the current circumstances (to watch) and it is asking the Lord to show us what we should do or how we should handle it – (to pray).

The Lord used our puppy to get us away from the kitchen, and He used the timing of Denny’s phone call to give me a moment to listen to Him. He needs our cooperation. He will not shout at us, NO – DON’T EAT THE CHICKEN!” Instead He will speak to us in that still small voice on the inside – so we have to give Him our attention and listen for His answer. It will surely come.

Again, to watch means to be aware of the situation we are in at any given moment. If it becomes a tempting situation, we need to escape to a quiet place and ask the Lord for help. Then we need to be quiet for a few moments and give Him the time to respond. And He will. He is faithful. He would much rather see us do this than to blow it on a whim and then run to Him repenting and having to seek forgiveness. He does expect us to grow up and do the right thing. 

He does not want us to use, or should I say, abuse His grace as an excuse to do the wrong thing time and time again, only to ask for forgiveness and then turn right around and do it again. That is childish behavior and there is no true repentance in that! Kids will do things like that – adults should not.

So today, whatever the temptation is that you are faced with, remember to leave the room. Even if you are in a restaurant, whatever the case may be, get to a restroom; any place where you can go to the Lord and ask for His help. Then sit and wait for your answer to come. When we get the word from the Lord and do it – the miracle occurs, just like Jesus’ mother said to the disciples. If we do what He says, His miraculous power will manifest itself in our situation and we will come out on top instead of caving in to the flesh or the tempter. Glory to God. The water would have remained only water that day if the disciples had not obeyed, even though they had no idea what they were doing or why. It can be the same for us every single day. We don’t have to seek the flashy stuff to receive the supernatural.

It really is a day by day walk; even a moment by moment decision to make the right choices and be successful in overcoming the obstacles that lay before us. Anything that we have been addicted to in the past is something that we can never again dabble with. To do so is extremely dangerous and will lead us down a wrong path.

Even though we get the victory over that mountain, through Jesus Christ our Lord, we have to remember that if we were in bondage to it before, we could become ensnared by it again if we are not careful. That’s why we have to watch and pray. The Lord showed me how to do this – really.

It is not going to hours of prayer. It is recognizing the situation at hand and seeking to get the Lord’s help immediately. He knows what we are faced with and He is right there to help us. And He won’t keep you waiting long before you will have your answer of encouragement. Then you and I can go back to what we were doing with the strength of the Lord going before us.

Just for today, let’s not allow the enemy to bring any negative thoughts to our mind. Let’s open ourselves to the word of God as our lamp, our guide - just for today. Let’s remember that we do not have to deal with tomorrow. It is not here yet. Yesterday is over and done with. Temptations will come, but God is able to deliver us from them – hallelujah!

Remember this…

Today is a brand new, fresh day - like a load of clean laundry just pulled out of the dryer. Just for today you and I have the power living within us through Holy Spirit to make the right choices as we place out total trust in the Lord. Be blessed and be a blessing to someone else. Freely we have received – freely we give, in Jesus name!

Scriptures from This Message…

1 Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

2 Peter 2:9

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.

John 2:5

His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

Revelation 21:5

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Questions from This Message:

·         How has this message taught you more about what it means to watch and pray?

·        Will you make a plan for the next time you are feeling tempted to eat something you shouldn’t? What will be your “escape route?”

·        Remember that the Lord is living right on the inside of you. He is not some foreign unknown God way out there in outer space somewhere. He is only a breath away. We can ask Him for help at any moment and when we do, be prepared! He will help you in ways you never imagined.

If you would like to join our weekly call, please send an email to the following:

The3rdJohn2Program@yahoo.com

Be blessed! 

Hanny Stearns

The 3rd John 2 Program - Week 2 Message - "You're An Overcomer"

You’re an Overcomer

John 16:33

 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

AMPC

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

My Experience, Strength & Hope

Do you see yourself as an overcomer? According to the word of God, that’s what we are called to be. But we have a part to play in it. We must see ourselves as overcomers in order to become overcomers. We must have the faith that will cause us to arrive at our destination of victory.

The morning I wrote this, I woke after a not so good night of sleep. I really needed to get up and just sit with the Lord. Instead I tried to sleep, but it never really came. It was a waste of my time. In my time with the Lord, I fell to the floor in tears needing a touch from Him. As I turned on my worship music, I allowed Holy Spirit to choose the songs. After I picked the first one – He took it from there. The second song said it all. It was “You’re an Overcomer.” It is a great song and I encourage you to pull it up on You Tube and check it out. The words are pretty good – most of them at least. Some we do not agree with, but the overall meaning is wonderful and encouraging.

I sat and listened to the words, knowing that my Father in heaven was encouraging me when I needed it the most. Then the next song was, “Jesus at the Center.” I was amazed once again by the sovereignty of God and His loving encouragement to me.

I needed to be reminded this morning that I am an overcomer. I needed to remember to keep Jesus at the center of my focus, not how I feel. The next song that played was “The Potter’s Hand.” God is so awesome. He then reminded me that He is the one working on me, like a potter forms a piece of clay. Day by day we need to be reminded that He is molding us into something so beautiful that we will clearly reflect His glory, His face and His characteristics. Hallelujah! I found this to be extremely comforting.

The last song was this, “I Will Bless the Lord.” This song picked me up off the floor and got me really singing, in spite of how I was feeling. I wanted to bless God. I wanted to focus on Him and trust Him to make me into the woman He imagined me to be when He formed me in my mother’s womb. I agreed that I am an overcomer. I do not agree like the song says that I am “down for a moment.” I will only agree that I have hope, a hope that will never disappoint, and I will overcome. 

As a minister of the gospel, I have to spend time with the Lord and enjoy our relationship. And we are all ministers of the gospel in one way or another – so the relationship for each of us is of the utmost importance! We must be filled up and lifted up by Him before we can offer anything to anyone else. If we don’t, we will fail. We cannot give what we have not received.

The day prior to this writing I had enjoyed a good day with eating, praise the Lord! In the evening, after leaving a children’s birthday party and not partaking of any of the pizza, chips, soda or cake, I went home and fixed myself a healthy meal. On the way to the house, the devil came and made a suggestion. He whispered in my mind, “Why not have a carrot and just two cashews?” I thought, “That sounds good.” I needed something to curb the hunger, and fast since it was already past dinner time.

When I got in the kitchen and opened the pantry door, my attention was drawn to a can of artichoke hearts. I grabbed them and opened them, thanking the Lord that I had them. They are a good low carb and quick snack for times like these. I knew I had met my protein and nut quota for the day, and I passed on the cashews.

The punchline for this story is this. The Lord showed me that the devil, as deceiving as he always is, tried to get me to eat just two cashews and he tried to make it sound like it would be alright. Just two. He knows I really like them. He also knew that I was very hungry and it would be easy to just keep eating them if I would just start with two.

The Lord showed me how He would never encourage me to eat something that would throw me off track like that, even a little. He was pleased that I had followed the leading of Holy Spirit by choosing the artichokes instead. I share my heart and my experience with you along with how the Lord has strengthened me with a sincere desire to give you what I have been given.

May this, and especially the scriptures in this lesson be a great encouragement to you in Jesus name! (Speak them out loud over yourself because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God – (Rom. 10:17)

Scriptures from This Message…

1 John 5:4

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Jeremiah 18:1-6

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. 

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

John 16:33

 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

1 John 4:4

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Revelation 2:7

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 12:11

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

 Brought to you by: Fish N Loaves Ministries, Inc. 

Hanny Lynn Stearns

For more information, please email us at: The3rdJohn2Program@yahoo.com