The 3rd John 2 Program - Real Healing From Food/Sugar Addiction for God's People - Week 22 - Applying God's Word by Faith - A Testimony

A Testimony About Applying God’s Word by Faith

John 8:36

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

My Experience, Strength & Hope

If we are going to succeed in this life as a Christian, we have to be doers of God’s word by faith, or it is worthless to us no matter how many verses we can quote from memory. The morning I wrote this, I woke up with a terrible leg cramp. The spasms were so intense I could not stand the pain. I cried in anguish a couple times and then I started thanking Jesus. I thanked Him and said “By Your stripes I am healed.” I kept thanking Jesus. After a few moments of this, the pain subsided. Do you see that I had to stop fighting with the symptoms and start fighting the good fight of faith in the power of the name of Jesus?

During this time in my journey I was reaching new levels of healing with food issues. I knew that I was free – once and for all. Every day I began to quote verses from the Bible that say “I am free because the Son has set me free.” I also decree that I will follow my plan of eating for the day. I finally stopped fighting with the food and focusing on it. Instead I started speaking the word of God out loud in faith and it began to work for me. God’s word works when we think it, say it and believe it. Now it seems such a waste of my precious time with the Lord having gone around and around in the ring with food when I could have been living the free life that Jesus has given me as a born-again Christian.

At that time, I could see a real shift in my approach to food. The day before I wrote this, I didn’t feel like taking the time to mess with lunch, so I grabbed something easy and less than what I normally have. The Lord spoke to my heart and told me to never call myself an addict again. We are what we see ourselves as in our hearts. He said to stop calling myself a ‘former addict’. He wants us to disassociate with that title altogether. From now on all I will say is that I am a healthy person with a healthy attitude about how I treat my body which is the temple of Holy Spirit. Hallelujah! I will say that by Jesus’ stripes, I am healed.

Today Christians all over the world are crying out to God to be set free from bondage. But the truth is, we have already been set free. All we need to do is accept the free gift we have already been given. When David cried out for a Savior in Psalm 53:6 for example, Jesus had not yet come. He was used by Holy Spirit to pen the request in writing of what he wanted to see.

Then the Lord God Almighty brought it to pass one day in a stable for animals in Bethlehem! Rejoice saints! No gift is any good if it is not received!

The only ones who will get set free from any bondage they are in are the ones who will believe in God and take Him at His word. Once they do that, they are home free. Religion tries to tell people all kinds of junk about what Jesus said and did. That is all coming from the evil one – the father of lies. But Jesus didn’t tell us He gave us all this authority for nothing. He meant what He said. The problem is that many do not believe it. It is the doers of the word of God who get results. We have to speak the word over our lives in faith, out loud. Once we do that we keep thanking the Lord that His word is working in our lives.

The night before I wrote this as I was typing at my computer, one of my monitors had a blank screen. The other two were fine but the third one was blank. I said out loud, “I wonder why my monitor is not working.” Then I thought, “Oh well, I will have my husband look at it.” He is the ‘techy guy’ around here. Later the Lord spoke to my heart. He said, “Don’t ever say something is not working.” What He wanted me to see was to speak the desired results over every situation. Jesus spoke to a tree and because He cursed it, the thing was dead a short while later, leaving His disciples marveling. Holy Spirit helped me to realize I had said the wrong thing about my monitor.

The next day I had yet another opportunity to speak to something that was not functioning properly. This time it was the vertical blind in my office window. So I spoke to it. I said to the blind, “You will work.” That was all I said. A couple pulls and down she came – working just fine. When God spoke, things happened. We are created in His image and Jesus came and gave us every example of how to make things cooperate for us. He didn’t talk just to ‘chat’. When He spoke, it was to teach or to make something happen. It should be the same with us.

So many of us can be free right now if we will accept what Jesus has already done for us. It wasn’t just the cross. That’s where it started. The cross was just a place to go to die. The cross didn’t do anything for us in and of itself! But it was finished when God raised Jesus from the dead. He went to hell for you and me so we wouldn’t have to. He took our infirmities so we could be well and whole. He came to set the captives free. He came so the Father could pull us all out of bondage. One can only try to imagine how it must break the Lord’s heart to see all these people of His suffering loss and devastation in their lives because they do not believe in His word. Many of His children are in bondage so deep and don’t realize that they have all the power right there inside of them to step up and out of it and become free.

There was a sick woman who could barely speak in a whisper. She was dying of cancer. She was instructed by her pastor friend to start saying “I am strong.” Forty-five minutes later she was sitting up on the death bed shouting “I am strong.” Instead of throwing up all her food, she started confessing that she had a voracious appetite and everything she ate stayed down. This had been a lady who was a minister and believed in healing. But she had gotten worn down by the disease and she needed a faith buddy. So the pastor went to her bedside and together they spoke what the Lord put on his heart to have her say. Months later she was all around town preaching and working and had gained 20 pounds! Glory to God!

Friend, if you have been struggling with anything that has been making you feel trapped, be encouraged. You can talk your way out of your bondage and step right up into the freedom that Christ died and was raised to give you. Whatever you have been fighting in the flesh, you can start wrestling against in the spirit, by faith in God – His Spirit and His word.

You can start speaking out loud the results you would like to see come to pass in your life. For example, if it is a test you will be taking, you can say something like this, “I will pass that test with an A+.” If you are addicted to cigarettes, every time you think about them or pick one up and take a puff, you can say, “I am free.” In no time at all you will be free.

I printed a list of several scriptures and I started saying them out loud over myself every single day. This gave me a major breakthrough with those “once upon a time eating issues.” I am really free. Glory to God! The same thing can happen to you. Do you want to be free my friend? Guess what - you already are! Just say it and believe it. Take it by faith – freedom and victory is yours for the taking.

After all, that’s how you got born again. You had to say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. It was a matter of faith and confession. Remember, Jesus is the High Priest of our confession. Come on now. You can start saying some good things about your life, your family, health, finances and your future. Then stand back and watch the miracles happen! You’ll be shoutin all over town – praise the Lord! This will bring Him glory and help you to step into the destiny He has had planned for you all along. Hallelujah!

Scriptures from This Message…

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Philippians 2:9-11

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Job 22:28

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

2 Corinthians 4:13

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.

James 1:22

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Matthew 21:18-22

Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

James 3:3-4

Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

John 6:63

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Psalm 119:130

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

John 8:31-32

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Hebrews 3:1

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 4:14

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

1 Corinthians 15:57

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

Things You Can Choose to Say Starting Right Now:

·        As you think about what we have learned in this message, will you start to change your confession right away?

      Will you begin to make your own confession list from God’s word that can change the course of your life? Look at what James said about turning the ship wherever the pilot desires. What will you start to say to turn your life in the direction you want to see it go?

·        Will you study the word of God and seek Him through prayer to find out what He wants for you in this life?

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

The3rdJohn2Program@yahoo.com

Be blessed! 

Hanny

The 3rd John 2 Program - Real Healing From Food Addiction for God's People - Week 21 - It's All About Our Focus

It’s All About Our Focus

Romans 8:5-18

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

My Experience, Strength & Hope

I encourage you to read through the Romans passage slowly - out loud before you go any further. Think about the desires of your own flesh and anything that you may have been allowing in your flesh lately that is not God’s will for you. If you have had any form of addiction, think about your relationship with food or whatever your addiction has been as you read. Then come back to finish reading this.

Whenever we focus on and live according to our flesh (the soul part of us, aka, the mind, will & emotions), we will experience death. No, you will not drop dead the minute you eat a Twinkie, necessarily! Go ahead and laugh – it does you’re your heart good like medicine! (Remember, anyone who has been addicted to anything can fill in the blanks here – it all certainly applies). As always, I will apply this to food because it is what I struggled with the most – or so I thought at the time!

I certainly had a lot of issues where drugs and alcohol were concerned among several other things, but the food was the hardest for me to let go of. Once I did, I could see even bigger giants in my life! I am so grateful that God is bigger than all my “Goliath’s!”

A few years ago, when I was single and working, I was eating according to my food plan most of the time and keeping a habit of regular exercise. I was intently focused on the things of the Lord. I wanted Him to be able to fulfill His calling for my life. I had my challenges I assure you because I still had a lot of growing and learning to do. And, we will always need to continue that process in this life.

  

Overall, I had great success with maintaining my weight and my health. Then, by the awesome grace of God, I was moved to attend a new church and leave my job in an insurance brokerage firm. The Lord topped it all off with bringing me a man of God who would soon become my husband. That was in 2012. I can’t begin to tell you of all the excitement I was experiencing. It was like walking on clouds every day. Then the Lord added a stray puppy to the mix, hand delivered to my mailbox and I suddenly found myself living whole new life. It was beyond wonderful; albeit there was a lot to adjust to ‘all of a sudden’. How many know that God is full of suddenlys? Hallelujah!

When all of those blessings were dropped down on me from our ever so gracious heavenly Father, I noticed that I began to struggle with food again in ways I hadn’t for the past several years. It started to become a mountain in my life again. Over time, amidst all the excitement, I began to put on weight. It was terribly uncomfortable and I was not happy to show myself to others looking out of control – like I was.

One day at work in my new job at a doctor’s office, one of my coworkers; a man we highly love and respect in the Lord, was used by God to speak to me in the lunch room. (Of all places) What he said was this, “Hanny, you have lost your focus. What you focus on is where your strength will be.” That hit me between the eyes and shot like an arrow to my heart. He assured me that one day I would be able to help others because the thing that had become my greatest weakness in life would be (because of the Spirit of God) my greatest strength to be used of the Lord to help others. That seemed a long way away at that moment.

Lately, I have a “knowing” in my spirit that I have reached a new level of strength (in the Lord) with my eating. It is more under control than it has ever been and I am at peace with it – glory to God. And why is that happening? Because my focus has changed. When I focused on the food, it became bigger than life to me. It looked like a “Goliath” in my life, but I didn’t have the faith of David to take him down. I just kept looking at how big the giant (food) was. As a result, I kept stumbling all over the place. One day good, the next two not so good – like that. I was constantly being reminded by the Lord to put down my idols. I was always repenting and asking for forgiveness but I kept returning to my ‘vomit’. That means I kept going back to my old ways. As a result, I continued to reap results that were not in my best interest.

With all the changes that were happening in my life, I needed to draw closer to the Lord – not the food. But I kept focusing on the desires of my flesh. When my then fiancé and I went out to eat, I looked at the menu to see what my flesh wanted rather than asking Holy Spirit what He thought I should eat. And rather than “erring on the side of caution”, or “going the extra mile” I was living according to the desires of my flesh.

So how did that cause death in my life? Sin always brings death. I was sinning by doing something that God had asked me not to do. I was afraid to let go of the food and take His hand and trust Him as much as I would like to have thought I did. Fear is sin. By sinning, I was creating death in my relationship with the Lord. 

I was not pleasing Him with my choices. He still loved me – He always will. He was not only displeased by my choices, but miracles were not happening in my life for the kingdom like they should have been because of my sin. He could not bless my disobedience or rebellion – which is of the devil.

I had to get refocused. I had to hone in on the word of God. I had to be willing to let the Lord straighten me out with His presence and His words. I had to submit to His authority in my life. I had never realized how hard it was for me to be submissive until these past couple of years. But anyone who wants to really be used by God has to be submissive to His will. If they are not, though He loves them, He will have to leave them on the sidelines while others who are more cooperative will be selected to do His work. He has important things that need to be done in the earth before this whole thing wraps up in the not too distant future. I want to be used. How about you? That’s the big question.

Friend, with all my heart I want to encourage you to “work the word faith” by getting those scriptures out of the Bible that will minister best to your heart and your circumstances. Use them. Say them out loud. Confess them over yourself every day. Be consistent. Remember, Jesus is the High Priest of our confession. When we speak good things out of our mouths, we give Him something to work with.

But when we speak negativity out of our mouths, we are giving place to the devil, and he will be the one helping us to bring the negative results to pass in our lives. The word of God works when we believe it, say it and trust in it. Let’s not leave our tools (God’s words of life) in the shed to get rusty.

Scriptures from This Message…

Proverbs 26:11

As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

1 Corinthians 2:16

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ. 

To Mediate on This Week - What Have You Been Focusing On?

·         Will you spend this week absorbing the words of scripture contained in this message?

·        Think about making the verses that help you as if they were your very own (because they     are!)

·        What have you been going back to that has brought a sort of death into your life, your body,  or your relationships with God and others because of a wrong focus?

·        What will you do differently from this day forward to stay focused on the Lord and His word?

·        Will you make a commitment to the Lord and to yourself that you will focus on the good things He says about you and His will for your destiny?

·        Remember, to have the ‘mind’ of Christ means that we can think like He does. That changes things a whole bunch – doesn’t it?

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

The3rdJohn2Program@yahoo.com

Be blessed! 

Hanny

Week 20 The 3rd John 2 Program - Real Healing From Food Addiction for God's People - All Things Are Lawful - Not Everything Is Beneficial

All Things Are Lawful – Not Everything Is Beneficial

1 Corinthians 6:12-13

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

My Experience, Strength & Hope

First Corinthians 6 is a powerful scripture when it comes to breaking free from addiction. As a reminder I will speak on the issue of food addiction, however, please hear me on this. It is not limited to food addiction. This can be applied to any area where there is a stronghold in our lives. As one who struggled with many addictions and obsessive/compulsive behaviors, I understand what it is like to allow the flesh to dominate our thinking. In the case listed above, Paul was speaking to the Corinthian church about sexual immorality.  But we can apply this to any idolatry or addiction because it all bears the same meaning within these verses. If it is sin, the born-again Christian should have no part of it.

Taking this one step further, Paul said in essence that he was free to do anything (within reason that is). He was not bound up by laws and religious traditions. The only thing Paul was bound by was the gospel and the grace of God. There are many things that we can do if we were to choose to, and it would be OK, if it didn’t lead us to sin. But those things that may seem to be O.K. could be harmful in the end.

Let me give you an example from my own life and issues with eating. Back in 2007 the Lord placed me on a food plan. I have told you about this already. It is a 1300 calorie diet that is well balanced. It covers all the basics of a low carb (not carb free) eating plan and gives me the nutrients I need to lead a perfectly healthy life. One of the things the Lord has asked me to give up was sugar – even the ‘so-called’ healthy sweetener substitute Stevia. 

At first giving up sugar was terribly difficult because it is so addictive – known to be about 8 times more addictive than cocaine. In fact, it was easier for me to stop using cocaine than it was the sugar! I have been allowed to eat just about anything. The Lord has been gracious to me. He asked me to follow a plan that He provided through a registered dietician (one that helps diabetics to get their blood sugars to normal ranges) and He knew that it would keep me healthy. I struggled many times with sticking perfectly to my plan. When I stuck with it, I saw great progress. But when I ‘slipped’ here and there, eating things that were not the best for me, my weight loss would slow down and hinder my progress. Anything that hinders our progress really needs to go.

We have to remember that what we do for the Lord must be done willingly. Whatever He is asking us to give up or quit is for our own good. Remember, God’s reasons are out of love – and His love is never selfish. To some it may sound like a death sentence and well it should be. We need to crucify the desires of the flesh every day. There are many things that while they may be permissible – they are not beneficial for us to partake in. For example, I can choose to have pizza if I take a notion to, but it really isn’t on my food plan (per se) and would not bring about the best results.

I can make a homemade pizza that does fit within the boundaries of the plan and occasionally I can enjoy some restaurant style pizza; as long as it is done right and controlled. If we handle things right and show the Lord that we can be trusted, in reality, we end up having far more freedom than others who are out there throwing themselves to complete overindulgence in many things and it is slowly but surely killing them. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

As I began to take the word of God more seriously in my life by saying it out loud over myself every day in faith, I have begun to notice an even deeper change in me. I have always been a hearty eater, but lately I find myself not being able to eat as much. The more I have stuck with my food plan, the less food I am able to comfortably hold at one time. Hallelujah!

So how can we apply this to what Paul is saying today really? I like what the opening verse this week says when it talks about “food for the stomach and the stomach for food.” The more I let go of allowing myself to desire certain foods, the more I have come to realize that following God’s food plan for my life is working extremely well for me. I am getting stronger, healthier and more peaceful with it all. I started looking at food like it should be looked at – it is only fuel for my body. It is not meant to be a comforter or anything else. It is just fuel.

Think about pouring gasoline into the tank of our cars. When talking to people about what they are putting into their bodies, this question seems to be a real ‘game changer’. Think about this. Would you pour a can of Coca Cola into your automobile’s gas tank? I can almost hear your reply. You would look at me like I am crazy and say quickly, “No way!” If we did something like that, we might as well take that engine out and toss it to the junk yard – it would break down and not function correctly. It is the same with our bodies where food and water are concerned. We must pour healthy food and water into our bodies in order for them to function properly.

Too many people in the world today have made food a center focal point. It is the center of holidays, birthdays, and well, you name it; just about any gathering that people have centers around the food. When we see a family at a park having a celebration for example, what do we see them focusing on? You guessed it! The food! Very obese people are just standing around the food table nibbling this and nibbling that. When we see such a thing, we are never to judge them. Most of us have been there and done it ourselves. But if we turn to something other than the Lord to comfort us, we will miss out on the only true Comforter that we have.

God alone wants to be our Comforter. He will not share His glory with another. So it is sin when we turn to food, alcohol or anything else to comfort us. Another example of all things being lawful would be drinking. Did the Lord ever tell us in His word not to touch alcohol? The answer to that is no. But is it beneficial to be drinkers in the body of Christ? Not really. Why? Because it can easily lead to drunkenness and all kinds of evil behavior. In addition, it can set a poor example for others who are observing us and even cause them to make an excuse to sin. Even Jesus said He was no longer going to choose to drink of the fruit of the vine until the wedding feast. He made a willing choice to forgo that until a better time. We can do the same.

Back in 2006 the Lord asked me to quit alcohol altogether and I replied, “Yes, Lord, I would be happy to do that for You.” I have kept my word ever since. For me, it was easy to give up because I wanted to honor the Lord and I despised the things that happened in my life as a result of drinking. But the food was another deal. Why? Because we have to eat it every day to live. The sugar had such a hold on me that I truly could not put it down in my own strength. I was completely powerless to help myself with that.

Another example could be cigarettes. The Lord did not specifically say that we cannot smoke in those exact words. However, He is telling us in many verses to honor Him with our body. We all know that smoking causes lung cancer as well as other diseases. So, is it beneficial for us? Certainly not. Is it necessary to sustain life? No again. These vices are not really beneficial to our health, are they?  Not even close. Both of my parents, otherwise healthy, passed away from lung cancer long before they should have. They smoked for many years. One had quit for many years and still passed away from it.

Friend, I could talk for hours on the subject of addiction because it has been a land filled with many tall mountains in my life. But the thing we have to remember is this – when we gave our life to Jesus, we were saying, “Lord, have Your way in my life. My life and my body are no longer my own. I am offering myself up to You as a living sacrifice – holy and pleasing to You. Show me what You want me to do and I will obey.” We may have the freedom to do many things, but if we really are Christ’s, then we have decided to leave our own passions and foolish desires behind so that we can follow Him and do the work He has called us to do. Our lives are really no longer our own if He truly is our Lord and Savior. Many Christians might say, “It’s my life and I will do whatever I want.” If they are saying that, then Jesus is not their Lord.

In the end, we will discover that it was not the big mountain we thought it was. It will become as level ground, and we will look back and shout about God’s grace that helped us to make that mountain as a flat place so we could walk right over to the other side – hallelujah!  We will get to the point where we wonder why it ever seemed to be such a big deal. When we discover the ‘peaceful stream’ of obedience, we will enjoy how we feel on the inside so much more.

Remember my precious friend – that God’s word never fails when we apply it to our hearts by faith. I am seeing it like I have never seen it before. We cannot leave our tools (The Bible) in the tool shed!

Scriptures from This Message…

Colossians 3:2

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

John 6:38

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Romans 6:1-8

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Things to Meditate on This Week:

·         Will you take the time this week to consider what you have been allowing yourself to indulge in that is not necessarily a good thing for your spirit, soul or body?

·         What will you change immediately to correct this?

·         Will you take the time to review this message and speak out the verses we have covered and make them your own?

·         Will you go to the Lord in prayer and seek Him to find out if there is anything that you are doing that He sees as not beneficial for you? 

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

The3rdJohn2Program@yahoo.com

Be blessed! 

Hanny

The 3rd John 2 Program - Real Healing for God's People - Week 19 - If It Causes You To Sin - Get Rid of It

If It Causes You to Sin – Get Rid of It!

Mark 9:43-47

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

My Experience, Strength & Hope

Mark 9 is a section of scripture that hits us where it counts – among others. The Lord was not actually telling people to cut off their limbs! Of course not. But what He was illustrating is this: If there is something in our lives that causes us to sin, we need to get rid of it. We are looking at how to use the word to overcome addictions, like a tool. I have struggled with food addiction and busyness, among other things for several years and I believe I am healed. I am in a stage of ‘fine tuning’ you might say. Nowadays, I stand in faith on His word to maintain my healing.

As an addict, whatever it is we have been addicted to is an idol. Idolatry is sin. In this passage, Jesus is telling us to throw the stuff out if it is causing us to sin. If it is alcohol, the booze has got to go. If it is gambling, we must stop going to the casino. Likewise, anything that we are clinging to that we are cherishing more than our Savior must be disposed of – and the sooner the better.

Right now, I will speak to food addiction, however, you can apply it to anything that has bound you. I believe I have a very large audience of people who are addicted to food and sugar. How does a person get rid of food or stop eating? This addiction is probably the most common and widely accepted form of idolatry within the church around the world today. And its very close neighbor is busyness. Obviously, we can’t stop eating. But what we eat must be strictly monitored. We must exercise self-control.

If we went to a person who really likes ice cream for example, and told them to stop eating it, they would probably laugh us out of the room. Why? Because it has become very dear to them. Ask another to stop drinking coffee because it is full of addictive caffeine, and again you might hear, “No way!” But Jesus is calling us to turn loose of anything that takes His place in our hearts. For me it was food/sugar, staying overly busy and my daughters, among several other things.

I have had to work hard at letting go of them and I can assure you it has not been easy on my flesh. All the sacrifices Jesus made for us were not easy. Jesus knows hard. He understands. After all, He was praying and resisting sin so intensely in the garden before He went to the cross that He sweat great drops of blood. Jesus understands hard my friend.

In the case of the rich young ruler, Jesus was not asking the man to take a vow of poverty. He was asking him to let go of what he was clinging to above God. He put His finger on the one thing that had a hold of his heart – money. If he had done what the Lord said, he could have reaped a tremendous harvest and been able to plant even more seed into kingdom work.

But he was not willing. He walked away sad because the thought of parting with his money was too much for him. Sadly, it is this way for many Christians today. They will not part with the things they hold dear even though they call Jesus “Lord.”

Jesus is asking us all in the church to walk away from the desires of the flesh and take up our cross and follow Him. But many will not choose to do that. They will miss the blessings and rewards that were in store for them. They will miss out on being used for great kingdom work. Jesus wants us to love Him willingly and make the choice to walk with Him of our own volition. After all, two cannot walk together unless they both agree to, right?

It is that way in any relationship – including our relationship with the Lord. The Father has asked me to follow a certain food plan. It is a well-balanced diet. It includes healthy choices for every day of my life. It is not a fad diet. It is a plan for life. I have had to let go of sweets and excessive carbohydrates. I am quite limited on what I can eat pertaining to fruit and carbs, but that is what is keeping my weight under control along with a regular exercise program.

At the time of this writing, I paid a visit to the Dr. for my annual physical. I take no medications by mouth and live a healthy lifestyle. The Dr. was surprised to see that my bloodwork looked “squeaky clean.” She even asked if I exercise. A doctor can tell by the bad cholesterol numbers that a person does a regular workout because that is one of the only ways those numbers can be maintained at proper levels.

I have to give this good report as a praise to God. Without Him, I would never have made it. Because of Him, even though I have to deny myself a lot of eating and many foods, I consider myself blessed to be able to eat a lot of good healthy stuff. I am blessed to be able to do a hearty workout most days of the week. I am blessed to be able to run with my puppy and keep up with a hectic schedule at age 61 (when this was written). I always say I am going on 20, LOL! He renews our youth like the eagle! Hallelujah!

The morning I wrote this, it was raining so hard that I literally had to just about drag our puppy around the lake so he could go to the bathroom. He needed to go. It would be good for him. But he didn’t want to. After trying several times to turn back toward home – his place of comfort, he finally eased up and stopped resisting me so much. When we got to that point in our walk, I could hear the Lord speaking to my spirit, saying, “That’s how you have been with Me much of the time. You have drug your feet but now you are finally starting to walk with Me the way I am asking you to.” That really hit me where it counts.

I confess that I have struggled and been rebellious and I am not pleased to announce that. I have had to cut many things out. As I have come to learn that rebellion is of the devil, I have decided more and more to follow Jesus and His wonderful plan for my life. I also realized how selfish and self-centered I had been. I was thinking more of myself and the desires of my flesh than the desires of the Lord’s heart or how He wants to use me to bless others. If I am swallowed up in thinking of myself, I will not be able to be used to help you, and that would be very SADD-U-CEE! I have decided to just let it go. I tell myself that it is only food. And food is only supposed to be fuel to keep our ‘engine’ running. It was never intended to be a comforter. There is only one Comforter – Holy Spirit.

For the Christian, we have to look at the whole counsel of God on a daily basis in order to keep our flesh in check and our spirits alive and obedient unto the Lord. We may have to put scriptures up all over the house – even the ones we don’t prefer to look at – the really meaty ones that speak to addiction, flesh and rebellion.

It is God’s Spirit and His word that gets the job done. I confess it out loud over my life and agree with it daily. In so doing, I know it will come to pass. That is how we can all make the word work for us. Read it, speak it out loud, think about it and hear it from the Lord personally in our prayer time with Him. If we will commit to doing that, we cannot possibly fail. The choice is always ours. Which god will we serve? Our stomachs (flesh) or the Lord – the One True God? My friend, God’s Spirit and His word will bring results when we use it – like a faithful tool. Let’s not leave our tools in the ‘tool shed’! Get out your Bible and agree with it by faith.

Scriptures from This Message…

Mark 10:17-22 (NKJV)

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Matthew 6:24

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Hebrews 12:4

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Luke 14:33

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Ephesians 4:17-24

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

2 Corinthians 5:9

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Hebrews 12:1

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,

In reviewing what we have been touching, where we have been going and what we have been looking at:

·         Will you take the time to honestly asses what you have been doing, where you have been going and what you have been looking at this week to determine where you may be off?

·         The first step to resolving a problem is to recognize that we have one. Then, we need to find out what the solution is (seek the Lord) and do what He says.

·         Being honest with yourself. What are some things in your life right now that you know you need to get rid of? It could be things in your heart, in your home, workplace or car; even in your relationships.

·         Will you go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to cleanse you from any unrighteousness as you confess your sin to Him? Wash it all in the blood of Jesus – that is the purest and only form of true cleansing.

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

The3rdJohn2Program@yahoo.com

Be blessed! 

Hanny