Self-control!

(NLT) Galatians 5:22-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Over the last several weeks we have looked at the different parts of the fruit of the Spirit. Each time I have pointed out that this fruit comes with the Holy Spirit. It is the result of Him being present. He produces it in our lives. If He is in you His fruit is in you.

Therefore, self-control is in you. Remove "I can't" from your vocabulary. In any given situation you can choose to do the right thing by the power of the Holy Spirit in you.

Today, choose to be in control of your actions by His power.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.

Is Trouble a Gauge?

(NLT) Romans 8:35-37
Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? [36] (As the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.") [37] No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

Romans chapter 8 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. I've heard and preached many sermons from it. The last verses tend to get believers pretty excited. We are more than conquerors through Christ, but back up a minute. Look at the second sentence in the 35th verse again. "Does it mean that He no longer loves us if we have trouble...?"

Bad things happen to all of us. One pastor we had said it like this, "Jesus didn't say life would be easy. He said you would have abundant life. That just means you'll have a lot of it along with it's trouble on this world, but be of good cheer, Jesus overcame this world."

Trouble doesn't mean His love is lacking. Trouble is an opportunity to see His love in action. It is an opportunity to watch Him carry you through. It is an opportunity to be His hands in helping others through.

No. Trouble is not a gauge for measuring God's love. It does, however activate a gauge of your trust in God. How you respond to trouble shows what you really believe.

Today, when trouble comes your way look at your response. Then compare it to what you say you believe.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.

second try with Put a Helmet On!

Sorry about the second send. Some were unable to read all of the last attempt.

Eph 6:17  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Eph 6:17  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

1Jn 4:8  But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1Jn 4:10  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

There is a comedian who uses the statement, "Put a helmet on!" as a way of poking fun at people who do or say silly things." Truth is we all get silly if we listen to the lies of Satan and let them take control of our thoughts. So God has provided a Helmet of Salvation for us.

One of the biggest things Satan uses in his relentless attacks is a simple question, "Hath God Said?"  Then he continues by trying to explain away what God "hath said".

This is why the Helmet of Salvation is so very important. Rom 12:2  Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

The Helmet of Salvation is the truth that God is who He says He is and that He loves us and that we are His children if we have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

Some trial comes into our lives and Satan is right there saying, "If God really loved you..." That is when you had better have that Helmet of Salvation on.  Here is a good and simple way to put it on right now if you haven't already done so today.

Sing it with me...

Jesus loves me this I know

For the Bible tells me so

Little ones to Him belong

They are weak but He is strong

Yes Jesus loves me

Yes Jesus loves me

Yes Jesus loves me

The Bible tells me so

A child's song? Really, Brother Steve? Yes a child's song with the most precious and powerful message ever proclaimed. Sing it until you believe it so much that no matter what comes into your life you truly believe that God loves you and that He will work all things together for your good. Rom 8:28.

Today sing it, believe it and share it.

Love in Christ,

Steve Sherwood Sr.

Put a Helmet On!

Eph6:17  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Eph 6:17  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

1Jn 4:8  But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 

1Jn 4:10  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 

There is a comedian who uses the statement, "Put a helmet on!" as a way of poking fun at people who do or say silly things." Truth is we all get silly if we listen to the lies of Satan and let them take control of our thoughts. So God has provided a Helmet of Salvation for us.

One of the biggest things Satan uses in his relentless attacks is a simple question, "Hath God Said?"  Then he continues by trying to explain away what God "hath said".

This is why the Helmet of Salvation is so very important. Rom 12:2  Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 

The Helmet of Salvation is the truth that God is who He says He is and that He loves us and that we are His children if we have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.  

Some trial comes into our lives and Satan is right there saying, "If God really loved you..." That is when you had better have that Helmet of Salvation on.  Here is a good and simple way to put it on right now if you haven't already done so today.

Sing it with me...

Jesus loves me this I know

For the Bible tells me so

Little ones to Him belong

They are weak but He is strong

Yes Jesus loves me

Yes Jesus loves me

Yes Jesus loves me

The Bible tells me so

A child's song? Really, Brother Steve? Yes a child's song with the most precious and powerful message ever proclaimed. Sing it until you believe it so much that no matter what comes into your life you truly believe that God loves you and that He will work all things together for your good. Rom 8:28.

Today sing it, believe it and share it.

Love in Christ,

Steve Sherwood Sr.

Faith verses a lot of other choices.

(NLT) Luke 18:1-8
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. [2] "There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who neither feared God nor cared about people. [3] A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, 'Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.' [4] The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, 'I don't fear God or care about people, [5] but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'" [6] Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. [7] Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? [8] I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?"

Here are some choices for dealing with a difficult situation:

1. Give up on God and His word and try to fix it yourself.

2. Complain to others how God just doesn't meet your needs like He does for others. (Perhaps, this one comes with these motives; maybe those I complain to will fix my problem, or misery love company.)

3. Just give up and accept that this is your lot in life. It will never get better.

4. Keep on praying, keep on believing, keep on proclaiming the goodness of God our Creator, Friend and Father, and keep on looking for His answer to arrive.

Jesus promised an answer for those who cry out to Him day and night. The term quickly here is misunderstood to mean something will happen soon. That goes against the fact that we are to continue asking night and day, which implies the asking goes on for quite awhile. So, the "quickly" is that when it happens it will be quick justice.

The point is, keep praying for the answer until it comes. Keep looking to God to do what only He can do. With that in mind, if you have been given wise council follow it. Do your part.

Today pray, act wisely and righteously and wait on the Lord.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

A Prayer For You - nity

John 17:20  "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in Me through their message. 

John 17:21  I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one—as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in Us so that the world will believe You sent Me. 

John 17:22  "I have given them the glory You gave Me, so they may be one as We are one. 

John 17:23  I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me. 

John 17:24  Father, I want these whom You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they can see all the glory You gave Me because You loved Me even before the world began! 

John 17:25  "O righteous Father, the world doesn't know You, but I do; and these disciples know You sent Me. 

John 17:26  I have revealed You to them, and I will continue to do so. Then Your love for Me will be in them, and I will be in them."

In John 17 we find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane praying for us. He makes it clear that He is praying for us in verse 20. Wow, Jesus Christ prayed for you.  He prayed for me. His desire in this prayer is that we would be one in Him and the Father with one another.

Father God, Great Creator and Master,

Work in our hearts and minds. Make us one in You and Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit You have sent to work this out in us. Show us if there is any unforgiveness in us. Grant us the gift of repentance in regards to all who have hurt us. May the world see us loving one another in such perfect unity that they will know You sent Jesus and they too, will believe and be saved.

Through Christ Our Lord,

Amen!

Love in Christ,

Brother Steve

His Grace

His Grace in You

(NLT) Ephesians 2:8-10

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [9] Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. [10] For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

It is by His grace that He saves us. We can take no credit for our salvation. Even the faith to believe in Him comes from Him.

(NLT) Philippians 4:23
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

(NLT) 2 Timothy 2:1
Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.

Not only does He save us by grace but daily His grace is available for us and to us and in us. 

It is His Grace that helps us to live the Christian life. 

Gal 3:1  Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ's death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of His death on the cross. 

Gal 3:2  Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 

Gal 3:3  How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 

Our perfecting is found in the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Today, may God's grace be upon you and in you and evident to all about you.

Love in Christ,

Steve Sherwood Sr.