conquering current circumstances | Find Hope @ The Hem

Category: conquering current circumstances
- Yes you can be…unshakable
  
  Posted at 7:44 am by sneuhofer, on September 20, 2018
  Watch out! There are rough times ahead!
  
  John 16:1-3 (MSG) I’ve told you these things to prepare you for rough times ahead. They are going to throw you out of the meeting places. There will even come a time when anyone who kills you will think he’s doing God a favor. They will do these things because they never really understood the Father. I’ve told you these things so that when the time comes and they start in on you, you’ll be well-warned and ready for them.
  
  In the 16th chapter of John, Jesus is preparing the disciples for the day when He will return to the Father. Jesus knows that the disciples’ hearts are troubled because He’s going away (v. 5). Jesus assures them that when he leaves, he will not leave them high-and-dry. He will send them a Helper…but the Helper can only come if Jesus goes. When the Helper (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will not only help the believer but the non-believer as well. The Holy Spirit will lead them into all truth. In this chapter, Jesus had so much more to say to his disciples but they weren’t ready to hear it. It was too much for them to handle at that moment.
  
  Isn’t that an awesome thought? God cares so much about us that He gives us only what we can handle – one thing at a time.
  
  In our lives when things get chaotic, it’s easy to let stress overwhelm us. But don’t let it. Psalm 48:14 (NASB) ensures “God is our God forever and ever and he will guide our paths until death.” He’s got our lives, and each and every circumstance in the palm of His hand. God will guide us through the Holy Spirit living inside of us. It is the Spirit who leads us in ALL truth.
  
  Jesus spoke these words in John 16 over 2,000 years ago to His disciples and they are still true for us today. Isn’t this truth comforting?
  
  John 16:33 (MSG) I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world
  
  you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.
  
  I am so thankful to know that Jesus tells us we can have deep peace by trusting him. There’s one more thing to notice about this verse…Jesus tells his disciples they would have trouble too. “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.” GREAT… just when we thought it was safe to go outside. But catch the last few words of verse 33… “But take heart! I h have conquered the world!” Jesus knew his time was coming soon. He knew he was going to die, but death would not hold Him. He would defeat death and the grave and rise again, conquering our sin once and for all.
  
  So be brave dear friends. Jesus has “…told you these things to keep you from giving up.” Hold on to Jesus with everything in you! Dig into His word to find His promises for your situation and stand on them! You can do this! The Holy Spirit is living inside you…guiding you…giving you strength!
  
  What circumstance do you have in your life right now that you need to be brave and stand firm? Are you giving up or are you relying on the Holy Spirit to guide you in all truth?
  
  Be brave! Don’t give up!
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- If Christ is our Savior, we cannot be defeated!
  
  Posted at 9:00 am by sneuhofer, on September 5, 2018
  We are conquerors!
  
  1 John 5:1-5 (NCV) “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is God’s child, and whoever loves the Father also loves the Father’s children. This is how we know we love God’s children: when we love God and obey his commands. Loving God means obeying his commands. And God’s commands are not too hard for us, because everyone who is a child of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world—our faith. So the one who conquers the world is the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
  
  In the final chapter of 1 John, we are reassured that we are God’s children if we believe Jesus is the Christ. But there’s a second part to that verse – there is an “and” too. The latter half of verse 1 says AND “whoever loves the Father also loves the Father’s children.” If we love God the Father, then we also must love his children – even the seemingly unlovable.
  
  So how do we know if we love? Thankfully verse 2 answers that question for us “When we love God and obey his commands.” Obeying His commands…is this easy to do? According to John, it’s not as difficult as we may think. He gives us a thought that will help us. In verse 4 John encourages us by telling us “everyone who is a child of God conquers the world.”
  
  Did you realize that?
  
  We can be “conquerors” over the “things” that hold us captive and keep us from following God’s commands by tapping into the same power that God used to raise Christ from the dead (Eph 1:20). As children of God, we cannot be defeated.
  
  But how, how do we become victors in an all too often difficult and stressful world? John tells us – OUR FAITH. Trusting in God allows us to win against this world. Oh sure – things may get tough for a little while. But if you have placed your hope and trust in Christ and you believe he came and gave his life to ransom us from sin, you can rest easy.
  
  You are a conqueror! This world will not defeat you! Isn’t that an awesome truth to know?
  
  Related reading: Psalm 56
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- Burned by the flames of circumstance
  
  Posted at 8:10 am by sneuhofer, on May 17, 2018
  1 Corinthians 1: 7-9 (MSG) “Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.”
  
  Paul wrote the book of Corinthians not only to the church at Corinth, but for those of us who have heard God’s voice and have fallen prey to the “lies” this world can dish out. Paul gently and patiently teaches the Corinthian church the truth about living as Christ called us to live and not by the standards of this world.
  
  When reading though Corinthians, I was comforted by the way the Message paraphrases verses 7 – 9. Writers of both the Old and New Testament told us that in this life we would have troubles and trials (see the verses below). But as I read these three verses this morning I was reminded of God’s sovereignty. He is right by our side all day, every day. He is faithful to the promises found in His word and He will NEVER give up on us.
  
  I know for me, it is so easy to forget this simple truth when I feel like I’m being burned alive by the fire of current circumstances. I know I have lost sight of God’s sovereignty a time or two. But I must remember that through it all, God is there and He cares. It is up to me to keep Him in focus and not the overwhelming presence of the circumstances surrounding me.
  
  When was the last time you had a conversation with God or cracked open His Word to find out what He has to say about things? According to 1 Corinthians 1:7 – 9, God shares with us the life of His Son, Jesus Christ. If we share in His life, the Bible says we are to share in His sufferings. Ugh… suffering! That’s tough, but we can have hope knowing God is right there with us. He sees the tears that fall from our eyes and hears us when we call on Him.
  
  Going through tough times? Call on Christ, He will guide your path. I hope the following scriptures bring you comfort in the midst of whatever “fire” you are going through.
  
  Psalm 23:4 (MSG) Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.
  
  1 Peter 1:6-7 (MSG) I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.
  
  1 Peter 4:12-13 (MSG) Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.
  
  John 16:31-33 (MSG) Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world (emphasis mine).”
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Category: conquering current circumstances

Yes you can be…unshakable

Posted at 7:44 am by sneuhofer, on September 20, 2018

Watch out! There are rough times ahead!

Be brave! Don’t give up!

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If Christ is our Savior, we cannot be defeated!

Posted at 9:00 am by sneuhofer, on September 5, 2018

We are conquerors!

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Burned by the flames of circumstance

Posted at 8:10 am by sneuhofer, on May 17, 2018

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