You can throw off your old sinful nature and have positive change!

“Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception” (Eph. 4:22 NLT)

Choose to change!

Negative changes happen automatically but positive changes don’t. You don’t have to do anything to get out of shape. You don’t have to do anything to weaken physically, mentally, socially, or spiritually. Just do nothing and over time you will suffer decline. Want positive change in your life? It’s not enough to dream of changing. It’s not enough to simply desire to change. Positive change is a choice you must actively make and requires making wise choices. In order for you to actually make positive change, you will need to make a strong decision to change. You must choose to change!

Change must be intentional

Choose and plan for how different you want to be in, say, six months. And, then in a year from now. Think it through and plan deliberately to make it happen in doable, measurable steps. Ask yourself: am I going to be healthier, stronger, and more mature? Am I going to be happier? Am I going to be less in debt? Am I going to be more like God wants me to be?

It requires a choice

It isn’t going to happen accidentally. If you are going to grow, you will have to change, and change means you will have to let go of some old things in order to grab hold of some new things. That’s always the case, but it’s worth it! The Bible verse at top says to “Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life.” That involves self-examination, strong choices, and getting to work on a plan.

Ask God to help you

Ask God to help you in every area of need and in every step you take. He will help you!

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7)

“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

Mike Frenchbible promises, throw off your sinful nature
Healing Scriptures

Jesus never turned down anyone for healing

“I am the Lord who heals you.” (Ex 15:26)

The Bible says, “Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.” (Acts 10:28). This verse says that people were “oppressed by the devil.” Notice that their problems weren’t from God, but we’re from the devil! Jesus did good by healing all of them! Jesus was only limited by people’s lack of faith. Therefore, build up your faith by familiarizing yourself with the Word of God and what it has to say about healing, then believe and receive.

  • Jesus was only limited by other’s lack of faith 

“And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” (Matt. 13:58)

  • Build up your faith and receive healing

“Faith comes by hearing and hearing from the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17)

  • Jesus healed all kinds of sicknesses

“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.” (Matt. 4:23-24 NIV)

  • Healing power flows from Jesus                                                 

“And the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.” (Luke 6:19 NIV)

  • He, Himself, took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses!                                                                                                                                    

“When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.’” (Matt. 8:16-17 NIV)

  • You can call on the elders of your church for healing                                                                                        

“Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:14 NIV)

  • Believers can lay their hands on the sick                          and they will recover

“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18 NIV)

  • Speaking faith to yourself can make you well                                

“O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. (Ps 30:2 ESV)

  • Jesus heals the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others                                                                                                         

“Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them.” (Matt. 15:30 NIV) 

  • Calling on the Lord for help can bring healing                                                   

“LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.” (Psalm 30:2)

  • Speaking faith to yourself can make you well                             

“For she said to herself, ‘If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.’ But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, ‘Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And the woman was made well from that hour.”  (Matt. 9:21-22 NIV)

  • God sends His Word to provide healing                                             

“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destruction.” (Psalm 107:19-20 NIV)

  • By his wounds you have been healed                                                           

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

 Therefore…

 “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:2-5 NKJV)

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God will lift you up when you do this!

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10 NIV)

What does it mean to humble yourself?

Being humble is not a popular concept in the world we live in. But, God says He will lift you up if you humble yourself before Him. Look at the definition of humble: not proud. Not thinking of yourself as better than other people. Having or showing a modest or low estimate of one’s own importance. Meek, deferential, respectful, submissive.

Humility not humiliation

It’s easy to confuse humility and humiliation. Humility is something we do voluntarily and humiliation is something that is inflicted on us.

Humility is the quality or condition of being humble. Here are some verses that talk about it.

God gives more grace to the humble

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 ESV)

It leads to riches, honor and life!

“Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.” (Prov. 22:4)

It is the opposite of pride

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Prov. 11:2)

Therefore…

“Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves . . . You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to." (Phil. 2:3, 5-6 (NLT)

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 ESV)

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,” (Col. 3:12 ESV)

Quote:

”How does humility happen in your life? It happens by letting Jesus control your thoughts, heart, attitudes, and reactions. Growing in humility has to include Jesus.” - Rick Warren

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Trust and be blessed!

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” (Jer. 17:7 NIV)

Want to be blessed, here’s how!

Confidently trust in the Lord! The following verse explains the details of the blessing.

“They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jer. 17:8)

Another place in the Bible says something very similar

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” (Psalms 1:1-3)

Therefore…

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Prov. 3:5 ESV)

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” (Psalm 37:5 ESV)

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” (Isa. 26:3-4 ESV)

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Jesus increased socially and so should you!

“And Jesus increased… in favor with man…” (Luke 2:52d) “As he is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17b NIV)

Favor with man – Socially

Over the last three days I pointed out that according to Luke 2:52, as Jesus grew from a child into an adult, He increased in four distinct areas of His life: 1. Wisdom (mentally), 2. stature (physically), 3. favor with God (Spiritually) and 4. favor with man (socially).

Jesus was a perfect example of living a perfect balanced life. And, we should also increase in all four of these areas.

Yesterday I discussed the third area, favor with God, which is spiritually. Today will be the fourth one, “favor with man” which is the social area.

We are social creatures

We need others and they need us. God made us that way. He said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” (Gen. 2:18). He created Eve for that reason.

In life, there are people we must be around in the course of daily life and there are close friends we choose to be around.

Bad friends can drag you down

You can’t always choose who you must associate with on a day to day basis, but you can choose your close friends. Choose wisely!

“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Prov. 12:26)

“Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.” (2 Peter 3:17)

Good and faithful friends speak truth into your life

“Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” (Prov. 27;5-6)

Mike Frenchbible promises, increase socially
Jesus increased spiritually and so should you!

“And Jesus increased… in favor with God…” (Luke 2:52c) “As he is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17b)

Spiritually

Over the last couple of days, I pointed out that according to Luke 2:52, as Jesus grew from a child into an adult, He increased in four distinct areas of His life: 1. Wisdom (mentally), 2. stature (physically), 3. favor with God (Spiritually) and 4. favor with man (socially).

Jesus, without a doubt, was a perfect example of living a perfect balanced life. We also should work to increase in all four of these important areas.

Yesterday I discussed the second area, stature, which is physically (the body). Today will be the third one, “favor with God” which is the spiritual area.

How to begin

You can do a lot to grow spiritually, but it all begins with becoming a child of God by receiving Jesus Christ as your personal savior. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)

When you receive Christ, His Holy Spirit comes inside of you and will help you grow spiritually. (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Tim. 1:14; John 14:17).

How the Holy Spirit helps you

  • He teaches you (1 Cor. 2:13; John 14:26).

  • He guides you into all truth (John 16:13).

  • He reveals the deep things of God to you (1 Cor. 2:10).

  • He transforms you into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

  • He strengthens your spirit (Eph. 3:16).

Practical things you can do to grow spiritually

1) Pray. Talk to God about everything. He hears you. He cares for you. He will help you grow closer to Him.

2) Read the Bible every day. It is God’s Word to us. The Bible is literally “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16).

3) Memorize scripture. The Bible is a book of tremendous wisdom that can have an impact on every area of your life. By memorizing the Scripture, you are able to have that wisdom with you at all times.

4) Attend a Bible believing, Bible preaching church each week where you will continue to grow in His knowledge and grace.

5) Read good Christian books. Visit a Christian bookstore and there you will find shelves of great books for encouragement and spiritual growth.

6) Listen to Christian music. You can find it on Christian radio stations and you can find it in every style at your Christian book store.

7) Join a small Bible study group. Most churches have them. They usually meet in private homes, coffee shops and restaurants. You usually grow spiritually at a faster rate in community because you are able to share your experiences with one another and hold each other accountable.

8) Listen to Christian speakers. There are lots of them.

9) Volunteer for Christian service. Helping others is a great pathway towards spiritual growth. As you help others, God helps you!

“Be no longer children, but grow up in Christ.” (Eph. 4:14-15)

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

Mike Frenchbible promises, jesus increased spiritually
Jesus increased in stature and so should you!

“And Jesus increased… in stature…” (Luke 2:52b) “As he is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17b)

Stature (Physically – Body)

Yesterday I pointed out that according to Luke 2:52, as Jesus grew from a child into an adult, He increased in four distinct areas of His life: 1. Wisdom (mentally), 2. stature (physically), 3. favor with God (Spiritually), and 4. favor with man (socially).

Jesus was a perfect example of living a perfect balanced life. And, we should increase in all four of these areas as well.

Yesterday I discussed the first area (wisdom), today will be the second one, “stature” which is the physical area, or simply put, your body.

We each have a body and we should take care of it for important reasons.

·  It is the temple of the Holy Spirit

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” (1 Cor. 6:19)

·  Honor God with your bodies

“You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Cor. 6:20)

·  A healthy body enables you to do what God has created you to do

A healthy body helps you serve God and others better, so take care of it! Use common sense. Get plenty of exercise and eat healthy foods that include fruit and vegetables, avoid junk food, watch your weight, and get enough sleep at night. These are all things that you can control, and will help you be healthy and physically usable so you will be able to do whatever God has prepared for you to do.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10).

Mike Frenchbible promises, increased in stature
Jesus increased in wisdom and so should you!

“And Jesus increased in wisdom.” (Luke 2:52a) “As he is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17b NIV)

Jesus had to grow up from a newborn baby to an adult, increasing gradually to maturity, just like all other human beings do. Luke 2:52, says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

Notice that This verse says that Jesus increased in four distinct areas:

1. Wisdom (mentally)

2. stature (physically)

3. favor with God (spiritually)

4. and man (socially)

It was a wonderful balanced life!

In order to live a balanced life, you too must increase in all four of these areas just like Jesus did. Over the next four days, I will discuss each of these areas.

Today I will discuss the first one, which is wisdom. “And Jesus increased in wisdom…” (Luke 2:52a)

Wisdom

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James. 3:17)

Wisdom blesses you with its many benefits

“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place.” (Prov. 3:13-19)

Ask God for it

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Prov. 2:6)

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Show others the way

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15 ESV)

 The Rev. Billy Graham tells of a time early in his career when he arrived in a small town to preach a sermon. Wanting to mail a letter, he asked a young boy where the post office was. When the boy had told him, Dr. Graham thanked him, and said, “If you’ll come to the Baptist Church this evening, you can hear me telling everyone how to get to heaven.”

“I don’t think I’ll be there,” the boy said, “You don’t even know your way to the post office.”

 The above story is funny, but it does make a serious point about showing someone the way to know God; why would anyone ever ask you for directions to find Him if you don’t seem to know the way yourself? 

If you were asked, could you?

If someone handed you a Bible and asked you you to show them what it says about how to become born-again, could you? If not, you’re not alone, most Christians can’t. That’s too bad, because if they could and if they freely shared the way to find Jesus, the world would be a different place. 

 The great commission is a command to all believers 

“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)

We are to be prepared to share 

The following are a few questions you can ask others along with some Bible verses to bring them into a relationship with Jesus. 

 Questions to ask others

  • Would you like a new life with a new purpose?

  • Would you like to know how to have a victorious, happy life, here and now?

  • Have you ever thought about eternal life?

  • Would you like forgiveness for the past and hope for the future?

If their answer is “yes” to any of the above questions. Share the following with them.

1. Realize that you have “fallen short” and are departed from God because of your sin. 

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

2. God’s free gift to you is eternal life. It was paid for you by Jesus Christ, when he died on the cross for you. 

 “For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

3. Christ died for you, taking your sin penalty upon himself, to bring you to God.

 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.” (1 Peter 3:18)

4. You need to repent (change your attitude toward sin). Tell God that you are sorry for your sin and turn away from it. 

“No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3)

5. Thank Jesus for dying on the cross for you and ask him to forgive you of your sins. 

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

“In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:14)

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raided him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

6. Pray to receive Christ 

Pray like this:  

“Dear God, I believe by faith that Jesus, your Son, died on the cross to be my Savior. I believe he arose from the grave to live as my Lord. I turn away from my sin. I ask You, Lord Jesus, to forgive my sin. I trust you as my Savior and receive you as my Lord. Thank you, Jesus for saving me. I pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and savior, Amen.” 

7. Assurance - God’s Word assures you that you now have eternal life in His Son, Jesus Christ.

“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:11-13)

Quote:

“The purpose of the Bible is simply to proclaim God’s plan to save His children. It asserts that man is lost and needs to be saved. And it communicates the message that Jesus is the God in the flesh sent to save His children.” - Max Lucado

Mike Frenchbible promises, salvation, saved, evangelize, share chist, preach, preach the word, go into all the world