I shared this with my Life Group and thought I'd share it again on my blog as its a long time since I shared anything so here goes ...
I wanted to bring something today that could have given us a nice discussion. I looked at the suffering servant but nothing came together, I don't know how many times I looked at Genesis but again it didn't seem to be coming together and I thought, well we'll just sit and chat, but then I came across something I'd spoken on at my old church and I think the Lord wants me to share part of it with you. I'm hoping if I heard right it will encourage you so I'm sorry if its more of a "preach" than a discussion. It came about from two words. I spoke at my other church on 'God turns a negative into a positive'. It was a good 20 minutes talk but this bit isn't that long phew I hear you say. Within those 20 minutes I mentioned a card I'd received years ago from a very ageing uncle in Canada.
I can't remember how long I'd been a Christian or even if I was going through a tough time but I'd never had a card off Uncle George before, it may even have been a birthday card and I still have it somewhere I'm sure but can't remember when I got it. He had though, for some reason, chosen to send me this card and he'd written on the back of the card, you know where you usually get the who made it bit, well he'd written ... two words ... Only believe ... I've never forgotten those two words because there was something meaninful in them.
Only believe .... In God? ... in love? ... for me, in those 2 words alone there was a bible study in the making but I didn't know what he was wanting me to believe 'Only believe' ... in something so precious, maybe; in the greatest treasure on this earth the Word of God. I chose to think this is what he meant.
So many positives, so many promises in it because that's what Gods positives are, promises. The Lord impressed on me as I read through my notes that He doesn't want us to dwell on the negatives and believe me we often have so many to contend with but
You say: “I can’t do it.”
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
You say: “It’s impossible.”
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27).
And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
You say: “I can’t go on.”
God says: My grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9)
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me
You say: “Nobody really loves me.”
God says: I love you (John 3:16; 13:34) 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
You say: “I’m too tired.”
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your soul.
You say: “It’s not worth it.”
God says: It will be worth it (Romans 8:28)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
You say: “I’m not able.”
God says: I am able (2 Corinthians 9:8)
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work
You say: “I can’t forgive myself.”
God says: I forgive you (1 John 1:9; Romans 8:1)
*If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
*There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
You say: “I can’t manage.”
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
You say: “I’m afraid.”
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
You say: “I’m always worried and frustrated.” Peter says of the Lord (1 Peter 5:7)
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
You say: “I don’t have enough faith.”
The word says: I’ve given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
You say: “I’m not smart enough.” God says: I’ll give you wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30)
But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption
You say: “I feel all alone.” God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
Every negative thought you have can be turned into a positive by the Word.
Being victorious and being positive are probably 2 of the hardest things to be. But they are very much intertwined. How can we not be positive or victorious when we know the God of the bible, the creator of the universe.
Christ died, how negative must that have seemed. Crucified between two thieves; followers and family devastated because they'd seen in him something positive and yet now, well, I can't begin to imagine how lost and afraid they must have felt, negative thoughts running through their mind. All the positive things Jesus said, perhaps forgotten in that moment in time when they saw him on the cross. When they saw him die. But what appeared negative God turned into something positive and on the 3rd day Jesus rose again victorious. Positivity in action, victory over the grave.
I did a bible study and I'd like to read something to you that David Wilkerson wrote ...
We are warriors -- blood-bought, blood-saved, more than conquerors through Jesus Christ! We are not in a courtroom with the devil, pleading a case. No -- we are victors! Jesus has won the victory for us; His blood has prevailed. And I believe our battle cry should be, "I proclaim the victory of the blood of Jesus! I am blood-washed, blood-bought, blood-justified, blood- safe, blood-ransomed. And I proclaim the victory of the blood of Jesus!"
Positive words indeed. We don't need the name it and claim it positive confessions some preachers tell us about, our positive confessions are rooted in Christ, in His death and resurrection and in the Word he has given us.
Sometimes we can have a head knowledge of God but we need to have much more than that, we need heart knowledge too and that is true of scripture we need heart knowledge as well as a head knowledge of the truth of the word, we need it to dwell in our innermost being.
Bible positives are more often than not bible promises .. we need to 'Only Believe'.
God is building his church, we are his church and the gates of hell can not, will not prevail against it as long as we stand on the word of God. When those negative thoughts come in, remember God can turn every one of them into a positive.
In Luke 18 Jesus talks to the 'rich young ruler'. When he went away those who heard asked "who then can be saved" he answered "The things which are impossible with men, are possible with God".
Did you notice that ... Jesus doesn't say are possible for God, Jesus said the things which are impossible with men are possible WITH God - and that takes on a whole new meaning. We often say, with God all things are possible and to be honest I've just thought yes, everything is possible for God, he's God after all so he can do anything but only now have I looked at this differently ... Only now can I see something a little different in this verse ... The word with ... With God - there are lots of meanings for the word 'with' and I'm sure in the Greek it means something different but in the good old English dictionary one of the meanings is 'to be accompanied by' so what this said to me was that if we are WITH God then everything is possible. On our own things are impossible, and maybe it's where negative thoughts creep in but with God, accompanied by him, then everything is possible
I read somewhere that We go through 60,000 thoughts each day and 80% is negative, well, I'm saying to you remember you are, accompanied by God, so of those 60,000 thoughts don't even let 1% of them be a negative. Remember who you are in Christ, stand fast and proclaim that you are blood bought, blood saved, and more than conquerors. Let God turn your negatives into positives and Only Believe
