No More Mind Games (Full Sermon) | Joseph Prince | Gospel Partner Episode

You are truly Beautiful!

You Are

Truly

Beautiful

The world is consumed with thoughts and dreams centered on more. More beautiful, more money, more stuff. Most of us aren't happy with ourselves and the way we come naturally so we turn to many different things to fill the void. The world is happy to try and tend our never ending, never satisfied state of displeasure. The key to being beautiful or worthy is not in what you have or don’t have. It’s not whether you are tall or short, or whether you are fat or skinny.   

The truth is, you are already beautiful. God created you with His perfect hands. He says you are worth dying for yet you cannot or will not accept His truth. True beauty comes from a relationship between you and your heavenly Father. Only until you come honestly to God will the void in your heart be filled. Only through Jesus is this possible.

            If your first thought after reading the previous paragraph is (I don’t believe in God or where has He been when I've needed Him) then I beg you to read on. Its okay if you don’t believe in God! That’s not my business and God has given you free will to choose in what or who you put your trust in. What I ask is that you would at least explore or look into who He is before casting Him aside.

            Society would have us believe that we need to add a new layer of make-up in the morning if we want to look our best or we need to buy the latest pair of fashionable shoes to feel like we are hip and that we fit into the world. God’s children are made to not fit into the world’s systems. The truth is that God created you to look like you. What you see in the mirror is what God meant to create. He loves you wholeheartedly and truly wants you to come to know what that means by His standards and not the world’s standards.

            The world is out to make money! The almighty dollar is what the world sees and if they have to make you and I feel like a piece of crap to make that dollar they will do it. We clearly have an epidemic of overweight people in the world, but this is just one more example of lack of self- control, lack of self- esteem, and lives that are so busy working in sedentary jobs. We are always busy but not physically moving enough. This takes a toll both physically and mentally. Many of us look to food for comfort. Sometimes it helps us ease our pain and many times it’s an escape from boredom. We have become so used to being still that we find it difficult to motivate ourselves to move on a regular basis. We continue to wait for a miracle weight loss pill that promises us that we don’t have to move. Let’s face it, food is very tempting and the more fat or sugar in it the better it tastes. The cosmetic company wants you to believe they have the new miracle wrinkle remover so you chuck out hundreds of your hard earned money to fill their greedy pockets. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look your best but I personally think there is genuine beauty in growing old naturally. The more make-up you put on, the more there is to take off which also causes wrinkles.

            Where does this insecurity come from within us? Why do we torture ourselves trying to be better than someone else or have more than others have? What is the root cause of this crippling attitude that many of us carry around? What we experienced growing up in our homes has much to do with how we see ourselves today. Did you grow up the only child or were there many brothers and sisters? Did you get compared with each other or maybe another person’s child in your neighborhood? I was told by my Dad all my life that I would never amount to anything and would never be as good as him. Makes me wonder how many wretched things he had to hear someone tell him in his past. I love my Dad and always believed he was so smart, but alcohol made him look very different. All of these things as children has a deep impact on who we become as adults if no one steps in to tell us the truth about who we are through God’s eyes.

            God loves you more than your heart and mind could ever conceive to understand. The bible says in Psalm 139.14 that you were wonderfully and fearfully created. You may have come out of your mother’s body, but the hands of God were the hands that created who you are physically! God doesn't make mistakes and God doesn't make junk! He is perfectly perfect!

            God loves you so much that He sent His one and only perfect son to die for you on a cross. To give His sons life in the place of yours so that you might live your life and live it to the full.  This concept sears my heart in such a way that it hurts every time I think of it. Just think for a moment of your child, the love you feel for him or her. They are so sweet and special in your heart but the truth is all of us deserve death outside of Jesus sacrifice. If you are not a parent then think of the one that you hold dearest to your heart. Now think of someone beating them, mistreating them and then nailing that person to a piece of wood. How does your heart feel with that image, Horrible right? That’s how far God has gone to save you from death. The only difference is that Jesus, who is the son of God, was perfect. He never sinned. Jesus was God stepped down from heaven giving up His throne to be born of a virgin woman, lived a life of full obedience to God to show us that if we would connect our hearts with Gods heart then we could also live a great life.  But we need that connection! But then He didn't stop there! Jesus went on to be rejected by His people, to be beaten and abused and nailed to a cross (the very death that we deserve because we are not obedient to God) and died in our place.

            I sometimes sit and try to imagine the picture of it all and what it means to my life in Him and sometimes this is what I see.

            Jesus is near us at all times whether we are believers or unbelievers. If we've already accepted Him then He’s on the inside of us in the form of God’s Holy Spirit. For unbelievers He is constantly doing things in your life to get your attention. Little things that we miss quite easily because we are too busy. Sometimes He gives us huge events that make us wonder if God is real but at the same time make us see our need for Him is great. God is real and the void we feel is real and God wants to fill that void. He will never disappoint a receiving person. His love is unimaginable!

            1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 4 explains what love is: it says, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. Love never fails.

Jesus Christ = true love. Love is patient: Jesus knew how imperfect we all are before giving His life for us yet He went through with it because of His love for us and His obedience to our Father. He also knows that we all grow at different paces. It doesn't make us smarter or not as smart, it’s just how we grow. When we connect with God, we are not to rush like the world rushes but we are to slow down, take in a portion of His scripture (His love letter to us) and chew on it. We need to think about it, ask God what this passage means to my life and how do I apply these principles to my life?

            I want you to know that Jesus will never steer you wrong! He won’t make things easy for you because He wants to build strength of faith in your heart and soul and He has the patients to wait on you as long as you are genuinely seeking His will for your life. If on the other hand you don’t care and you are not really sorry about the wrongs that you do, then if tomorrow doesn't come to you hell is a reality to where you will spend eternity. Consequences are real to all people whether believers of Gods will or not! I have heard it said that “ patience is a bad thing to ask for in prayer” but whatever it is you find yourself lacking from the character of God is what you should be striving for and asking for more of.

            Love is kind: Have you ever noticed how a person’s face lights up when you smile genuinely at them? When you hold a door for someone at the post office or bank with a smile on your face, how it is appreciated most of the time? That’s because people aren't used to that kind of kindness! Sometimes we see a person who doesn't smile or doesn't thank you for doing such a thing and those are the people who are truly unhappy or like most of us really busy. They may think that you want something or they see themselves as unworthy of your kindness.

            Those are the people that you should go the extra mile for! Those are the ones in which we need to be creative to show God’s goodness to. By the way, the more focus you take off of your own issues and put onto someone else’s need, the smaller your problems become! As you bless others, God will bless you. That doesn't mean he will grow your bank account. But He will instill in your heart a feeling of pure joy that you can’t explain. One that makes you feel like you have a permanent butterfly in your belly and it feels awesome. Jesus showed so much kindness to us by His deed on that cross that if we ever understand the full truth of it, we will never be cheap or unkind ever again to another human being. It doesn't matter how much or little they have because if we truly get in our hearts what Jesus did for us and the kindness that he sent our way then we will overflow with His goodness.

            Love does not envy: You know that feeling you get sometimes when you feel like you should have more but you don’t but your neighbor or friend does? That deceptive feeling you get in the pit of your stomach that tells you that you should have what they have or you hate the fact that they have what you don’t? That feeling is what the bible calls envy and it is not good. If you find yourself feeling this way often then you need to repent and go to your knees before Jesus and ask forgiveness for it. Believe me when I say that “you are not alone in it”. We all have bouts with this feeling at one point or another and whether it is a small or huge problem in your heart then it needs to be addressed between you and your heavenly Father. Before you begrudge someone of what they have you need to ask yourself, am I willing to put the effort in to work for and  someday have what they have? If power and prestige is what you want for your own glory and honor then you might get it but this life will be the only life you get to have and your eternal life will be hell. If God grants you the gifts and fervor to do what He calls you to do, then He will reward you for your obedience. We truly need to examine our motives before doing deeds. Are they worldly or are they for His glory?

            No matter how big or little you see yourself, in Gods eyes you are equal to every and any other person you see or come into contact with. This means that every person you look at or talk to are people that Jesus Christ also gave His life for. If you can get this concept into your heart and mind then your outlook on others will begin to change. It all comes from a healthy connection between your heart and Gods.

            You may have something in your past that slows your progress with God. Someone has hurt you in a way that you cannot shake the feeling it gives you. Remember the person who hurt you has his or her own issues that he or she needs to connect with God about and deal with. If someone has been ugly with you then it’s a direct reflection of how they feel about themselves. If we don’t catch our insecurity, bring it to God and deal with it, then we will keep the cycle going with our own kids and most of us usually want more for them than we've had, in every way. If you are a parent reading this then I implore you to offer your children up to God and ask Him to make them lovers of Jesus and walkers in His will and purpose.

            Love does not boast: that’s a tough one isn't it? When we do something well, we want to be recognized for that action. It’s natural and God wants us to acknowledge the gifts He’s given us. What he doesn't want us to do is forget that it is by His genius and His knowledge passed down to us that allow us to succeed in anything no matter what it is.

            If you are accomplishing things then you need to thank God for His provision of not just your accomplishment but the brains and ability in which He provides you to do such things. All things are to reflect the Father’s glory!

            So many people think that it’s a sin to step out and become successful by using the abilities that God has permitted to them, but I believe and (this is my words not Gods) that if we don’t use those gifts and talents then we insult the very person of God. It’s like throwing what He wants us to have in the garbage and being done with it. Then we drive ourselves into the deepest pit we can by telling ourselves we are losers. Do you see? He doesn't want us to boast to make others look stupid or for our own glory but to glorify Him by using our abilities and helping others to see their own. We all have gifts we just don’t all use them or know what they are.

            It’s like what we call common sense. Common sense is simply our conscience. It tells us in our gut when we are doing wrong or about to do wrong. It gives us peace and joy when we do well. It is placed in us by God and left un-abused it works well. We are so inclined to ignore those feelings within us that many of us have numbed it and we don’t receive its benefits anymore. Again something we need to repent from and ask God to reignite our common sense that He gave us. God said in His word that He would write on our hearts His law (Jesus died to release us from the power of Gods law) and even though we are weak and can’t by human nature obey His perfect law (which God knew and is why Jesus died for us) we still have to do our personal best to live right before Him. If we intentionally sin knowing Gods will then that’s like laughing in the face of God and woe to you who are that arrogantly bold! Repent!

            Love is not proud: many of us see ourselves as better than others. Most of us I think try hard not to be this way but no matter whom we are most of us has one group or another of people that we don’t associate with or like to take time to talk to or interact with. God does say not to hang around with fools,( anyone who treats God with contempt or disrespect on purpose). What He does not say is that you have the right to be rude to the fool. Before any of us comes to know Jesus, we too are fools just like that. Only by Gods grace do we even believe in Him. He chooses us not the other way around. If He didn't we’d all still be lost and there’d be no one heading to heaven with our beautiful Almighty Father.

            As with any other area we need to pray for God’s eyes when looking at others. Be kind to all people remembering only Jesus is perfect and you yourself fall very short of the glory which is His alone but through it gives us so much love and kindness. Whoever is in your life that you consider the fool, be nice and smile and pray for them and if you find yourself judging then get on your knees and repent. Remember as well that your sins are forgiven if you are already a child of God, you just need to confess. But if not and you are still breathing then it’s never too late to ask Jesus into your heart and life. You don’t have to understand it, you just have to believe in His sacrifice for you and the power of the Father who raised him.

            Say Jesus I don’t know you but I believe that you know me, I believe that you gave your life for mine so that I might live. Father I believe that by your power you raised Jesus from the dead and He now sits once again at your right hand. Teach me Father from this day forward what it means to be your disciple.

             If you do not have a bible then go to your nearest bookstore or church building. Make sure you ask if they believe in God’s Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). You can find many free bibles and bible studies by topic online; the NIV version is an easy to understand translation.

            Love is not rude: to disregard the respect of others in everyday situations in which it should come naturally to be nice. Our own jealousy sometimes can play a big role in rudeness. Kindness again comes into play with this issue. We haven’t walked in our neighbors shoes and even more important to remember if you are already a follower of Christ is that you associate His name with your actions. So be wise! Obviously no one is perfect so we need to adopt the habit of quickly asking forgiveness if we do stumble over tongue and insult someone un-intentionally.

            The bible says that love is not self seeking: if we love someone then we are always concerned for their well being before our own. Mothers know this because most mothers give up most of their time on a daily basis to clean house and laundry and the rest, leaving very little time for herself to think or enjoy alone time. For the most part taking care of our families are the greatest joy besides God that mothers have. Parenting is the truest test of selflessness there is. With that said, it can also be daunting at times so always know that Jesus is ready to listen when you need strength. Imagine how selfless to be nailed to a cross. To save people who didn't even care about Him enough to acknowledge Him. His perfect sin sacrifice never ends and is always available to anyone and everyone genuinely interested.

            It is not a get out of trouble card that can be use to excuse purposeful sin! Asking Jesus into your life means that you are ready to live a better life. You are tired of living falsely and now want to live a right life for God and for Gods good purpose to bring all peoples to know and love Him.

            Love is not easily angered: we don’t fly off the handle at people when they do something we don’t agree with or like. It’s sometimes up to us to point out their wrong path or action but we as followers of Jesus are to be slow to anger just like our heavenly Father. This doesn't mean that you be a doormat for anyone to kick and walk all over you. There is such a thing as righteous anger, and through our heart connection between us and our Father in heaven we are to develop a habit of quick forgiveness toward others. If there is something in your heart against someone that you can’t seem to let go of then go to God and give it up to Him. He’s the only one able to make the changes in us that we need.

            Love keeps no record of wrongs! You know when you fight with your spouse or loved one and the actions from six months ago gets thrown around into each other’s faces where no one forgets or lets go? That kind of attitude will destroy everything good in the way of relationships. It doesn't matter if it’s a friend or a spouse, the relationship will not last if letting go of past incidences is not an option. Forgiveness is an absolute must for any and every relationship.

            Love does not delight in evil: Satan is as real as God is and he is out to destroy whoever will live the way that he delights in. Having no concern for others, committing every kind of sin without condemnation in his heart is the way of the devil. He gets a kick out of us every time we treat others with contempt. Living for the world and falling for the lies of it is his way of trapping us and it’s so easy sometimes to fall for it. If we keep our God connection clear and strong at all times then God will guide us rightly against all attacks of the evil one. Without God we cannot avoid Satan’s snare. We want so much for life to be about me, me, me and the world feeds its greedy pockets on that one fact. God is truth and if you believe in Him and give your life to Him then you will also delight in all truth. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.

            Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.

            All these promises of what true love is are not possible without God. God is love and if you are a child of God then you should be purposely seeking to grow in these areas. If you are not a follower of Christ then I pray through these words and the fact of what Jesus gave for you will tell you what the true meaning of beautiful is.

            We were created for two purposes, to be loved and to love. God created you because His heart is so big and so full of love that He wanted to share it. You are beautiful in His eyes. It doesn't matter what color your hair or skin or the ethnic race you come from. God loves you so much. If you get this concept, you will never worry again about how the world sees you or what the world thinks. You are worthy because God gave you worth in Jesus death and life.

             I pray that you will take these words seriously. Look to your heavenly Father, ask Jesus into your life and watch God transform your being. There are four key ingredients to a great life with God. They are faith, hope, love and willingness to let go and let God. This is the secret of being truly beautiful.

A Word of Praise

O'LORD,...Father,.... I sit before you wanting so much to honor you from my heart with my lips. I look for words yet I feel so inadequate. There are no sufficient words to say to do you justice. Your Majesty is greater than my human mind can ponder! Though I feel inadequate, I hear you remind me that I am your child. The thought of being yours gives me sheer joy! When I think of my love for you my stomach flutters with such intensity. You are all I want to think about! The very knowledge of being in your presence makes me wholeheartedly come alive with true exuberant joy. You give me a smile that make my cheeks feel like they've swollen. My heart beats a little faster, my soul overflows with abundant joy. So much joy that tears soon follow. Father, I love you so much I literally hurt with happiness. In Jesus name I tell you all things, hope all things and believe all things. Thank you LORD for including me in your love, Amen!

METAL MAGGIE

Metal Maggie was a dame who started out with simply Maggie as her name.

She grew up in a home with many siblings around. The older she got, the more she knew she didn’t fit into this town. She decided to hide simple Maggie and added Metal to her name. But Maggie decided she wouldn’t stop there, Maggie decided she would become her name. With a new earring here and a new piercing there, soon she became as it sounds. Now what you see is who she means to be. Metal Maggie is her name. That tough exterior is what the world sees and exactly how Maggie means it to be. If they only knew that inside she was goo. That cannot come to be she knew. All that Maggie will ever show is only what the world needs to know. Only Metal Maggie will they see. She knows this is who she’s meant to be.

Out of nowhere Jesus said “you don’t belong to the world”. Why you telling me asked Maggie, for this she already knew. Who are you Maggie asked and what do you want with me?

I am God and I’ve come to save your life. Look to me and you will live!

Out of His mouth came words so sharp, they pierced right through Maggie’s core.

He said I’ve come to soften that shell that you’ve created, no longer can you ignore.

I love you Metal Maggie, but you must show your goo.

The world needs to see it, to see why you are you.

You are right to say Maggie that you do not belong to this world.

What I need to make you see is that you belong to me.

I love you so much Metal Maggie that I gave my life for you.

Now it’s your turn to accept what I have to offer you.

Our Father in heaven is waiting for you to acknowledge Him.

On His time one day you’ll see just where you do fit in.

Until then, remove the mask and be who I created.

Show that love that you withhold and conform to my purpose.

I’ll be back one day to get you for all eternity.

Until then, know that you are mine and that you mean the world to me!

The End.

Did you know?, Your life is priceless!!!!

You've probably spent time and money on books that tell you to change something about yourself. From your hair color or appearance in some way, to how to grow your bank account or even eating better. These books may very well be helpful to some, but if you are someone who struggles with a deep sense of worthlessness, self- dislike or emptiness then these books will not help you at the core issue.

The purpose I am writing this is to give you the true picture of who you are and enable you to to look yourself in the mirror and sincerely say I love me.

This will not only help the way you look at yourself but also enable you to see others in a true light, as equals. Not less or better than you but equal. It will also help you identify these issues in others and arm you with the ability to help them overcome these same feelings of unworthiness.

Psalm 139 in the Bible (God's Word) gives a wonderful picture of who you are and John 3:16 tells of how priceless your life is.

You might be saying I don't believe in God or Jesus. Well my response to that is " just because you don't believe in something or someone, doesn't make them less real.

The truth is that God knit you together and He makes no mistakes! But He didn't stop there. God sent His ONLY perfect Son to die for you, and not only that, Jesus lovingly and WILLINGLY went along with His Father's plan out of sheer love for you!

You might ask "if God is real then why does such evil things happen to seemingly good people? Well God didn't create us to be robots. He gave us free will to choose which way we want to be. Either live by His word the Bible ( I call it God's love letter to us) or go our own way which always ends in the self-pity pit where we are once again left empty and un-fullfilled.

If you have gone to a church or have been part of a church body then you may have heard about God's love but maybe haven't still experienced it personally. The truth is there are many church buildings with different parts of the ONE church body, which is the body of Christ. Unfortunately many of us as Christians live in limbo. We learn and hear about the love of God, but do not allow God into our lives so intimately as to bare all to Him. We don't let God get so close to us as to actually create true change in our hearts and minds.

We can read and meditate so much as to quote the good word by heart but if we don't spend time with God intentionally giving Him our time then we cannot reap the benefits of what we learn enough to apply those truths to our lives.

Your lack of self love may stem from a lack of parental love or maybe you've done things your own way so long, you don't know how to get onto the right track. Fortunately for us that with God you are never too far gone and God always has an instant access point to His straight path for those who truly want on (Which is Jesus ONLY).

As real as God is, so is satan and he will use all of your weaknesses against you. satan's greatest trick is making people believe he doesn't exist. And if you are ready to ask Jesus into your heart then satan will increase his attack on you. When you truly get to know who you are in God and understand what Jesus has done for you then satan will lose his power to impact your life.

No matter what temptation you struggle with, God is THE solution. There is nothing too big or small for Him to handle. The key is in what degree will you trust God? With God, answers to prayer can be quick or very slow. The Bible says a day to God is like a thousand years to us and vice versa. One thing is for sure though and that is if God brings you to it, no matter what it is , He will also bring you through it.

God doesn't promise a pain free life but if you will bare with His plan, He will bring you to un-explainable joy even when you are hurting the most. Jesus is also like an invisible best friend as many children seem to have. God is everywhere and once you ask Him into your heart, Jesus will give you His Holy Spirit. He will live on the inside of you to guide you and convict you where God wants you to give a fully willing heart to make His changes inside of you.

Once you experience the love of Christ Jesus, you will never want to know another day without Him!! Jesus is the ONLY WAY to our Father in heaven and to recieve Him is so very simple. You have to decide to trust Him.  

Say this prayer:  I don't know you O'LORD but your word says that you know me. I am ready to change and I want more out of life than what I've been living. I believe in you! I believe Father that you sent your perfect Son Jesus to die for me. I believe that Jesus lovingly and willingly laid down His life for me on a cross. I believe that by your power and might that you raised Him back to life on the third day and that Jesus now resides at your right hand back  in heaven where He's always been. I lay my life at Jesus feet and ask you to come into my life in this moment and forever more to dwell in me and to guide me into the way I should live. Transform my being from the inside out Father. Your will be done in me, AMEN!

If you've said this prayer then you can believe that Jesus is with you by the power of  God's Holy Spirit. At this moment satan will also make you feel like your personal temptations are stronger and more alive. Arm yourself with this awareness! Satan will whisper lies into your mind but you need to learn to catch his lies and throw them out of your mind and take them to the LORD.

Say: I belong to Jesus, I now have the mind of Christ, God loves me and I am a child of God. Therefore satan away from me in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord, be gone!

Repentance is necessary , which means to stop living sinfully. God will show you what your personal things are that needs changing.

As a person used to being surrounded by people and things that keep you in your self- pity pit, you need to now discern what those are and get rid of them. Replace them with reminders of your new self in Christ Jesus.

These items may include anything from movies, magazines, tv, and anything that helps you return to your old self. Don't think about it, just do it! If you have a spouse who indulges in old self  things then arm yourself with your own personal escape place where you can go to be alone with God. Get a cell phone and download your own Bible app or take your Bible with you wherever your personal space may be. If you can't think of one, the washroom is a good space to use. Your spouse will notice a change when you stop doing things you use to do.

You also need to find yourself a local Church body of people to grow in God with. Be sure that they love and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Having a spouse who doesn't know God or show any sign of interest in God will make your life tougher but with God all things are possible. Start praying for your spouse and don't give up! Prayer is not difficult! You just need a respectful and thankful attitude as you go before God and if you don't know the words then be still and quiet and let God speak to you. The Holy Spirit knows what to say when we don't.

God has to be your first love above all else! Before your spouse or children or anything else. God should never be given the back seat to anything or anyone. He is the best gift you have! I truly hope that you will fall in love with Jesus to the degree that you can think of nothing else. Until that day remember:   

You are beautiful!

You are God's child!

Jesus loves you!

Welcome to the body of Christ!

                  

  

God's Word In Our Mouth

The greatest book that's ever been written is the Bible- Gods Word or God's love letter to us as I like to call it. Each time I think of what God has done for mankind, my heart gets a fresh sting. It hurts my heart as bitter-sweet because to see that God would go that far to save us is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. What greater love can we find than this?!! There is none! yet it seems that when we open our mouths with the same words, they don't take effect and I wonder why. When God speaks to us, we are sure of the love and hope that comes with those words, but then we turn around half hearted and not sincere speaking them to others thinking of what we will get for speaking these words. Until we become genuine and totally take ourselves and our agendas out of the equation when we go about discipling, it just is not going to work! People are smart enough to see through our fake selves. I love simplicity so I will say it this way.....It is not about us, we have already been found...it is about Jesus and His hope going out to those still looking for Him in which He is calling to Himself......If it's not genuine then it's not love and if it's not love then it's not of God because God is love!!! Just so no one takes my words out of context,....love comes both tough and tender. .... Jesus loves you deeply! I pray that you will understand what this means to your life if  you are reading this blog. I pray God's Grace on your life..Amen.