We are Veterans

On November 11th, we honored the Veteran's who have given up their life to serve our country.

There is no greater Veteran than the other. They all shared the same purpose: to fight and defend our country.

What an honor it is to meet and know people who have put their own ambitions aside to be of service to us.

Just as these Veterans have fought for us, we who are Christians are called to be Veterans of Christ. We are now in the army of God and it is our responsibility to protect what God has given to us.

Jesus said on three accounts (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23)?"“Take up your cross and follow Me”. This means, we should deny our self, willing to die in order to follow Jesus. Now, exactly what have Veteran's done? They have forsaken all and have promised to follow through with what they have trained for, even if it means death.

As Christians, we need to let the things of the world go and follow Christ.

In the army of God, we must train and be ready for action in battle. However, our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.(Ephesians 6:12).

How must we get ready for the battle? God has told us to put on the whole armor of God, so that we can stand up against the strategies of the devil. Having on the armor of God, we may be able to stand, having done all we know to do, God will give us the firm, solid foundation, never wavering, always trusting the Truth, which is the Word of God.

Those who are in the armed forces have not only given up everything but have trained many hours, days, months, and years for the position they are in. During boot camp, there were days of hard, vigorous training. Those who were committed, stood firm, never giving up. They endured, were faithful, and had long-suffering through every obstacle. 

We too must be faithful, committed, enduring through the rough times. 

As a women, this is not always easy. Men seem to be stronger in their emotions then women but we can teach ourselves that our emotions and our feelings are not what we are all about. It is awesome to feel loved and adored but it is so hurtful to feel pain and loneliness. However, God has shown us how to overcome our emotions. Most of the time, we feel like we do because we let Satan feed us a thought and we begin to think about that thought and become ill with someone else or feel hurt.

When you are out on a battlefield, there is no time for emotions or "thinking through" situations. You have to be on guard, ready at all times. 

Jesus said in Luke 9:60, "Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." He was not being insensitive concerning those who passed away because he knew they were in a much better place. And those who are left, have a battle to win and you need "living" participants.

If we are letting our emotions rule over us, then we are not letting the Word of God rule over us and cannot win the battle.

Where is this battle? This battle is in our minds because every thing that we do and say starts off with one thing, a thought.

People who have committed the worst crimes didn't just go out and do this, they had to have a thought about it. They continued dwelling on that thought until they acted it out and made it reality.

People in the armed forces may "feel" like sleeping in for a day or not being at their active duties. Well, how well do you think that goes over with the commander? 

We can't go by what we feel. If we did, we would just want to sit around all day and drink coffee.

We need to speak to ourselves and tell ourselves who we are and what we can do in Christ.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13."



We need to meditate on the Word of God and think on things which are above; not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2) And in Philippians  4:8, He tells us what to think about: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

To win the battle, we must know WHO WE ARE!  Jesus called Himself "I AM" and we too need to say who we are. We aren't who we are because of who we are. We are who we are because of WHOSE we are and because of what HE HAS DONE for us.

Not only did He die on the cross for our salvation BUT He took upon Himself our sickness and disease. We can be healed of these things, just as easy as we can be forgiven of sin. 

Many people think that God gives us sickness to teach a lesson. But why would He have Jesus, His ONLY SON come to DIE FOR US and then TURN AROUND and put sickness on us? Would you want to put sickness on your children to teach them a lesson? Well, no, that is crazy talk. Well, it most definitely is. So, why would God do that? Did Jesus not do it all for us when He went to the cross? So now we have to make up for it and be punished?

JESUS CAME so that we CAN have LIFE and have EVERYTHING MORE ABUNDANTLY! (John 10:10)

We DON'T have to be SICK ANYMORE! We DON'T have to be POOR NO MORE! We don't have to be depressed or feel lonely. We CAN HAVE EVERYTHING GOD has for us. He didn't put us here on earth just to "get by". Why would He want that? Don't you want the best for your children? Well, of course and God wants the BEST FOR US! THAT IS WHY HE SENT THE BEST! And NOW because Jesus suffered and died for OUR SINS! OUR INIQUITIES, BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED!!! 

All of this is yours and can be. All you have to do is accept it. You have to KNOW it's FOR YOU and you have to just receive it.

If someone left you an envelope with a check for $10,000.00 on the table and you never knew it was yours, then you can't cash that check and spend that money. But if you knew that check was yours.......

We need to KNOW WHAT IS OURS! AND KNOW WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST so that we can tap into everything He has for us.

Here is a list of I AM's and I challenge you to read these I AM's everyday! Prepare for your battle (of the mind). Don't give ANY place for the enemy to come and tell you something different then what the Word of God tells you. Put on the WHOLE armor of God so that you are strong and ready for battle. (Ephesians 6:11) Putting on the armor is being armed with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Whenever you have a negative thought or a thought that is against the Word of God, you KNOW that isn't God and you must immediately take that thought captive, cast it out, not letting it take root. 

Not only should you read these I AM's, but you need to read them aloud so that you can hear yourself say these. You will begin to know WHO YOU ARE in CHRIST JESUS without HIM, we are NOTHING! 

Take a "I AM verse" a day and look it up. Look it up in different versions of the Bible and begin to say that verse all day.

As you begin to do this, you will truly know that Jesus loves you so very much and the battle REALLY isn't and never was yours (2 Chronicles 20:15). It won't BE a battle anymore because you are so full of the Word and God Himself  and there's no room for the enemy.

YOU'VE GOT THIS!!!! 

WHO I AM IN CHRIST
I AM....

A child of God (Romans 8:16)
Forgiven (Colossians 1:13,14)
Saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8)
Justified (Romans 5:1)
Sanctified (Hebrews 13:12)
Redeemed from the hand of the enemy (Psalm 107:2)
Redeemed from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13)
A new creature in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17)
The temple of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19)
Delivered from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13)
Led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14)
A Son of God (Romans 8:14)
A Saint (Romans 1:7)
The head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 10:13)
Kept in safety wherever I go (Psalm 91:10)
Getting all my needs met by Jesus (Philippians 4:19)
Casting all my care on Jesus (I Peter 5:7)
Strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10)
Doing all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)
An heir of God and a join-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17)
Heir to the blessings of Abraham (Galatians 3:13-14)
Holy and without blame before Him (I Peter 1:16)
Victorious (Revelation 21:7)
Set Free (John 8:31-33)
Sealed with the Holy Spirit promise (Ephesians 1:13)
Accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6)
Complete in Him (Colossians 2:10)
Crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20)
Alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5)
Free from condemnation (Romans 8:1)
Reconciled to God (II Corinthians 5:18)
Observing and doing the Lord's commandments (Deuteronomy 28:1)
Blessed coming in and blessed going out (Deuteronomy 28:6)
Chosen and appointed by Christ to bear HIS fruit (John 15:16)
Blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3)
Healed by His stripes (I Peter 2:24)
Exercising my authority over the enemy (Luke 10:19)
Above only and not beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13)
More than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)
Establishing God's Word here on earth (Matthew 16:19)
Raised up with Christ and seated in heavenly places (Colossians 2:12)
An overcomer by the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11)
Born of God and the evil one does not touch me (I John 5:18)
Firmly rooted, build up, established in my faith (Colossians 2:7)
Circumcised with the circumcision made without hands (Colossians 2:11)
A fellow citizen with the saints (Ephesians 2:19)
Built upon the foundation of Jesus (Ephesians 2:20)
In the world as He is in heaven (I John 4:17)
Daily overcoming the devil (I John 4:4)
His faithful follower (Ephesians 5:11)
His disciple because I have love for others (John 13:34-35)
The salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13)
Called of God (II Timothy 1:9)
Not moved by what I see (II Corinthians 4:18)
Walking by faith and not by sight (II Corinthians 10:4-5)
Casting down vain imaginations (II Corinthians 10:5)
Bringing every thought into captivity (II Corinthians 10:5)
Being transformed by renewing my mind (Romans 12:1-2)
A laborer together with God (I Corinthians 3:9)
The righteousness of God in Christ (II Corinthians 5:21)
An imitator of Christ (Ephesians 5:11)
The light of the world (Matthew 5:14)
Blessing the Lord at all times (Psalm 45:1)
Dead to sin, but alive unto righteousness (I Peter 2:24)
Chosen (I Thessalonians 1:4)
An ambassador for Christ (II Corinthians 5:20)
God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10)
Created in God's image and I am VERY GOOD (Genesis 1:31)
The apple of my Father's eye (Deuteronomy 32:10)
Being changed into His image (II Corinthians 3:18)
An overcomer by the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11)
Beloved of God (Colossians 3:12)
One in Christ (John 17:21-23)
A partaker of Christ, I share HIS life (Hebrews 3:14)
Fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
Christ's friend (John 15:15)
A slave of righteousness (Romans 6:18)
Enslaved to God (Romans 6:22)
An heir of eternal life (I John 5:11-12)
Will resemble Christ when HE returns (I John 3:1-2)
United to the LORD and one spirit with HIM (I Corinthians 6:17)
The true vine, a channel of Christ's life (John 15:1,5)
A son of God and one in Christ (Galatians 3:26,28)
Hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
A son of light and not of darkness (I Thessalonians 5:5)
A member of Christ's body (I Corinthians 12:17; Ephesians 5:10)
Chosen of God, holy and beloved (Colossians 3:12)
A holy partaker of a heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1)
An expression of the life of Christ - HE is my life (Colossians 3:4)
An enemy of the devil (I Peter 5:8)
An alien and stranger to this temporary world (I Peter 2:11)
A living stone, being built up in Christ as a spiritual house (I Peter 2:5)
A member of a chosen race, royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession (I Peter 2:9-10)



(The Venebales - cell groups)