The Way to Overcome Fear

The Way to Overcome Fear

• Overcome Fear with GOD’S Love

Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." - Genesis 3:9-12

We love Him because He first loved us. - 1 John 4:19

Acknowledge your sin, repent and receive GOD’S love.

• Walk In the Fear Of GOD; That Is Wisdom

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. - Proverbs 9:10

Wisdom makes you fear GOD and keeps you walking within the boundary of the path of righteousness in GOD’S love.

• Overcome Fear Of Man With The Fear Of GOD

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. - Matthew 10:28

When you recognize that it is GOD Who has authority over your life (spirit, soul and body) - now and for eternity, you will fear GOD and please Him and not man.

• Overcome Fear Of Pain With Faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. - Hebrews 11:1  

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28  

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13

If you are walking in faith connected to GOD you will not fear pain knowing that GOD will not permit any situation in your life that is not for your eternal good.

• Overcome Fear Of Death with Hope

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. - Romans 5:5  

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. - John 14:1-3  

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. - Romans 8:6

When Your heart is filled with the love of GOD through the Holy Spirit and your mind is focussed on spiritual things, you will not fear death but hope for eternal life.

• Overcome Fear Of The Future Through Obedience

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. - Jeremiah 29:11-14

If you are inquiring of the LORD, listening to Him and walking in obedience to GOD, you will not fear your future.

• Overcome Fear Of Failure By Trusting GOD

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13

You can trust the LORD to give you sufficient wisdom and strength to do what He has called you to do.

• Overcome Fear Of Lack By Seeking GOD’S Kingdom First

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. - Matthew 6:33

When you serve GOD in His Kingdom, He takes responsibility to make all the provision for you.

• Overcome The Fear Of Living Creatures By Taking Your Position In The Structure Of Authority

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. ... You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. - Psalm 91:1, 13  

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. - Luke 10:17-19

If you have taken your position with GOD in CHRIST, everything evil is under your feet.

• Overcome The Fear Of Evil Spirits With The Fullness Of The Holy Spirit

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. - 1 John 4:4  

"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. - Acts 10:38

All fear is dispelled by the Holy Spirit in you Who is greater than the evil spirits outside of you!

• Overcome The Fear Of Falling By Standing In GOD’S Grace

Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, - Romans 4:4-5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. - Romans 5:1-2

If you are dependent on GOD’S grace that saved you, to carry you through to the end, you will not fear falling.

The Shepherd And His Sheep

The Shepherd And His Sheep

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. - Psalm 23:1-6 

When a Pastor follows the Lord like a sheep following the Good Shepherd, he himself becomes a good shepherd for his flock to follow.
The good shepherd will disciple - train and teach his flock to listen to the voice of the Chief Shepherd and follow Him.

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. - 1 Peter 5:1-4 

The shepherds should carry an attitude of humility and serve their flock as overseers.
They should serve the flock willingly and eagerly for the LORD'S sake.
They should not be compelled to serve because of the wages.
Wages, profit and gain should not be their goal.
Their reward is a crown of glory from the Chief Shepherd when He appears.

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." - Matthew 9:35-38 

Sheep without a shepherd are weary, scattered and are in danger.
JESUS' Shepherd-heart was moved with compassion for His flock.
As we pray, the Lord of the harvest will send out, and His chosen labourers will go into the harvest.
Am I praying for labourers to be sent by the Lord of the harvest?
If the Lord quickens my heart to go will I go?
It could be to step into part time ministry;
It could be to step into full time ministry;
It could be to go on a mission trip;
It could be to share the Gospel with a neighbour;
It could be to pray with a person at the mall.
Do not go unless you know you are sent by the Lord.

"I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ... "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. "I and My Father are one." - John 10:14-15, 26-30 

The Lord JESUS knows the Father and the Father knows Him.
JESUS is the Lamb of GOD.
He is One with the Father.
He came down to identify Himself with us, the sheep.
He laid down His life for us as the Lamb of GOD, thus taking away our sin.
He became the Great Shepherd of the sheep.
He is the perfect example of a good shepherd.

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. - Isaiah 53:6-7 

There is a special relationship between a shepherd and his sheep.

The shepherd loves his sheep. He takes responsibility for them.

He is prepared to lay down his life for the sake of his sheep.

He knows his sheep individually.

He knows their strengths and their weaknesses.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. - Hebrews 13:20-21 

The sheep is exposed to danger.
The sheep is foolish and prone to stray away.

The sheep knows the shepherd.
The sheep believes the shepherd.
The sheep hears the voice of the shepherd.
The sheep follows the shepherd.
The sheep is safe in the hand of the shepherd.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ... Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. "All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. - John 10:1, 7-10 

The LORD JESUS was sent by the Father to save and shepherd the sheep.
He came in obedience to His Father.
Now He is the only One Who has the rightful authority over the sheep and to give access to the sheep.
He is the Door of the sheep.

The hireling does not care about the sheep.
He flees when a wolf comes.

"But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. "And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." - John 10:2-5 

Those who are sent by GOD to the flock to pastor or minister, will come the rightful way under the right authority structure set by the Church. JESUS is the Door Who opens the hearts of the sheep to such a shepherd.

He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds; From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. - Psalm 78:70-72 

Who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, "You shall be built," And to the temple, "Your foundation shall be laid." ' - Isaiah 44:28 

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? "You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. "The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. ... 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them." - Ezekiel 34:1-4, 10 

The shepherd is there for the sheep and not the sheep for the shepherd.
The shepherd carries the responsibility to feed, heal, protect and search out the lost sheep. It is the pastor's responsibility to take care of the spiritual needs of the flock of GOD entrusted to him.

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. - John 21:15-17 

Now, the sheep, the flock of GOD is the body of CHRIST.
One who loves JESUS will love His flock and feed them and tend them for His sake.

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' - Matthew 25:31-36 

Those who are blessed and inherit the Kingdom are those who ministered to the least of the brethren in their need. In doing this, they ministered to the LORD, to His body.

Scripture Tools in Modern Times

Scripture Tools in Modern Times

TABLET

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them." - Exodus 24:12  

And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. - Exodus 31:18

And the LORD said to Moses, "Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke. ... So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses' hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. - Exodus 34:1, 28-29

Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, - Proverbs 3:3  

I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected. Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. - Habakkuk 2:1-2

Now go, write it before them on a tablet, And note it on a scroll, That it may be for time to come, Forever and ever: - Isaiah 30:8  

"The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; With the point of a diamond it is engraved On the tablet of their heart, And on the horns of your altars, - Jeremiah 17:1

We should be diligent to prepare the tablets of our mind and heart and seek the LORD and study His word, hear His voice and write His words on these tablets.

Preparation involves circumcision of our mind and heart of all carnality.

Then we should allow the Holy Spirit to write these words on the tablet of our hearts. As the LORD writes His words on our hearts, our hearts are moulded with His fingers according to His image.

If the word of GOD is not written on our heart, our sin will be written because sin originates in the heart.

I believe it takes just a moment for the LORD to write my name in the Book of Life - the very moment I decide to accept the LORD’S forgiveness. It takes a lifetime for Him to write His name on my heart, moulding it to His image.

I believe, at death, if the sin written on my heart is not completely wiped out and superimposed by GOD’S word, my name would be wiped out of the Book of Life.

If the sin on my heart has been blotted out by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of GOd, my name will not be blotted out of the Book of Life.

SCROLL

Then I said, "Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. - Psalm 40:7  

Now go, write it before them on a tablet, And note it on a scroll, That it may be for time to come, Forever and ever: - Isaiah 30:8  

Moreover He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." - Ezekiel 3:1

Then I turned and raised my eyes, and saw there a flying scroll. - Zechariah 5:1

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." - Revelation 5:1-5

"Take a scroll of a book and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this day. - Jeremiah 36:2  

Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. - Revelation 6:14

The words on a scroll are taken in context and with the right perspective when we scroll up and scroll down.

Only the LORD JESUS is worthy to open the seals of the scroll because He is the only One Who, being beyond time and space, came down to live within time and space.

He is the Truth!

He is the Alpha and Omega!

He is the First and the Last!

He is the Beginning and the End!

STICK

"As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: 'For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.' "Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand. "And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, 'Will you not show us what you mean by these?'-- "say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand." ' "And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes. - Ezekiel 37:16-20

The stick is used to transfer information from one to another. We can be like the stick as witnesses of our LORD through our lives, through the words we speak and write, thus bringing our knowledge of GOD to others.

We have the ministry of reconciliation, reconciling individuals to GOD and restoring one another’s relationship in CHRIST.

Life Bible School

Life Bible School

Enrolment -  at salvation

Length of course - lifetime

Times of lessons - 24 hours

Text Book - The Bible

Teachers - People who come in contact with you

Personal Tutor - The Holy Spirit

Practicals - Life experiences

Graduation - at death

Pass - Heaven

Fail - Hell

Graduation ceremony - on earth - Funeral Service

 in Heaven - Glorious welcome and commendation by GOD

    “Well Done,  Good and Faithful Servant”

Promotion - Eternal Life

Demotion - Eternal Damnation and separation from                              

                                                  

Graduate’s headdress - Crown of Life

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. - Acts 4:13

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. - John 16:13

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 2:12-16

Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us--eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. - 1 John 2:24-27

And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left. - Isaiah 30:20-21

Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. - 2 Timothy 2:14-15  

Spiritual Literacy

Spiritual Literacy

Being spiritually literate is the ability to hear the voice of GOD and speak that word accurately.

"The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. - Isaiah 50:4

GOD is the One, Who through the Holy Spirit, teaches and trains a person spiritually.

A disciple is the student who follows a discipline and is a teachable learner.

The School Of Learning is the experiences of day to day life. You don't go to this school; you live in this school!

A person may be well educated in the worldly sense or even in the theological sense and still be illiterate spiritually. On the other hand, an illiterate person could be spiritually literate.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

It is better to be more literate in the spiritual sense than in the worldly sense.

You should always be willing to submit your worldly knowledge to spiritual knowledge and spiritual wisdom.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. - James 1:5

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. - James 3:13-17

You may be a spiritual person or a carnal person or one somewhere in between, switching from one to the other at different times. Fish, sheep or an amphibian?

On Sundays while at the worship service you are a spiritual man/ woman. At the shopping centre on Monday you operate with a carnal mind and worldly spirit.

Always be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit and be led by Godly wisdom.

Be established according to the values of GOD’S word.

Let your heart be established.

It is important for you to check yourself and seek to be established spiritually.

Money Matters

Money Matters

For thus says the LORD: "You have sold yourselves for nothing, And you shall be redeemed without money." - Isaiah 52:3 

knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. - 1 Peter 1:18-19 

I was bought / redeemed with the precious Blood of the LORD JESUS, not with money.
"Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? "Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." - Matthew 22:17-21 

"Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you." - Matthew 17:27 

I should not sell myself again for money but give myself to God as His temple.

Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. - Matthew 21:12-14 

I enjoy the Wine of Blessing when I seek the face and the favour of GOD.

My thirst is quenched as I drink of the Holy Spirit.

"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. - Isaiah 55:1 

"Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." - John 6:27

I am fed by the Bread of Life by abiding in CHRIST.

And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst..." - John 6:35

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? for we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. - 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

I am nourished by the Milk of GOD’S word.

..as newborn babes desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby,.. - 1 Peter 2:2

The best things in life are not bought with money but by giving of my time and worldly pleasures.

Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." - Luke 12:13-15 

I need to make a decision before long whether to serve God or to serve money, because the end is near!

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. - Revelation 13:11-18 

JIG-SAW PUZZLE

The picture has been shattered and needs to be restored.
Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!" And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down." - Mark 13:1-2 
Sin shattered the beautiful relationships GOD had put in place.

The picture cannot be complete if one little piece is lost.
"for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." - Luke 19:10 
GOD sent JESUS to seek and to save the lost.

The first step in fixing a puzzle is getting the corner pieces together and completing the boundary. 
O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. - Psalm 16:5-6
GOD works through life's situations to bring you within the borders of His plan for you.
He teaches you from His word  the boundary lines that He has set in your relationship with Him and others.

Starting on a puzzle, you want to make sure each piece belongs to the same puzzle.
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.  - 1 Corinthians 12:27
When you accept the LORD JESUS into your life you become a part of His body, that is the Church.

Sorting the pieces of the puzzle according to the various colours and fixing them together is the second step towards completing the picture.
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. - 1 Corinthians 12:28
You would then bond with those who have a similar desire and calling in the work of the Kingdom. 

Each piece of the puzzle has to give up its independence and become interdependent with the other pieces around it. The purpose of the piece is found in taking its right place in the puzzle.
"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. - Mark 8:35 
You find true purpose in life when you give up your selfish goals and for CHRIST'S sake take your place and do your part in GOD'S Kingdom.

 Two pieces of the puzzle connect perfectly when the colours and the picture have continuity and the projection of one piece fits snugly into the indent of the other and vice versa.
submitting to one another in the fear of God. - Ephesians 5:21 
One's lack is perfectly supplied by the other and vice versa, making strong connections that hold us together. We become interdependent in the Body of CHRIST.

Your self-centred mind becomes CHRIST-centred. Anxiety and worry would leave. peace, joy, love and hope will fill your heart as you start thinking of and living for a higher purpose. Your life will be hidden in CHRIST as you blend with GOD'S people. CHRIST-in-you is the hope of your glory!
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. - Colossians 3:1-4
This is the victorious life of a true disciple of the LORD JESUS who has decided to take up his cross, deny self  and follow Him.

While working on a puzzle it is necessary to have the complete picture before you and often look at it.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:1-2 
The LORD JESUS is the complete picture. Each believer, every Church, denomination and para-Church organisation is a part of the body of CHRIST. We should constantly lift up our eyes to look at Him to make sure we are 'IN HIM' - in right relationship with others in the Body.

When the puzzle is completed it is sealed with a glue.
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. - Colossians 3:14 
The love of JESUS is the glue that bonds His people together revealing His glory!

"By this all will know that you are My disciples,

 if you have love for one another." 

John 13:35 

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9 

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." So He spoke this parable to them, saying: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? "And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? "And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!' "Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." - Luke 15:1-10 

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. - Ephesians 2:19-22  

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. ... till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. - Ephesians 4:1-6, 13-16