Posted on Tuesday, November 3, 2015

The Word of the Lord

Years ago God gave me a word that tremendously helped me then and continues to help me now (especially in the season we’re in). It’s a word that is thousands of years old and yet it’s truths are relevant for us today! People came to Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah and told him that a vast army was coming upon him! He immediately called a fast and spent some time in prayer seeking God’s help and wisdom. Jehoshaphat admitted his inability to do anything without God’s assistance and in his uncertainty he said this to the Lord some of the wisest words ever spoken, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12

How many times do we not know what to do and instead of looking to the Lord we look to google or ourselves? Here Jehoshaphat looks to God and invites God’s mighty hand to move on behalf of all of Judah! In this prayer of desperation and transparency Jehoshaphat shows two great qualities:

-Humble Dependance upon God

-Bold Faith that God would be his rescue

And God responds to his faith and assures him by saying, “Do not be afraid or discouraged…for the battle is not yours, it’s the Lords.” 2 Chronicles 20:15 Just that word alone would give you the courage to face any army! Think of the most difficult things you’re facing right now and hear these words, “The battle is not yours, it’s mine says the Lord!” Hearing these words bring immediate peace, they take the pressure and stress off of you and give you reason to trust God and rejoice. And that’s exactly what happened to the people of Judah, they rejoiced! Instead of going to battle with weapons they went with songs! And do you know what happened? The Lord fought for them! God set ambushes against their enemies and caused their enemies to get confused and kill each other. Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah enjoyed all of the plunder and God gave them rest on every side!

In this chapter of scripture there really are countless words from the Lord but I want to leave you with two that have powerfully helped me:

When you don’t know what to do look to God (and keep looking to Him)
Trust God with your difficulty, let Him fight your battle and simply praise Him

That’s it! Look to Jesus!!! He will be your guide, He will fight for you and you can simply trust Him and rejoice in knowing that He is good and He is fighting for you! Rest in this truth and rejoice in your God!

Blessings my friends!

John

PS If you’d like to hear a beautiful song that helps bring this home click here —> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvFTgNd6Iko

PPS I would be remiss if I didn’t share with you the regular encouragement I send out each week. If you would like to be encouraged regularly then subscribe to receive my devotionals via email @ http://www.johnsilkauskasministries.com/about/

Posted on Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Overcoming Faith

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Jesus said it, we will have trouble in this world, trials and tribulations, we will face difficulty and yet in the same breath he tells us to be of good cheer! Why? Because He has overcome the world (and He invites us to share in His victory)! But how?

How can we be under the weather and at the same time overcomers? How can we face difficulty without allowing it to rule our lives? How can we suffer loss and still have peace? How can we be angry and sin not? How can we be glad in the midst of suffering? How do we rise above it all and overcome the world and all that it throws at us on a daily basis?

Our answer is found in 1 John 5:4, “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.”

That’s it! FAITH! It’s through our faith that we overcome the world! Through faith we receive God’s promises of victory and joy! Yes we face difficulty but we do so in light of eternity! We have God’s precious promises that give us the ability to live supernaturally (above the natural). When we face loss, depression, discouragement, defeat, sickness, suffering and the like it’s natural to fall victim to those things which leave us feeling pitiful and in the dumps! But by God’s grace He invites us to rise above those negative emotions through faith. He invites us to live “above” the natural where we walk in His peace, overflow with joy and experience His promises being fulfilled in our lives. Some of you have been struggling for far too long, carrying weights that God has invited you to let go of months ago and yet you’re still carrying them. The struggle seems to be unbearable not only for you but for those closest to you as they don’t understand and feel helpless.

I hope you can hear the voice of the Lord today! Jesus says, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Yes, you will have trouble but it doesn’t have to be as hard as it’s been, Jesus says when you come to me it becomes easy.” Because it’s in His presence that suffering cannot compare to the glory that is revealed! When we walk closely with the Lord we are filled with faith and it’s through that faith that we overcome the world! Rise up in faith today! You are an overcomer so overcome!

Blessings,

John

PS I would be remiss if I didn’t share with you the regular encouragement I send out each week. If you would like to be encouraged regularly then subscribe to receive my devotionals via email @ http://www.johnsilkauskasministries.com/about/

Posted on Monday, August 17, 2015

Stop looking for peace in the same place that you lost it

Naturally it makes sense to look for things in that same place that you lost them. And although this may be true for objects it is not that case when it comes to matters of your heart. Would you look for peace in the same place that you lost it? No, and yet that is what so many of us do. We settle for less, buy the lie of the enemy, have our joy and peace stolen from us and then go back to the same place where we lost them as if we’re going to find them there again.

Satan is cunning (having skill in achieving one’s ends by deceit). It is his desire to steal, kill and destroy and he succeeds in this by deceiving us so that we somehow believe that we will find rest for our souls if we chase after temptation. But his lies are empty, he promises peace but leaves us with problems, he swears satisfaction but shows up with shame! He masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He accuses us both day and night (Revelation 12:10). He is a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44). And we cannot be ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). For we are destroyed by our lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). What we don’t know has the ability to hurt us, ignorance is not bliss my friends! We must be aware of Satan’s schemes and learn to always trust God!

Not only does God promise to always provide a way of escape for every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13), He also promises to crown us with life for passing the test (James 1:12). Simply put: God will bring you wholeness and give you authority in the very area that caused you shame for so many years! See this is why Satan tries so hard to keep you deceived and enslaved in sin and addiction because he is afraid of the authority that God gives to His children. Satan knows that not only will you find healing and wholeness but you will also have the authority to help others find freedom.

And so I declare to you today, “Rise up and be free! Stop looking for peace in the same place that you lost it. I declare clarity over you today in Jesus name. May you have eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to understand. Find peace in God, be truly satisfied in His great love for you, be filled with joy and walk in freedom. Go and share the good news with your friends and family. There is real freedom and real peace and they are found in God alone!”

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

Posted on Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Are You Stuck in Satan’s Web?

We’ve been in a season of warfare (it helps just to know this). See this knowledge brings light to your difficulties, it helps you to see you’re not as bad off as you thought, in fact you’re a lot better off than you thought! See just knowing that you’re being assaulted with a wave of warfare helps you to clear your mind knowing that even the thoughts that you’ve been thinking haven’t been you at all but rather the enemy bombarding you with fiery darts and accusations. He’s been trying to get you to question who you are, what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. He’s been attacking your character and identity trying to get you to second guess yourself and think as one who doesn’t know who they are at all. And along with this onslaught from the enemy he’s also been trying to confuse you, cloud your judgement, fill your heart and mind with doubt, discouragement and depression. And as if all those weren’t enough he’s also been attempting to bring division in your relationships, apathy at work and deceit in your mind (even leading to difficulties in your health).

I say all this to bring light to his schemes. Jesus said that he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). Satan operates in darkness (which means ignorance), therefore when we don’t know his schemes we are often subject to them (Hosea 4:6). Jesus is the light of the world and in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Jesus brings light (understanding) to Satan’s schemes. And therefore it’s through Jesus we overcome. Christ is the head of the church and we (referring to believers) are his body here on the earth (Romans 12:5, Colossians 1:18, and 1 Corinthians 12:27). So as we spend time with Jesus (reading God’s word and spending time in worship and prayer) and his body (sharing what’s going on in each of our lives and praying for one another) we walk in the light and darkness has no power over us. I believe even now as you read these words darkness is leaving and light is filling your heart. Ignorance, deceit, discouragement, confusion and despair are headed out and in their place joy, peace, understanding, encouragement, clarity and hope are flooding your heart today.

I declare freedom for you today in Jesus name! You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). And he who the son sets free is free indeed (John 8:36). All the rain is passing, the sun is bursting forth and you can clearly see God’s promise painted in the sky. “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9 Great is his faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23), faithful is he who calls you, and he also will bring it to pass (1 Thessalonians 5:24). “Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.” Joshua 21:45 “Remember his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.” 1Chronicles 16:15

Remember God’s faithfulness! Remember all he’s done for you! Remember who he says you are! Remember the prophetic words spoken over your life! Remember all that you’ve been through together! Remember! Now rise up and give testimony to who God is in your life today! Stop letting your mountains speak to you and start speaking to them! God has given you authority, use your words, declare God’s truth over your heart and situation and be encouraged knowing that God is working ALL this for your good! Yes, indeed! Even your past, yes even your present, yes even this dark season, this time of testing, yes God is working it ALL for your good! Just think of what the Father has in store for you (in light of all these things). Oh, God is good, let’s bless his name together!

(If you were blessed by this message and believe others you know need to hear it, please share it with them, share in my joy knowing God is using you to help others and share it with the world as you never know who is in darkness and could really use some light)

Blessings!

John