Words of Encouragement - Overseer J Troy Blackwell

Spiritual Warfare/Temptation

11-06-2014

 

It's been quite some time since I've posted a word of encouragement; it's rather lengthy. So, much of what I read and see of God's children living beneath their privileges simply because of yielding to temptations have prompted this post. I pray that you read it, think on it, and practice it. I believe The Lord will do something awesome in your lives as a result. Love and Blessings!

"Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. (James 1:13-14 NKJV)
James reveals two major keys in overcoming temptation. He teaches us what temptation is and who it is that can be tempted.
First, God never tempts us to sin and neither can He Himself be tempted to sin. (Nothing in His nature desires sin and therefore there is no "attraction" to sin for God.)
Secondly, James explains what temptation is; "each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed."
"Each" of us have to take ownership for our "own" sins and not blame anyone else....not even the devil. It is our "own" desires that makes sin attractive to us. It is that attraction that the enemy is aware of so he exploits it by specifically tailoring a temptation to fit that desire. To be "drawn away" is to be literally "lured away" as a fish that is attracted to an artificial lure specifically designed by the knowledgeable and
experienced fisherman to attract the type of fish he seeks to catch.
(Satan is an experienced and shrewd fisherman who's studied mankind's behavior since the beginning of time.....he knows exactly what we like!)
Now, the key to overcoming temptation is to do what Jesus did. "He was tempted in every way we are yet He did not sin." (Heb 4:15)

 

#1. Make God's desires your desires. (Seek always to please Him)

 Jesus said, "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”(John 8:29 NKJV)

Since God cannot be tempted to sin, when we replace our "own" desires with His, the enemy can no longer attract us with what he offers.

Psalm 37:4...."Delight yourself also in The Lord (seek to please Him) and He will give you the desires of your heart (not just what "you" want but what "to" want)
When God's desires become our desires, we lose our attraction to temptation.

#2. Jesus always (immediately) confronted temptation with the spoken Word of God.

Luke 4 shares the story of Jesus being tempted by Satan. Notice how the very thought of sinning was confronted by God's Word....spoken.
Temptation always begins with our thoughts. Therefore, when the thought of sinning enters our minds, we must confront it immediately with the "weapons of our warfare which are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ....(2 Corinthians 10:4c-5 NKJV).

If we don't immediately confront the thought of sinning with The Word, "a thought will lead to an action; an action will lead to a habit; a habit will lead to a character; a character will lead to a destiny."

Use what Jesus used!..... Make God's your desires. Confront the very thought of sinning with The Word. God bless you!



Daddy Daughter Celebratory Dinner

Learning About Servitude

Our Youth Leader, Mrs. Nicky Pickard taught our young people about 'Serving In Love'. 

The scriptural context came from John 15:13 which states, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Bible Truth: Believers are to follow Jesus' example and show love through unselfish service and sacrifice.

Lesson Aim: Students will find ways to serve others unselfishly.

Our own Dylan Oliver exclaimed he helps others by:

Making up his own bed, helping his mom and dad cook and by cleaning up! He also reassembles his own drums after taking them down of his own accord.

Celebrating the Visionary and the Vision

An Inspirational Word ~ Pastor J Troy Blackwell



I've been concerned about a lot of the messages I've been hearing and seeing posted on Facebook by my fellow Christians; ministers and laity alike. None of which lack zeal or passion for sharing the truth. But my concern is many of the messages lack compassion.....

1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2 (NKJV)

  
 Amazing! The Light of the world; the one who came into the world to call men out of the darkness of sin; He who once declared "men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil" ...always found himself surrounded by sinners. The above text takes place at a time in Jesus' earthly ministry when He had developed a reputation for hanging around, drinking and cavorting with sinners. He was known to be the honored guest at the soirées thrown by "tax collectors and sinners." In affect, the text represents the "gossip in the Gospel....."

What's amazing about this text, and that which I think makes it a good lesson for those of us who are Christians; called to be "the light of the world;" we ministers of the Gospel to sinners is this, light exposes sin. There is no way a sinner can come out of darkness except his or her sin is exposed for what it is. And here Jesus is, The True Light; no sin found in Him at all. Yet, sinners who love darkness are willing to hang around Him; risking exposure. They absolutely loved having Him around. Could it be that He compromised His convictions and that endeared them to Him?......

Or could it be that there was something in that light that while it exposed their sin, it drew them to Him nonetheless? Well, it's obvious that His love was in His light. I believe that we as Christians, particularly preachers, teachers, ministers of the Gospel, have often lacked the love in our light.....we are quick to expose peoples' sins; often leaving them ashamed and embarrassed, feeling rejected and hopeless. So, rather than our light attracting them, it repels them. They're not drawn to the light, they retreat further into the darkness.

If we are the "light of the world," what is missing in our light that allows us to expose sin yet sinners are not drawn to us the way they were drawn to Jesus? How many sinners love being around us? How many run when they see us coming? If there is no genuine love in the light, our Gospel can do more harm than good! The Sun is a wonderful light.....it warms the earth. Life grows and is nurtured by its light. Our way of travel is made clear by its light. Even tender blades of grass will penetrate the smallest cracks in the asphalt to reach towards its light. We all love the sun's light. But if that very same sunlight is shined upon anything through the lens of a magnifying glass, it would be consumed; utterly destroyed.

So it is with the souls of men when we minister the light of the Gospel without Love. We cannot fake genuine love for a sinner; either our light exposes and attracts or exposes and repels. We can try to make excuses for our failure to reach sinners all we want to..... "it's a different world now; people don't want to accept the truth anymore." "Sinners are more bound in sin now than they were in Jesus' day." None of that is true! People are the same and He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We have to just do it like He did it; He had "love in His light." Is there any in yours? God bless you! Love ya with the love of Jesus....I really do.

Senior Pastor J Troy Blackwell
Freedom for Living Ministries
March 8, 2014

Youth Of Freedom..Studying Romans 8:31

Dylan Mikal read this scripture last night at Word Enrichment..

Celebrating the Visionary and the Vision

We would like to introduce our guest speakers for our afternoon worship encounters during the month of April:

April 6, 2014 - Pastor Raleigh Bagley III of Concord Baptist Church in Chase City, Virginia 

April 13, 2014 - Elder Troy L. Nevells of Christ Temple Apostolic Church in Danville, Virginia

April 20, 2014 - Pastor Ervin S. Best of Beulah Baptist Church in Madison, N.C.

April 27, 2014 - Overseer Stephon Brown of Noah's Ark Full Gospel Baptist Church in Reidsville, N.C.

All afternoon services will begin at 4:00 p.m. EST.

Celebrating the Visionary and the Vision

Freedom for Living Ministries will celebrate our Undershepherd , our Visionary, Pastor John Troy Blackwell the entire month of April! We will have various activities throughout the month along with various anointed speakers rendering the unadulterated Word of God every Sunday morning and afternoon. Join us for this Holy Spirit ordained celebration as we honor the vessel God chose to plant FFLM and to feed us, the sheep, at every available opportunity. 

Happy New Year! Embracing the Power of Scripture - 2014 Focus

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord ! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly! (Psalms 119:1-8 NKJV)

Embracing the Power of Scripture - 2014 Freedom for Living

Psalm 119 'Aleph' Message Bible Translation

You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I’m going to do what you tell me to do; don’t ever walk off and leave me. (Psalm 119:1-8 MSG)

How blessed are those whose actions are blameless, who obey the law of the Lord. How blessed are those who observe his rules, and seek him with all their heart, who, moreover, do no wrong, but follow in his footsteps. You demand that your precepts be carefully kept. If only I were predisposed to keep your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, if I were focused on all your commands. I will give you sincere thanks, when I learn your just regulations. I will keep your statutes. Do not completely abandon me! ב ( Bet ) (Psalms 119:1-8 NET)

Psalm 119...The Power of Scripture

Meditate on Psalm 119 with Freedom for Living Ministries as we press forward into 2014. We've begun our study with the first three verses found under 'Aleph'. Let's meditate on this Word scripture by scripture allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to us.

ALEPH

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord ! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly! (Psalms 119:1-8 NKJV)

Those who do no iniquity are the righteous who are not sinning habitually.

The righteous are hungry for the living Word. We are saved by grace and filled with the Holy Spirit of God to walk according to His will.

S.I.S.T.E.R.S 09-14-2013 10 A.M. Freedom for Living Ministries

Come out and join us for our S.I.S.T.E.R.S event!

Guest Speaker: Minister Tiffany Byrd Sturdivant

Guest Psalmist: Nyjel Smallwood Sr and Radykal Wurshyp

We will begin with intercessory prayer by phenomenal women of God promptly at 10!

Be in the place!

 

Philippians 1:6

"It's Not Where You Start, It's How You Finish!"

 

"It's Not Where You Start, It's How You Finish"

  September 14, 2013 @ 10 AM

Guest Speaker:: Minister Tiffany Byrd Sturdivant of Grooms Chapel Missionary Baptist Church

Our declaration:"It's Not Where You Start, It's How You Finish"....

Scriptural reference :Philippians 1:6

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

There are many women in the Body of Christ who have given up on the vision God gave them for their lives. They've given up because the enemy put obstacles in their way and convinced them what God promised would not come to pass. He has deceived so many of us by focusing our eyes on the natural rather than on the supernatural. The enemy caused Eve to doubt God's perfect will for her life.  We are in spiritual warfare mode and we declare that God's vision for your life is still alive and well. By intercessory prayer and praise and worship we will declare that if God be for us He is more than the whole world against us! Sisters we are called to walk by faith and not by sight! Stand up and boldly declare that you are taking your life back!

What Godly relationships do you need right now in your life? Which group of people do you need to let go of to press forward in God? 

What decisions to you need to make regarding your finances? Are you giving God what is due to Him and more to reap a harvest from Him in your life?

What results have the doctors given you that are contrary to God's Word? Are you prepared to stand firm in what God has said concerning your well being?

Are you stuck in a job that has no potential for growth? Do you desire a career that is founded in God's plan for your life?

Are you reaching others for Christ in your daily life? Are you ministering as effectively as you could be if you allowed the Spirit of God to lead you? Are you at an impasse in your ministry? 

Consider these areas of your life: Relationships, Finances, Health, Careers, Ministry..

Come to FFLM on September 14th with your God given vision in your heart. You will share your prayer requests with us in each of these areas and we will pray over each one as we come to God's throne boldly. Come with your mind ready to receive from God that which will propel you into your destiny.

We love you and we can't wait to see you there! Dress comfortably..Our worship, praise and intercession are the real deal:-).

Morning Prayer - Intercessor Wanda Noble

Morning Prayer for 07-08-2013
~Intercessor Wanda Noble~
This is another beautiful day that the Lord has given us so let us lift up our eyes to the hills from whence comes our help.Our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. I thank our God for His mercy that didn't consume us. We got up in our right minds able to cloth and feed our self and move about and for those who can't God we thank you for family and friends and care takers for their service! But most of all we pray they will be healed in the name of '' JESUS ''...For those who didn't get up or got up and you called them home your word said weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning and what ever your morning is joy will come and the peace of God be with them... We thank you God for your saving '' GRACE '' that is available to all. And for those who still reject you for what ever reason we pray that your blood will be covering and ask the father to forgive them for they know not what they do... We thank you for what you have already done but we are excited and celebrating what you are yet to do... not by might or by power but by your '' SPIRIT '' Let it rise up in us to be the people you have called us to be.....!!!!! I love you Lord... And this is my prayer for your people today...!!!

Morning Prayer - Intercessor Wanda Noble -

David said it was early in the morning that I sought You with a mind that has been renewed. A mind stayed on the goodness of our God who created all. We, who can do nothing without Him, thank Him and pray that GOD uses us today to touch some one’s life. There is so much sorrow and pain but ''GOD ''.. You are a '' GOD '' that moves in all circumstances. Father in the name of Jesus, be that name that is above all names when the enemy comes to attack our minds and our bodies! Keep us strong in our faith to know that enemy is the father of all lies and the battle is not ours, “It’s Yours” and we have the victory!!! I thank and praise you LORD because You are able....A MEN

Reflections On "Next Level Community Day"

June 29, 2013 marked a special occasion for Freedom for Living Ministries. It was our first annual "Next Level Community Day" in Yanceyville, N.C. It was an opportunity to not only reintroduce Freedom to the surrounding community but it was also an opportunity to show the love of God to people who are struggling with life. There are people who love God but quite honestly have lost hope that He still cares. Some have lost homes, many have lost jobs and others are facing crises in their health, in their ministries and in their family lives. People need to know that somebody, somewhere does care about their pain. They need to know that somebody somewhere is operating by the leadership of the Holy Spirit. They need to know that God loves them.

"Next Level Community Day" was birthed by Sister Rhonda Neal and brought together by the members and friends of Freedom for Living Ministries. This is a ministry that thrives on Godly excellence. We don't do things halfway and we don't compromise on quality. We are God's representatives in the earth and God is too great for us to be mediocre.

As the summer sun took its place high in the sky and the first visitors arrived there was a "knowing" in the Spirit, that God was fully in control. All that He desired this day to be came to pass. His desire was to reach His people. We were not there to simply give away food and clothing for free. We were there to provide a Godly atmosphere and a place of hope for those who so sorely needed it. We were and are here to provide a place of Godly counsel; to declare what the Lord has done for our souls; to give Him a high praise and to declare His steadfast love for everyone.

Real ministry comes with hard work, tired hands, throbbing feet and sweat! The kingdom suffers violence but the violent take it by force! God is still alive and well. The world is waiting for the manifestation of the Sons of God! It's time to declare out loud "Here we are!"

Freedom's Ad in the Caswell Messenger for "Next Level Community Day"

Happy Father's Day!!!

What Makes a Dad
God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad Author Unknown

Mr. Joshua Blackwell Graduates from BYHS!

Congratulations to Mr. Joshua Blackwell! Joshua is a member of Bartlett Yancey Senior High School's class of 2013. Freedom for Living Ministries praises God for all that you have achieved thus far and we await with great expectation all that you will accomplish in the future. To God be the glory for your life!

 

 

 

"Next Level Community Festival"

We are taking Ministry to the next level in 2013!

Freedom for Living Ministries invites you to our "Next Level Community Festival" on June 29, 2013. It will begin promptly at noon and will last until 4:00 p.m. We are bringing the unifying power of the Kingdom of God to the community! We invite all churches and all families to join us as we evangelize! Free food, clothing giveaways, games, prizes, inflatable carnival rides, charity bike rides, silent auction, health screenings and talent showcases are all on tap as Freedom reintroduces itself to the community! We invite you to take the first step toward living the abundant life Jesus Christ died and rose to give you. We love you and we look forward to seeing you!

Graduation Salute

The graduate season of 2013 has arrived! Freedom for Living Ministries salutes our family members who are embarking on a wholly different journey into adulthood. You have worked hard and remained focused to reach this goal in life. Now know this is only preparation for the greater things to come. Life will present hardships and disappointments but our God is so much greater than either. Keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, knowing that with Him you cannot fail!  The image below says it all. What God has begun in you, He will complete! Congratulations Graduates! Freedom loves you!