Encouragement: The action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope *** persuasion to do or to continue something *** the act of trying to stimulate the development of an activity, state, or belief.

John 16:33 Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take COURAGE; I have overcome the world.”

Isaiah 41: 10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anx-iously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Psalm 34: 4-5,8 I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces shall never be ashamed … O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Pastor Petie’s encouragement to you: Reading of the Word is always life to the spirit, soul and emotions of man. The Book of Ecclesiastes is great food for the triune parts of man. As you read it, you will find yourself in his sayings; you will pick up much wisdom, advice, and corrections. It is super awesome to hear from the gentle voice of Holy Spirit as His Word is read. Be encouraged! Jesus loves you.

I wonder sometimes what part of repentance applies to me personally. Do you ever think the same thing? What part of repentance applies to you personally? So, let’s look at the word REPENTANCE. “RE”-prefix. Again: back to an original place, condition, etc. Now, try to re-member the “RE” part for later on, and include condition of the soul: mind, will and emotions. Now for the rest of the word RE-PENT.

“PENT”: adjective. Confined, repressed, kept inside: not re-leased.

With the meaning of these words separated to reflect on, bringing them together helps us to know there are things in our minds that don’t line up with the Word of God. So, we must think about repenting. What do we have repressed in our minds that we don’t want to deal with? What has God asked us to do that we have repressed in our minds? And if we don’t think about it, hopefully the request will go away. Then we move on with life. And not doing what God has asked us to do. Is that part of the word meaning to not “release?” Maybe in unforgiveness, obedience to something, cheating, lying, etc.

Remember Jonah? He had been given an assignment by God. He at first refused to accept the assignment. But God had chosen Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah needed to repent. He needed to return to his original obedience [condition] of mind for God. But Jonah had pent up feelings for the people of Nineveh. That city was like Sodom. There was much evil in it. Jonah didn’t want to go; he had judged them in his own heart. But with all Jonah went through God was dealing with his heart. Jonah needed to repent of his judgment. God was working in both Jonah and the people in Nineveh.

Maybe there are things that God is dealing with us as individuals. Maybe He is wanting us to return to our loving, willing obedience to love and serve HIM. Also, do we have a bad attitude towards the sinners here in America? They, like the people of Nineveh, need to hear The Word of God for the opportunity to repent or God’s judgement will be upon them. I liked the outcome for the city. They fasted and they found favor with God. Because they REPENTED. Isn’t that incredible? The whole region REPENTED, because they heard the Word of God. What are we as individuals holding back in our minds? What is repressed in our soul that needs God’s Word? Let us absorb the Word and repent as needed.

And he said unto them, Go ye unto all the world, and reach the gospel to every creature . . . And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name . . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:15,17-18)

Let’s stop and analyze here: Which of the sick did Jesus say we were to lay hands on?

Jesus just said “the sick” ——— period.

Then, if God were the author of sickness — if God did put sickness and disease on people — if it were the will of God for some to be sick — this statement would be confusing. Because in it, Jesus authorized us to lay hands on ALL sick.

If God weren’t in the healing business, Jesus would have had to say something like, “lay you hands on those that it is the will of God to heal, and they shall recover. And those that it isn’t — they won’t recover.”

But, no! God set the Church against sickness — period!

Here is something to consider: God is not in the sickness business. God is in the delivering business. God is not in the bondage business. So, we should consider: refuse to allow the enemy to try to get you to accept sickness or bondage as being from God. Satan is the author of sickness. God has set me against sickness!

So, consider this in your thoughts: does fear over take your thoughts in this area? Please remember:

Casting every imagination down and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to obedience to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Vain imaginations start with a thought, and if you do not take that thought captive immediately, that thought forms a mental picture in your mind. Then you begin “seeing” your fears, anxieties and worries play over and over in your mind. Vain imaginations elicit terror, depression, discouragement, stress, anxiousness, worry and doubt — all of which originate from the enemy. WHOSE REPORT WILL YOU BELIEVE?

OVER COMING VAIN IMAGINATIONS begins with asking yourself, “Is that thought or image from God?” If you do not know, ask yourself, “Do I feel peace and can I find this in the Word of God?”

Consider this: Retrain your mind to believe the report of God’s Word. It will balance out your thoughts and keep you in line with your thinking positive about sickness, and other issues in your life.

By FAITH he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who was invisible.
(Hebrews 11:27)

As a believer there should come a time when you separate yourself from others’ way of thinking. You should consider being around those who think, act and do, and talk like you do.

Soon after building a relationship with Jesus, friends and family notice the difference and soon they will start to separate themselves from you. They get uncomfortable with your NEW you. Your language is different. Your actions, and reactions, are different. So, one or the other will need to separate in the relationship.

Don’t risk your spiritual life for unnecessary pleasures, un-necessary risk, or unnecessary gains. Learn to have SEPA-RATING FAITH. Stay strong in the faith that will keep you close in your relationship with Jesus.

Insist on being around someone who can speak positive words into your life. Stay away from the “negative-speaking Nellie’s”. The negative words will begin to drain you of your spiritual growth. They don’t understand your goal is to get closer to Jesus, therefore, their behavior doesn’t change. Then the conflicts of “different thinking” starts. Stay away from those going backwards. Pray for them to have a revelation of who Jesus is. Don’t take in their negative words that are contrary to God’s Word. Don’t compromise to please them. Stay firm to honor God with your faith.