Guard Rails
Rules to Judge By
How to stay on track
When driving down the highway it is always good to have guard rails. They can keep you from running off the road and doing serious injury to yourself and others.
RULES TO JUDGE BY
The basic rule to judge all things by is what God said in His Word. His Word is your guard rail. His Word will keep you on track if you follow it, follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, keeping your heart sensitive, pliable and correctable to the Lord.
Here are some foundational scriptures, guard rails, to keep you on track:
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Proverbs 23:7 - As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
- This lets you know that you have what you have because of how you think in your heart. Your heart is referencing your soul (when you look it up in Strong’s). And your mind is a part of your heart - soul. So how you think of yourself will show up in your life.
- Our "thoughts" are spoken of often in scripture: Romans 1:18-23 Futile in their thoughts and how they thought was a choice. How will you choose to think this day?
- Romans 12:3 don’t think more highly of yourself that you ought to.
- Matthew 9:4 you can entertain evil thoughts.
- 1 Corinthians 14:20 we can think childishly
- Pride is in thinking, 1 Corinthians 8:2; Matthew 6:7;
- We are to control our thoughts, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
- Proverbs 4:20-27 - the “gateways” to the heart: eyes, ear, mouth. If we are careful what enters them and what exits the mouth, we guard our heart. This will change our thoughts.
2. John 10:10 How to tell who is active in your life, satan or Jesus.
3. Always start - the beginning - all things with God and His Word - John 1:1-4.
4. Liberty: There is always Liberty with God, not heaviness or binding - Galatians 5:13 - We've been called to liberty, freedom.
Isaiah 61:1 & Luke 4:18-19 - Jesus came to set the captive free
James 1:25 - Liberty is a law of God, are you blessed in what you hear even if it’s heavy/intense word?
2 Corinthians 3:17 - Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Psalm 119:45 - We walk in liberty BECAUSE we seek His Word.
5. Is there Joy, that is where God’s presence is - Psalm 16:11; Nehemiah 8:10. When your joy gets attacked, and it will, get out your scriptures that speak about your joy in the Lord and shout praises to Him for what He has done for you. He is in you! He is your Strength. The Holy Spirit is your strengthener. John 15:11; Ezra 6:22 (The Lord has filled you with joy); Isaiah 9:3; 1 John 4:4; 5:4; Romans 8:31; Psalm 98:4; Psalm 5:11; Philippians 3:1; Isaiah 49:13; Isaiah 55:12; Psalm 105:43; Psalm 95:1; Acts 13:52; Psalm 48:2; Isaiah 35:10; Nehemiah 12:43; Isaiah 61:7.
6. The Holy Spirit confirms what you’re getting with “peace” - Romans 8:26-27; Colossians 3:15. God is the God of Peace 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20; Jesus said He has left His peace with us - John 14:27.
7. There is no condemnation with God - Romans 8:1-2. “Conviction” is not condemnation. Conviction is when the Holy Spirit is leading you to do something but you are either refusing to, or you did something you weren’t supposed to and the Holy Spirit is convicting/reproving you to stop - John 16:8
8. Don’t quarrel with each other regarding convictions - Romans 14:1-23. Sometimes convictions are personal. They are not always general for the entire Body of Christ. Like, if I am not supposed to eat dairy and I have a conviction about it I shouldn't argue with other believers because they do eat it. Some things the Holy Spirit gives you is personal, it's not necessarily for the Body of Christ. You know you're out of line if what you speak causes condemnation. (Romans 8:1.)
9. Does it bring fear, fear is not of God - Romans 8:15; 1 John 4:18;
2 Timothy 1:7
10. Is something “dominating” you - you can’t control it - 1 Corinthians 6:12. God never dominates. He always leaves it up to your free will.
11. Whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved - 2 Pet. 2:19
12. Does it come from Love, God is love - 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:7-8
13. God is not the author of confusion - 1 Corinthians 14:33
14. God does not tempt anyone - James 1:13 (12-15)
15. God, the Holy Spirit, Jesus ARE wisdom and revelation knowledge, you can’t be around them and not have it - Ephesians 1:17-18, He is the light of the world, you will have “light” on the subject - 1 John 1:5.
16. Dealing with rejection - just because you may be damaged goods doesn’t mean you’re worthless!! Because God says you are a new creature!! - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; 13:6-8. You ARE who God says you are! And God is in the business of healing broken hearts and spirits.