A Candy Ministry

.Insert from "A Candy for All Seasons ..by LisaMe!

Can be found online or ordered from any book store ..

Chapter 3.. Shared by LisaMe! .. 2/28/2022 .. To Give you Strength for this Seasons Battle (I am not good with format .. Press through .. ) Chapter 3 – March

The Battle is on! It’s not by might Not by power But by my Spirit says the Lord! So whose team are you on? Ever feel like you are on the wrong side. In this season we will take a closer look, you just may find you have been in the wrong battle, on the wrong side, or just being worn out by your own sin. Tug A War Did you ever play tug a war as a child; where you have two equal numbered teams. Each team grabs hold of the rope on opposite ends. Each team tugs hard on the rope until the stronger team pulls the weaker team over to their side. This is called tug a war it is a game that has been around for a long time. Although it may not have had an official name, and not considered a game, it has really been around longer than we realize. Let’s look at it in another way.

Tug A War Candy: Twizzlers, Bubble gum rope Twizzler stick or the bubble gum rope As you receive the message hold one end and every now and then pull on the other end so you can feel the struggle. If you use the Twizzler stick use the red ones and you can be reminded of the fact that it took Jesus Blood to cleanse us from our sins. Scriptures: Genesis 3 (Adam and Eve’s sin) Romans 8:1-39 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory, which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 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. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, satan was cast down to the earth and the battle between good and evil began. Adam and Eve being the first people to be deceived by satan causing them to sin. They crossed over the line. This was the first earthly tug a war the teams were not exactly equal. As we read through the bible we will find many more tug a war’s, which could also be referred to as spiritual warfare. We know who the enemy is so it seems like the battle would be a little easier. But unlike in a game where fairness is necessary, and rules are applied, satan does not play fair. The bible is also very clear about who wins the battle in the end, but not everyone reads the bible. And even when we do read the bible and we understand what the scriptures say we still sin. In John 3:11-16 Jesus said most assuredly, I say to you, we speak what we know and testify what we have seen, and you do not receive our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. So God clearly lays out the rules. And so the games begin. It is really played out in out hearts, the battle to do good and the fight against evil the tug a war in our hearts. We see that Jesus came to take away the sins of the world. He died so that we could live. He became our salvation in our weaknesses we are made strong. His death guarantees us eternal life, if we just believe in Him. He promises to win the game for us. He becomes our strength when have none. The bible tells us the battle belongs to the Lord. It is pride that insists on fighting the battle even thought he knows he cannot win it. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. Which brings us to the cross; we have a decision to make. Jesus also made a decision at the cross and that was to lay down His life for you. He died willing for your sins to give you eternal life. Will we believe in Jesus and follow Him or will we be deceived, and live a life of eternal damnation. Whose team do you want to be on? As for Me I will serve the Lord. There is only one God, only one Son and only one Holy Spirit. This is the winning team combination.

Let’s Pray: Father God, help us as we lean on you to pull us through. We cannot do it with our own strength. As we come to you with our weaknesses we know through your Son we will be made strong with the Word, which brings us the teachings of the gospel. We call upon your name now with the promise from you for everlasting life through your son Jesus Christ. In Jesus Name Amen! As you go forward in the Tug A War of life Call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved And experience “Life Changes”

Marching On What can I say I am a solider in the army of the Lord, I am not without battle wounds, and yes, I get tire, too. I even have wanted to stop the battle, if only I could. It is not that simple. The battle is not ours but belongs to the Lord; we are just to Trust in Him to show us the way. He will lighten our steps and win the battle for us in the most amazing ways. Here is just one story of how the Lord went before them in battle.

Marching On Candy: Any cookie with people on them to be used as the soldiers. Jelly Beans – To be used as stones as a reminder the Lord God parted the Jordan River. Bugle chips - To be used for the trumpets/rams horns; don’t forget to pretend to blow. Scriptures: Joshua Chapters 1-6 We can’t really leave any out because the preparation is just as important as the battle itself. We start off in Chapter 1 the change of command from Moses to Joshua, God’s commission to Joshua. Verse 6: Be strong and of good courage, for this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land, which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. The question I ask myself sometimes is; Am I strong? Am I full of courage? No I am not, without the Lord, I am nothing. I can do nothing without Him. Through this message my prayer is that you will learn how to win your battles. In chapter 2, we learn how to overcome obstacles. We also learn who the enemy is and what they are thinking. We meet Rahab, a harlot who actually helps Joshua's men who were sent in to spy to scope things out. She tells them what they want to know. She hides them and then in exchange asks to be saved when the battle is won, because she has heard of their God and His mighty Power. Wow! What a surprise to these men. It sure made their job as spies easy. They returned to Joshua to report the good news. What an encouragement to all of the men. In chapter 3, we find Joshua commands the men to "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you." They prepare to cross the Jordan River, which is at flood stage. The Lord pulls the river back so that they can cross on dry ground. They see a miracle right in front of them. No wonder they trust Joshua and have faith in him. If God did a Miracle would you trust Him, would you go where He prepared for you to go? In chapter 4, we find all the people having crossed the River Jordan. Again God spoke to Joshua telling him to take 12 men from the people, one man from every tribe, and commanded them saying, "Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.” Although we are using Jelly Beans for stones, the stones they picked up and carried were not little, they could not fit in a pocket. These stones were to be reminders to you of Israel forever. About 40 thousand prepared for war crossed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. This story would be told to the children of Israel over and over, generation after generation, so that they might know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, and they would fear the Lord their God. In Chapter 5, they are now ready for the final preparations for battle. The men were circumcised for battle and stayed in their places in the camp until they were healed. Joshua was visited by a Commander of the army of the Lord, who told him "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." In chapter 6, Joshua finally gets his orders from the Lord for battle to have his men march around the walls of the city. One time they were to do this for 6 days and on the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times, and the priest shall blow the trumpets. Get your bugle chips ready, but don’t blow until it is time. It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him." Can you imagine the surprise of these men when they had prepared for battle and now were told they would have to march around the city? They were told they could not speak just March, March, March, and then shout when they were commanded to shout. Wow! What an Awesome God! The men did march, and when they shouted, ‘you know what’ those walls came down. The battle was won, but not the way they supposed; but it was God's way, and it was, His battle. That is how it is with us. We have a battle to fight and we think we know how it will turn out. But, if we JUST TRUST God we may find ourselves winning the battle in a very different way; then the way we supposed. A very good friend of mine has reminded me recently to JUST TRUST. I am grateful that the Lord sends messengers to us, to help us to stay focused and to keep us on track, to stay on the path and just March, March, March! The battle is not ours; it is the Lords and is to be fought His way. We are just to be obedient. And you know what! Remember Rahab from chapter 2! Her family was saved, just like she was promised. God keeps His promises! God has also promised us He would save us in the battle of life. He sent His Son Jesus to die for us, for our sins and if we just ask Him like Rahab did, He will forgive us our sins and spare us. Just like Rahab, we have heard about the mighty power of the Lord and we know He is Lord above the heaven and on the earth beneath. His Great Love melts our hearts. Receive His mercy today; ask Him to come into your heart and march with Him into battle and be victorious.

Let’s Pray: Father God, be with all your soldiers who are marching around their circumstances today. Lead them into paths of righteousness. In Jesus Name Amen! Ok now is the time you have waited for Blow that horn! Give a great shout like the men who marched around Jericho Go ahead be brave Be a solider for the Lord March around your circumstances until the walls fall down God is the same yesterday, today and forever March forward into your blessings Calling upon the Name of the Lord Believe what He knows about you Your future belongs to Him Go ahead let the walls of your past Fall down

Stones Sin is sin yes this is true. Are you the one throwing stones are you having them thrown at you? Let’s take a look at how some stones were used in the bible from the Old Testaments to the New Testaments.

Stones Candy: 1 16oz of candied Jellybeans Divide the jellybeans into separate colors. Each color will represent a stone story in the bible. Once they are divided you should have 6 different colors to help you remember the stories. Yellow Jellybeans – Laws: Deuteronomy 4:13 Moses used a stone to chisel a tablet for the Lord God to write the Ten Commandments. They still apply to us today. How do the Ten Commandments affect your world? Can you list all ten? Orange Jellybeans – Weapon: I Samuel 17:50 David used a stone to kill the giant – Goliath. John 8:7 In the New Testament Jesus said to the crowd who had caught the woman in the act of sin, you who have no sin throw the first stone. Green Jellybeans – Boundaries: Deuteronomy 19:14, Joshua 4:20-24 In the Old Testament the Lord God said to use stones to set up boundaries: to remind them of where they had been. This still applies to us today. Things to think about: Is the grass greener on the other side? Why do we establish boundaries? Why are boundaries so important? Why aren’t our pets allowed to wander into the street? Dark Red Jellybeans – Jesus: II Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16 Mark 16:3 The Capstone, the corner stone, the stone that the builders rejected, the Messiah, in the New Testament we learn this is Jesus, who died for our sins. Light Pink Jellybeans – Heart of Flesh: Ezekiel 36:26 Heart of flesh Ezekiel 11:18 I will be your God: You will be called my people II Corinthians 3:3 written on our hearts Heart of Stone to be turned into a heart of flesh and then to be filled with His spirit Red Jellybeans – Temptation: satan: Luke 4:3 If you are the son of God take this stone and turn it into bread. Satan is looking to take your life, not to lay down his life for you, don’t be deceived; all stoned do not look alike. As you go through each color Jellybean be reminded the story of the stone, the colors of the jellybeans will help you to remember the story. Search your bible add to your lesson. How about this one: the stone that was rolled away, the living stone, I used this as a whole lesson in relationship to each stone story and how it is still living today because of Jesus, being our living stone. With our names written in the lambs’ book of life; Revelations 2:17 Try a white Jellybean (stone)

Let’s Pray: Father God; Lead us not into temptation, but into everlasting life. Show us your ways O’ Lord, show us your ways! Deliver us from evil In Jesus Name, amen!

This is really a neat experiment Hold up the dark red jellybean and then hold up the red Jellybean Can you see which one is Jesus and which one is satan/temptation The light red one is satan you can see through it when you look closely, he tries to deceive us in many ways. The deep dark red one is Jesus; he shed His blood for us, the dark red one shows solid in color and strength. Like Jesus we can trust Him in all He says and does.