As you continue to press towards God in Christ Jesus, you will continue to have to let people have their opinion of you change and not fight back. When we fight against those who call us out, we allow them to have a reason to hate us. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth", (Romans 8:33). When God uses us to move in the earth and people take an offense the worst thing we can do is fight back. When we fight back, we give the person and spirit controlling them a way out. See the fight that they are facing is with the Lord, not us!!! When we get in our feelings and lash back we become the one that they take offense to and not the Spirit of the Lord. Now, they will have offense with us, but our job is to insure that it is not because of anything we have said or done outside of the Will of our Father. The main argument they will have is, "Who has given you the authority to do the things you are doing or say the things you are saying? We have to respond just as our Savior did.
Matthew 21:
The Authority of Jesus Questioned
23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
24Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
27So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
The religious people of Jesus’ day are the same in this day and age. They have to challenge the messenger because they know they cannot challenge the source of the message!!! The reason why man will not accept the word of God that comes from His children is because they know if they acknowledge this word as being from God they must respond properly to it!!! People want to look righteous but not actually go through the process of sanctification. It will cost them more than they are willing to give up, so they must seek to attack and extinguish the messenger. By fighting back out of our flesh we give people the ability to turn the offense from the source of God, and rightly place it on us. When Jesus challenged the counsel of Jews and asked them why they never arrested Him in the open temple while he was teaching, the truth was because they had no charge. Even Pilate saw that there was no real charge laid to Jesus and tried to let him go numerous times. Be not worried or dismayed when they talk, for this is the call upon your life!!! Be the light in the midst of the darkness, the least amongst all, and your treasure will be great from the Father who sees your heart and your good works. Do not faint!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of enjoying the same persecutions as your Savior Jesus Christ did on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 13
A Prophet Without Honor
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”
58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Matthew 16
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Romans 8
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Soldiers of God
Ever ready for the Charge
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Let Them Talk!!! Volume 1, Issue 3
After getting over the hurt of friends and family rejecting your sanctification and rejecting you in relationship, you find refuge in the local church. You find welcomed arms and like minded people with hope and joy in their eyes. As you continue to go through your process, you will start to find even those who claim to be followers of Christ not so like minded. While we are all in the process of sanctification and will continue to be until our Savior returns or we take our last breath, there are some people that you will find have settled for something less than God and our Savior Jesus Christ. For those who struggle with earning their salvation and then those who struggle with keeping their salvation through human effort, you will battle with this "religious spirit" for the rest of your journey in Christ. When you have been set free by our Lord and Savior, you will come to find out that there is nothing you can do as far as a work in order to earn God's grace or to keep it upon your life. You learn that His Grace is a GIFT and that any attempts to earn it through works defeats the point of Christ dieing on the Cross. A saint's works are simply an assignment given from the God, to be accomplished in God's timing, through the Holy Spirit that resides in the saint, so that no man may boast!!!
So practically you will find that you will start to see people's actions differently and your own actions will start to be motivated out of a motive from God. You will start to discern when actions that people commit will come from a soulish place (out from a selfish motive) or from the Holy Spirit. People will then see your response to this discernment and start to once again separate from you. There are many reasons to justify separating from a saint that people use in the church. The Holy Spirit bares witness in a saint to everything that God is doing around them. The Spirit gives us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand the things of the Kingdom of Heaven. When you start to see things and hear things that others don't and you respond to them, the religious spirit seek to separate you from the rest of the sheep. We see in the scriptures that our Savior didn't have many issues coming from the gentiles (or the unsaved people in the world), they came from the people who he came to save, the Jews in the church. When the Spirit of God exposes the motives and darkness of the religious spirits, a separation must take place. In this country we experience a separation in relationship, being talked about with rumors being spread, and maybe even being asked to leave a church. In other countries people are still being beaten, publically humiliated, imprisoned, and put to death. As we continue to grow in Christ and He be revealed in us through His Holy Spirit, this is the cross we will bear. We will have to choose each day to let people talk, pray for them, love them, and continue to be a light!!! The joy of bearing the cross is that God will always have at least one saint in each season of your life running the race with you. You will find your comfort in Christ and the few companions that God has allowed to walk through this season with you. The whole point is that this process is not a foreign one to God's elect and you are not the only saint going through it right now!!! May this comfort you as you continue to press towards the mark of your high calling in Christ!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of enjoying the same persecutions as your Savior Jesus Christ did on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 13
A Prophet Without Honor
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”
58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Matthew 16
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Romans 8
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
So practically you will find that you will start to see people's actions differently and your own actions will start to be motivated out of a motive from God. You will start to discern when actions that people commit will come from a soulish place (out from a selfish motive) or from the Holy Spirit. People will then see your response to this discernment and start to once again separate from you. There are many reasons to justify separating from a saint that people use in the church. The Holy Spirit bares witness in a saint to everything that God is doing around them. The Spirit gives us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand the things of the Kingdom of Heaven. When you start to see things and hear things that others don't and you respond to them, the religious spirit seek to separate you from the rest of the sheep. We see in the scriptures that our Savior didn't have many issues coming from the gentiles (or the unsaved people in the world), they came from the people who he came to save, the Jews in the church. When the Spirit of God exposes the motives and darkness of the religious spirits, a separation must take place. In this country we experience a separation in relationship, being talked about with rumors being spread, and maybe even being asked to leave a church. In other countries people are still being beaten, publically humiliated, imprisoned, and put to death. As we continue to grow in Christ and He be revealed in us through His Holy Spirit, this is the cross we will bear. We will have to choose each day to let people talk, pray for them, love them, and continue to be a light!!! The joy of bearing the cross is that God will always have at least one saint in each season of your life running the race with you. You will find your comfort in Christ and the few companions that God has allowed to walk through this season with you. The whole point is that this process is not a foreign one to God's elect and you are not the only saint going through it right now!!! May this comfort you as you continue to press towards the mark of your high calling in Christ!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of enjoying the same persecutions as your Savior Jesus Christ did on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 13
A Prophet Without Honor
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”
58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Matthew 16
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Romans 8
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Let Them Talk!!! Volume 1, Issue 2
"A Prophet without Honor". The hardest thing for a Christian to face is the response they receive from the people closest to them. There is a crazy phenomena that occurs when someone comes to Christ. When you first give your life to Christ, everyone in your family and most of your friends are very happy for you and proud of you. Then after a while, the more you become like Christ through the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, those same people start to find "ought" with your ways and lifestyle change. They can not be blamed for this, once again. Living in a society where the word "Christian" has no meaning, should take a lot of the blame. The enemy has done an excellent job over the last 2,000 years of defaming Christianity and robbing Christians of their power in Christ. The term "Christianity" is now in the same grouping with the word "Gentleman" as C. S. Lewis describes in his book "Mere Christianity". Lewis points out that the word gentleman has lost it's original meaning, it was originally used to describe a man who owned land and had wealth. So to say that this man was a gentleman was a statement of fact. Over the years we took the way in which these men behaved and carried themselves and changed the meaning of the word to become a behavioral status, not a statement of fact. In the first century a Christians was a person who followed and lived out the teachings of Jesus Christ. It was a statement of fact! Now we say that someone must be Christian based on the way that they behave. Most Christians in our society today, don't know the teachings of Jesus Christ. If they do they have learned them without the process of regeneration (being born again) but simply through classroom study and sermon hearing alone. This Christian is described below:
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
This all means when someone actually gives their life to Christ and becomes sealed with the Holy Spirit, their life truly changes. They walk and talk with an authority that is not their own. Through the process of sanctification, justification, and glorification this person now resembles more of his Savior Jesus Christ than him/herself. They now become a Christian by statement of fact and not by behavior because most "christians" today behave like people that are portrayed in movies, television, and what they see in their churches. People will no longer be comfortable around you because you are now an alien; "I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother’s children", (Psalm 69:8). Christ came into the world and the world did not recognize Him, so if He truly dwells in you, will those around you really recognize you??? When family and friends start to talk about you being different or judgemental, count it not against them!!! People took the same offense when Jesus Christ!!! Let them talk, continue to pray for them and be a light in the midst!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of enjoying the same persecutions as your Savior Jesus Christ did on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 13
A Prophet Without Honor
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”
58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Matthew 16
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Romans 8
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
This all means when someone actually gives their life to Christ and becomes sealed with the Holy Spirit, their life truly changes. They walk and talk with an authority that is not their own. Through the process of sanctification, justification, and glorification this person now resembles more of his Savior Jesus Christ than him/herself. They now become a Christian by statement of fact and not by behavior because most "christians" today behave like people that are portrayed in movies, television, and what they see in their churches. People will no longer be comfortable around you because you are now an alien; "I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother’s children", (Psalm 69:8). Christ came into the world and the world did not recognize Him, so if He truly dwells in you, will those around you really recognize you??? When family and friends start to talk about you being different or judgemental, count it not against them!!! People took the same offense when Jesus Christ!!! Let them talk, continue to pray for them and be a light in the midst!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of enjoying the same persecutions as your Savior Jesus Christ did on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 13
A Prophet Without Honor
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”
58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Matthew 16
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Romans 8
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Let Them Talk!!! Volume 1, Issue 1
There will be people who will talk about you being many things in this life and a "child of God", will definitely not make the list. As Jesus shows us in His Word below, people always got an idea of who you are, but they don't have the complete story unless they themselves have the same spirit. Jesus faced many persecutions that most of us will not face in this life, but the most common one that most, to all Christians, will face is the talking that takes place by others and the spreading of rumors due to one's choice to follow their Lord and Savior!!! If this has not already happen to you yet, just give it time!!! If you are walking with Christ you will be walking against the will of the majority around you and your light will start to expose the darkness around you in others. The following scripture is usually a good temperature gage to see if you are in the center of God's Will or not; "Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets", (Luke 6:26). If everyone is saying great things about you and you have no problem with the people around you with your Faith in Jesus Christ something is WRONG!!! While this brings hurt to many of God's children, it also should bring assurance that we are walking on the correct path which is narrow. Today, let the bitterness of those who persecute you go and bask in the presense of your your Lord and Savior and continue to wait on Him who will renew your strength!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of enjoying the same persecutions as your Savior Jesus Christ did on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 13
A Prophet Without Honor
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”
58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Matthew 16
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Romans 8
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Matthew 13
A Prophet Without Honor
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”
58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Matthew 16
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Romans 8
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
First Love Volume 1, Issue 3
Honoring our first love becomes more and more difficult the longer we live. The warfare we face becomes more and more subtle the longer we find ourselves in this relationship. The enemy continues to infiltrate our affections for God and redirect them to something a little less. We have to keep a vigilant watch over our affections to ensure that they are always pointed at the creator and not a creation. Facing distractions of the world may be easy to spot, but what about the distractions of our heart. A precise tool to be used in measuring the balance of our affections is the conviction of our consciousness. The Lord speaks to our hearts everyday. Whether we choose to listen to His voice is totally up to our free will. When we hear Him say, you haven't open your bible in a while or you haven't spent time talking with me lately, that is the actual God of the Universe specifically using His Holy Spirit to align your affections back to Him. Remember these words; “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple", (Luke 14:26).
There is a cost to following Christ and when we first began this journey it was easy to give up everything and follow Him. Now after we have accomplished living more years and acquiring more things (even those we believe came from God), it becomes a lot harder to hear those same words. God never wants us to hate our families, spouses, children, and co-workers. He does want us to Love Him more!!! "He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother”, (Matthew 12:48-50). There is nothing wrong with hobbies and liking nice things, they only become an issue when they are enjoyed more than being in the presence of our Lord and Savior and doing His Will. The hardest thing to put into check is our work for the Lord. Certainly our call to perform a work cannot be questioned by the Lord, could it? "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven”, (Luke 10:17-20). Even our "good works" cannot take precedence over our personal relationship with God. God has to be the greatest receiver of our affection. Put everything else in it's proper priority after Him, and you will find that you and your First Love will be more intimate than ever!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of enjoying your First Love on purpose!!!!!
Revelation 2
To the Church in Ephesus
1 “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
There is a cost to following Christ and when we first began this journey it was easy to give up everything and follow Him. Now after we have accomplished living more years and acquiring more things (even those we believe came from God), it becomes a lot harder to hear those same words. God never wants us to hate our families, spouses, children, and co-workers. He does want us to Love Him more!!! "He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother”, (Matthew 12:48-50). There is nothing wrong with hobbies and liking nice things, they only become an issue when they are enjoyed more than being in the presence of our Lord and Savior and doing His Will. The hardest thing to put into check is our work for the Lord. Certainly our call to perform a work cannot be questioned by the Lord, could it? "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven”, (Luke 10:17-20). Even our "good works" cannot take precedence over our personal relationship with God. God has to be the greatest receiver of our affection. Put everything else in it's proper priority after Him, and you will find that you and your First Love will be more intimate than ever!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of enjoying your First Love on purpose!!!!!
Revelation 2
To the Church in Ephesus
1 “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
First Love Volume 1, Issue 2
"Whatever you did to get her; you have to keep on doing, to keep her"!!! This was great advice that I received on my wedding video from a very wise woman. Many times in our pursuits of love once we feel like we have "obtained" our goal, we get complacent and stop doing all the things we once did. Our actions change considerably and we expect the other person to keep up the actions that they once performed. Upon receiving this advice I took away that character is everything. Who we are before in our pursuit of love must be consistent in our continuation of that love. Marriage to ones spouse is much like the relationship we have with God. First, if we are really smart, we realize early in the relationship that there is truly nothing we can do to make our partner love us. Their love comes from a free will. Second, we can learn what language of love they enjoy and the things in which produces happiness inside of them. Third, we can allow their influence in our lives to balance us and change us for the better. The number one key to success in a marriage though is not to keep up the same actions (just like our pallet changes in what we like to eat as we get older, so can your partner's love language/actions change), what must stay the same, is your motive for loving them. It must be pure in that we love them at a sacrifice of ourself for the benefit of them. All motives of ones heart will eventually be revealed in one's words and actions!!!
Mankind's greatest battle is always to release oneself from the idea that we can earn anything from or accomplish anything for God. The enemy knows if he can get us wrapped around trying to earn our salvation or keep our salvation then we will be outside of the Will of God. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast", (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our own pursuit of "getting right/staying right" with God will become our graven Idle. What brought us to the saving knowledge and acceptance of Jesus Christ was the realization that we could not earn our own salvation. We accepted Christ based on our self awareness of our sickness and the fact that He was the only Physician who could heal us. "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”", (Mark 2:17). Our first love was produced out of our humility and seeing one greater than ourselves. Our love for God and life long journey with Him, has to come from a pure motivation of humility and reverence. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God", (Matthew 5:8). It is never about judging actions with God, it is the HEART, that is what He always judges!!! "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart", (Hebrews 4:12). Coming back to our First Love, is repenting from our pride and once again putting God in His proper place as Creator and God of Grace!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of enjoying your First Love on purpose!!!!!
Revelation 2
To the Church in Ephesus
1 “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Mankind's greatest battle is always to release oneself from the idea that we can earn anything from or accomplish anything for God. The enemy knows if he can get us wrapped around trying to earn our salvation or keep our salvation then we will be outside of the Will of God. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast", (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our own pursuit of "getting right/staying right" with God will become our graven Idle. What brought us to the saving knowledge and acceptance of Jesus Christ was the realization that we could not earn our own salvation. We accepted Christ based on our self awareness of our sickness and the fact that He was the only Physician who could heal us. "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”", (Mark 2:17). Our first love was produced out of our humility and seeing one greater than ourselves. Our love for God and life long journey with Him, has to come from a pure motivation of humility and reverence. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God", (Matthew 5:8). It is never about judging actions with God, it is the HEART, that is what He always judges!!! "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart", (Hebrews 4:12). Coming back to our First Love, is repenting from our pride and once again putting God in His proper place as Creator and God of Grace!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of enjoying your First Love on purpose!!!!!
Revelation 2
To the Church in Ephesus
1 “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Monday, September 12, 2011
First Love Volume 1, Issue 1
Circumstances of life affect us all in many different ways. Difficult circumstances may produce anger, fear, sadness, discontentment and bitterness. Positive circumstances may produce pride. The enemy we have in this life has a great way of taking our focus off of our Savior and placing them on the circumstances of life. We are all able to be drawn away as many sheep are from the flock and the Shepherd. Our great Shepherd has an unconditional Love that allows us to always turn back and acknowledge Him. He never left us because He cannot go against His Word; "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”, (Hebrews 13:5).
We turn from our Shepherd and go after the desires of our heart. Every temptation is a desire that the enemy already knows you have in your heart and exploits it to create ways to draw you form your First Love. "O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open", (2 Corinthians 6:11-13). Dealing with the desires of our hearts is one of the best ways to keep from being tempted by the enemy. By setting our affections on God and His Word, you will be able to fight a good fight that keeps you centered in God. Setting your affections means to set your Joy in knowing God more intimately through reading His Word, conversing with Him regularly, and reflecting on the truths of God within the community God has set around you. Have a conversation with the Father, He hears, He cares, and most important He wants to talk with you. Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of enjoying your First Love on purpose!!!!!
Revelation 2
To the Church in Ephesus
1 “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
We turn from our Shepherd and go after the desires of our heart. Every temptation is a desire that the enemy already knows you have in your heart and exploits it to create ways to draw you form your First Love. "O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open", (2 Corinthians 6:11-13). Dealing with the desires of our hearts is one of the best ways to keep from being tempted by the enemy. By setting our affections on God and His Word, you will be able to fight a good fight that keeps you centered in God. Setting your affections means to set your Joy in knowing God more intimately through reading His Word, conversing with Him regularly, and reflecting on the truths of God within the community God has set around you. Have a conversation with the Father, He hears, He cares, and most important He wants to talk with you. Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of enjoying your First Love on purpose!!!!!
Revelation 2
To the Church in Ephesus
1 “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Be Still Volume 1, Issue 3
Fighting the good fight can drain a saint of everything that they have if they are not being still. We know that we fight not with flesh and blood. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms", (Ephesians 6:12). But, sometimes we forget that the fight is not ours, but the Lords!!!
"Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still”", (Exodus 14:13-14).
"You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you", (2 Chronicles 20:17).
“The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the LORD your God", (Joshua 23:9-11)
"Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” (Nehemiah 4:20)
"Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me", (Psalm 144:1-2)
"Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together." (Isaiah 31:3)
"And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee." (Joshua 1:19)
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:12)
As we can see from the beginning, God has been fighting for and through His Children. If He did it then would He not still be doing it today? As the scriptures state in our age we might not fight and lose our life but our fight is one of Faith. We know that our faith is found in Christ and if He is for us, who can stand against us!!! We must position ourselves and stand still, then let the Holy Spirit fight through us!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of being still before the Lord on purpose!!!!!
Psalm 131
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 LORD, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.
2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever.
Zechariah 2
10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD. 11 “Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. 12 The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
"Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still”", (Exodus 14:13-14).
"You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you", (2 Chronicles 20:17).
“The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the LORD your God", (Joshua 23:9-11)
"Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” (Nehemiah 4:20)
"Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me", (Psalm 144:1-2)
"Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together." (Isaiah 31:3)
"And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee." (Joshua 1:19)
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:12)
As we can see from the beginning, God has been fighting for and through His Children. If He did it then would He not still be doing it today? As the scriptures state in our age we might not fight and lose our life but our fight is one of Faith. We know that our faith is found in Christ and if He is for us, who can stand against us!!! We must position ourselves and stand still, then let the Holy Spirit fight through us!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of being still before the Lord on purpose!!!!!
Psalm 131
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 LORD, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.
2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever.
Zechariah 2
10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD. 11 “Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. 12 The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Be Still Volume 1, Issue 2
One of the biggest and most frequent hiccups we face as we journey with the Lord is our straying from His path. Sitting still in His presence gives us the opportunity to understand instruction upon which He specifically has for our lives. The word "still" as an adjective means to remain in place or at rest; motionless; or stationary; free from sound or noise, as a place or persons; silent, which we spoke about yesterday. Today, we will look at the use of "still" as an adverb which means in the future as in the past. We stray from our path because we either stop trusting in God's Word or we soon forget what He once Spoke to us. David said, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand", (Psalm 16:11). "You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way", (Psalm 18:36). Walking the path that God created for you, must "still" be your heart motivation.
We see examples in scripture when our brothers turned from their path because of circumstances or due to unbelief. "“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”", (Matthew 14:29-30). There are many times on our journey where God gives us a command and we start in obedience, then while on that journey our circumstances start to change or because we feel like it is taking more time than what we would like, we start to stray away from the path. We soon forget that God is "still" in control. We have to have a faith that reminds us to be "still" on that path until God sends a message to move. If we are not seeing the results we desire or the changes that we want to come to past, that doesn't mean that God is not at work or that you should change the path He put you on. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts", (Isaiah 55:9). If the reason we want to stray from the path is because of fear, then we already know that that is not of God. We have to understand that life is not a sprint; it is a marathon. God is never in a rush to do anything!!! To be in a rush means to have an exterior force of pressure pushed upon you which produces a time restraint, God is outside of any time restraint!!! There is no Authority greater than God!!! God said through Jeremiah; "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future", (Jeremiah 29:11). The question we have to ask ourselves, "Is God, still saying that to me today"? Today, still follow the path God has for you and believe with all your heart that "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", (Philippians 1:6)!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of being still before the Lord on purpose!!!!!
Psalm 131
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 LORD, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.
2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever.
Zechariah 2
10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD. 11 “Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. 12 The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
We see examples in scripture when our brothers turned from their path because of circumstances or due to unbelief. "“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”", (Matthew 14:29-30). There are many times on our journey where God gives us a command and we start in obedience, then while on that journey our circumstances start to change or because we feel like it is taking more time than what we would like, we start to stray away from the path. We soon forget that God is "still" in control. We have to have a faith that reminds us to be "still" on that path until God sends a message to move. If we are not seeing the results we desire or the changes that we want to come to past, that doesn't mean that God is not at work or that you should change the path He put you on. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts", (Isaiah 55:9). If the reason we want to stray from the path is because of fear, then we already know that that is not of God. We have to understand that life is not a sprint; it is a marathon. God is never in a rush to do anything!!! To be in a rush means to have an exterior force of pressure pushed upon you which produces a time restraint, God is outside of any time restraint!!! There is no Authority greater than God!!! God said through Jeremiah; "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future", (Jeremiah 29:11). The question we have to ask ourselves, "Is God, still saying that to me today"? Today, still follow the path God has for you and believe with all your heart that "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", (Philippians 1:6)!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of being still before the Lord on purpose!!!!!
Psalm 131
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 LORD, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.
2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever.
Zechariah 2
10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD. 11 “Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. 12 The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
Monday, July 25, 2011
Be Still Volume 1, Issue 1
In our society today, it is ever becoming harder and harder to just sit still. Technology has created such an ability to watch and listen to whatever we want, whenever we want from a device that rests in our pocket. The time that we may once had in years past to be still and meditate on the word of the Lord or to just be still in His presence is being disturbed by the influence of technology. While technology has allowed us to be connected to great literature and lectures of God that we would have in other generations not been able to connect with, there is still a great need to sit in front of our Lord and Savior. Sitting and being still in front of our Lord and Savior allows us the benefit to listen to His heart on so many matters that we would otherwise miss. Having no external stimuli to distract us from our thoughts and the meditations of our hearts is a hard place to be.
When our relationship with Him becomes centered in knowing Him in intimacy, we gain such a wisdom and love that cannot be produced in our natural selves. It definitely costs a great deal to sit in front of our Lord, but the reward is greater than we can ever imagine. Standing still before the pure light which is our Lord and Savior exposes the depths of our hearts and minds. Nothing is shielded and we take a sober look at who we are and the impact of Grace and Mercy that was given us. When we sit in front of Him and make Him our high priority, we find that there is always another level that He is calling us to in the sanctification process. In any relationship you have on this earth, if there is not a regular occurrence of face to face time, the relationship is in serious lack. It lacks communication, intimacy, honesty, trust, safety, and love. We must turn off the T.V., shut down the laptops, ipods, mp3 players, notebooks, tablets, and smart phones!!! Today, resolve to spend some face to face time with our Lord and Savior, His schedule is always open, will you make the time for Him? Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of being still before the Lord on purpose!!!!!
Psalm 131
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 LORD, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.
2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever.
Zechariah 2
10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD. 11 “Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. 12 The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
When our relationship with Him becomes centered in knowing Him in intimacy, we gain such a wisdom and love that cannot be produced in our natural selves. It definitely costs a great deal to sit in front of our Lord, but the reward is greater than we can ever imagine. Standing still before the pure light which is our Lord and Savior exposes the depths of our hearts and minds. Nothing is shielded and we take a sober look at who we are and the impact of Grace and Mercy that was given us. When we sit in front of Him and make Him our high priority, we find that there is always another level that He is calling us to in the sanctification process. In any relationship you have on this earth, if there is not a regular occurrence of face to face time, the relationship is in serious lack. It lacks communication, intimacy, honesty, trust, safety, and love. We must turn off the T.V., shut down the laptops, ipods, mp3 players, notebooks, tablets, and smart phones!!! Today, resolve to spend some face to face time with our Lord and Savior, His schedule is always open, will you make the time for Him? Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of being still before the Lord on purpose!!!!!
Psalm 131
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 LORD, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.
2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever.
Zechariah 2
10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD. 11 “Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. 12 The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
Thursday, July 14, 2011
No Condemnation Volume 1, Issue 4
Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, my soul.
Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing no condemnation on purpose!!!!!
Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Of David.
1 Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, my soul.
Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing no condemnation on purpose!!!!!
Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
No Condemnation Volume 1, Issue 3
When we are discerning the voice of God in our hearts, we must check the fruit of the voice. The fruit of the voice will bear witness by our own Spirit dwelling inside of us. Does this voice lead me to repentance or to a deep depression? Is this voice tearing me down to build me back up again, or to destroy me? Am I being forgiven of past sins as I confess them with my mouth or am I constantly being reminded of my past sins and failures? Is the voice telling me what I can become or is it telling me what I used to be? Does the voice talk about me being a "new creation" or "just human"? Does the voice lead me to obedience to God's word or to disobedience? As we ask these questions we should see the fruit of the voice that we are hearing in our heart and our head. Always remember, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love", (1 John 4:8).
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails", (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a). Along with the host of attributes that our God has which includes but not limited to; Holy, Sovereign, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Just, Merciful, Graceful, Infinitude, Self-Existent, and Self-Sufficient is Love. If that voice that speaks does not hold up to the definition of Love given in first Corinthians, rebuke it in the name of Jesus Christ!!! That voice has to come from the one who does not know Love which is the evil one!!! The biggest discerning factor of weather the voice is from the Spirit of your Heavenly Father or from the evil one is FEAR. If the voice invokes fear then it is from the evil one and not from God. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love", (1 John 4:18). Today, discern the voice of your Father and rebuke the voice of condemnation from the enemy!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing no condemnation on purpose!!!!!
Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails", (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a). Along with the host of attributes that our God has which includes but not limited to; Holy, Sovereign, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Just, Merciful, Graceful, Infinitude, Self-Existent, and Self-Sufficient is Love. If that voice that speaks does not hold up to the definition of Love given in first Corinthians, rebuke it in the name of Jesus Christ!!! That voice has to come from the one who does not know Love which is the evil one!!! The biggest discerning factor of weather the voice is from the Spirit of your Heavenly Father or from the evil one is FEAR. If the voice invokes fear then it is from the evil one and not from God. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love", (1 John 4:18). Today, discern the voice of your Father and rebuke the voice of condemnation from the enemy!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing no condemnation on purpose!!!!!
Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
No Condemnation Volume 1, Issue 2
If therefore there is no condemnation to those that believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, why do we feel so bad when we sin? There is a major difference between condemnation and Godly sorrow. We all should fell a Godly sorrow when dealing with an issue of sin, the result of that conviction should lead us to repentance. When a brother or sister in Christ is used to bring admonishment and correction, it is to turn us back to the path of God from where we strayed. It is to build us back up and encourage us to keep running our race. "Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death", (2 Corinthians 7:8-10). Okay, so if sorrow comes by the Spirit of God which leads me to repent and be built up and encouraged, why do I feel like I deserve hell and God hates me?
That is condemnation which is a tactic of the enemy who wants to destroy the light of Christ in you!!! He knows he cannot take your salvation, "once saved, always saved". If he can keep you in a place of condemnation for sins committed then he can keep you from moving forward in what God has created you to become. "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time”, (Revelation 12:9-12). Only the devil tells us that God hates us and wants nothing to due with us based off of our lack of performance. God was not interested in our performance for salvation, while He does want you to pursue holiness, His plan is that it can only be obtained by submitting to the Holy Spirit and pursuing His Son Jesus Christ. We have to continue to consume the scriptures so that deep down inside of our hearts we will have the truth of God's word to defend against the attacks of the enemy. "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world", (1 John 2:1-2). God reconciled us by the blood of His Son because He wants nothing more than to have an intimate and life long love relationship with His children!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing no condemnation on purpose!!!!!
Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
That is condemnation which is a tactic of the enemy who wants to destroy the light of Christ in you!!! He knows he cannot take your salvation, "once saved, always saved". If he can keep you in a place of condemnation for sins committed then he can keep you from moving forward in what God has created you to become. "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time”, (Revelation 12:9-12). Only the devil tells us that God hates us and wants nothing to due with us based off of our lack of performance. God was not interested in our performance for salvation, while He does want you to pursue holiness, His plan is that it can only be obtained by submitting to the Holy Spirit and pursuing His Son Jesus Christ. We have to continue to consume the scriptures so that deep down inside of our hearts we will have the truth of God's word to defend against the attacks of the enemy. "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world", (1 John 2:1-2). God reconciled us by the blood of His Son because He wants nothing more than to have an intimate and life long love relationship with His children!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing no condemnation on purpose!!!!!
Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Monday, July 11, 2011
No Condemnation Volume 1, Issue 1
Condemnation is defined as the state of being condemned. Condemn is defined as to pronounce to be guilty; sentence to punishment: to condemn a murderer to life of imprisonment. Before coming to Jesus Christ and accepting Him as our Lord and Savior we were all condemned to an eternity of punishment. "He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned", (Mark 16:15-16). Therefore, as we accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ that was preached to use, we were redeemed from the punishment awaiting us for eternity. "He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned", (Galatians 3:13-14). Now we have to reckon God's Word to be truth by faith, that we will in no way suffer a life of eternal damnation based on the completed work of Jesus Christ. Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing no condemnation on purpose!!!!!
Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Spirit, Body, Soul Volume 1, Issue 3
If the war we face is between our flesh and our spirit, which will win? Well, the final answer to this question was answered by Jesus Christ's death on the cross!!! Every child of God will enjoy the ultimate victory of having their body pass away and receiving a new body that will connect with our spirit in Heaven. "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands", (2 Corinthians 5:1). So, if we know that we will ultimately win the war, why fight the battles? Because God calls us to live out our lives in a certain way. To a disciple of Christ, living out this life in the way and manner of Christ's example is just as important as getting into Heaven. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly", (John 10:10). Our Good Shepherd did not lay down His life just so we can be destroyed in this life by sin and the enemy. Jesus died so that not only will we have life everlasting with our Heavenly father, but so that our lives will testify of His glory as we live a life of conquering sin and preaching salvation through the gospel of Jesus Christ!!!
This is accomplished by a simple principle that was explained to me a long time ago. It is a simple principle but hard to keep in practice. The principle is best illustrated by this story. An old man had two dogs, a black one and a white one. One day a child comes to him and asks him, "Sir, if you were to allow your two dogs to fight, which one do you think would win"? The old man responds; "the one I feed the most". We have two dogs in this fight, the spirit and the flesh. Now as we first come to God, we have to realize that up until that point the only dog that had been feed was the flesh. Once we gain our spirit, the flesh takes a mighty blow but it doesn't go away. At that point the flesh is still stronger than the spirit because it has had years of eating. Following the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ feeds the Spirit. It is not just enough to feed the spirit but we also have to starve the flesh. Cutting out some music, entertainment, friendships, relationships, and habits that fuel our flesh are necessary in building up the spirit and starving the flesh. See we can't feed both the spirit and the flesh because God's word says; "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth", (Revelation 3:15-16). We must hate what is evil and love what is good!!! Feeding our spirits daily will afford us a solid ground to stand against the enemy. Remember that our lives are not our own anymore, they were paid for by Christ and therefore we are His property!!! Christ gave us two commandments and they can only be fulfilled through the spirit!!! "Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself", (Matthew 22:38-39). Today, starve your flesh and feed your spirit, so that your Father may see your love for Him and your neighbors!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing Spirit, Body, and Soul on purpose!!!!!
2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
This is accomplished by a simple principle that was explained to me a long time ago. It is a simple principle but hard to keep in practice. The principle is best illustrated by this story. An old man had two dogs, a black one and a white one. One day a child comes to him and asks him, "Sir, if you were to allow your two dogs to fight, which one do you think would win"? The old man responds; "the one I feed the most". We have two dogs in this fight, the spirit and the flesh. Now as we first come to God, we have to realize that up until that point the only dog that had been feed was the flesh. Once we gain our spirit, the flesh takes a mighty blow but it doesn't go away. At that point the flesh is still stronger than the spirit because it has had years of eating. Following the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ feeds the Spirit. It is not just enough to feed the spirit but we also have to starve the flesh. Cutting out some music, entertainment, friendships, relationships, and habits that fuel our flesh are necessary in building up the spirit and starving the flesh. See we can't feed both the spirit and the flesh because God's word says; "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth", (Revelation 3:15-16). We must hate what is evil and love what is good!!! Feeding our spirits daily will afford us a solid ground to stand against the enemy. Remember that our lives are not our own anymore, they were paid for by Christ and therefore we are His property!!! Christ gave us two commandments and they can only be fulfilled through the spirit!!! "Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself", (Matthew 22:38-39). Today, starve your flesh and feed your spirit, so that your Father may see your love for Him and your neighbors!!! Be encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing Spirit, Body, and Soul on purpose!!!!!
2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Spirit, Body, Soul Volume 1, Issue 2
"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies", (John 8:44). This stern rebuke spoken by Jesus Christ to the unbelieving Jews of His day, still holds fast to this unbelieving world 2,000 years later. The father of this world is Satan and as Jesus stated the father of lies. When Satan got Adam and Eve to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, it opened their mind to the ability to reckon for themselves what is good and what is evil. Satan being the wisest angel to ever be created knew that once they had the ability to think for themselves, he could separate them from their creator were he could then perverse their hearts and minds.
The issue fallen man faces today is the lie that the warfare they face inside is between their body and their mind, in the 'Mind, Body, Soul" model. The true warfare is between the Body and the Spirit!!! They understand that their body wants to do things they ought not to do and so they use their minds to judge what is right and fair. When they perform what is right and fair according to their minds then some believe that they are right with God. While others may also believe that they do not need God because they can do "good" by themselves. See the body was never suppose to be battling with the mind, in the "Spirit, Body, Soul" model. The body was to be just obedient to the Spirit. When we substitute the standard God has set in the Spirit for what we conceive to be just in our minds, we settle for something all together less. When we try to judge the actions of God, we do so with an imperfect ability. Those in the seat of judgment has to be wiser than those being judged and we are not according to His Word. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts", (Isaiah 55:9). This understanding should open our eyes to a couple of things. One we gain a better understanding in the ways in which our enemy attacks us. It is through the thoughts that are exalted to our minds, from our evil hearts, which we place above the truth of God's word. We also gain a more sympathetic understanding of fallen mankind and why it is so hard for them to accept the gospel of Christ.
Satan gets us to fall in the same way that Eve fell and in the same way that he tempted Jesus. "For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world", (1 John 2:16). When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh) and pleasing to the eye (lust of the eye), and also desirable for gaining wisdom (pride of life), she took some and ate it", (Genesis 3:6). "The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread" (lust of the flesh), (Matthew 4:3). "If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down" (pride of life), (Matthew 4:6). “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me" (lust of the eye), (Matthew 4:9). Jesus escaped every temptation with the written word of God. Today, use the word of God to continue to fight off every thought that exalts itself above the truth of God's Word!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing Spirit, Body, and Soul on purpose!!!!!
2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
The issue fallen man faces today is the lie that the warfare they face inside is between their body and their mind, in the 'Mind, Body, Soul" model. The true warfare is between the Body and the Spirit!!! They understand that their body wants to do things they ought not to do and so they use their minds to judge what is right and fair. When they perform what is right and fair according to their minds then some believe that they are right with God. While others may also believe that they do not need God because they can do "good" by themselves. See the body was never suppose to be battling with the mind, in the "Spirit, Body, Soul" model. The body was to be just obedient to the Spirit. When we substitute the standard God has set in the Spirit for what we conceive to be just in our minds, we settle for something all together less. When we try to judge the actions of God, we do so with an imperfect ability. Those in the seat of judgment has to be wiser than those being judged and we are not according to His Word. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts", (Isaiah 55:9). This understanding should open our eyes to a couple of things. One we gain a better understanding in the ways in which our enemy attacks us. It is through the thoughts that are exalted to our minds, from our evil hearts, which we place above the truth of God's word. We also gain a more sympathetic understanding of fallen mankind and why it is so hard for them to accept the gospel of Christ.
Satan gets us to fall in the same way that Eve fell and in the same way that he tempted Jesus. "For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world", (1 John 2:16). When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh) and pleasing to the eye (lust of the eye), and also desirable for gaining wisdom (pride of life), she took some and ate it", (Genesis 3:6). "The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread" (lust of the flesh), (Matthew 4:3). "If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down" (pride of life), (Matthew 4:6). “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me" (lust of the eye), (Matthew 4:9). Jesus escaped every temptation with the written word of God. Today, use the word of God to continue to fight off every thought that exalts itself above the truth of God's Word!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing Spirit, Body, and Soul on purpose!!!!!
2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Spirit, Body, Soul Volume 1, Issue 1
When God created man, He created Him in a three fold being made up of Spirit, Body, and Soul. This three fold being would reflect the likeness and image of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The spirit was to connect man with God, the body was to operate in the earth as this was what we were made from, and the soul was created so that we would have free will so that we could choose to love God. True Love can only take place out of free will, that is why there is no such thing as "I can't help who I fall in love with"!!! When God talked with Adam and had Him name every creature on the face of the earth, it was because Adam had a spirit that could be in fellowship with God. "Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being", (Genesis 2:7). The "breath of life", was the spirit of God, ("of" meaning "out from"). When Adam ate the fruit and became aware of his nakedness, God said that he could not live for eternity with this awareness of "good and evil". When God told Adam "You will surely die", it meant that the source that allowed fellowship with God would surely be taken. Sin entered into Adam and the Holiness of God cannot have fellowship with sin. Eternal life with God would surely be taken. Death of the physical body would be established. Remember, God is Spirit, that is why it is written; "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth", (John 4:24). Only the Holy Spirit can give us the power to worship in Spirit and truth, because He is the Spirit of truth inside of us. "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me", (John 15:26). Without the Holy Spirit, there is no way a human can live out eternal life in the presence of God, and the only way to receive the Holy Spirit is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior!!!
So as humans all we know and talk about is the fact that we are made up of mind, body, and soul. See the enemy came in and unlocked that consciousness so that he could separate us from God and then control us to make us his slaves. The warfare that he has on our minds is so subtle yet so effective. The fact that we think that we are complete within ourselves is the greatest trick the enemy has performed on mankind. He literally cut out a major piece of our being and filled it in with something much less. He took the diamond out of our ring and replaced it with a cubic zirconia and we have believed that our rings are priceless. Our lives are missing the diamond and we have to choose to pursue the diamond over the counterfeit!!! This is why we must understand the importance of losing this life. Without that the Spirit, it is worthless. "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it", (Matthew 10:39). So he who finds value is this life, will lose eternal life because you have already received your reward. The Spirit you will need to enter into Heaven, you will not have. On the other hand, those who find no value in this life and lose it for the sake of Jesus Christ, will gain the Spirit and their entrance and reward will await them in Heaven. Today, seek the truth in God's word and lose your life for the Love of Christ!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing Spirit, Body, and Soul on purpose!!!!!
2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
So as humans all we know and talk about is the fact that we are made up of mind, body, and soul. See the enemy came in and unlocked that consciousness so that he could separate us from God and then control us to make us his slaves. The warfare that he has on our minds is so subtle yet so effective. The fact that we think that we are complete within ourselves is the greatest trick the enemy has performed on mankind. He literally cut out a major piece of our being and filled it in with something much less. He took the diamond out of our ring and replaced it with a cubic zirconia and we have believed that our rings are priceless. Our lives are missing the diamond and we have to choose to pursue the diamond over the counterfeit!!! This is why we must understand the importance of losing this life. Without that the Spirit, it is worthless. "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it", (Matthew 10:39). So he who finds value is this life, will lose eternal life because you have already received your reward. The Spirit you will need to enter into Heaven, you will not have. On the other hand, those who find no value in this life and lose it for the sake of Jesus Christ, will gain the Spirit and their entrance and reward will await them in Heaven. Today, seek the truth in God's word and lose your life for the Love of Christ!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing Spirit, Body, and Soul on purpose!!!!!
2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
Friday, July 1, 2011
To Glorify God Volume 1, Issue 5
Psalm 34
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of glorifying God on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 5
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of glorifying God on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 5
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
To Glorify God Volume 1, Issue 4
A life dedicated to glorifying God is not a perfect person who is without sin. Jesus Christ already fulfilled the requirement of the perfect lamb to be sacrificed for the sins of the world. "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit", (John 19:30). We are not called to be perfect in order to glorify our Father in heaven. We glorify our Father by the submission of our hearts to His Will. Our heart is what glorifies the Living Christ, in that when we do sin we show the world a repentant and humbled vessel seeking reconciliation with our Father. For many generations the world has been lead to believe in order to be Christian you have to live a life of perfection, which Satan uses as another tactic to keep mankind far off from God. How many of us said before we came to God, "I just got to get these certain things in order, then I will be ready to give my life to God", how many people do we know today that use that same idea. Christ did not come for the "perfect" folks. "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”, (Mark 2:17). "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us", (Romans 5:8). The world has to see our lives; the good, the bad, and the ugly so they may identify with the fact that God accepts all of mankind in our brokenness to come to His thrown by way of His Son Jesus Christ.
We all can agree on the fact that our Apostle Paul lived out his life to glorify God. "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death", (Philippians 3:10). He authored almost half of the New Testament and set a blaze what we know to be the modern world with the Gospel of Christ. Yet, this was Paul's sober perception of his life; "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen", (1 Timothy 1:15-17). A life that glorifies God, has to be lived out in the open for people to see. Our response cannot always be "blessed and highly favored or I'm good". We have to live out our life sharing our struggles and victories. Paul lead many to Christ because he became all things to all men so that some may be saved. "To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some", (1 Corinthians 9:22). That means our hearts have to want to glorify God more than to be protected from what people may think or say about us!!! Today, let your light shine before men, even if that means sharing our struggles and weaknesses, so that we may glorify our Father in Heaven. Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of glorifying God on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 5
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
We all can agree on the fact that our Apostle Paul lived out his life to glorify God. "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death", (Philippians 3:10). He authored almost half of the New Testament and set a blaze what we know to be the modern world with the Gospel of Christ. Yet, this was Paul's sober perception of his life; "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen", (1 Timothy 1:15-17). A life that glorifies God, has to be lived out in the open for people to see. Our response cannot always be "blessed and highly favored or I'm good". We have to live out our life sharing our struggles and victories. Paul lead many to Christ because he became all things to all men so that some may be saved. "To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some", (1 Corinthians 9:22). That means our hearts have to want to glorify God more than to be protected from what people may think or say about us!!! Today, let your light shine before men, even if that means sharing our struggles and weaknesses, so that we may glorify our Father in Heaven. Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of glorifying God on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 5
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
To Glorify God Volume 1, Issue 3
Our Champion and Savior Jesus Christ has set the bench mark for us to follow. His whole life was dedicated to bringing glory to His Father!!! "Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word", (John 8:54-55). As we have been commanded by our Lord in verse 16 of Matthew chapter 5, we are to shine His Light so that the world would see the good deeds and glorify our father in Heaven. How can we bare this light and perform these good deeds? "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other", (John 15:12-17).
When Jesus left this command, He did not leave it as a boss on our job would leave a command. We receive commands daily in which the authority never lays hand to plow, so they can never sympathize or empathize with what we go through in order to follow that command. "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need", (Hebrews 4:14-16). Not only do we have an authority who knows what we are going through to comply to the command, He also wishes us to rest and allow Him to do the work through us!!! "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus", (Philippians 1:4-6). Not only did Jesus Christ live a lifestyle of glorification, He called us to live that same lifestyle. He knows what it takes to follow this lifestyle so He can empathize and sympathize with us as we bare our cross. Then on top of all that, He gives us the promise that He will do the work through us, who is like our God??? “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”, (Matthew 11:28-30). Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of glorifying God on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 5
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
When Jesus left this command, He did not leave it as a boss on our job would leave a command. We receive commands daily in which the authority never lays hand to plow, so they can never sympathize or empathize with what we go through in order to follow that command. "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need", (Hebrews 4:14-16). Not only do we have an authority who knows what we are going through to comply to the command, He also wishes us to rest and allow Him to do the work through us!!! "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus", (Philippians 1:4-6). Not only did Jesus Christ live a lifestyle of glorification, He called us to live that same lifestyle. He knows what it takes to follow this lifestyle so He can empathize and sympathize with us as we bare our cross. Then on top of all that, He gives us the promise that He will do the work through us, who is like our God??? “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”, (Matthew 11:28-30). Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of glorifying God on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 5
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
To Glorify God Volume 1, Issue 2
DO NO FAINT!!!
As a child of God we run a race that is heavy. We face daily persecutions, trials, tribulations, and hardships from the world we live in. Our loved ones turn their backs as we go through the transformation from slave of sin to slave of righteousness. We face an enemy that seeks to devour us by exposing our flesh to the world so that our "witness" will have no power, and Jesus Christ would be defamed. The greatest battle we face is within ourselves as we beat our flesh into submission in accordance with the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. We face these perils all for a home that we cannot see, taste, touch, smell, or hear. We run this race for a prize that we have to truly believe exist, without evidence in this life. Needless to say with the little that has been stated in this paragraph to the "reality" of the Christian walk, it is not easy!!! After 12 years of grade school you earn a diploma. After at least four years of undergraduate education you receive a bachelors degree. After at least 30 years of hard labor you receive a retirement. This is all to see that anything that is worth having, takes a hard journey to achieve. For those who wish to receive the treasures that the Word of God promises for those who live to Glorify Him, here is a little bit of encouragement!!!
Isaiah 40:30-31
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
"Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules", (2 Timothy 2:5). "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing", (2 Timothy 4:8). "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him", (James 1:12). "And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away", (1 Peter 5:4). "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown", (Revelation 2:10). Today, renew your strength in the promises of God as you live to Glorify Him!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of glorifying God on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 5
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
As a child of God we run a race that is heavy. We face daily persecutions, trials, tribulations, and hardships from the world we live in. Our loved ones turn their backs as we go through the transformation from slave of sin to slave of righteousness. We face an enemy that seeks to devour us by exposing our flesh to the world so that our "witness" will have no power, and Jesus Christ would be defamed. The greatest battle we face is within ourselves as we beat our flesh into submission in accordance with the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. We face these perils all for a home that we cannot see, taste, touch, smell, or hear. We run this race for a prize that we have to truly believe exist, without evidence in this life. Needless to say with the little that has been stated in this paragraph to the "reality" of the Christian walk, it is not easy!!! After 12 years of grade school you earn a diploma. After at least four years of undergraduate education you receive a bachelors degree. After at least 30 years of hard labor you receive a retirement. This is all to see that anything that is worth having, takes a hard journey to achieve. For those who wish to receive the treasures that the Word of God promises for those who live to Glorify Him, here is a little bit of encouragement!!!
Isaiah 40:30-31
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
"Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules", (2 Timothy 2:5). "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing", (2 Timothy 4:8). "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him", (James 1:12). "And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away", (1 Peter 5:4). "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown", (Revelation 2:10). Today, renew your strength in the promises of God as you live to Glorify Him!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of glorifying God on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 5
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Monday, June 27, 2011
To Glorify God Volume 1, Issue 1
While the world spends a lifetime trying to figure out how to glorify oneself, we as the children of God have to spend our life Glorifying God. Our passion in this life has to be consumed with fulfilling the call of our salvation. We as the children of the light are called to bare the light of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ before the world so they will glorify our Father from which the light comes. We can no longer glorify ourselves because we have learned that we are not the source of our lives. We are called ambassadors and as such we represent a national kingdom in a foreign land. "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God", (2 Corinthians 5:20). As ambassadors, our lives no longer belong to the glorification of oneself, or the pursuit of ones satisfaction. We pursue life in a the way that God has established, so that as we take this journey, mankind will see our lives and ask us a about the source of our light. Today, let us seek to live a life that glorifies God with everything we say and do!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of glorifying God on purpose!!!!!
Matthew 5
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Keeping it Real Volume 1, Issue 4
"Keeping it Real" with ourselves, our works, and each other in the body of Christ is all the manifestation of keeping it real with God. God knows our hearts and why we come to Him. God understands and love the fact that we come to Him as babes, searching to have Him provide for our needs. We had to come to an end of ourselves to realize that we could not take care of ourselves in this world. Just like a baby cries out to his mother or father for food, warmth, protection, and love, we all cried out to God for one reason or another. Spending time in this season is truly understandable and needed, for it will be the foundation of your walk with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Yet, our Father doesn't want to stay as babes, he wants us to grow to full maturity in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 4:11-16
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Our Father, has made every provision necessary for His children to gain full maturity into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. He has set mature saints in the body of Christ to equip us. He has given us all a private tutor in the form of our comforter, the Holy Spirit. He has provided us with a guide book to gain wisdom for living, in the Bible. He has opened an eternal call line through His Son Jesus Christ to where we may have access to Him 24/7. It doesn't matter if we have been in the faith for just a year or for forty years, we all can continue to grow into the perfection of faith in Christ Jesus. We cannot fool God and learn the garb of Christian speech and prayer to sound as one who is mature. God knows exactly where we are in our walks. We have to give Him our whole heart to pursue Him. What father wouldn't want to look up one day to see his son or daughter coming to him and when he asks "what do you need", their response is "I just want to hang out with you". Our maturity goes from a need of God, to a want of God!!! It goes from a place of taking, to a place of receiving!!! Nothing in your life will become real, until you get real with God!!! Everything and everyone in your life will stay at a superficial level, until you become the real YOU, which is the you God created you to be!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of keeping it real on purpose!!!!!
James 1
Listening and Doing
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Ephesians 4:11-16
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Our Father, has made every provision necessary for His children to gain full maturity into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. He has set mature saints in the body of Christ to equip us. He has given us all a private tutor in the form of our comforter, the Holy Spirit. He has provided us with a guide book to gain wisdom for living, in the Bible. He has opened an eternal call line through His Son Jesus Christ to where we may have access to Him 24/7. It doesn't matter if we have been in the faith for just a year or for forty years, we all can continue to grow into the perfection of faith in Christ Jesus. We cannot fool God and learn the garb of Christian speech and prayer to sound as one who is mature. God knows exactly where we are in our walks. We have to give Him our whole heart to pursue Him. What father wouldn't want to look up one day to see his son or daughter coming to him and when he asks "what do you need", their response is "I just want to hang out with you". Our maturity goes from a need of God, to a want of God!!! It goes from a place of taking, to a place of receiving!!! Nothing in your life will become real, until you get real with God!!! Everything and everyone in your life will stay at a superficial level, until you become the real YOU, which is the you God created you to be!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of keeping it real on purpose!!!!!
James 1
Listening and Doing
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Keeping it Real Volume 1, Issue 3
Our heart is what God is after and what He judges. Mankind is very "good" at dressing, sounding, and looking the part of righteousness. We can dress up the tomb with a great display and trick men into thinking that we are righteous, but the truth is that there is still only deadman's bones inside. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean", (Matthew 23:27). God knows not just what we do but why we do it. Man only sees the actions and count it unto us as righteousness. Most of what is done in the body of Christ is being done out of broken motives, whether vanity, greed, pride, frustration, anger, jealousy, pleasing men, lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, coveting another's gift, or out of evil. These motives will no more store up treasure in heaven for a vessel than if the vessel never came to God through Jesus Christ. To God, works performed out of these motives will be burned up. "Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire", (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).
"Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father", (John 14:10-12). The works that Jesus Christ performed were to show the children of Israel and the gentiles that He was indeed the Son of God. As Jesus stated in the passage above, it was God living in Him and doing His work. This is the vessel that God will use to do His works. The heart that is sold out to Jesus Christ, will give all the glory to Him as these works are being performed through them. All works performed out from the flesh will be burned up by the fire. While most saints know that they could not earn their salvation through works, nor could they keep their salvation through works, failed to realize the enemy has allowed them to settle for earning man's approval through their works. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do", (Ephesians 2:8-10). Having the approval of man may fulfill a need for acceptance now, but just like every vain thing it will be consumed. The only works that will settle you treasure in Heaven (not because you performed something great, but because you were obedient to allow the Lord to use your vessel), will be those "Real Works" performed by the Holy Spirit, all others are counterfeits!!! Today, let us check the motives of our works to insure that we are keeping it real with all in the body of Christ. Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of keeping it real on purpose!!!!!
James 1
Listening and Doing
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
"Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father", (John 14:10-12). The works that Jesus Christ performed were to show the children of Israel and the gentiles that He was indeed the Son of God. As Jesus stated in the passage above, it was God living in Him and doing His work. This is the vessel that God will use to do His works. The heart that is sold out to Jesus Christ, will give all the glory to Him as these works are being performed through them. All works performed out from the flesh will be burned up by the fire. While most saints know that they could not earn their salvation through works, nor could they keep their salvation through works, failed to realize the enemy has allowed them to settle for earning man's approval through their works. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do", (Ephesians 2:8-10). Having the approval of man may fulfill a need for acceptance now, but just like every vain thing it will be consumed. The only works that will settle you treasure in Heaven (not because you performed something great, but because you were obedient to allow the Lord to use your vessel), will be those "Real Works" performed by the Holy Spirit, all others are counterfeits!!! Today, let us check the motives of our works to insure that we are keeping it real with all in the body of Christ. Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of keeping it real on purpose!!!!!
James 1
Listening and Doing
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
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