Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV) Says, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Jeremiah 3:22 (KJV) Says, "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God." Hebrews 4:16 (KJV) Says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Micah 7:19 (KJV) Says, "He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."
Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, and after doing so gotten off track finding yourself in a backsliding state? If so, you can turn things around, and you can do so immediately. God is not an unforgiving and condemning God. As the above verses of scripture taken from the book of Lamentations tell us, He does not consume us because He is merciful, and His compassions do not fail. These verses go on to tell us that His mercy and compassions are new every morning.
God is never going to force himself on you. If you are a born again believer in Jesus Christ and you are in a state of backslide having thoughts such as "It's too late for me to turn back to God", "I have been living in sin for so long there's no way God will forgive me", "there's no hope for me", "I had my chance and I wasted it", and/or any other like thoughts recognize them for exactly what they are lies straight from Satan. Satan would love nothing more than for you to believe his lies, and continue living in sin. Don't give him that victory.
The above verse of scripture taken from the Book of Jeremiah tells us that all we have to do is return to God and He will heal our backslidings. God is a loving, kind, forgiving, merciful God. He is not a Condemning God. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Hebrews tells us to go boldly unto the throne of grace, and that God will give us mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Micah makes clear that if we will turn back to God, He will have compassion on us; and will throw all of our sins (not some, but all) into the depths of the sea.
There is no sin scale with God. Sin is sin so don't feel as though your sin is so great there's no hope for you, and that God would never forgive you. He will forgive you, if you will only go to Him in prayer, and ask Him to.
If Satan has led you astray step by step, and you're feeling hopeless, go to God in prayer immediately and ask Him to forgive you of your sins, tell Him you will turn away from them and back to Him. Remember it doesn't matter how terrible you think your sins are with God sin is sin, and He will forgive you. Lay the heavy weight of your sins down at the cross, and be rid of that weighty burden. God will forgive you immediately, and cast your sins into the depths of the sea. You are His child, created in His own image, and He loves you so very much. God will give you the strength you need to resist the temptations of Satan. It is never too late to begin again. Trust in and rely on God, and He will walk through life with you holding your hand every step of the way.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so.
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
A Gold Star
Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV) Says, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."
In order to build and maintain a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it is vital that we pray, read and study God's Word, and meditate on it. It is also vital that we ask Him to lead, guide, and direct our path, and that we sit quietly listening and watching for all that He desires to show us, and all that He desires to place on our hearts.
In the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah God tells us that if we will call on Him, He will answer us. He also tells us in this verse that He will show us great and mighty things that we know not. With that said, I want to share a personal story that without a doubt demonstrates the power, magnificence, and love of Almighty God.
This story begins with my youngest brother's best friend. He and my brother have been great friends since they were little children. I can remember them laying side by side on our den floor at home, watching movies, and laughing for hours. They remained close friends into adulthood. Not only did my brother love this friend, but our entire family did as well. This young man was always willing to help others. In fact, he helped many people, and groups of people in numerous ways. In short, because there are not enough words to describe all he did to bless others, he was an outstanding example of what a fine Christian man with a loving and compassionate heart looks like.
Without going into details, my brothers friend passed away last week, and his death came unexpectedly. My brother told me that his friend was taken by life flight to a nearby hospital, and that told me that whatever the problem was; it was serious. I began praying right away. I asked God to be with this young man, and his family, and to please heal him. In my prayer I told God that His Word tells us that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that this means He is still a God of miracles, and that I was asking for one. This young man had to have emergency surgery, and when I got that update I prayed for God to guide the surgeons hands, and I continued to ask God for a miracle. When I came home from Church Wednesday night, my brother was standing in the driveway, and I told him that I had been praying all day, and asked for another update. With a broken hearted look on his face, he said, "you haven't heard?" I said no what is it? He said "he passed away." I said, I'm so sorry, and we shared a hug, but no more words; as we were both speechless and too choked up for conversation. I entered the house through the garage and went immediately out the back door, and onto the deck. The deck is where I go daily to pray, read God's Word, watch and listen for God to show me anything he wants to show me, and to listen for anything he desires to place on my heart. That night, I needed to be alone, and talk to God.
As I sat in my usual chair I began talking to God, and I have to be honest being only human I was upset. I reminded God of what His Word says, and I asked Him why he took this young man. I told God he was a great Christian man doing wonderful work for His kingdom, that he was a husband, and the father of two children, that he was a brother, and that he had a mother who loves him tremendously. I told God that it hurt me to see my brother so broken, and to witness the sadness that this great loss had brought on my family and so many others. I said God I just don't understand.
Then I sat quietly gazing at the same stars that I gaze at nightly, and listening and watching for God to show me something or place something on my heart that made sense. He answered my prayers. The first thing that he placed on my heart was that His ways are not our ways, and that He knows best. He also reminded me that Heaven is amazing, and that my brother's friend is in a far greater place than we could ever imagine. Then God showed me something in a miraculous, amazing, and a divine way. He did so through one of the whitest and brightest stars in the sky. This is a star that stands alone, and one that I have stared at on clear nights for at least the past five years. I had been sitting with my face in my hands, and the moment I looked up at this star that I had so often studied, it turned as Gold as it could possibly turn. This once bright white star was now golden. Then God placed on my heart that he was aware that my brother's friend was a steadfast Christian soldier, and that he was gold star worthy for all the blessings he bestowed upon others while he was here on earth.
All that God promises in the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah, he demonstrated for me that night. I called upon Him, He answered me, and He showed me great and mighty things.
I encourage you to cry out to God when you need to, and to watch and listen for him to answer you. He loves us all tremendously and we are all of equal importance to Him. I pray strength and comfort for this young man's mother, his wife, his children, his sister, and his entire family, as well as for his friends. When God calls someone home who impacted so many lives here earth in such a positive way, a huge void is felt immediately. To this young man who meant a great deal to my brother and our entire family, I say with love go rest high, and I have no doubt that God was able to say when they stood face to face, well done my good and faithful servant.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
In order to build and maintain a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it is vital that we pray, read and study God's Word, and meditate on it. It is also vital that we ask Him to lead, guide, and direct our path, and that we sit quietly listening and watching for all that He desires to show us, and all that He desires to place on our hearts.
In the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah God tells us that if we will call on Him, He will answer us. He also tells us in this verse that He will show us great and mighty things that we know not. With that said, I want to share a personal story that without a doubt demonstrates the power, magnificence, and love of Almighty God.
This story begins with my youngest brother's best friend. He and my brother have been great friends since they were little children. I can remember them laying side by side on our den floor at home, watching movies, and laughing for hours. They remained close friends into adulthood. Not only did my brother love this friend, but our entire family did as well. This young man was always willing to help others. In fact, he helped many people, and groups of people in numerous ways. In short, because there are not enough words to describe all he did to bless others, he was an outstanding example of what a fine Christian man with a loving and compassionate heart looks like.
Without going into details, my brothers friend passed away last week, and his death came unexpectedly. My brother told me that his friend was taken by life flight to a nearby hospital, and that told me that whatever the problem was; it was serious. I began praying right away. I asked God to be with this young man, and his family, and to please heal him. In my prayer I told God that His Word tells us that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that this means He is still a God of miracles, and that I was asking for one. This young man had to have emergency surgery, and when I got that update I prayed for God to guide the surgeons hands, and I continued to ask God for a miracle. When I came home from Church Wednesday night, my brother was standing in the driveway, and I told him that I had been praying all day, and asked for another update. With a broken hearted look on his face, he said, "you haven't heard?" I said no what is it? He said "he passed away." I said, I'm so sorry, and we shared a hug, but no more words; as we were both speechless and too choked up for conversation. I entered the house through the garage and went immediately out the back door, and onto the deck. The deck is where I go daily to pray, read God's Word, watch and listen for God to show me anything he wants to show me, and to listen for anything he desires to place on my heart. That night, I needed to be alone, and talk to God.
As I sat in my usual chair I began talking to God, and I have to be honest being only human I was upset. I reminded God of what His Word says, and I asked Him why he took this young man. I told God he was a great Christian man doing wonderful work for His kingdom, that he was a husband, and the father of two children, that he was a brother, and that he had a mother who loves him tremendously. I told God that it hurt me to see my brother so broken, and to witness the sadness that this great loss had brought on my family and so many others. I said God I just don't understand.
Then I sat quietly gazing at the same stars that I gaze at nightly, and listening and watching for God to show me something or place something on my heart that made sense. He answered my prayers. The first thing that he placed on my heart was that His ways are not our ways, and that He knows best. He also reminded me that Heaven is amazing, and that my brother's friend is in a far greater place than we could ever imagine. Then God showed me something in a miraculous, amazing, and a divine way. He did so through one of the whitest and brightest stars in the sky. This is a star that stands alone, and one that I have stared at on clear nights for at least the past five years. I had been sitting with my face in my hands, and the moment I looked up at this star that I had so often studied, it turned as Gold as it could possibly turn. This once bright white star was now golden. Then God placed on my heart that he was aware that my brother's friend was a steadfast Christian soldier, and that he was gold star worthy for all the blessings he bestowed upon others while he was here on earth.
All that God promises in the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah, he demonstrated for me that night. I called upon Him, He answered me, and He showed me great and mighty things.
I encourage you to cry out to God when you need to, and to watch and listen for him to answer you. He loves us all tremendously and we are all of equal importance to Him. I pray strength and comfort for this young man's mother, his wife, his children, his sister, and his entire family, as well as for his friends. When God calls someone home who impacted so many lives here earth in such a positive way, a huge void is felt immediately. To this young man who meant a great deal to my brother and our entire family, I say with love go rest high, and I have no doubt that God was able to say when they stood face to face, well done my good and faithful servant.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
Monday, September 17, 2018
A Right Heart
Philippians 2:4 (KjV) Says, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." 1 John 3:17 (KJV) Says, "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" Galatians 6:2 (KJV) Says, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Proverbs 19:17 (KJV) Says, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again." Proverbs 22:9 (KJV) Says, "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor." 2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV) Says, "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." Matthew 6:1-4 (KJV) Says, "Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in Heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have the glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: And thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly."
The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Philippians makes clear that God wants us to look out for one another. The verse taken from 1 John makes clear that if we have plenty, and we know of someone who is in need we should have compassion on them, and help them. This verse also makes clear that, if we know of one in need and we do nothing to help them then the love of God is not in us. As born again believers in, and followers of Jesus Christ who have the Holy Spirit living within us, we should have the desire in our hearts to help those in need when we are able to. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Galatians tells us that bearing one another's burdens is fulfilling the law of Christ. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Proverbs makes clear that those of us who have pity on the poor and lend to them are lending to the Lord. It also tells us that the Lord will repay us. The verse taken from chapter 22 of proverbs states that those who give to the poor will be blessed. The above verse taken from 2 Corinthians makes clear that we are to give with a right heart. We are not to give while begrudging, or because we have to do so, but because we have the love of Christ in our hearts and we desire to help others. Finally, the verses of scripture taken from the book of Matthew makes clear to us that if we give and make it known or do it for show in order to get the praise of men then their praise alone is our reward. If we give with a right heart and do not boast of our giving to others, but do it in private then we well be rewarded by God Himself.
By definition, God is love. When we opt to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior then the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, and we become a new creature in Christ. As born again believers in Jesus Christ we should have the desire to help others and to do so with a right heart. The Word of God tells us that Christians are known by their fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is listed for us in Galatians 5:22-23 which says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." If a Christian is aware of someone in need and they do not have the desire in their heart to help them, when they are able to do so then not only is the love of Christ not in them, but they are also failing to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit.
I encourage you to adhere to the Word of God, and to help the poor and needy whenever you are given the opportunity to do so. If you have difficulty helping others without begrudging the help, then go to God in prayer, and ask him to cleanse your heart. Giving to and or helping others and doing so begrudgingly or doing so in order to get the praise of men is in no way pleasing to God. If you have the desire to please God, give without begrudging it, and keep the fact that you helped someone to yourself. The Word of God tells us that we will always have the poor among us, and it warns us about treating them badly. Matthew 25:31-36 (KJV) tells us in the Words of Jesus about God separating the people standing before him on judgment day referring to them as goats and sheep. He places the goats on his left and the sheep on his right. He speaks to those standing on his right hand saying to them come and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. He says to them that He was hungry and they gave Him meat, that He was thirsty and they gave Him drink, that He was a stranger and they took Him in, that He was naked and they clothed Him, that He was sick and they visited Him, that He was in prison and they came to see Him. The righteous then asked him when they did all of these things, and His reply was "Verily, I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one of the lease of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." He then addresses those standing on His left and says to them "Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away unto everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."
I encourage to help those in need any time you are given the opportunity to do so. I urge you to remember that it is pleasing to God, and that you are doing it unto Him. God will bless and repay you for being a blessing to others, when you do it with a right heart. I also encourage you to remember to give because you truly desire to help, not begrudgingly, and not for the praise of men. Don't allow the devil to cause you to pass up an opportunity to be a blessing to someone by convincing you that they're being deceptive. If they are asking for help and do not truly need it then God will deal with them, and he will still bless you.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Abandon Ship
Philippians 2:1-2 (KJV) Says, "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, , if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." Matthew 18:20 (KJV) Says, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
There is a rapidly growing problem among Churches where the entire truth of God's Word is being preached. The problem is that people are leaving these Churches for Churches that preach only blessings omitting sermons on important topics such as what it looks like and takes to live a true Christian life in obedience to God. There are many reasons people give for leaving their Church. Some leave because they feel their Church isn't offering enough in the way of activities for them, and for their children. Some leave because they have a problem with a Church member, or a group of Church members, and have been offended. Some leave because they feel their Church lacks members that are close to them in age. Some leave because they dislike the music. Some leave because they are following others that have left. Some leave because they say they don't feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in their Church. In short, there are a number of reasons that individuals are giving as to why they chose to leave their Church.
In the above passage of scripture we see that God finds joy in Christians coming together, and being like minded, being of one accord, and of one mind. It is important to note that God's Word tells us in the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Matthew that where two or three people are gathered in his name he is present. Therefore, if you attend a Church where the truth of God's Word is preached, where the core of the gospel, which is salvation, what it means, and how to accept Christ is shared then unless God calls you to another Church why abandon ship in lieu of remaining loyal to your Church, Church family, and your Pastor?
I understand that issues arise that need to be addressed, and that is true of all Churches. If you feel that your Church doesn't offer enough in the way of activities then maybe you could suggest something, and be a part in your idea coming to fruition instead of looking elsewhere for what you feel your Church is missing. If you have a problem with a Church member or group of Church members then go to them directly and address the issue in a Christ-like manner remembering that we are all fallible human beings. If your Church lacks members that are close to your age go out and invite some that do fall under your age. Inviting people your age will solve your issue, and it will help grow your Church. If you dislike the music then perhaps you could make a request to the person in charge of song selection asking them to incorporate a few of your favorite hymns/songs. Don't leave your Church following other members, or at the urging of people outside your Church. if you have an inkling to do so remind yourself you are following Christ, not people. If you begin to feel that the Holy Spirit is not present in your Church, remember the verse of scripture from Matthew that clearly states where any two people are gathered in my name, I am present.
I am in no way suggesting that if God called you away from your Church you should stay. If God calls you somewhere other than your Church, you should without a doubt do as He has directed you to do, and leave. If you are attending a Church where the Pastor is preaching sermons that do not line up with the truth of God's Word, you should leave. My point in this blog is to encourage people who are attending a Church where the truth is being preached to remain loyal to their Pastor, their Church, and their Church family, and to make suggestions as well as volunteer to help in areas they feel are their Church's weak points. I further encourage you to work out issues in a Christ-like manner with any individual or group of individuals that you are having problems with. Whatever issue or issues arise for you, first pray about them, and then ask yourself what you can do to assist in resolving them. Addressing with the Pastor what you feel is lacking in your Church may open a door to another area of service made available to you and other Church members. Pray and consider your true reasons for desiring to leave your Church, and if they are valid then leave, but if not don't be so quick to abandon ship.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
There is a rapidly growing problem among Churches where the entire truth of God's Word is being preached. The problem is that people are leaving these Churches for Churches that preach only blessings omitting sermons on important topics such as what it looks like and takes to live a true Christian life in obedience to God. There are many reasons people give for leaving their Church. Some leave because they feel their Church isn't offering enough in the way of activities for them, and for their children. Some leave because they have a problem with a Church member, or a group of Church members, and have been offended. Some leave because they feel their Church lacks members that are close to them in age. Some leave because they dislike the music. Some leave because they are following others that have left. Some leave because they say they don't feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in their Church. In short, there are a number of reasons that individuals are giving as to why they chose to leave their Church.
In the above passage of scripture we see that God finds joy in Christians coming together, and being like minded, being of one accord, and of one mind. It is important to note that God's Word tells us in the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Matthew that where two or three people are gathered in his name he is present. Therefore, if you attend a Church where the truth of God's Word is preached, where the core of the gospel, which is salvation, what it means, and how to accept Christ is shared then unless God calls you to another Church why abandon ship in lieu of remaining loyal to your Church, Church family, and your Pastor?
I understand that issues arise that need to be addressed, and that is true of all Churches. If you feel that your Church doesn't offer enough in the way of activities then maybe you could suggest something, and be a part in your idea coming to fruition instead of looking elsewhere for what you feel your Church is missing. If you have a problem with a Church member or group of Church members then go to them directly and address the issue in a Christ-like manner remembering that we are all fallible human beings. If your Church lacks members that are close to your age go out and invite some that do fall under your age. Inviting people your age will solve your issue, and it will help grow your Church. If you dislike the music then perhaps you could make a request to the person in charge of song selection asking them to incorporate a few of your favorite hymns/songs. Don't leave your Church following other members, or at the urging of people outside your Church. if you have an inkling to do so remind yourself you are following Christ, not people. If you begin to feel that the Holy Spirit is not present in your Church, remember the verse of scripture from Matthew that clearly states where any two people are gathered in my name, I am present.
I am in no way suggesting that if God called you away from your Church you should stay. If God calls you somewhere other than your Church, you should without a doubt do as He has directed you to do, and leave. If you are attending a Church where the Pastor is preaching sermons that do not line up with the truth of God's Word, you should leave. My point in this blog is to encourage people who are attending a Church where the truth is being preached to remain loyal to their Pastor, their Church, and their Church family, and to make suggestions as well as volunteer to help in areas they feel are their Church's weak points. I further encourage you to work out issues in a Christ-like manner with any individual or group of individuals that you are having problems with. Whatever issue or issues arise for you, first pray about them, and then ask yourself what you can do to assist in resolving them. Addressing with the Pastor what you feel is lacking in your Church may open a door to another area of service made available to you and other Church members. Pray and consider your true reasons for desiring to leave your Church, and if they are valid then leave, but if not don't be so quick to abandon ship.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
Thursday, July 12, 2018
False Teachings About Salvation
Romans 10:9-10 (KJV) Says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus; and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." John 3:16 (KJV) Says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Romans 10:13 (KJV) Says, "For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." II Peter 3:9 (KJV) Says, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance." Ephesians 4:30 (KJV) Says, "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
There are those in the world today who are of the opinion that salvation is only available to individuals who have been pre-selected or chosen by God to be saved. That opinion has be born from a misinterpretation of scripture. The Word of God makes very clear that salvation is available to anyone who invites Jesus Christ into their heart asking him to be their Lord and Savior. This is supported in scripture more than once, and I have listed above some of the verses that make clear salvation is available to all. For one, John 3:16 (KJV) which clearly states that WHOSOEVER believes in Him shall not perish, but will have everlasting life. Another confirmation that salvation is available to all is found in Romans 10:13 (KJV) which states that WHOSOEVER calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Every single human being falls under the category of WHOSOEVER. It is also made clear in the above verse of scripture taken from II Peter that God doesn't want ANY to perish, but rather he desires for all to repent, and be saved. God's Word makes it cut and dry that salvation is available to everyone. Therefore, I warn you to trust in the truth of God's Word and stand firm on that not allowing yourselves to fall prey to false teachings secondary to the misinterpretation of scripture.
Yet another false teaching that is prevalent in the world today is that you can lose your salvation. This too is a misnomer. We can backslide and fall out of line with God, but if and when we do we will be under conviction by the Holy Spirit to get back in line with Him and live our lives in obedience. We do not lose our salvation once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior and that is not my opinion; it is a scriptural based fact. Ephesians 4:30 (KJV) States that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. This makes clear that once we are saved our name is written in the Lamb's book of life, and it remains there. When God's Word tells us that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption, that means that we cannot lose our salvation and that seal is and will be in place until the day that the Lord calls us home.
The ever growing opinion that one, salvation is only available to a select few, and two, that we can lose our salvation is damaging to the growth of God's kingdom. Spreading the false idea that salvation is only available to certain individuals can and does cause some lost individuals to give up on accepting Christ, and giving up on accepting Christ means spending eternity in Hell. This is a horribly tragic result, and it is brought on by individuals who go about spreading false doctrine.
Spreading the misnomer that salvation can be lost is also damaging. It gives the impression that we must live our lives in perfection in order to hold onto our salvation, and the fact is that not one single human being can live their life in perfection no matter how hard they try. Salvation is not earned there is no work or works we can do to obtain it. Salvation is a free gift from God that is there for WHOSOEVER chooses to accept it. The only one who has ever, or will ever, walk this earth in perfection is Jesus Christ Himself. Romans 3:23 (KJV) clearly states "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." We cannot earn our salvation that would be taking credit for what Jesus suffering and dying on the cross did for us, and that was paying our sin debt in full. We had nothing to do with salvation being made available to us, and being human if we had, we would boast about it. This too is supported in scripture in Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) which says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
In short, remember, for one, that the Word of God makes clear that salvation is available to WHOSOEVER chooses to invite Jesus Christ into their heart making Him their Lord and Savior. Remember also that God's Word makes clear that we cannot lose our salvation, but rather that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day that God calls us home once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Base your beliefs on the truth of God's Word not on false doctrine which the Bible warns us to beware of.
Finally, if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and you have the desire in your heart to do so, Go to God in prayer tell him you are a sinner, ask him to forgive you of all your sins, tell him you believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and that he rose again. Ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and tell Him that you want Him to be your Lord and Savior. The decision to accept Christ is the greatest decision you will ever make. It is life changing, and it is free for the asking. It means that he will walk beside you in this life holding your hand, that he will never leave you nor forsake you, and that when you leave this world you will spend eternity with Him in Heaven, and those are just a few of the many blessings that come along with being a born again believer in Jesus Christ. If it is on your heart to accept Christ, don't put it off for one more second; as we are not promised the next second of life, and the result of procrastinating is that you are risking spending eternity in Hell. The importance of this message requires that I be blunt, and it is my prayer that all people would come to accept Christ, and to live their lives in obedience to him.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. If you read this and chose to accept Christ I would love for you to leave me a message letting me know about your decision so that I can pray for you. Remember you are a Whosoever. May God bless you!
There are those in the world today who are of the opinion that salvation is only available to individuals who have been pre-selected or chosen by God to be saved. That opinion has be born from a misinterpretation of scripture. The Word of God makes very clear that salvation is available to anyone who invites Jesus Christ into their heart asking him to be their Lord and Savior. This is supported in scripture more than once, and I have listed above some of the verses that make clear salvation is available to all. For one, John 3:16 (KJV) which clearly states that WHOSOEVER believes in Him shall not perish, but will have everlasting life. Another confirmation that salvation is available to all is found in Romans 10:13 (KJV) which states that WHOSOEVER calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Every single human being falls under the category of WHOSOEVER. It is also made clear in the above verse of scripture taken from II Peter that God doesn't want ANY to perish, but rather he desires for all to repent, and be saved. God's Word makes it cut and dry that salvation is available to everyone. Therefore, I warn you to trust in the truth of God's Word and stand firm on that not allowing yourselves to fall prey to false teachings secondary to the misinterpretation of scripture.
Yet another false teaching that is prevalent in the world today is that you can lose your salvation. This too is a misnomer. We can backslide and fall out of line with God, but if and when we do we will be under conviction by the Holy Spirit to get back in line with Him and live our lives in obedience. We do not lose our salvation once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior and that is not my opinion; it is a scriptural based fact. Ephesians 4:30 (KJV) States that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. This makes clear that once we are saved our name is written in the Lamb's book of life, and it remains there. When God's Word tells us that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption, that means that we cannot lose our salvation and that seal is and will be in place until the day that the Lord calls us home.
The ever growing opinion that one, salvation is only available to a select few, and two, that we can lose our salvation is damaging to the growth of God's kingdom. Spreading the false idea that salvation is only available to certain individuals can and does cause some lost individuals to give up on accepting Christ, and giving up on accepting Christ means spending eternity in Hell. This is a horribly tragic result, and it is brought on by individuals who go about spreading false doctrine.
Spreading the misnomer that salvation can be lost is also damaging. It gives the impression that we must live our lives in perfection in order to hold onto our salvation, and the fact is that not one single human being can live their life in perfection no matter how hard they try. Salvation is not earned there is no work or works we can do to obtain it. Salvation is a free gift from God that is there for WHOSOEVER chooses to accept it. The only one who has ever, or will ever, walk this earth in perfection is Jesus Christ Himself. Romans 3:23 (KJV) clearly states "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." We cannot earn our salvation that would be taking credit for what Jesus suffering and dying on the cross did for us, and that was paying our sin debt in full. We had nothing to do with salvation being made available to us, and being human if we had, we would boast about it. This too is supported in scripture in Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) which says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
In short, remember, for one, that the Word of God makes clear that salvation is available to WHOSOEVER chooses to invite Jesus Christ into their heart making Him their Lord and Savior. Remember also that God's Word makes clear that we cannot lose our salvation, but rather that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day that God calls us home once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Base your beliefs on the truth of God's Word not on false doctrine which the Bible warns us to beware of.
Finally, if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and you have the desire in your heart to do so, Go to God in prayer tell him you are a sinner, ask him to forgive you of all your sins, tell him you believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and that he rose again. Ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and tell Him that you want Him to be your Lord and Savior. The decision to accept Christ is the greatest decision you will ever make. It is life changing, and it is free for the asking. It means that he will walk beside you in this life holding your hand, that he will never leave you nor forsake you, and that when you leave this world you will spend eternity with Him in Heaven, and those are just a few of the many blessings that come along with being a born again believer in Jesus Christ. If it is on your heart to accept Christ, don't put it off for one more second; as we are not promised the next second of life, and the result of procrastinating is that you are risking spending eternity in Hell. The importance of this message requires that I be blunt, and it is my prayer that all people would come to accept Christ, and to live their lives in obedience to him.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. If you read this and chose to accept Christ I would love for you to leave me a message letting me know about your decision so that I can pray for you. Remember you are a Whosoever. May God bless you!
Saturday, June 2, 2018
A Choice
Deuteronomy 28:47-48 (KJV) Says, "Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee."
In the above passage of scripture it is made clear that when we live in obedience to God and serve Him we will be blessed, and when we live in disobedience to God and opt not to serve Him; there are consequences. We are born with freewill, therefore it is up to us to choose how we will live our life. Choosing to live in obedience to God and in service to Him, as the above passage of scripture states, is to choose a life that brings joy and gladness to our hearts. It is to live a life filled with abundance in all things. On the other hand, when we choose to live in disobedience and opt not to serve Him, it is to choose to live in need, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and wanting in all things. In short, choosing to live in disobedience to God; opting not to serve Him is to choose an extremely difficult life; a life of misery.
Many people choose not to live a Christian life because they perceive it to be strict, and void of any and all fun and happiness, when nothing could be further from the truth. Living in obedience to God and opting to serve him is to live the greatest life anyone could ever possibly hope to live. It is to take all of your problems to the Lord in prayer, and leave them there knowing that there is no problem so great he can't solve it. It is to lay down the weight of all our worries and to live in the divine peace that He has given us. It is important to note here that "divine" peace given to us by Him is a peace that is so great, as His Word tells us, it surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:7 (KJV) "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"). Living in obedience to God and serving him, is to live a life knowing that you have Almighty God walking with you every second of each and every single day. It is to be able to rest knowing that he will never leave you nor forsake you. It is to relax knowing that God can make a way where we don't see one, and that if we will trust and believe in Him, He will meet our needs. It is knowing that we never walk through one single trial, tribulation, or storm in our life alone, but rather that God is walking with us; holding our hand.
Living our lives in disobedience to God, and opting not to serve him is choosing to live a life that is void of God, and all that he provides for us. It is to live our lives creating our on storms secondary to falling prey to the temptations of Satan, and allowing him to devour and destroy us. It is to live our lives carrying the weight of all our problems and the burdens that this life can bring, and that's a tremendous amount of weight; yet many choose to carry it in lieu of giving it all to God and living for Him. It is to live a life in want and need of even the most basic of things. It is to place ourselves in a vulnerable state where we easily fall prey to the temptations that Satan puts before us, and then suffer the consequences of that. Satan knows our weaknesses and he will lure us via those weaknesses attacking us every opportunity he gets to do so. Living in disobedience to God and opting not to serve him is to live a life filled with doubt, confusion, and misery buying into the lies of Satan, and falling prey to him. Remember God's Word tells us that Satan is the author of doubt and confusion, and that he is the father of lies.
There are far more blessings that come with living in obedience to God and choosing to serve Him, so many in fact that I could never possibly list them all here. There are also far more troubles, pain, and misery that come from living a life in disobedience to God, and opting not to serve Him, and it is not possible to list each of those here either. We are born with freewill, therefore, how we are going to live our lives is our choice. We must choose one or the other. We cannot live in partial disobedience and expect God to bless us. None of us will ever be perfect as there has only been one who walked this earth in perfection, and that is Jesus Christ. God knows our hearts, however, and he knows whether or not we are sincere in our efforts to live our lives in a Christ-like manner.
God will not force Himself on you or demand that you make the right choice. That is not who He is. In fact, there is a well-known painting that has Jesus standing at a door waiting and wanting to come in, and it is worth noting that the door he is standing at has no knob. The reason for this is that he is waiting on you to open the door, and ask him in. He will not force the door open. I urge you to open the door, and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. I urge you to make the right choice. I urge you to opt to live in obedience to God, and to serve him. I urge you to choose God's love, divine peace, joy, forgiveness, understanding, and all the other blessings that come with living for him over the doubt, confusion, lies, and misery that Satan has to offer. If you are honest with yourself this should be the easiest decision you've ever made.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
In the above passage of scripture it is made clear that when we live in obedience to God and serve Him we will be blessed, and when we live in disobedience to God and opt not to serve Him; there are consequences. We are born with freewill, therefore it is up to us to choose how we will live our life. Choosing to live in obedience to God and in service to Him, as the above passage of scripture states, is to choose a life that brings joy and gladness to our hearts. It is to live a life filled with abundance in all things. On the other hand, when we choose to live in disobedience and opt not to serve Him, it is to choose to live in need, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and wanting in all things. In short, choosing to live in disobedience to God; opting not to serve Him is to choose an extremely difficult life; a life of misery.
Many people choose not to live a Christian life because they perceive it to be strict, and void of any and all fun and happiness, when nothing could be further from the truth. Living in obedience to God and opting to serve him is to live the greatest life anyone could ever possibly hope to live. It is to take all of your problems to the Lord in prayer, and leave them there knowing that there is no problem so great he can't solve it. It is to lay down the weight of all our worries and to live in the divine peace that He has given us. It is important to note here that "divine" peace given to us by Him is a peace that is so great, as His Word tells us, it surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:7 (KJV) "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"). Living in obedience to God and serving him, is to live a life knowing that you have Almighty God walking with you every second of each and every single day. It is to be able to rest knowing that he will never leave you nor forsake you. It is to relax knowing that God can make a way where we don't see one, and that if we will trust and believe in Him, He will meet our needs. It is knowing that we never walk through one single trial, tribulation, or storm in our life alone, but rather that God is walking with us; holding our hand.
Living our lives in disobedience to God, and opting not to serve him is choosing to live a life that is void of God, and all that he provides for us. It is to live our lives creating our on storms secondary to falling prey to the temptations of Satan, and allowing him to devour and destroy us. It is to live our lives carrying the weight of all our problems and the burdens that this life can bring, and that's a tremendous amount of weight; yet many choose to carry it in lieu of giving it all to God and living for Him. It is to live a life in want and need of even the most basic of things. It is to place ourselves in a vulnerable state where we easily fall prey to the temptations that Satan puts before us, and then suffer the consequences of that. Satan knows our weaknesses and he will lure us via those weaknesses attacking us every opportunity he gets to do so. Living in disobedience to God and opting not to serve him is to live a life filled with doubt, confusion, and misery buying into the lies of Satan, and falling prey to him. Remember God's Word tells us that Satan is the author of doubt and confusion, and that he is the father of lies.
There are far more blessings that come with living in obedience to God and choosing to serve Him, so many in fact that I could never possibly list them all here. There are also far more troubles, pain, and misery that come from living a life in disobedience to God, and opting not to serve Him, and it is not possible to list each of those here either. We are born with freewill, therefore, how we are going to live our lives is our choice. We must choose one or the other. We cannot live in partial disobedience and expect God to bless us. None of us will ever be perfect as there has only been one who walked this earth in perfection, and that is Jesus Christ. God knows our hearts, however, and he knows whether or not we are sincere in our efforts to live our lives in a Christ-like manner.
God will not force Himself on you or demand that you make the right choice. That is not who He is. In fact, there is a well-known painting that has Jesus standing at a door waiting and wanting to come in, and it is worth noting that the door he is standing at has no knob. The reason for this is that he is waiting on you to open the door, and ask him in. He will not force the door open. I urge you to open the door, and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. I urge you to make the right choice. I urge you to opt to live in obedience to God, and to serve him. I urge you to choose God's love, divine peace, joy, forgiveness, understanding, and all the other blessings that come with living for him over the doubt, confusion, lies, and misery that Satan has to offer. If you are honest with yourself this should be the easiest decision you've ever made.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
More Than Able in Christ
Genesis 1:27 (KJV) Says, "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) Says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Romans 5:8 (KJV) Says, "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 8:28 (KJV) Says, "And we know that all things work together for good for them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Hebrews 4:16 (KJV) Says, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Philippians 4:13 (KJV) Says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
The above verse of scripture taken from Genesis makes clear to us that we were created in the image of Almighty God Himself. Knowing this should be enough for people to recognize that they are beautiful. Take a moment to consider that out of the millions of people in this world God found you to be necessary as he creates no two people alike. That in and of itself is a miracle. With God as your divine creator you can rest assured you are worthy, you are enough, you are loved, you are beautiful, and you are necessary.
In the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah, it is made clear that God has a plan for our lives. It is also made clear that his plan is for us to enjoy a life filled with His divine peace, and joy as we live in obedience to Him.
In the two verses listed above from the book of Romans, we see that God loves each of us so much that He sent His Only Son who was perfect and sinless to die on the cross paying our sin debt in full. That is a love so great that there are no words to articulate it. He also tells us that He will work all things out for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. A good example of this is Joseph who shared dreams he had with his brothers telling them that in his dreams they would bow down to him. This along with the fact that their father had given Joseph a coat of many colors which they saw as favoritism prompted the brothers to be overcome with jealousy. They threw Joseph into a pit and sold him into slavery. God took all that Joseph went through and worked it for good as through a series of events, Joseph winds up going from the pit to the palace, and his brothers indeed end up bowing down to him. God placed Joseph in a high position under Pharaoh, king of Egypt which allowed him to distribute food to his family, during a time of famine in their land. Joseph was able to do this years after his brothers had thrown him into that pit.
If we will remind ourselves that we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us then we should have no problem doing as the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Hebrews tells us to do, and that is to go boldly before the throne of God in prayer bringing all things to Him. Remember God is all-powerful, all-knowing, He is everywhere, and there is no problem he can't solve, no sickness he can't heal, no disease he can't cure, and no situation he can't restore.
Finally, the above passage of scripture taken from the book of Philippians sums it up well by making clear to us that there is nothing we can't do with God working through us, and walking by our side. We can face the storms in our lives knowing that we have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling within us, that He is with us every second of every single day, that He will never leave us nor forsake us, that He loves us tremendously, and that He wants what is best for us.
It is vital that we come to believe and take to heart the truth of God's Word, and stop allowing Satan to convince us via the thoughts he puts in our minds that we are weak, that we will never be able to accomplish the tasks before us, that there is no way we will make it through the storms we face in life, that situations are over our load, and that we are not enough. When we allow Satan to push God's Word, which is the absolute truth, out of our minds, and replace it with his lies then we allow him to stop us from moving forward in life. Believing Satan's lies prevents us from accomplishing all that God has planned for our lives, and from living the life filled with divine peace and joy that God intends for us to live. It lands us in a state of misery and depression which has a negative affect on everyone and everything in our lives. Satan is thrilled when we buy into his lies, and allow them to overtake us because in this state of mind we are not likely to be a very good example of what being a Christian looks like. It prevents us from witnessing to others via our character, behavior, attitude, and responses in all that we do. It hides from others what a true Christian looks like.
I encourage you to pray daily, and to keep God's Word close to your heart. When Satan starts bombarding your mind with negative thoughts kick those thoughts out immediately, and replace them with the truth of God's Word. Remember that you were created by Almighty God in his own image, and that as a born again believer in Jesus Christ you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. Truly ponder the power of that. I urge you to remind yourself often that God loves you so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for your sins paying your sin debt in full. That my friends is a tremendous amount of love. Finally, knowing all of these things, I urge you to remind yourself often in the peaks and in the valleys of life, that no matter what you're facing in life you are more than able in Christ.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
The above verse of scripture taken from Genesis makes clear to us that we were created in the image of Almighty God Himself. Knowing this should be enough for people to recognize that they are beautiful. Take a moment to consider that out of the millions of people in this world God found you to be necessary as he creates no two people alike. That in and of itself is a miracle. With God as your divine creator you can rest assured you are worthy, you are enough, you are loved, you are beautiful, and you are necessary.
In the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah, it is made clear that God has a plan for our lives. It is also made clear that his plan is for us to enjoy a life filled with His divine peace, and joy as we live in obedience to Him.
In the two verses listed above from the book of Romans, we see that God loves each of us so much that He sent His Only Son who was perfect and sinless to die on the cross paying our sin debt in full. That is a love so great that there are no words to articulate it. He also tells us that He will work all things out for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. A good example of this is Joseph who shared dreams he had with his brothers telling them that in his dreams they would bow down to him. This along with the fact that their father had given Joseph a coat of many colors which they saw as favoritism prompted the brothers to be overcome with jealousy. They threw Joseph into a pit and sold him into slavery. God took all that Joseph went through and worked it for good as through a series of events, Joseph winds up going from the pit to the palace, and his brothers indeed end up bowing down to him. God placed Joseph in a high position under Pharaoh, king of Egypt which allowed him to distribute food to his family, during a time of famine in their land. Joseph was able to do this years after his brothers had thrown him into that pit.
If we will remind ourselves that we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us then we should have no problem doing as the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Hebrews tells us to do, and that is to go boldly before the throne of God in prayer bringing all things to Him. Remember God is all-powerful, all-knowing, He is everywhere, and there is no problem he can't solve, no sickness he can't heal, no disease he can't cure, and no situation he can't restore.
Finally, the above passage of scripture taken from the book of Philippians sums it up well by making clear to us that there is nothing we can't do with God working through us, and walking by our side. We can face the storms in our lives knowing that we have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling within us, that He is with us every second of every single day, that He will never leave us nor forsake us, that He loves us tremendously, and that He wants what is best for us.
It is vital that we come to believe and take to heart the truth of God's Word, and stop allowing Satan to convince us via the thoughts he puts in our minds that we are weak, that we will never be able to accomplish the tasks before us, that there is no way we will make it through the storms we face in life, that situations are over our load, and that we are not enough. When we allow Satan to push God's Word, which is the absolute truth, out of our minds, and replace it with his lies then we allow him to stop us from moving forward in life. Believing Satan's lies prevents us from accomplishing all that God has planned for our lives, and from living the life filled with divine peace and joy that God intends for us to live. It lands us in a state of misery and depression which has a negative affect on everyone and everything in our lives. Satan is thrilled when we buy into his lies, and allow them to overtake us because in this state of mind we are not likely to be a very good example of what being a Christian looks like. It prevents us from witnessing to others via our character, behavior, attitude, and responses in all that we do. It hides from others what a true Christian looks like.
I encourage you to pray daily, and to keep God's Word close to your heart. When Satan starts bombarding your mind with negative thoughts kick those thoughts out immediately, and replace them with the truth of God's Word. Remember that you were created by Almighty God in his own image, and that as a born again believer in Jesus Christ you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. Truly ponder the power of that. I urge you to remind yourself often that God loves you so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for your sins paying your sin debt in full. That my friends is a tremendous amount of love. Finally, knowing all of these things, I urge you to remind yourself often in the peaks and in the valleys of life, that no matter what you're facing in life you are more than able in Christ.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
Sunday, May 6, 2018
Why Pray?
Matthew 14:23 (KJV) Says, "And when he had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone." Mark 6:46 (KJV) Says, "And when He had sent them away, He departed into a mountain to pray." Luke 6:12 (KJV) Says, "And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." Luke 5:16 (KJV) Says, "And He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, and prayed."
In the above verses of scripture we are given examples of Jesus going off alone to spend time in prayer, and that are many more examples of Him doing so found within the pages of God's Word. This makes clear to us that prayer is of the utmost importance. Some people question that if God is all-knowing, present everywhere, and all-powerful then why pray? Prayer is our direct communication with our personal Lord and Savior, and we are blessed to have the opportunity to talk with him as a friend whenever we choose to do so.
There are several reasons to pray, and one of those is for guidance. If we have the desire in our hearts to follow the plan that God has for our lives then we need to go to him in prayer, and ask Him to lead, guide, and direct our path. When we go to him in prayer and ask Him for guidance, if we will listen to what he places on our heart he will give us direction, and the divine peace that tells us that direction is from Him.
Another reason to pray is to ask for forgiveness of our sins. The Bible tells us that as human beings we are all sinners. The good news is that when we go to God in prayer, ask Him to forgive us for our sins, and we repent of them He forgives us immediately.
Yet another reason to pray is to ask God to help us with the decisions we need to make in our lives. We should go to God in prayer about all the decisions we are faced with from the smallest to the largest. What better advice can we get, when it comes to making decisions than that which Almighty God Himself can give us?
Furthermore, we should go to God in prayer about the troubles we face in our lives. God is our Heavenly Father, and we are His children. He loves us tremendously and want to help us. If we will go to him in prayer, when we are facing difficulties and problems in our lives, He will be there for us, and He will help us making through. In fact the Bible tells us that he will walk through our storms with us, and all the while he will be holding our hand.
We should also go to God in prayer, and ask Him for protection. The world is full of violence and hate, and with that said we all need His protection. Even as we go about as witnesses for Christ there are people who wish to persecute us. Jesus Himself was persecuted. God's Word tells us in Matthew 5:10 (KJV) "Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven."
Yet another reason to pray is for healing. God is the Great Physician, he is all-powerful, and he is more than able to restore our health.
Above are a few of the reasons that we need to pray, and there a many more. I encourage you to go to God in prayer about all things. If Jesus found it necessary to pray, and to do so often, then it is evident that we should. Remember the importance of prayer, and pray daily. Take all of your troubles to God in prayer, and leave them there. Do what you can do to help yourself, and then trust God with what you can't do. He is more than able. When you pray remember always to praise and thank God for all the miracles, blessings, and answered prayers he has given you in your life. He deserves the praise, honor, and the glory for all of them. God's Word tells us that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This means he is still a God of miracles. There is no sickness he can't heal, no disease he can't cure, no problem he can't solve, and no situation he can't restore. Prayer is vital, and I encourage you to pray on a daily basis. You will be amazed at the power of prayer.
If you have a prayer request and would like for me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
In the above verses of scripture we are given examples of Jesus going off alone to spend time in prayer, and that are many more examples of Him doing so found within the pages of God's Word. This makes clear to us that prayer is of the utmost importance. Some people question that if God is all-knowing, present everywhere, and all-powerful then why pray? Prayer is our direct communication with our personal Lord and Savior, and we are blessed to have the opportunity to talk with him as a friend whenever we choose to do so.
There are several reasons to pray, and one of those is for guidance. If we have the desire in our hearts to follow the plan that God has for our lives then we need to go to him in prayer, and ask Him to lead, guide, and direct our path. When we go to him in prayer and ask Him for guidance, if we will listen to what he places on our heart he will give us direction, and the divine peace that tells us that direction is from Him.
Another reason to pray is to ask for forgiveness of our sins. The Bible tells us that as human beings we are all sinners. The good news is that when we go to God in prayer, ask Him to forgive us for our sins, and we repent of them He forgives us immediately.
Yet another reason to pray is to ask God to help us with the decisions we need to make in our lives. We should go to God in prayer about all the decisions we are faced with from the smallest to the largest. What better advice can we get, when it comes to making decisions than that which Almighty God Himself can give us?
Furthermore, we should go to God in prayer about the troubles we face in our lives. God is our Heavenly Father, and we are His children. He loves us tremendously and want to help us. If we will go to him in prayer, when we are facing difficulties and problems in our lives, He will be there for us, and He will help us making through. In fact the Bible tells us that he will walk through our storms with us, and all the while he will be holding our hand.
We should also go to God in prayer, and ask Him for protection. The world is full of violence and hate, and with that said we all need His protection. Even as we go about as witnesses for Christ there are people who wish to persecute us. Jesus Himself was persecuted. God's Word tells us in Matthew 5:10 (KJV) "Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven."
Yet another reason to pray is for healing. God is the Great Physician, he is all-powerful, and he is more than able to restore our health.
Above are a few of the reasons that we need to pray, and there a many more. I encourage you to go to God in prayer about all things. If Jesus found it necessary to pray, and to do so often, then it is evident that we should. Remember the importance of prayer, and pray daily. Take all of your troubles to God in prayer, and leave them there. Do what you can do to help yourself, and then trust God with what you can't do. He is more than able. When you pray remember always to praise and thank God for all the miracles, blessings, and answered prayers he has given you in your life. He deserves the praise, honor, and the glory for all of them. God's Word tells us that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This means he is still a God of miracles. There is no sickness he can't heal, no disease he can't cure, no problem he can't solve, and no situation he can't restore. Prayer is vital, and I encourage you to pray on a daily basis. You will be amazed at the power of prayer.
If you have a prayer request and would like for me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
Friday, April 27, 2018
Hope
Romans 15:13 (KJV) Says, "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost." Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) Says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) Says, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Mark 9:23 (KJV) Says, "Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." Jeremiah 17:7 (KJV) Says, "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is."
When a person opts to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior they are never again without hope. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Romans makes clear to us that we can abound in hope secondary to the fact that as a born again believer we have the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah tells us that God has a plan for our lives, and that he wants us to have his divine peace. It tells us that he wants good for us and not evil. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Isaiah makes clear that we are not to be afraid because God is with us. He is with those who have been born again each and every second of each and every single day. This verse tells us that God will give us the strength we need to make it through the storms we face in this life. It tells us that he will hold us up. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Mark makes clear that our belief in Him makes all things possible. Finally, the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah tells us that those who trust in the Lord and whose hope is in Him are blessed.
Knowing that God has never broken one single promise, and that he never will, and knowing that he wants us to walk through this life filled with peace, joy, and happiness abiding in the hope we have in Him is more than enough. God does not want us to walk through life afraid, anxious, depressed, feeling sad and empty, feeling alone, or carrying any other negative emotion. God tells us 365 times in His Word not to be afraid. That's one time for each and every single day of the year. His Word tells us not to be anxious, but rather to cast our cares on him. Take your problems to God in prayer, and leave them there. There is no problem he can't solve, no situation he can't restore, no sickness he can't heal, and no disease he can't cure. He can make a way where we don't see one. If you begin to feel alone and empty, remind yourself that you are never alone that God is with you every step you take.
Take the time to truly consider who God is. He is your creator, and he created you in his own image which means that you are worthy and you are enough. He is everywhere which means he is with you wherever you go. He is all-powerful which means there is no problem to great for him to solve, and he is all-knowing which means he knows everything including your needs. Take the time to remind yourself that God's desire is that you live in obedience to Him, that you live a life full of his divine peace, comfort, and joy. Remind yourself that He loves you so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross paying your sin debt in full, and making a way for you to have eternal life.
I encourage you to put your trust in God knowing that you have hope in him, that he loves you tremendously, that he will strengthen you and protect you. I urge you to remember that as a born again believer in Jesus Christ you are never without hope, you are never alone, you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you and you are enough. Remember that there is no situation he can't restore, no problem he can't solve, no sickness he can't heal, and no disease he can't cure. Remember He is Almighty God, He is all-powerful, He is everywhere, and He is all-knowing. He is loving, understanding, forgiving, compassionate, and so much more. Pray and read God's Word accepting the promises that He gives us there. When you do, you will be amazed at what having steadfast faith in Him can do. If you find yourself struggling in any area of your life, remind yourself of the hope you have in Him.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
When a person opts to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior they are never again without hope. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Romans makes clear to us that we can abound in hope secondary to the fact that as a born again believer we have the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah tells us that God has a plan for our lives, and that he wants us to have his divine peace. It tells us that he wants good for us and not evil. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Isaiah makes clear that we are not to be afraid because God is with us. He is with those who have been born again each and every second of each and every single day. This verse tells us that God will give us the strength we need to make it through the storms we face in this life. It tells us that he will hold us up. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Mark makes clear that our belief in Him makes all things possible. Finally, the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah tells us that those who trust in the Lord and whose hope is in Him are blessed.
Knowing that God has never broken one single promise, and that he never will, and knowing that he wants us to walk through this life filled with peace, joy, and happiness abiding in the hope we have in Him is more than enough. God does not want us to walk through life afraid, anxious, depressed, feeling sad and empty, feeling alone, or carrying any other negative emotion. God tells us 365 times in His Word not to be afraid. That's one time for each and every single day of the year. His Word tells us not to be anxious, but rather to cast our cares on him. Take your problems to God in prayer, and leave them there. There is no problem he can't solve, no situation he can't restore, no sickness he can't heal, and no disease he can't cure. He can make a way where we don't see one. If you begin to feel alone and empty, remind yourself that you are never alone that God is with you every step you take.
Take the time to truly consider who God is. He is your creator, and he created you in his own image which means that you are worthy and you are enough. He is everywhere which means he is with you wherever you go. He is all-powerful which means there is no problem to great for him to solve, and he is all-knowing which means he knows everything including your needs. Take the time to remind yourself that God's desire is that you live in obedience to Him, that you live a life full of his divine peace, comfort, and joy. Remind yourself that He loves you so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross paying your sin debt in full, and making a way for you to have eternal life.
I encourage you to put your trust in God knowing that you have hope in him, that he loves you tremendously, that he will strengthen you and protect you. I urge you to remember that as a born again believer in Jesus Christ you are never without hope, you are never alone, you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you and you are enough. Remember that there is no situation he can't restore, no problem he can't solve, no sickness he can't heal, and no disease he can't cure. Remember He is Almighty God, He is all-powerful, He is everywhere, and He is all-knowing. He is loving, understanding, forgiving, compassionate, and so much more. Pray and read God's Word accepting the promises that He gives us there. When you do, you will be amazed at what having steadfast faith in Him can do. If you find yourself struggling in any area of your life, remind yourself of the hope you have in Him.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Harboring Unforgiveness
Galatians 5:22-33 (KJV) Says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV) Says, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior others should be able to see the fruit of the Spirit listed in the above verses of scripture taken from the book of Galatians in us. It is through seeing the fruit of the Spirit in us that many people notice that there is something different about us. That difference is the light of Christ, and that light will hopefully lead lost souls to conclude that they want what we have. It is our hope that once they recognize the divine peace, comfort, and joy that we have in our lives along with the fruits of the Spirit that they too will choose to accept Christ and his precious gift of salvation.
As born again believers in Jesus Christ the fruit of the Spirit is what others should see in us. There are things, however, that prevent the fruit of the Spirit from being obvious in our lives, and one of those things is harboring unforgiveness in our heart. It is not possible to have unforgiveness in our hearts and demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in a sincere manner because when we are unforgiving we are carrying bitterness toward someone or some group of people, and that bitterness is quite evident to others. God knows when we are harboring unforgiveness and he takes it seriously. It is of great importance that we forgive others as Christ forgives us. The above verses of scripture taken from the book of Matthew make it clear that, if we do not forgive others then God will not forgive us. Not only does harboring unforgiveness in our heart damage our witness for Christ in our everyday lives, but it also prevents God from forgiving us.
Forgiving an individual or a group of people can be very difficult and emotional. It may take time and be a process that we have to work through for a while. The good news is that God knows our hearts, and he is well aware of whether or not we are sincerely working toward forgiving. If you are harboring unforgiveness in your heart, I urge you to go to God in prayer and ask him to help you to forgive the person or people who have hurt you in some way. Forgiving gets you back in right standing with God, it frees you to live your life in a manner that allows the fruit of the Spirit to shine brightly through you in a manner that is sincere, and when we forgive it is pleasing to God. Harboring unforgiveness steals our joy, and leaves us in a constant state of restlessness where we will remain until we do the right thing, and forgive. I encourage you to begin work on forgiving all that you need to forgive, and to do so immediately. Don't go through another day carrying bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness in your heart. I encourage you to remember that Christ forgives us of our sins and if he being perfect and sinless can do that it is certain that we can forgive one another.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
Once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior others should be able to see the fruit of the Spirit listed in the above verses of scripture taken from the book of Galatians in us. It is through seeing the fruit of the Spirit in us that many people notice that there is something different about us. That difference is the light of Christ, and that light will hopefully lead lost souls to conclude that they want what we have. It is our hope that once they recognize the divine peace, comfort, and joy that we have in our lives along with the fruits of the Spirit that they too will choose to accept Christ and his precious gift of salvation.
As born again believers in Jesus Christ the fruit of the Spirit is what others should see in us. There are things, however, that prevent the fruit of the Spirit from being obvious in our lives, and one of those things is harboring unforgiveness in our heart. It is not possible to have unforgiveness in our hearts and demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in a sincere manner because when we are unforgiving we are carrying bitterness toward someone or some group of people, and that bitterness is quite evident to others. God knows when we are harboring unforgiveness and he takes it seriously. It is of great importance that we forgive others as Christ forgives us. The above verses of scripture taken from the book of Matthew make it clear that, if we do not forgive others then God will not forgive us. Not only does harboring unforgiveness in our heart damage our witness for Christ in our everyday lives, but it also prevents God from forgiving us.
Forgiving an individual or a group of people can be very difficult and emotional. It may take time and be a process that we have to work through for a while. The good news is that God knows our hearts, and he is well aware of whether or not we are sincerely working toward forgiving. If you are harboring unforgiveness in your heart, I urge you to go to God in prayer and ask him to help you to forgive the person or people who have hurt you in some way. Forgiving gets you back in right standing with God, it frees you to live your life in a manner that allows the fruit of the Spirit to shine brightly through you in a manner that is sincere, and when we forgive it is pleasing to God. Harboring unforgiveness steals our joy, and leaves us in a constant state of restlessness where we will remain until we do the right thing, and forgive. I encourage you to begin work on forgiving all that you need to forgive, and to do so immediately. Don't go through another day carrying bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness in your heart. I encourage you to remember that Christ forgives us of our sins and if he being perfect and sinless can do that it is certain that we can forgive one another.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Omnipotent
Matthew 19:26 (KJV) Says, "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Luke 1:37 (KJV) Says, "For with God nothing shall be impossible." Jeremiah 32:27 (KJV) Says, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: Is there anything too hard for me?" Mark 10:7 (KJV) Says, "And Jesus looking upon them saith, with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."
In the above verses of scripture note that Jesus says more than once that what is impossible for man is possible with God. Note also that God says He is the God of all people and he asks if anything is too hard for him? The answer to that question is absolutely not. God is omnipotent meaning that he is all powerful. When he states that he is the God of all the people that means you, and knowing that nothing is too hard for him makes us aware that there is no problem we have that is so great that God can't handle it. The Bible tells us that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that means he is still a God of miracles.
The Word of God is full of examples in which people are healed from sicknesses, cured from diseases, received their sight, healed from paralysis, and even raised from the dead. On many occasions, Jesus heals individuals and tells them that it is their faith that has made them whole. In Luke 8:43-48 (KJV) there is the story of a woman who had an issue of blood for years and had seen many physicians who were unable to help her. This woman had faith and believed that if she could simply touch the hem of Jesus' clothing she would be healed. She came near him, touched the hem of his garment and was healed instantly. Her faith had made her whole. There was a man whose servant was sick unto death and he asked Jesus to heal him in Matthew 8:5-13 (KJV). Jesus told the man that he would follow him back to his house to heal his servant, and the man told him that he was not worthy of Jesus coming under his roof and that if he would just speak a word he knew his servant would be healed. His faith made his servant whole. These are just a couple of examples of the many found within the pages of the Bible. The Word of God is filled with testimonies of what even a little faith can do. It is also full of promises from God that we can rest assured he will keep. He has never broken not one single promise, and he never will.
Whatever storm you're facing in life whether it is sickness, disease, financial issues, a situation that you are praying is restored, pain from a divorce or separation, rejection by someone you love, the loss of a loved one, or any other problem or situation that is causing you suffering, take it to God in prayer having faith without doubt, believing and trusting in him to handle it; knowing that he is more than able. Get in God's Word and read scripture pertaining to the issue you're facing, and read the promises that God makes us. Remember he is Omnipotent meaning that he is all powerful which makes clear that there is no sickness he can't heal, no disease he can't cure, and no situation he can't restore. Remember too that God does everything in his time, which is perfect, and that he can make a way where we don't see one.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
In the above verses of scripture note that Jesus says more than once that what is impossible for man is possible with God. Note also that God says He is the God of all people and he asks if anything is too hard for him? The answer to that question is absolutely not. God is omnipotent meaning that he is all powerful. When he states that he is the God of all the people that means you, and knowing that nothing is too hard for him makes us aware that there is no problem we have that is so great that God can't handle it. The Bible tells us that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that means he is still a God of miracles.
The Word of God is full of examples in which people are healed from sicknesses, cured from diseases, received their sight, healed from paralysis, and even raised from the dead. On many occasions, Jesus heals individuals and tells them that it is their faith that has made them whole. In Luke 8:43-48 (KJV) there is the story of a woman who had an issue of blood for years and had seen many physicians who were unable to help her. This woman had faith and believed that if she could simply touch the hem of Jesus' clothing she would be healed. She came near him, touched the hem of his garment and was healed instantly. Her faith had made her whole. There was a man whose servant was sick unto death and he asked Jesus to heal him in Matthew 8:5-13 (KJV). Jesus told the man that he would follow him back to his house to heal his servant, and the man told him that he was not worthy of Jesus coming under his roof and that if he would just speak a word he knew his servant would be healed. His faith made his servant whole. These are just a couple of examples of the many found within the pages of the Bible. The Word of God is filled with testimonies of what even a little faith can do. It is also full of promises from God that we can rest assured he will keep. He has never broken not one single promise, and he never will.
Whatever storm you're facing in life whether it is sickness, disease, financial issues, a situation that you are praying is restored, pain from a divorce or separation, rejection by someone you love, the loss of a loved one, or any other problem or situation that is causing you suffering, take it to God in prayer having faith without doubt, believing and trusting in him to handle it; knowing that he is more than able. Get in God's Word and read scripture pertaining to the issue you're facing, and read the promises that God makes us. Remember he is Omnipotent meaning that he is all powerful which makes clear that there is no sickness he can't heal, no disease he can't cure, and no situation he can't restore. Remember too that God does everything in his time, which is perfect, and that he can make a way where we don't see one.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Called Out
2 Timothy 1:9 (KJV) Says, "Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began,"
When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and we are set apart, being in the world, but not of it. As born again believers in and followers of Jesus Christ we are commanded to fulfill the Great Commission. The Great Commission is defined in Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV) which says, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
As Christians which by definition is to be Christ-like, our behavior should look different from the behavior of those that are lost. As we go about our everyday lives people should see in us the fruits of the Spirit which are found in Galatians 5:22-23 which says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." When we demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit by living them out, then we are allowing the world to see Christ in us. As Christians we should respond to situations in a Godly manner in lieu of reacting to them in a manner that coincides with the way a lost person would react to them. The key here is to take time to respond recognizing that at times the best response is silence, in lieu of reacting in the flesh which can lead to us saying things that do not fit who we are in Christ.
When a person who proclaims to be a Christian behaves in the same manner that a lost person does, it is extremely damaging to their testimony. It is also damaging to Christianity because many lost souls are seeking to trip up Christians, and to build a case supporting the idea that Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites. It is vital that we live our lives in a manner that is Christ-like because doing so is our greatest testimony. Living our lives in a Godly manner, and responding to situations in a Godly way can serve to give others the desire in their heart to have what we have, and that is Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.
As born again believers in Jesus Christ we have been called out by God for a purpose. We have been called out to serve him, and to raise the standard that is found in the secular world. We have been called out to be witnesses for Christ, and to show forgiveness to others; even those that lost people would more than likely not forgive. We are called out to live our lives in a manner which allows others to see the light of Christ in us.
I encourage you to live your life in obedience to God, and to allow others to clearly see the fruits of the Spirit in you. I urge you to remember that you have been called out for a purpose, as a servant, to raise the standard in this world, to be a witness, and to show forgiveness. If you fall short in these areas or have an area of particular weakness that you know you need work in, take it to God in prayer asking him to help you strengthen this area of your life. I encourage you to live your life in a manner that is pleasing to God, and that serves as a testimony of his miraculous power and greatness. We are all a work in progress and will be until the Lord calls us home. We should, however, strive to be more and more Christ-like in our behavior each and every single day with the hope that when God calls us home he will be able to say well done my good and faithful servant.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and we are set apart, being in the world, but not of it. As born again believers in and followers of Jesus Christ we are commanded to fulfill the Great Commission. The Great Commission is defined in Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV) which says, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
As Christians which by definition is to be Christ-like, our behavior should look different from the behavior of those that are lost. As we go about our everyday lives people should see in us the fruits of the Spirit which are found in Galatians 5:22-23 which says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." When we demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit by living them out, then we are allowing the world to see Christ in us. As Christians we should respond to situations in a Godly manner in lieu of reacting to them in a manner that coincides with the way a lost person would react to them. The key here is to take time to respond recognizing that at times the best response is silence, in lieu of reacting in the flesh which can lead to us saying things that do not fit who we are in Christ.
When a person who proclaims to be a Christian behaves in the same manner that a lost person does, it is extremely damaging to their testimony. It is also damaging to Christianity because many lost souls are seeking to trip up Christians, and to build a case supporting the idea that Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites. It is vital that we live our lives in a manner that is Christ-like because doing so is our greatest testimony. Living our lives in a Godly manner, and responding to situations in a Godly way can serve to give others the desire in their heart to have what we have, and that is Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.
As born again believers in Jesus Christ we have been called out by God for a purpose. We have been called out to serve him, and to raise the standard that is found in the secular world. We have been called out to be witnesses for Christ, and to show forgiveness to others; even those that lost people would more than likely not forgive. We are called out to live our lives in a manner which allows others to see the light of Christ in us.
I encourage you to live your life in obedience to God, and to allow others to clearly see the fruits of the Spirit in you. I urge you to remember that you have been called out for a purpose, as a servant, to raise the standard in this world, to be a witness, and to show forgiveness. If you fall short in these areas or have an area of particular weakness that you know you need work in, take it to God in prayer asking him to help you strengthen this area of your life. I encourage you to live your life in a manner that is pleasing to God, and that serves as a testimony of his miraculous power and greatness. We are all a work in progress and will be until the Lord calls us home. We should, however, strive to be more and more Christ-like in our behavior each and every single day with the hope that when God calls us home he will be able to say well done my good and faithful servant.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!
Thursday, January 11, 2018
A Better Way
Genesis 6:13-14 (KJV) Says, "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch." Genesis 12:1 (KJV) Says, "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:" In
Exodus 3:10-11 (KJV) God is speaking to Moses and he says, "Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
In the above passage of scripture pertaining to Noah, God instructs him to build an ark. Now if you read further in the Bible on the topic of Noah you will see that Noah was given specific details from God on how to build the ark, with what materials, how large it was to be, and what exactly he was to place aboard it. He was also given a specific deadline on when the ark was to be completed. This was by no means a simple task, but with God working through Noah it was accomplished. In the above passage of scripture regarding Abram, we see that he was instructed by God to get out of his own country, leave his family, and go to an unknown location which God was to lead him to. I would say that was difficult for Abram because leaving one's country and family to head to an unknown land would be difficult for anyone. Finally, the above passage of scripture regarding Moses pertains to God calling him to lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. Now he is being told by God that he is to go before Pharaoh the King and request that the Israelites be released. Moses trusted God, who worked through him, and the Israelites were at last released from bondage in Egypt, but God had given Moses no simple task.
Noah, Abram, and Moses as well as many others named in God's word, were given quite a load to carry. They were assigned various tasks to be carried out in specific detail, and these tasks were far from simplistic. With that said, not one time do we read that any of the three of them gave up on what they were doing, proclaiming their task to be so difficult that it was over their load. These guys trusted God, they were organized, and did not become discouraged and give up. With God working through them, they accomplished all that he had instructed them to accomplish.
Noah, Abram, and Moses accomplished large tasks that were life altering for multitudes of people, and played a huge role in history. They obeyed God, trusted him, got organized, and got busy seeing what they were called to do through to completion. Why do I think many people of today would have reacted in an opposite manner had God put such a large task to their charge.
Numbers of people pack their schedules to maximum capacity with tasks they deem urgent on a daily basis, and then add others necessary to meet their families needs on top of those. They don't stop until their schedules reach a fullness that's overwhelming. People like this usually take little or no time to pray, read their Bible, or spend any alone time with God in order to grow in their personal relationship with him. God has been left off of many daily schedules.
As a result of leaving God out, packing their schedules, lacking organization, and poor prioritizing we have people running around proclaiming things are over their load. These are people with worldly issues such as financial, material, and job related, for instance. You know the type, they are so wound up that within five seconds of being around them you feel the stress because it has permeated the air. Their temper is on a hair trigger because they have put to much on themselves, left God out of all of it, and continue to run in the same loop without stopping to consider they need to make some changes. If Noah, Abram, or Moses had behaved like this it would have changed history because Noah and his family would have drowned, Abraham's family and land would have never grown in all the ways it did, and Moses would not have been successful at leading the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt.
If you are one of these people, know this there is a better way. Go to God in prayer, and do as the Bible instructs us to do, cast your cares on him. Don't fill your schedule to overflow, and become stressed out to the max because you can't keep the pace of it. Get organized, prioritize, and trust God. Allow him to lead, guide, and direct your path. Spend time with God daily, and put him first in your life. Don't continue doing exactly like your doing, and expect a different result. Stop whining, complaining, and being filled with self- pity, as you proclaim things to be over your load. There is nothing big enough to be over God's load. Give him control of your life, obey him, follow his direction, and experience the love, peace, contentment, and joy that comes along with it.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
Exodus 3:10-11 (KJV) God is speaking to Moses and he says, "Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
In the above passage of scripture pertaining to Noah, God instructs him to build an ark. Now if you read further in the Bible on the topic of Noah you will see that Noah was given specific details from God on how to build the ark, with what materials, how large it was to be, and what exactly he was to place aboard it. He was also given a specific deadline on when the ark was to be completed. This was by no means a simple task, but with God working through Noah it was accomplished. In the above passage of scripture regarding Abram, we see that he was instructed by God to get out of his own country, leave his family, and go to an unknown location which God was to lead him to. I would say that was difficult for Abram because leaving one's country and family to head to an unknown land would be difficult for anyone. Finally, the above passage of scripture regarding Moses pertains to God calling him to lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. Now he is being told by God that he is to go before Pharaoh the King and request that the Israelites be released. Moses trusted God, who worked through him, and the Israelites were at last released from bondage in Egypt, but God had given Moses no simple task.
Noah, Abram, and Moses as well as many others named in God's word, were given quite a load to carry. They were assigned various tasks to be carried out in specific detail, and these tasks were far from simplistic. With that said, not one time do we read that any of the three of them gave up on what they were doing, proclaiming their task to be so difficult that it was over their load. These guys trusted God, they were organized, and did not become discouraged and give up. With God working through them, they accomplished all that he had instructed them to accomplish.
Noah, Abram, and Moses accomplished large tasks that were life altering for multitudes of people, and played a huge role in history. They obeyed God, trusted him, got organized, and got busy seeing what they were called to do through to completion. Why do I think many people of today would have reacted in an opposite manner had God put such a large task to their charge.
Numbers of people pack their schedules to maximum capacity with tasks they deem urgent on a daily basis, and then add others necessary to meet their families needs on top of those. They don't stop until their schedules reach a fullness that's overwhelming. People like this usually take little or no time to pray, read their Bible, or spend any alone time with God in order to grow in their personal relationship with him. God has been left off of many daily schedules.
As a result of leaving God out, packing their schedules, lacking organization, and poor prioritizing we have people running around proclaiming things are over their load. These are people with worldly issues such as financial, material, and job related, for instance. You know the type, they are so wound up that within five seconds of being around them you feel the stress because it has permeated the air. Their temper is on a hair trigger because they have put to much on themselves, left God out of all of it, and continue to run in the same loop without stopping to consider they need to make some changes. If Noah, Abram, or Moses had behaved like this it would have changed history because Noah and his family would have drowned, Abraham's family and land would have never grown in all the ways it did, and Moses would not have been successful at leading the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt.
If you are one of these people, know this there is a better way. Go to God in prayer, and do as the Bible instructs us to do, cast your cares on him. Don't fill your schedule to overflow, and become stressed out to the max because you can't keep the pace of it. Get organized, prioritize, and trust God. Allow him to lead, guide, and direct your path. Spend time with God daily, and put him first in your life. Don't continue doing exactly like your doing, and expect a different result. Stop whining, complaining, and being filled with self- pity, as you proclaim things to be over your load. There is nothing big enough to be over God's load. Give him control of your life, obey him, follow his direction, and experience the love, peace, contentment, and joy that comes along with it.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
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