Integrity- People of God

Jesus’ Gospel – The Kingdom of Heaven

JESUS’ GOSPEL – THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

The schemes the enemy plays on humanity remain the same. His strategy has not changed from the time he questioned God’s love and His word to Eve to cause Eve to doubt God. He still tries to imply God’s motives are wrong and he want to get us to question God’s word and His love for us and our identity as children of God. Eve was deceived in the garden and Satan tried to beguile Jesus in the wilderness by questioning if He was the Son of God. The enemy has always tried to attack God’s Word and our identity in God, to keep us confused or blind to the fact we were created for greatness as sons of God to be His glory in the earth.

Our created purpose is to have dominion over our circumstances, situations and to reflect the image of God in the earth. Satan is the master of deception, the father of lies and he tries to change what man believes about himself and his created purpose. If we are confused and deluded about who we are and the purpose of our being sons of God, then we may end up living our entire lives not knowing the truth of who we are. Jesus came that we might know this truth.

John 18:37     Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” NKJV

It is surprising to see the differences in what Jesus taught and what is taught by religion today. Jesus spoke on the Kingdom of God and He mentioned it over 50 times. Jesus also spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven over 30 times and He spoke of being born again in one conversation as an answer to a question. Jesus’ message was of the kingdom and how it operates this is not the message we hear most religious meetings. We normally hear on message, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Important as this is, believing in Jesus is the way we enter into the kingdom of God. Now we must learn how to live and operate in the Kingdom of God.

We are told how to get into the kingdom of God, through faith in Jesus, which takes only sections to profess a belief in Christ. Then most will spend a lifetime not knowing how to operate in the kingdom of God that we are now part as citizens.

We must strive to learn more about how to operate in the kingdom God on earth. This will bring glory to God. Jesus called Himself the door; the means by which men would enter into this kingdom and be saved. Jesus came and paid the debt for sin that owed and now we can be saved and enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus main message was how we are to live in this kingdom while on earth.

John10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

Luke 4: 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 11:11 Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. NKJV

Jesus spoke of John the Baptist as the greatest one born of women, which is the first birth into this world. However, those who are born again of both spirit and water will enter into the kingdom of heaven that is present on this earth. Jesus was not speaking of life after death but a life after we receive the Holy Spirit.

Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven having return back to God’s people. Jesus died and He was resurrected for the purpose of restoring us back into the family and kingdom of God. So His kingdom and glory would be reflected in the earth that God created. God’s purpose for man did not change when man fell in the garden; it was only delayed by man’s choice to follow a different king (Satan). Jesus came to restore us back to our original purpose and now man can once again choose life and enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Some people think Satan won the battle in the Garden of Eden by tempting man to fall from his created position. It was this deceptive act of Satan that God used to position us in an even higher position; we are sons of God in the family and household of God, which He had ordained before the foundation of the world. We are no longer just another of God’s creations we are now children of the Most High King. This would not have happen had not mankind fallen. What the enemy meant for evil God us for our greater good and His glory.

Had the enemy known killing Jesus would redeemed mankind he probably would not have made that move. The same situation applies to mankind; we are now God’s children in the family of God. Yet, so many people are deceived to think they are less that that they were created to be. Even those who have come to a saving knowledge of Christ are still living below their positions as sons of God joint heirs with Christ.

Luke 4:43   but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”

Matthew 6:9-11     Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.

Jesus taught us to pray and ask God to let His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven and give us this day our daily bread…” Jesus is speaking in present time because we need daily bread today while we are living on earth, we need God’s kingdom to come today and His will be done today while we are living on the earth. We will not need this when we are dead.

The enemy would have us defer God’s will and the kingdom of heaven to some future time. We cannot appropriate or take possession of what we do not know we have. We have been blind to the knowledge of the kingdom of God we did not know we were or what we received. This is the reason Jesus came, that we may know the truth. The kingdom of God is now at hand and available to us.

The kingdom of heaven is available is the good news, the truth Jesus taught. We are to expect it, appropriate it and possess it today, now in the earth as a witness of God’s kingdom in the earth. The message of the kingdom of God on earth has become a lost phrases in the “the Good News of the Gospel.” The Good News is the God’s kingdom on earth has returned but the message has been distorted into a different message that is does not focus on transforming this life but to wait until you die and go to heaven to be saved.

We must go back to the original message Jesus Himself taught and see what He said about the kingdom of God. Jesus message did not change even after His return from the death of the cross; He spoke of the kingdom of God on the earth. Jesus instructed His disciples to tell the world of the kingdom of God and make disciples to teach others about the kingdom of God.

Women True Identity and True Purpose

WOMAN: HER TRUE IDENTITY AND TRUE PURPOSE

A woman’s true identity is in her created divine purpose and that is to reflect the image of God in her character and life. We must understand the design of woman before we can understand her purpose. God as woman’s creator is the ultimate authority of her purpose and calling.

Just as the manufacturer of a product is the authority on the product’s purpose and design, we must look to God the One who created woman to communicate her true purpose. There are many men, people groups, cultures and religions communities who have tried to label women and define them as it suits them. Nevertheless, her true purpose and definition must come from her creator, God Himself.

We must start with the word of God and understand that all scripture is God breathed. God’s word is the authority and is Preeminent. It is above all others in importance and distinction regardless of culture or people group. The reason some women fall short in fulfilling God’s purpose is because they have allowed others to define them. They lack knowledge of the truth of God’s word and accurate information from The Creator.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God [ may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Hosea 4:6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge…. because you have ignored the law of your God …

Genesis 1:27-28a So God created man (human species) in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them “be fruitful, and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of sea…”

Genesis 2:18 – Then God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

The word “helper” in the original language of Hebrew is “Ezer” which means to help, surround, protect.  The purpose of woman is to be an Ezer, to be someone who surrounds and protects, who is an essential counterpart to the man. She is to be a parallel an equivalent part of the revealed nature of God in the earth. Women were created in God’s image to reflect a specific part of His nature or character in the earth, His loving character, His desire to help and to partner with others.

Ezer- the female part of humanity is a vital and necessary part of the combined reflection of God’s glory that is revealed in both male and female. The female reflection or counterpart of God is not inferior or an afterthought of God. Women are the beautiful, intentional, counterpart to the male thus the two together make a complete Divine Likeness and the nature of God. Women primarily mirror or reflect what is called the Ezer nature of God, which is to invite, nurture, and partner or collaborate.

The male counterpart mirrors God’s likeness in the primary context of pursue, to provide and to protect. Both male and female reflect some or all of these qualities of God in some situations but for the purpose of highlighting God’s nature, we will emphasize the attributes that are seen in a large part in women.

Women were created to reflect God in the framework of relationships and there are so many relationships such as daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, friend, mother, and wife. While women mostly focus on wife/mother roles, they are only part of who they are and their purpose to display God’s reflection in many roles and relationships in the earth.

Everything about being a woman and every relationship is essential and valuable because every woman reflects God in each of themselves. A woman’s value is not first in what she does but in the person God created her to be and it should reflect His glory on the earth. Our Purpose or calling as Ezer is to reflect God’s character in the context of our relationships. People should see the love of God, His tender mercy and His desire to help in time of need.

God said it was not good for man to be alone, but He gave man more than one relationship, not only a wife. God gave humanity multiple relationships father/ mother, sister/brother, uncle/aunt, niece and nephew, cousins, husband/wife all these are in the context of family. God even gave us friends those we can partner with outside of our families. God made multifaceted complex people like Himself. God is so complex – God is so vast – God is so awesome He cannot be contained in one form He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

In our individuality- personality, gifts and passions, we are to display the Divine Portrait of God, which is reflected in both male and female. If either the man or the woman fails to reflect God in the earth then there will not be a true and accurate picture of God to the world.

God is inviting and inclusive as He has invited mankind to participate in the dominion and rule over the earth. Women are to invite and request the presence or participation of others in our lives to show them the love of God.
Genesis 22:18 through you (Abraham) all the nations of the earth will be blessed- God is inviting to all people and nations-

God is nurturing… Caring for and encouraging the development of another in a way that creates strength in them and enables them to flourish.
Hosea11:3-4 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arm, it was I who healed them… I bent down to feed them.

God Partners with us, He is a comforter, He is our companion, His is our advocate, He is an intercessor and He comes along side to help us. This is the helper God created woman to be in the earth, to show His qualities as a partner, a comforter, companion, advocate, intercessor and someone who will come along side and help those who are in \need.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Philippians 1:5-6 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:13    for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

God’s Kingdom on Earth – The Original Purpose

God’s Kingdom on Earth – The Original Purpose

Until we learn what we lost in the beginning, we will never understand what was returned to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;

let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle,

over all [ the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” NKJV

When man fell he lost his relationship with The King and the kingdom God gave to mankind on the earth. Mankind also lost their purpose, to be the reflected image and likeness of God. God did not make man a robot, something to obey without thought or will to His every command. God made man in His image to imitate Him on the earth, to rule and to reign. He gave mankind a will, which is the ability to choose to obey and serve God or another.

Satan being a liar and a thief came and stole the authority and dominion from man by deceiving and lying to mankind.   Although Satan entered the world system deceitfully, with the permission of the serpent, God would not violate His word and mankind had to suffer the consequences of his choices. With this act of disobedience man lost dominion and authority to Satan.

Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are

that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to

righteousness. NKJV

God is all knowing and knew mankind would be deceived and sent Jesus to defeat Satan so that mankind can now choose to follow God. God made provisions for mankind before He laid the foundation of the world. We have heard people say if God was all-loving He would not have allowed this to happen to man. Or, if God were all-powerful He would have stopped Satan or stopped man from sinning. Truth is, God is all loving and all-powerful but above all, He is faithful to His Word. This is the reason God made provision for man before the foundation of the world to allow man to choose but to provide a way for man to be restored.

Even though God knew man would choose to disobey and die in his original state, God provided His Son as a redeemer. Jesus Christ delivered mankind from the enemy and He returned the kingdom of God to the earth. Jesus has re-established God’s original purpose for mankind and His kingdom and that is for mankind to reflect God’s love and glory on the earth.

What most people fail to realize is God did not come to save us from Satan, he is a defeated foe, but through Christ we are children of the Most High King, a new creations. The thing Satan meant to bring evil upon us, God used for our greater good and His glory. We were made the highest of God’s creation on the earth with ability to rule and reign, but God reinstate us as His children, joint-heirs with Christ. We are now not only to reflect God’s image, we are His children seated in heavenly places with Christ.

The very event that Satan used against mankind, God used to bring humanity into an even closer relationship. Mankind is a creation of God, but now after the resurrection of Christ, God has given us an opportunity to become children of the Most High King. This is a horrifying truth for Satan, because of his actions we are now adopted into the family of God. This is a truth the enemy wants to hide from the people of God. This is a kingdom truth, though man fell in the beginning, those who accept Jesus as their savior and Lord are now more like God. We are regenerated and made new through Jesus Christ our redeemer.

1 Peter 1:18-21 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or

gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious

blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained

before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through

Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and

hope is in God. NKJV

God said” let them have dominion” over the things on the earth. He did not say “let us have dominion.” God is obligated to His word and when He gave man dominion He was bound by His word. God gave dominion over the earth to mankind and all legal authority was given to humanity to choose whom to obey and serve. Mankind in the very act of obedience to Satan gave him reign and over this domain. God, in His love for mankind, provided a way to save humanity.

God’s integrity and faithfulness to His Word would not allow Him to snatch authority back from man even though man was using it to his own detriment. Many people try to rationalize and justify their actions by saying the end justifies the means. God tells us to stay true to our word even to our own hurt. Our word and integrity are more important than any possible loss we may suffer. No matter the loss, God is able to work everything for our good and His glory.

In the very act God allowing man to choose even at such a high cost showed God’s faithfulness to His word. God did not step in and alter Adam’s and Eve’s choice to rebel even though it would cost Him Jesus His only Son. God even at such a high price, the life and death of His Son, we can be sure God’s word is true and He is faithful to His word. God is not like man who will lie and renege on his word if things get too hard.

We can only imagine how it grieved God to lose the fellowship and relationship with the highest of His creations, the one He created to reflect His image. God is patient, kind and longsuffering and He knew He would provide a way for mankind to return to his original purpose but in a greater position.

It may seem like a long time since Satan tricked man, but remember with God a thousand years seems as one day. Therefore, we cannot measure God’s timing or purpose by our standard of time. In the beginning we were a creation of God but now God has transformed us into children in the family of God.

2 Peter 3:8 but beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a

thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. NKJV

Jesus was born a child in the flesh of man and Christ is the Son of God given for the restoration and reinstatement of mankind back to God. With Jesus the Christ, God returned His government to the earth. We are no longer slaves to sin and Satan. Everyone has a choice and an opportunity to return to God. Jesus came into the world legally. He was born a man having the authority given to man on the earth. He was also Christ, the Spirit of God reconciling humanity back into the right relationship with God.

Jesus paid the sin debt for mankind’s disobedience and provided a way for us to be children of God, heirs to the Kingdom of God. God’s purpose for mankind did not change. Man is to reflect and reveal God’s glory in the earth. God had given authority to mankind, so God must work his plans in collaboration with the will of man, because God is faithful to His word. God’s purpose for us has not changed and it will prevail. Jesus has returned the Kingdom, God’s government upon the earth and to those who know their God will do exploits.

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be

upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace there will

be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with

judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will

perform this. NKJV

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.

Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good. NKJV

Jesus came to set man back in his original position as having dominion and authority over God’s earthly kingdom and to put man back into the family of God. We are now children of the Most High King.

God’s Purpose Will Prevail!

GOD’S PURPOSE WILL PREVAIL

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

We live, we make plans and we have dreams. This is part of our nature, the desire to do something great. We were created in the image of a Great God Who Himself is the Creator of all things. We were created with greatness in us and we are to reflect God’s greatness in our lives. The very image of God is on us and we are to reflect His majesty in the earth.

We are to display this greatness in our everyday lives and how we do this will vary because we are each different. Every person born has the choice to bring glory and majesty to God. Our purpose is the same, to bring Him glory on the earth but the decision and will is ours to make.

This is seen in the way we raise our children to fear and respect God this magnifies His presence in the earth. It may be seen in the writing of a poem that eases someone’s trouble, or singing a song that may help someone through difficult times. All we do is a reflection of God’s creativeness in the earth, so let us represent Him well.

Our greatness is in us being who God created us to be. It may sound so simple but it takes a strong person to hold on to their purpose in the face of the labels society gives us many times before we can walk or talk. God wants us to trust Him and know who we are in Christ. When the world dismisses us as nothing and labels us as a person with little value, because of our gender or race, God has called us His beloved. God wants us to understand the truth about ourselves.

We are to reflect His nature so the world will know Him. This is the real purpose for which we were adopted into the family and to live in His kingdom. He does not want us to settle for the lies or the labels this world and the enemy has told us. We are to keep our eyes on God and let Jesus help us fulfill our destiny.

We must start at an early age telling our children who they are and that they were created for greatness because they were created in the image of Greatness, God Himself. This is who we are, children of the Most High King. An enemy wants to kill, steal and destroy our lives before we even know who we are much less our created purpose. The enemy will try to hide and discourage us from achieving the greatness for which we were born.

It is amazing to see the things the enemy is trying to do to our children’s minds through society, culture, media and family. How many countless children walk around thinking of themselves as not worthy of anything good, or feel they do not measure up to others because of lies the enemy has planted in their minds through people. How many give up on life because they have no hope.

God’s purpose is for man to rule and have dominion over all the earth. God created man and gave him authority over all that was in the earth. The enemy came to usurp, to seize and to take away the authority from man, so that he could rule over all man was given. There are two kingdoms operating in the earth, the fallen state of man and the enemy whose purpose is to destroy humanity and the Kingdom of God. Everyone will choose by their actions, which they will serve.

Many times God is blamed for the evil and death that is in the world as though He was responsible for the wrong in the world. Jesus came so we may have abundant life and Satan is the thief, who came to steal man’s authority and dominion. He is the one who comes to destroy but the people want to blame God. The ultimate lie to mankind is to have humanity believe, that Satan does not exist and God the Creator has abandoned them.

John 10: 10    The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

God gave man authority over the new earthly kingdom He had created but man in turn gave it over to Satan. God could not go against His word or take it back; His word binds Him to be faithful to it. It had to been done legally through a man and this is why Jesus had to be born as man. Christ is God’s Spirit living in Jesus the man. The man Jesus God would reinstate man’s authority even though mankind disobeyed God. Jesus restored man’s authority over God’s kingdom and received all power and authority.

The adversary still tries to intimidate and lie about God’s purpose for humanity but he is a defeated foe. Though in this world system we may go through many things we will prevail in the end. Jesus has given us power and authority to rule in His kingdom on this earth, the kingdom of God and He has given that authority to the children of God.

The enemy wanted to destroy the kingdom God had created for Adam to rule and because of the fall God’s kingdom authority was displaced. However, God’s purpose still prevailed and an even greater planned purpose will succeed. It was a man that turned over his authority to Satan to rule and have dominion in the earth and it was the man, Jesus, who took the authority back and set God’s kingdom back in right order in the earth.

Many people think Jesus came just so we would go to heaven when we die. While that is a result of Jesus’ coming but the reason He came was for us to know the truth, and to teach the Kingdom of God is again available for us to operate and live in on the earth. This is the good news of the Gospel, which Jesus preached, the Kingdom of God has returned!

John 18:37 You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Matthew 4: 16-17 “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Jesus’ first message was the Kingdom of God has returned and that is what He taught while He was on earth. The word repent, from the Greek word metanoeo, means reconsider or to think differently. Jesus wants us to change the way we think and operate in the earth. We no longer have to stay in darkness, The Great Light of Truth-Jesus, has come to restore God’s original purpose of His kingdom on earth

Many are the plans of man but God’s purpose will prevail. God allows plans to change because He must work within the confines of His Own Word and the will of man. God’s purpose, the function and principle Divine goal is for mankind to rule His kingdom on earth and it will prevail. Jesus came as a man so that He may reinstate man into the kingdom of God. We now have the same choice as the first Adam to choose who we will obey, the God our Sovereign Lord or walk in the ways of this fallen world. We choose whose kingdom we will operate in by the actions we take. We will operate in the kingdom of darkness or the Kingdom of God.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

God So Loved…..

John 3:16       For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

When we think about Easter we would be remiss if we fail to talk about the Love of God shown in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Easter is a pivotal display of the love God has for all men. The Bible says that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. God does not wait until we clean ourselves up or wait for us to recognize our need of deliverance from our mess and ourselves. God knew our need for a Saviour long before we were able to acknowledge it. God saw man in his depravity, in his fallen state of sin, something far from the created being He made us to be in His likeness. Even though we were rebellious and committed treason against our God and King He still displayed His love for us by sending His Son. Jesus came to die for us that we may be put back into right standing with Him; so we can be adopted into the family of God.

 Romans 5:18-19                    Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.  For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:8                            But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

It boggles the mind and is almost incomprehensible to believe that we are loved in a way that no matter what we do or say we are still loved by God. We live in a world that displays hate for a person or race, just because they are different. We live in a society that is always looking for the worst in a person and is always speaking down to people. So we find it hard to believe someone loves us just the way we are with all our faults and needs. This is the unconditional love of God. God knows all we have done and will ever do wrong and yet He loves us. He loved us and provided a way for us to return back to Him even before He laid the foundation of the world. We were in His mind and He was thinking of how He would redeem and restore us back to Himself. It is through the simple act of faith in the completed work of Christ that are we saved.

Ephesians 1:4-6          For he chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

If we would ever realize how much God loves us and all He has done for us, our love for Him would grow. When we see our great need and how depraved we are before Christ, and understand all He did for us to make us children of God, our only response to His loving kindness is our gratitude and thankfulness. It is when we are self-righteous we do not see our need before God because we think we are not really that bad.

Jesus did not come to condemn us for sin but to deliver us from sin. The more we see God’s love in response to our own wickedness the more we grow in appreciation and gratitude toward our God for His deliverance. He who has been forgiven much loves much. It is when we see ourselves for who we really are, lost and without hope, that our gratitude grows into a great love for God who loved us enough to pay our debt. Then our love and adoration for God grows into acts of obedience to His Word as our very own heart’s desire.

Luke 7:47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven –as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.

Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Most of the time people will tell us to clean up our act and come to God or we need to stop all those sinful things before we can come to God. But Jesus never condemned the sinner, even those caught in the very act of adultery, He did not condemn. In fact Jesus told the religious leaders, the one who has no sin let him cast the first stone and all the religious leaders left because none of them were without sin. No man can stand faultless before God unless he believes his debt is paid by the blood of Jesus Christ. When we understand we are saved by the Grace of God, it is a gift and we cannot purchase it or deserve it, because of our good deeds, we can rest in God’s Love for us.

 John 8: 4,7b, 11b       and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”….He straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” … Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

With a sense of the great love we have from God we can stand in total humility thanking God and giving Him glory that is due to His Name. We now have a desire to do His will and to obey Him. It is no longer a struggle it is an act of gratitude and love for God because He first loved us.

1 John 4: 10   This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins

The Lenten Season – A Preparation Before Easter

This is Lent Season; a time, forty days, of preparation before Easter. Acknowledging this season has become a tradition for many believers. This is a time that many people take to reflect on the life of Jesus and to humble oneself before God.

We can humble and discipline our body and soul through many different ways; such as abstinence which is self-denial of a favorite thing; fasting from food, drink, sugar, bread, or meat for example; in giving above and beyond our normal tithes and offerings as an act of worship to God; and in prayer -a time set aside to commune with God. Again, let us not get so restricted in our thinking that this becomes an area for the enemy to use for condemnation or we will get self-critical. Lent is a time we choose to voluntarily restrain ourselves as a time to think on the person of Jesus and remember the things He went through to restore us back into the family of God.

In a society where there is self-indulgence, even to the point of over indulgence, it is good for our body, soul and spirit to self-select out of the rat race of excess and extravagance. We see the benefits of self-discipline and control in the area of physical fitness and exercise. We can obtain similar benefits in our soul and spirit when we decide to humble ourselves and seek God in humility.

The Lenten season is a time that some believers set aside to humble themselves before God in recognition and thankfulness for the gift of our salvation, remembering Jesus the begotten Son of God, Who paid the price. This salvation is free to everyone but it was not without a high price to God, giving His Son to die.

To be humble, live humbly and walk in humility is a choice. In a society that exalts arrogance and pride, being humble and walking in humility is a choice that one must make. However, this choice does not come naturally. We know pride, arrogance and superiority is a result of the fall of man. Man was created to look like God but was marred and distorted by choosing to obey that fallen angel who was full of pride and haughtiness.

This may be why it appears The Lenten Season and Easter have become such a difficult time for the believers. The enemy does not want us to stop and have our mind stayed on Jesus; to ponder the goodness of the Lord in our circumstances or to give thanks to God because of what He has done for us. So Satan’s strategy is to keep our minds occupied with so many other distractions, problems and concerns, that our minds are filled with what we are lacking, our hurts, and our anger. The enemy knows we cannot worship and worry, we cannot praise while we are anxious. So if Satan can keep our eyes focused on our lack, we cannot truly give God reverence and praise that is worthy of Him.

God has no respect for person but He does have respect for His Word and those who humble themselves to seek Him. Moses was a meek and humble man but he was not weak. Please do not see this as some magic trick or gimmick that we perform to God bless us, because it is not. Meekness and humility are acts of self will, we choose to be modest, to be kind and gentle in our life style and we extend this to others even when it is not merited. This should not become legalistic, a process we feel we must to for God to bless us because it is not. We are already blessed and the beloved of God.

Numbers 12:3 Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.

Psalm 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

Psalm 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live forever.

Even though we are half way through The Lenten Season, we can still take time to remember what this season is all about. God has given us so many precious gifts through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Chris. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit we are really able to comprehend and receive God’s precious gift. This is a good reason for us to take time during The Lenten Season to quiet ourselves before God and thank Him for all we have in Christ.

As Much As Possible Live At Peace With Everyone

God said, “If it is possible, as much as lies within you, be at peace with everyone.”  We should be very glad God did not just say live at peace with all men, because some people will refuse to live in peace making that an impossible thing to do.  There are relationships and people who are hostile against one another and some people reject any offering of peace and want to stay at enmity with others.  To be in a relationship means, we are associated or connected in some manner, be it emotionally or physically with someone but if a person refuses to be in a relationship with us and or refuses to be at peace with us, we cannot make them. What an impossible task that would be, to spend our lives trying to make someone stay in a relationship or be at peace with us when they do not want to be at peace.  We cannot make them!

God knew we could learn to be at peace with God and ourselves and demonstrate that peace by how we walk through the process of forgiving and in doing what is right in His sight. That is why God said,” If it is possible, as much as it lies within you live at peace with everyone.”  We are to do all we can to be at peace as much as it lies within us. We do not return evil for evil but we show love and forgiveness. Jesus is our example and guide us on how to be at peace and how we are to walk this out in our lives.

Romans 12:17-19 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. NKJV

We are told not to repay anyone evil for evil and to do what is right not just in thought but in our actions and deeds. When we have been wronged, we are not to follow our natural inclinations to do them wrong for the evil that was done or said against us. We are to instead show the love of God by forgiving them. Forgiveness is a choice and we choose not dwell continuously think on the evil that was done. We choose rather to think on the things that are good that is in God’s word and ask Him to give us the forgiveness we need for that situation.

We are to live at peace with everyone by making peace with the situation no matter how hard and hurtful it may have been. We have a choice; we can decide we will be at peace or we can choose to allow that hurt to fester and swell into bitterness and hate. This does not mean we have to engage them and allow them into our inner circle and personal space but it does mean we are to let go of the hurt and the hate we may feel and ask God for the forgiveness we need for the situation.

If we have committed an offense, we cannot make people forgive or accept us but we can ask for forgiveness if we have wronged someone. We can try to make restitution, to set the matter right if possible but the choice to accept is up to them. People may not receive our apology or forgive us and we must respect their choice. As much as it lies within us, we are to walk through this process in a manner that honors God and we may be at peace with the situation.

We are to forgive even if the person does not ask for forgiveness or deserve it. This does not mean we put ourselves in a position to be hurt or harmed but we can still forgive and let go of the bitterness even if we choose to be at a distance. We do this in obedience to God so we do not recompense evil for evil because we know God love us and He is a just Judge.  Vengeance is God’s and He will repay all injustice and that is something we will never be able to do because we will never know what all that person has gone through to bring them to that point in life.  It is not our job to make others pay for their wrongs that is God’s responsibility. God tells us to rest in Him and to overcome evil with good.  He tells us to think on the things that are noble, lovely and of good report and for us to meditate on these things and not the hurt.

Philippians 4:8- Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things. KJV

Our life is about choices and we will choose to obey God’s direction or our own some may let self and pride dictate their lives but the choice is ours to make.  We can choose to trust God and do what He asked of us and allow Him to defend us.  We can choose to commit to doing the right thing even if it hurts. We can decide to show mercy to those who may never ask for it or in our eyes deserve it. It is a choice to walk humbly before God by obeying His word and trusting Him with our situations.  To be humble is having strength under control. We all have a certain amount of authority and power to take matters into our own hands be it overtly or secretly. It is our choice to make that will allow us to take control over our words and our emotions so to honor our God in that situation.  It is when we humble ourselves by controlling our anger and releasing that problem to God that we become a witness of the power of God in the earth. When we receive His forgiveness for us and them God is glorified in the earth. The natural man responds naturally with hate and bitterness but a follower of Christ responds like their Lord, King and Father.

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly, with your God? NKJV

Pride is a major stumbling block that will not allow us to forgive or seek forgiveness. Pride will seek its own revenge and becomes the obstacle that hinders our ability to forgive. God hates pride and it is only in humility that we can walk with God. Pride is what cause Satan to want to rise above God, pride was the bate he used in the garden telling Eve she could be like God. Pride will always want to rise above others and reject God’s word. It is the main reason some people will not forgive others they refuse to humble themselves in that situation even if it is the word of God. We should not allow pride to stand in the way of us making the decision to be at peace with all men and God will give us the grace to do it.

James 4: 6    But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” NKJV

Confess With Your Mouth

CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH

James tells us if we believe in the true and living God, our actions should be consistent with what we say we believe. If we truly believe, God is Who He says He is, then, there will be some corresponding actions that validate our beliefs. Every choice we make displays our faith in whom or what we believe. Whether we trust God or our own strength, it is revealed in the decisions we make.

When we help those who are poor and give to them out of our own sustenance we are saying we can give because we trust God to supply our needs. When we hold back from giving, it is usually because we are scared we may not have enough for ourselves. This shows we are trusting in our own limited ability to provide and not in God’s abundant provision. If we believe this is a process and what we give is a seed planted and will grow then we are trusting in God’s word. When we are babes in Christ, we learn to rely and trust Him. As we grow, we are learning that we can trust Him to provide and meet all our needs no matter the situation.

James 2: 14-20 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?  If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead. NKJV

With the heart, we believe. At some specific point in time, the believer’s heart reaches a point that it believes the truth of God’s Word, that He raised Jesus from the dead. This belief is expressed in the action of confessing this belief with our mouth, saying Jesus is the Lord of our life. To believe and confess Jesus is Lord is not just head knowledge that Jesus existed and lived in some ancient times. It is a heart conviction knowing that Jesus is the True and living God. He is reliable and faithful and we can trust Him as the Lord of our lives, to help defend and protect us. As a believer, we are committed to follow and obey Jesus.

With the mouth, our confession of belief in Jesus gives us His salvation. With our mouth, we declare Jesus as Lord and this brings into existence our salvation by changing our relationship with God. Salvation means to rescue, to bring to safety, to deliver, to bring to health, to do well and make whole. This is what God does for those who believe in Him. He gives us salvation, not just for eternal life, but also for abundant life on this earth

Romans 10:9-11 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” NKJV

Many have a knowledge of God and believe He exists but they do not believe in what God says is truth. Faith in God is shown when we will rely on God no matter the circumstances knowing He will never fail us though the situations we are in may not be what we want them to be but we trust God to work it out for our good.

Everyone have situations in life that test our belief. We will go through problems that will challenge the promises of God to save and rescue us. We are to stand in faith believing He will deliver us in every situation. How and when God will deliver us, we do not know but we are assured He will and we will not be put to shame. We have to endure the process or the testing, to persevere to the end to see God’s deliverance. We are not to confuse, the struggles and crisis we go through as the end of the story. They are only the methods used to reveal what we truly believe.

We must understand we have an enemy that is trying to destroy us and trying to make us give up on God. The command God gives us is to believe and have faith in Jesus for salvation. When we stand on the word of God and press through the difficult times, by faith in Jesus, we will see the salvation of God in our circumstances in the end. The key is not giving up, to persevere, to keep going until we win.

John 11: 25-27Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world

No matter what we go through God will work it out for our good, and in the end, we will not be put to shame. Most people give up and they never get to the end and then blame God for not coming through. The key is for us not to faint, we will have everlasting peace. Our hope is in the Risen Lord and when we view our situation through the eyes of salvation, we can walk through the temporary struggles of these individual battles because we know we will win the war.