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

Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

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

Category:

Uncategorized

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

Category:

Uncategorized

Children Are A Blessing From The Lord

CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING FROM THE LORD

Over the centuries, children were seen as an asset and families with many children were seen as being blessed of God. We have seen a number of accounts in the Bible where women without a child, were viewed differently than those who did. All through history people understood that children were a blessing from God and something to be valued.

Psalm 127: 3-5Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

 

Children are an inheritance, an heirloom from the Lord. The Bible says they are a gift from God; they should be appreciated and cherished because they can be a defense from our enemies. They are like arrows; a weapon that may be used against our adversaries. Many times we have seen children speak for their parents or with other family members to help resolve issues and concerns.

Children help us to be concerned for something other than ourselves. They remind us of how our actions may impact not only ourselves but our children also. Children help us to put aside our selfishness because we are now concerned for their wellbeing, which sometimes helps us to make better decisions. Many times people make poor choices because they are alone and are not in close relationships with family members. They may feel their actions will not affect anyone but they are wrong. We are all connected and yes people’s actions have a rippling effect.

God says happy is the man who has many children. The Bible says the man who has many children they will not be ashamed. This is opposite of what many societies are saying. This too is a tactic of Satan to criticize large families and to keep people from the blessings of God. It is sad to see how the enemy has attacked the family in such ways that society now actually views children as a hindrance and large families tend to be ostracized

In the beginning children may appear to be a lot to handle but that time flies by so quickly and as they grow and mature they become our defense. Children can help us, as we get older to navigate life’s battles so that our enemies cannot overtake us.

.     God gives life and the spirit of a man is like a candle from the Lord or as a lamp of the Lord. God breathes His life into mankind so mankind may bring glory to God in the earth. A child’s spirit is young and impressionable, seeking and searching, for the light of God’s word to lead them in the path of living a whole and complete life. This is why it is so important to teach our children when they are young, so when they are older they will have God’s word to draw on, to listen and direct them. They will have something more than the lies of this world.

 

Psalm 22:30-31 A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, they will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this. NKJV

 

God wants us to teach our children so future generations will serve Him and they too will tell the next generation the things the Lord has done for them. God’s original purpose for man was to reflect His glory in the earth and His purpose has not changed. God is faithful to every generation. No matter how dark the world may look and how sinister and overwhelming evil may seem, God has a purpose and plan for all generations.

 

Genesis 18:17 — 19 Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” NIV

 

God wants to have a close relationship with us, just as He has given us relationships as fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts and friends, so we may experience close relationships with others. God knew Abraham would become a powerful nation and he would direct, guide and lead his household in His ways.

God wants to be in a close relationship with each one of us. He gave us His breath and it is our spirit that searches out the light of His Word and will return to Him. Believing in God is something that comes so naturally to a child. For this reason it is so important we train our children when they are young in the way they should go. We should teach them before the hard blows from life teach them to be hard and distrusting. God says when they are old they will not depart, they may stray but they will return to truth.

Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

We all may not give birth to children but we all can be an influence on children and be in a mother or father relationship regardless of their being born to us or not. We can teach those children whom God put into our lives as friends and extended families. Many of us are surrogate mothers and fathers to the children in our families and communities. These children can sometimes be even more of a blessing than those we birth. Oftentimes those who we share life with and those we help to navigate this life are the ones who realize we were there because we want to be and not because we are obligated to be.

This does not mean children should feel indebted to us, but as children become adults they appreciate these relationships that allow sharing and communion. Some parent child relationships may never grow into a deep bond but we can be thankful for the time we had to teach them. We should thank God, for those young people He has put into our lives through community and friendship. We all are teachers and examples for life, either by choice or by default. We will influence those around us one way or another by the life we live before them.

Category:

Uncategorized

Tagged with:

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.

Category:

Uncategorized

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

Category:

Uncategorized

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.

Category:

Uncategorized

Believe Part 1

Believe is a verb, so for our primary school lesson, a verb is an action word. The definition of believe, according to Dictionary.com, is to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so. To believe in, according to dictionary.com is, to be persuaded of the truth or existence of; to have faith in the reliability, honesty, benevolence. So for us to believe in God, takes action on our part. We are to have confidence in the reliability of His truth even though we may not have absolute proof to show others that what we believe will happen.

For us to be effective, we must understand the difference between having knowledge or believing. The definition of knowledge, according to Dictionary.com, acquaintance with facts, truths, principles as from study or investigation; acquaintance or familiarity gained by sight, experience or report; awareness, as of a fact or circumstance; something that is or may be known; information.

Knowledge or facts are known in the head, a mental understanding of information that we gain through seeing, experiencing or from reports. While Believing is a heart conviction, confidence in a truth that the believer believes its existence, is reliable even though it cannot produce absolute tangible proof.

These are two different concepts and yet people use them interchangeably. That may be why so many people are confused about what they know and what they think they believe. Many people know there is a God and they have an intellectual knowledge that He exists but this knowledge does not lead them to any action. It is acquired information of a fact or truth.

James 2:19                You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! NKJV

We all may have knowledge of truth and facts but what we believe about that truth will determine our actions. Demons not only know there is one God, they believe it and shudder, which means to tremble with a sudden convulsive movement, as from horror or fear. The demons know the truth and the reliability of what God said would happen to them.

We are given a parenthetical or set amount of time, from when we are born until the time we die, to live the life we were given on this earth. What we believe and as a result of that belief dictate our corresponding actions and will determine our eternity. We have heard it said, actions speak louder than words and so it is in the choices we make in life. Our actions reflect our true beliefs regardless of what we may say.

Mark 9: 23      Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

Mark 11: 24   Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible.” When we believe we do not give up even when life’s challenges occur, no matter how devastating our situations may be. We stand and believe in the love God has for us knowing He will never leave us or forsake us. Regardless of the circumstances and what appears to be at the moment, God cannot and will not fail us.

Hebrews 13: 5-6        Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” NKJV

To believe in your heart is to have a life altering commitment to that belief. While we may have an academic knowledge of a thought or concept, it is only information. It is not until we believe that our words and actions are changed to line up with what we believe. That is why so many people can say they believe in God when they only have knowledge of Him. If we believe in God, according to the definition of believe, we have a confidence in His truth, and that He exists, although we may not be able to give absolute proof in the natural world. We, who believe in God, are persuaded to have faith in His faithfulness, kindness and compassion toward us. It is that belief that gives us the courage to stand and not fear what mere man can do to us.

Category:

Uncategorized

Truth

Jesus said the reason He came into the world was to give evidence, to  be a witness to and to report well the truth of God’s Word. If the truth is the reason for Jesus coming to the world it must be very important that we know this truth. At the beginning man believed Satan’s lie rather than God’s truth. God created man in His image, likeness and gave man dominion over all the earth. Yet, Satan came with his subtle lies enticing man to believe a lie and not God. This is the lie the world is still operating in.

One reason men can hate one another and have no respect for human life or culture is because they do not believe the truth that all humans are created in God’s image. This is why women can be treated as property and men can hate people who do not look or act like what they are accustomed. Because people are not seen as being created in God’s image.

John 18:17     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.”

God sent Jesus with truth so we should no longer believe the lie of the world. If we believe what the world says about us we will not know how greatly valued we are and that God paid a great price so we could be called children of God. Truth is, we are created in the image of God and if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are adopted into the family of God. We are children of the Most High King. When we know the truth then we are free from the lies of the world. It is the truth that we know that will make us free. Though God’s Word is true and stands sure; if we do not know it, understand it and accept it, it cannot set us free. They shall know the truth and the truth shall set them free.

The one thing God requires of us is that we submit our will to His Word. When we are faced with challenges we should pray and ask God to direct our steps and to let His will be done in that situation. It is when we try to do it all in our own strength we fall short. Ask and we will receive from God the wisdom and the strength to perform His good works.

John 8: 32      Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” NIV

Ephesians 2:10           For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

John 17: 16-19         They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified

It is God’s word that sanctifies us and set us apart from the world’s way of thinking. So many people follow the crowd because they have not taken time to read and know what the truth really is. Their eyes are blinded by the world’s way of self-preservation. Jesus came to testify of the truth. The truth we know and stand on will set us free from fear of the world, poverty and the fear of what man can do to us. If God be for us, who can be against us? God willingly gave His Son so we may live! There is nothing His Love will withhold from us.

Romans 8: 31-32        What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

When it is all said and done there are two kinds of people living on this earth; those who are of the truth and those who are of lies. Jesus said He is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Him. He tells those that refuse to believe Him they are of their father the devil, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 8:43-44              Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

 John 14:6       Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

 

Category:

Uncategorized

Tagged with:

The Love of God

A NEW COMANDMENT ; LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU

The Love of God is shown by the gift of His Son Jesus who was born to save mankind from eternal destruction. God so loved this world He gave His only begotten Son so who ever will believe in Him shall never perish. The greatest act of love is for someone to sacrifice themselves for another. To give out of our abundance, is an act of kindness; to give to those who are in need, is an act of compassion. But to give our best, or our very life for the one we love is the greatest act of love of all. This is what God did for us He gave His best; He gave Himself to save us from hell.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

God has given us the greatest gift of love in Jesus. Jesus gave His life so we may fulfill our purpose to reflect the love of God in the earth and to live an abundant life. Mankind was just existing in this fallen state; he was living and breathing with little hope for his future because sin had enslaved him. God saw us in our depravity, in our deepest need, at our lowest point living a distorted life and He still loved us.

We were not looking like God in whose image we were created. Sin had so marred and disfigured us that our lives no longer reflected our creator. The love God has for us would not allow Him to leave us in our fallen state. God payed the ultimate sacrifice, death on the cross, that we may have forgiveness of sin and abundant life.

God created us out of His love so we can show His love on the earth. We were created to be the love of God to the world. But because of the fall, our heart, soul, mind and spirit have a gaping hole that can only be filled with the love of God. We may try other things but they will not satisfy the deep longing we have in us, that was created by our Maker for Himself.

People go looking for everything to satisfy their longing their need for love but nothing else will satisfy the love we need but the love of God. We can use a wrench as a hammer and it may do an adequate job but it will function at its optimum when it is used for what it was created. That is us when we are looking for love and validation in our work, in our families or in pleasure. We fell from our created purpose to show the love and to be the love of God in this world and became in need of love ourselves.

We developed a desperate need for someone to love us and sometimes at any price. We started longing to have someone to love or to have someone to love us. We often go searching for a feeling because that is how this world has defined love. Feelings are shallow physical and mental emotion. If we chase after what the world has defined as love, we will be looking for feelings and settling for a shallow existence when God has created us for so much more.

Those who do not know God and His unconditional love will wander around from place to place, person to person, looking for fulfillment. This will only end into defeat, disappointment and still not knowing true love, the Agape love, the unconditional love of God. His love loves us no matter what we have done or what we have failed to do. God loves because it is Who He is and when we are called by His name we too must show unconditional love to those who may not deserve it.

The world has sold us on a lie from hell, that we are unwanted, unworthy, and unloved. This is a lie from the father of lies, Satan. God, so loved us He would not leave us in our fallen state. He gave His best, His Son Jesus, so we would be saved from our worst self. Jesus became poor that we might become rich. He died that we may live. Jesus was beaten so we would receive His healing. He was chastised so we may have His peace. Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down His life even for someone who does not appreciate the sacrifice that is made.

John 3:16   For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The world has exalted the love of self over everything even at the expense of everyone else. The world tells us to love ourselves more even if it means hurting family, children, and friends we are to make ourselves happy. The world is good at redefining words so that they are more palatable for us to do wrong. The enemy of God has redefined words so our behavior does not appear to be as wicked, but it is just another strategy of Satan to entrap the people of God. He makes things glitter but it is not gold. Godly love is not selfish. Godly love gives and wants to see the best for others. God’s love has compassion for those who are hurting and God’s love will show love, even if it hurts.

Isaiah 53: 3-5 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.      NKJV

God sent His Son Jesus, as a baby to live as man in a fallen world. Jesus the creator of all creation was not accepted but was rejected by the world He made. In His unconditional love for the world He still gave His life to save us from destruction. This is the type of love God has planted in the hearts of His children. Love that gives though it may not receive. God’s Love pours out itself into the lives of others even though there may never be any visible signs of acceptance or appreciation.

The sacrifice God made for us, the death of Jesus, to be adopted into the family God is why God requires us to show this same love. It cost God a great price to save us and this is a small thing He asks of us, to love those who are un-deserving, worthless and pitiful. Though the world will not understand our forgiveness and love for others and our flesh may try to rise up and scream at us to take matters into our own hands, for revenge God tells us to show the love of Christ and the world will marvel.

Matthew 22:37-40  Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” NKJV

Jesus lived under the laws of the Old Testament and He explained the two greatest laws that were given, to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind and to love others as themselves. If the people would love God and love others to the level that they knew how, the love they had for themselves, all the other commandments rest on those two laws. If they loved God they would do those things that pleased and glorified Him. If they loved others, to the best of their human ability, as they love themselves, they would be fulfilling the law.

Romans 8:2-4   For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Jesus’s death and resurrection condemned and destroyed sin in our flesh and gave us life according to the Spirit of God. We could not love others who wronged us in our own strength in our natural fallen state. Jesus gave us the ability, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to love others unconditionally. Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh. If we are to be free of the past and love the God kind of love, we must set our minds on the things of the Spirit of God.

The traditions of religion want us to focus on the old commandments, thou shalt not and thou shalt not, the things we do. The world would have our minds focus on the things of the world, all the things we do not have or desire to have. Jesus came and fulfilled the law. He paid every sin debt to set us free from the law of sin and us trying to do things in our own strength. Jesus also set us free from the traditions of religious men who want to give us all types of rules to follow. God gave us the Holy Spirit to live in us to empower us to show the love of God.

 

John 13:34-25            A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

This is the new command Jesus gave us to love one another as He has loved us and it is by this love that we show to the undeserving, the world will know we have the love of God in us and we are His disciples. To love unconditionally is unnatural for the fallen man, he cannot show this type of love separated from God’s love. This is how the world will know we are followers of Jesus because we will lay down our rights, our comfort, and our pride for others so we may show them the unconditional love of God.

For those who say they are, saved; a Christian; a believer; love God and yet hate those who look like God are deceived. Self -deception is the worst type of deceptiveness because we are convinced we are right and sincere in our actions. There are those who hate out of religious convictions, social beliefs or because of financial and family opinions and yet in their minds they are justified.

 

What a master of deception the enemy of God is, to have those who are created in His image and likeness to hate those who reflect His image. That is a fallen and corrupted mind. Those who live according to their flesh minds are focused on the things of the flesh. This is why Jesus says it is by the love we have for one another people will know we are His disciples.

 

We must choose to set our minds on the things of the Spirit, the word of God, if we are going to live according to the Spirit of God. Our natural propensity is self-preservation and it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit and a renewed mind we can show love to those the world call un-loveable. Jesus gave us one new commandment, to love others as He has loved us and he told us how to walk in this love by having our minds on the things of the Spirit and not of the flesh.

Category:

Uncategorized

The Misconstrued Meaning of Christmas

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. NIV
Christmas has been said to be one of the most magical times of the year. We see more compassion and charity during this time than any other. People are moved to give and respond with acts of kindness we don’t often see. This is a time the world sets aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. While we know it is not the actual day of Jesus’ birth, it a time the world turns its attention to celebrate the birth of our Lord.

In some ways the world has taken a detour from the true meaning of Christmas. Some have gone down the path of commercialism and the hype of Santa Claus. They have taken what was a simple story of a man, St. Nicholas, who loved God, defended the truth of the Gospel and gave gifts to those in needs and changed the meaning. We have fantasized Christmas from the time our children are born to be about something that is not true and created a fantasy in the name of Santa Claus. What a trap the world has laid for us to believe, that in order for our children to have a good time we must create an imaginary person, when the real story is even more wondrous. We tell them Santa Claus knows when you are sleeping and awake, he knows when you’ve been bad or good…

Even when we are asked point blank “is there a Santa Claus?” What answer do we give? What do our children learn about truth and trust? When they get older and we try to tell them about a man named Jesus, who came to save the whole world, an ever present God Who knows our every deed. We can only imagine what must be going through their minds…” I’ve heard this story before and it was a lie then what makes it a truth now.” So when they ask about Santa Claus tell them about St Nicholas, a man of God who cared about the poor and needy and gave gifts to children because he loved God.

We are not saying we can’t have fun with Christmas and Santa Claus but let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas. Let’s tell our children about the Love God has for them and show them with the fun and gifts we share. God sent His Son Jesus as a baby to the earth so we can have life everlasting. St. Nicholas was a Christian man who helped the needy. His legend of gift giving grew into a legendary character known as Santa Claus. His belief in Christ as the greatest gift God has given to mankind was the motivation for his giving.

We know children enjoy the excitement of getting presents from Santa Claus just as they like Ninja Turtles, dinosaurs and Cinderella princess. However, when they come and ask us, “Are they real?” we don’t feel the need to tell them a lie so that they can continue to enjoy those characters. It is amazing to witness the extremes some adults will go to just to keep the fantasy going. Some people choose to do a birthday celebration with their children where gifts are given to each other because the greatest gift was given so freely to us all and that was Jesus. When people ask children about Santa Claus we would simple say “we have a birthday celebration for the birth of Jesus.” We may get some of the meanest words and looks all because we refused to lie to our children. But that’s ok it is a small price to pay for our children’s trust.

Category:

Uncategorized