Through Christ All Things Are Possible

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Mark 16:17-18

As a child of God, we are blessed with might and power that we probably don’t even realize we have… These verses teach us the supernatural power we can tap into, which only comes from the Lord… When we do things in the name of the Lord, positive results will follow. Mark tells us that we can cast out devils, we can speak with new tongues, and pick up serpents… All things are possible when we are in the care of our Lord and Savior; however, the key to unlocking these powers is the faith that we must have, which cannot waver or be snuffed out… In times of despair, in times of turmoil, in times of chaos, Mark teaches us today that with an unwavering faith and an unquenchable fire or zeal for the Lord, we will be able to do miraculous things… The words In my name speak to the connection and authority that we must receive through Christ to perform the impossible in our lives… 

Remember all the great things that Jesus did upon this earth, but also remember that He said, “Greater things than I will you do…”The mantle is ready to be passed, the limitless heights you can reach are in view, but you must walk according to the will of God and submit yourself totally to Him… We all have heard the saying, “You can tell a Leopard by its spots”; also true is the fact that you can tell a Christian by their abilities. One who has a vague outlook on life has question marks in their walk with God, one who can’t consider it pure joy when trials come needs to humble themselves a little more and the one who walks aimlessly through life must find the compass that is the Holy Spirit… Mark informs us today that we can distinguish a Christian by their actions on this earth. These instructions are given to the Disciples of Christ: we can cast out devils (resist and he will flee), speak in tongues (Acts 3^rd chapter), and take up serpents (be unafraid of danger). 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Submit and Resist

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

In life, we are assured of tests and temptations and will experience frustration and misfortune; however, the challenge for every believer in Christ is to stand in faith, trusting and believing that God will take care of the things that are out of our control… This passage, taken from the book of James, instructs us on how to overcome the storms and obstacles that plague our lives. To be victorious and be taken to another level in Christ, the first thing we must do is to submit ourselves to God, the word submit means to present or offer and this declares to us that if we want to be successful in life and be happy in this world, we must present our bodies to the Lord, we must offer our time, gifts and resources to the Most High God. To submit, you must humble yourself, you must surrender all; you must completely turn your life over into the hands of God… Understand today that submission requires admission… You must admit that you're not perfect, that you can’t make it on your own, and that you need the Lord to intervene in your life and guide you… You must acknowledge that without Him, you are nothing, you will be nothing, and hell awaits your arrival… Today, let us understand that to inherit eternal life, to receive the precious promises of God, to find peace and happiness, we MUST submit TOTALLY to Him… Some doors will be opened and some alterations to your life will be made when and only if you submit to the Lord… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Wants You Just As You Are

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

The psalmist makes a bold request unto the Lord, one that requires total devotion and acceptance of whatever happens next… In the darkest of hours, when all hope seems lost, when we have tried everything we can think of and can’t overcome the obstacle in front of us, what do we do? The psalmist turns to the Lord and asks Him to search him… This is a concluding and submissive statement that says I give up, I am tired of living this life, I am tired of experiencing these same results, and I desire more… The psalmist realizes that there are things in his life that must be holding him back, there are people in his life that may be causing him trouble, and since he cannot figure it out, nor can he overcome them, he asks God to search him… This is a powerful declaration today, one that speaks to the heart of man and poses a serious question as well… Have you asked God to search you? 

Are you tired of being tired, are you tired of hiding the skeletons in your closet, and tired of lying to cover up the lies of your past, then ask God to search you… In searching, you are seeking to find. God will search you today and seek the things that do not need to dwell in you or around you. It is only through His power and grace that you can be led in the way of everlasting… These verses cover a multitude of areas that we must allow God to inspect and clean… Have you asked God to try you and know your thoughts? The psalmist here wants us to understand what it is to have an intimate relationship with God. He has taken his life and placed it at the throne of the Most High. He has inquired of the Lord to cleanse him and mold him into the disciple that he has been called to be. In asking to be searched and tried, there is a request being made, but also a pledge of acceptance of whatever painful experiences that must be endured in order to have this request fulfilled (should that be the case)… You have to let God have His way in your life even if and when His way(s) do not align with yours… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Those Who Wait Find Strength

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:30-31  

Trying to make this trek on this journey called life within your own power guarantees you one thing and one thing only: FAILURE… It doesn’t matter how prosperous things may appear to be, it doesn’t matter how glowing your life may seem at the moment, Isaiah reminds us today that “Even the youths shall faint and be weary…” The strongest of all men will fail; the smartest of all mankind won’t be smart enough, and all “…shall utterly fall…” No matter how much success you have or how good your health is, we must all rely solely on the Lord… This requires us to totally submit ourselves to the will and power of God… So many of us are wondering why it is that we aren’t able to stand, why it is that we aren’t able to maintain and the answer lies in the fact that there are still parts of your life which you are still trying to control; these parts are also the same places where the enemy utilizes his most crafty devices to ruin the being which God created you to be… This is a scary thought, but I can’t help but reemphasize that this passage tells us there will come a time when the strongest will not be strong enough. The toughest will not be tough enough, and trials and tribulations will ravage the land to a point where nobody (walking in their own power) can stand. This passage shines light on the fact that there will be days in our lives when our strength will be futile and our minds will want to give up and give in to the ways of evil. The bible is clear that your faith will be tested (i.e., Job) and you will display your true devotion to the Lord or lack thereof… People often say, “There is strength in numbers.” Our motto as Christians is that there is strength in Christ…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

It's Only Possible Through Christ

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

This verse is a verse that clearly defines our religion and the foundation on which we stand… There are 4 non-negotiable points that are highlighted below that separate light from darkness, life from death, and sickness from health… There are many religions in our societies today, many different temples, churches, and synagogues; however, today we must examine why the religions all differ...

1) “I am the way…” In traveling, you can find many routes to reach your destination, sometimes stumbling upon a shortcut, or even finding that your route is much longer than another path… Whatever the case may be, today we are called to remember that there are no shortcuts in reaching heaven… There are no paths that will lead to an easy road of obtaining Salvation… All must go through Jesus!

2) “I am the truth…” There are a lot of false doctrines, a lot of people trying to appease the itching ear, and a lot of people who want to pick and choose which parts of the bible they want to hold as sacred and true… I don’t know about you, but I am tired of being lied to, tired of being suppressed, and tired of being disrespected! Jesus tells us today that all truth is in Him; He has the direction for your life, you won’t find any gimmicks in Him, no tall tales, no hidden fees… 

3) “…and the life!” Jesus told us that He came to give life and give it more abundantly… This simply tells me that I am not living until I know Him… Ezekiel was faced with a valley of dry bones; they came together; however, until He prophesied to the winds, there was no life in them… This rule applies to us today; many of us are moving, but not living… We are active but not alive, and this passage teaches us that without Jesus, death is certain and is already being experienced.

4) “…no man cometh to the father, but by me!” This is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for many who want to reach the destiny in which God has called them to… Remember that before Jesus' death on the cross, we could not go to the Father in prayer; however, as Jesus gave up His spirit, the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom, symbolizing the fact that we can now go to God in prayer… It is through Jesus and only through Him that we obtain the righteousness to be fit for the Kingdom of God…

In Jesus, you have your being; it is only through Him that you can find your way, live in truth, have life, and be with the Father for all Eternity…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

We Are One In Christ

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.

1 Corinthians 12:13-14

Only one avenue paved by the blood of Jesus leads to Eternal Life… Paul starts off these verses by declaring, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…” There are many religions in this world, many gods that people worship; however, we need to know and remember, just as Paul states to the church of Corinth, that we serve the True God… We cannot in any way, shape, or form negotiate our faith in Jesus Christ… More importantly, we cannot place ourselves above others who come into the Faith… There is a big problem in churches today where people are turned away because of others who look down on them… We must be mindful that all people from all walks of life have been given a chance to inherit Eternal Life and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior… You weren't always saved, there were and are still dark areas in your life, and just like Jesus has saved you by His bloodshed, you also must allow for His saving power to draw whomever to Him and embrace them with open arms… This very reason is why Paul says it doesn't matter what culture you are from, it doesn't matter “…whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free…” Jesus proclaimed that He came for the sick (this taught the people of yesterday and today that there is no barrier to God’s love or what depths He can go to reach or save a soul)… It is of the utmost importance that we stop judging one another based on age, race, or gender and realize that God looks at the heart of man and not the body that houses it… 

ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

The Earth Is Filled With His Glory

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Numbers 14:21

The bible records that at the creation of the world (darkness had covered the face of the deep)… There are so many dark areas in our lives, so many things that we are not proud of, so many choices that we have made that we don’t want people to know about, nor do we want to acknowledge… Today, in the book of Numbers, we see that all darkness will be expunged from the earth… Truly, the Lord does live, and because He lives, we can take pride today in knowing that “…all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord…” The glory of the Lord is His splendor, beauty, and wonder; knowing that His beauty will fill the earth gives enough confidence to the believer today to smile amid trials… His splendor will fill the earth, He will be exalted through the darkness of this land, His light will shine and your path will grow brighter and brighter as you walk according to His will and plan for you… We must understand today that in reading this verse, we confidently make the claim that the light of God shines in us and through us… Today’s focus verse starts off with the words, But as truly as I live; this is a statement of faith and confidence in God, which should be the same claim that we make daily… As surely as I live, I know that God loves me and will continue to mold me, I can allow all the mistakes of yesterday, all the dark areas of my life to be exposed after reading this passage because I don’t want to carry this weight anymore, I don’t want to give the enemy a foothold anymore (Ephesians 4:27) and I am tired of walking on egg shells… I know there is beauty in me and in the path which God has for me… He shall be revealed and the life I have in Him shall be fulfilled... 

ALL FOR CHRIST!