Tradition & Philosophy (Two Deceptive Vices)...

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Colossians 2:8

So many people get caught up in the physical appearance of a church or the traditions that were instilled in them from a young age… The things that we believe to be true (by word of mouth) may not necessarily coincide with the way in which Christ has designed us to be… The word of God is something that you must know for yourself simply because there are many people in the pulpits that don’t have your best interest at heart… We are tempted in many ways and forms to follow anything but the path that Jesus Christ paved for us through His bloodshed on the cross…Paul reminds us of that fact in today’s focus verses which sheds light on the many avenues in which we can be deceived… Today we focus on a letter that Paul writes to the church of Colosse about guarding yourself against the attacks of the devil and his evil intentions… Paul has laid the foundation of the church and Colosse and as people have begun to convert unto Christianity, there are some men who have begun to try and infiltrate the church and deceive the congregation… Make no mistake about it, as soon as you make the choice to follow Christ; that’s the same time in which the devil turns his attack toward you… Often time we focus on the things of the world as being evil, but today Paul reminds us that our biggest adversary can be found within the church… I once heard a man say that the devil resides in the church, not because He wants to be religious, but because he has no cares about whoever is living according to the worldly standard… Paul teaches us today about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right kind of people and also establishing a sturdy foundation upon the word of God on your own… We live in a world where we have more and more people receiving their doctorate in theology, more and more people attending seminary and more and more people building churches; however, we see more and more corruption in the church, more and more thieves in the pulpit and more and more souls being lost… People have begun to follow men instead of following God and Paul reminds us today through his letter to the church of Colosse that we must beware and be vigilant… Understand that there are a lot of people in the church that aren’t of the church and will try to spoil the congregation…Jesus informed us of this when He said, “a little yeast leavens the whole loaf…” It doesn’t take much to stray away, it doesn’t take much to make a mistake, and it doesn’t take much to lose focus…

Not only must we understand that the devil is active in attendance in the church, but Paul reveals to us exactly how it is that he conducts himself… “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit…” If you don’t study the word of God for yourself how will you know when you are being deceived or feed a personal agenda… The devil isn’t sitting back plucking your nerves during the church service, he is teaching the word of God through false doctrine and satisfying the itchy ear… When Peter established the first church in the book of Acts, Luke records that the disciples listened to the teachings of the Apostles and then went home to read it for themselves…The bible instructs us that we are not to put confidence in man; this applies physically and spiritually… People have been lead astray because they have not studied the word for themselves, people have fallen short because they have not applied themselves to the teachings and preaching’s of Jesus Christ… The devil in active in every phase of our lives and we must understand that his biggest point of attack is deception… Paul was worried about the church becoming distracted, Paul was worried about the disciples being sidetracked and diverted… There are many men who are looking to prop themselves up, place themselves on pedestals and receive recognition… It is of the utmost importance that we not only actively study the word of God, but that we surround ourselves with people who are focused on living a life that pleases the Lord… The bible says that we can tell a tree by the fruit it bares… A man can be known simply by watching their actions and examining their intent; instead of living and abiding in the word of God they get caught up in traditions (just like the Pharisee’s), instead of reading the word of God they are more worried about what the latest trend is or fashion statements are… We often hear people say that they are looking for the perfect church and I once heard someone say that you will never find a perfect church because its perfection will be lost as soon as you join… There is a lot of truth in the fact that you will never find a perfect church; however, the key is knowing and understanding where the flaws are (really knowing that the flaws are not in the doctrine being taught) so that you aren’t ensnared by them…

BE BLESSED!!!

In Acceptance There Is Power...

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

John 1:12

The door to your victory is right in front of you; the questions that lie as the doormat are whether you will open it or not… John declares to us today that we have the ability to reach higher and go farther, we have the authority from above do greater things that we couldn’t even imagine; however, you must first humble yourself to be exalted… You can be stronger than every today, but you must first become weak, you can have more in your life than you have today, but you must give up the things that you cling to now… John starts off this verse by saying “as many as received him…” You have a choice to make, you decide the outcome and verdict of your life… Jesus said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock,” he wants you to open up and let Him in… You can withstand this test, you can overcome this obstacle and you can master this journey… You have the ability because Christ deposited it in you from Calvary… You have the power to become sons of God, what a truly powerful statement… This declaration simply means that you have the power to alter your life, you have the power to be what people said you couldn’t be and you have the power to decide to live instead of die… The enemy wants you to believe that you are powerless; however, God wants you to know that you are more powerful than you even realize… You can right your wrongs, you can change your course and you can make your latter better than your former…  The keys to victory are within reach, the mantle of success is within your sight and the first step to obtain them is to receive the Lord Jesus Christ… When you are a son of God you are covered and are assured victory… We are told in John the 10^th chapter 28^th verse that as a child of God we are protected and safe… Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” When you walk in the will of God though you may stumble you won’t fall, though you slip you will not be cast down for God cares for you and will sustain you… You will have the power to become God’s son, which means you will be able to reach the highest heights, overcome the most daunting task and find your name in the Book of Life… Know that Just like Jesus, we have a mission to complete, a set of task with our names on them… Jesus came to this earth with a purpose, He came to this earth to complete a mission and fulfill the prophesies of old… John records today that when Jesus took the form of man there were many who didn’t believe, when Jesus went about through the countries, villages and communities their were many who rejected His teachings; however John speaks today to those who embraced the teachings of Jesus and accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior…

The purpose of Jesus ministry was simple, to seek and save that which was lost, sadly just as in the days He walked this earth, there are many that have rejected His word and have not acknowledged the fact that they are lost… God desires a relationship with all His creation, but you must first understand where you are as a lost soul… John says, “As many as received Him…” Not everyone receives Jesus Christ as Lord, for many religions this is the stumbling block or the divider that separates each form of spiritual identity… As a child of God, we take pride in knowing where we ONCE were and where we now stand in receiving Jesus Christ… John starts off his book of the gospel by informing us that “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God… He was God in the beginning…” Salvation is not obtained by works or deeds, salvation is not purchased or won, and salvation came through the form of Jesus Christ and can only be obtained through Him…This scripture recorded in the gospel of John should bring joy to the hurts of all who read it… Salvation was made available unto the Jews first, but because of their stubbornness and unwillingness to accept Jesus Christ you and I have now been afforded a golden opportunity to become sons of God… Just think about how many doors have been opened unto you because someone else didn’t want to walk through them, think about the path of life you were own which led to hell, but now you have a chance to turn and go in a new direction… Salvation is as far as your heart is from your mouth… The bible says that if we confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts that Jesus is the Christ we shall be saved… When we accept Jesus Christ as our savior we receive power to become sons of God… The power to become sons of God also gives us the power to overcome, the power to maintain, the power to succeed and the power to be victorious… Jesus had this power and it led Him to the cross and raised Him from the dead… We have the power, but it will be shown when we face our cross (trials), when we face our death (adversity)… God’s power doesn’t mean that you won’t get knocked down from time to time, God’s power means that you will get back up… God’s power that we receive as His child doesn’t mean you won’t cry sometimes, it means that eventually those tears of sorrow will turn to tears of joy… God’s power doesn’t mean that you won’t make mistakes sometimes, God’s power means you will learn from them and become a stronger and more mature Christian… We have Jesus to thank for the ability to have life and have it more abundantly; we have Jesus to thank for paving ways out of no way and opening doors for us to walk through… We have Jesus to thank for giving us the power and might to overcome and be reconciled back to the father… If you receive Him today, He will transform you, He will strengthen you and He will deliver you… You were created in God’s image; now receive Jesus so that you can walk in the prosperity and victory that God ordained for your life before you were even born…

BE BLESSED!!!

Guard Your Heart...

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23

The most important thing you have is your heart… Your heart provides life within your physical body as well as your connection with the Lord… You are called to guard your heart today because your life (physically and spiritually) depends on it… If you have a heart of hatred and envy you cannot have a connection with the Lord; the bible tells us that God is love and love is something that starts in the heart… The heart is a very sacred and vital organ both to your physical and spiritual life… If we take the analogy of the heart being a pump, we know that whatever is inside the heart will be pumped out (in the physical since this is the blood that travels through our veins, in the spiritual we are talking about whatever Godly or worldly things that reside within)…This is why we are reminded that if we want to live we must keep our heart… The heart is the source, it’s the critical point and it’s the very place you’re most likely attacked by the devil… Luke 6:45 says, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” How often do you give your heart to others? How many times have you found yourself allowing someone or something to have authority over you by controlling your heart…Whether we have come to realize it or have not comprehended it yet, the heart is the center of our living and being… David wrote in Psalm 37 that if we delight in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart… God knows how critical it is that we maintain our heart; He knows the importance of the heart and has told us that if we make Him first in our lives He will give us the things that we seek… God knows the things that we seek are love, appreciation, acceptance and happiness… Today we are reminded that just because we seek those things doesn’t mean we try to obtain them at all cost… The proverb today reminds us that we must “Keep thy heart with all diligence…” The book of Proverbs was written by the wisest man that ever lived (Solomon), but even he was subdued and humbled when he did not protect his heart… I am a firm believer that doors open in your life, but I am a (n) even firmer believer that not every door is meant for you to walk through… That being said, we must understand that being patient and thorough when it comes to matters of the heart are critical not only in Christianity but in simply living in this world… The bible says that the devil is seeking to steal, kill and destroy and the truth of the matter is that he will only accomplish this by obtaining control of your heart… The proverb says in all diligence, we must make every effort, put every last bit of energy in preserving our heart… The bible records many verses speaking to the importance of the heart and how it is the foundation of our direction… Paul wrote to the Romans about salvation and how it is received through the heart, Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

It is critical that we understand the value that the heart holds… When we say that we truly love someone, that love comes from the depths of our heart, when we look beyond someone’s faults what is displayed is the genuine heart that we possess… Solomon goes on to tell us that the reason we must protect our heart is because the issues of life come from the heart… When we have a heart for something we have the mindset and drive to do it, that in and of itself is important because a lot of us have the heart to do the wrong things… We have allowed the enemy to penetrate our minds so long, that our heart has become poisoned and we have begun to go down the wrong roads in this life… Every turn you make in life is decided by your heart, every decision you make is validated by your heart and if your heart is in the wrong place than that is where you will be also… The heart is serves as the lead for all actions; whether good or bad… This is why (as we read earlier) Luke tells us that the good in a mans heart brigns forth things that are good, while a evil heart bringeth forth evil… Nobody will every truly understand your actions or what motivates you to do things in your life because they cannot see your heart… If Solomon was allowed to go by his eyesight he would’ve anointed David’s oldest brother king; however, in that very passage God tells us how important the heart is, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Your heart will manifest its true desires by the way you conduct yourself in every day affairs… This is not to be misconstrued to say that you will be perfect, but that your actions will be justifiable based on your heart… This is why in the midst of all the sins that David committed God said that “he was a man after mine own heart…” You are guaranteed to make mistakes, but you must make sure that in the process of your failures your heart stays right… As men and women, we see the desires of mankind and the issues of people’s lives by how they act from day to day… If you are a genuine person and a person that desires the right things, your heart will show that by the actions that you choose to engage in… Today is a day where I think it is appropriate that we examine our hearts… We examine the desires of our heart and make sure that we have protected our heart from the devises of the devil… The issues of life are the things that affect us, but also the ways in which we live… An issue is subject, concern or topic; the issues of life are whatever we make them… If we become worried about a job it’s a (n) issue, if we stay up all night because of a relationship, we make it a (n) issue and all this derives because we have allowed our heart to be invaded by things that are not of God… When we allow God in and keep our hearts with all diligence the issues of life become living the way God would have me to live, smiling in the face of adversity and speaking a good/kind word to an enemy… I don’t have to hear you speak or even ask you questions to determine what kind of heart you have; it will be shown in your living… The bottom line is that you must protect yourself and your life… If you’re careless with your heart and give it to any and everybody, it will be shown by how torn and tattered your life is…

BE BLESSED!!!

Let Not Your Hands Be Weak...

"Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded." 

2 Chronicles 15:7

Today take courage in knowing that your labor is not in vain… There are many people who toil throughout the day with nothing to show for their efforts; however, we are reminded today that everything that we do according to the will of God shall be rewarded… The word of God starts off today by reminding us to “Be ye strong…” The word strong deals with a mental and psychological stability in Christ when we are surrounded by snares and temptations… The reward that you work for is a reward that may not be seen upon this earth… You have to have a mindset that you work in Christ will last even if the fruit of the seeds sown haven’t come to harvest… This is the strength that we are called to have as the next part of the verse says “and let not your hands be weak…” The word of God doesn’t declare that this road will be easy; however, there are several verses that call for us to know that our labor will not be in vain… Paul wrote his first letter to the church of Corinth and told them “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” You may see people who appear to be of the this world striving and advancing past where you currently reside; you may hear about people getting promotions that you deserved and they don’t’ have a personal relationship with the Lord… Whatever the case may be, as a child of God you must have your eyes focused on the bigger picture…The things around you will cripple you if you let them… The task that seems to daunting will overtake you if you focus on the appearance of the storm instead of the reality of the Love that God has for you… You cannot allow your hands to become weak even though you may feel like you are carrying a great load; you cannot give up on the journey and the motivation to keep striving is found in the promise at the end of this verse which says “for your work shall be rewarded…” This passage is written after the temple of the Lord was dedicated and the people of God were informed that their sins could be forgiven and their land healed if they turned to the Lord (2 Chronicles 7:14)…

God wants to open up doors in your life, He wants to take you higher than you could ever imagine, but you must be willing to fight the good fight and keep the faith… This is why Paul not only wrote the passage we examined from his first epistle to the church of Corinth, but even understanding all the ups and downs that the church of Galatia experienced along with the different temptations that were at their door; Paul also penned a verse to the believes in that province calling for them to know that they will reap a harvest… “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” The key to your success lies within you; you cannot give up nor give in to the pressures of this world… This is why on yesterday we examined the fact that we must endure our temptations… Everything you face in life can either lead you to your destiny or limit it; the question is which course will you choose and the strength or weakness within your hands declares the answer… I once heard a saying that hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard and this is true of the kingdom of God… I recite this quote simply because we all have a unique talent of gift from above; however, the way in which we utilize this gift displays the results that we seek… If you limit your gift according to this world than you limit your abilities and will never reach the plateau that God has set before you… If you are willing to get your hands dirty and push through this rugged terrain you latter is guaranteed to be better than your former and you will reach a point in your life where you are able to look back and truly be thankful for all that you went through which lead you to where you are… Everything that happens in your life happens for a reason; however, a lot of us never understand the “why” to the storm because we run for shelter instead of standing in faith… If you have the strength that comes from above, you can stand in the midst of the storm knowing that “this too shall pass” and sunshine and rainbows are sure to follow… Stay encouraged, stay focused and most importantly stay in the vineyard because the harvest is right around the corner…

BE BLESSED!!!

Endure Your Temptations...

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

James 1:12

Every man faces temptations; however, the one that is blessed is the one that endures them and doesn’t give in…  I was once told that the saddest thing about someone quitting a project or process is that they never realize how close they were to completing it and the same can be said of our Christian journey… The temptations we face appear to be the easy way out, but the reality is that you are so close to the blessings of God if you just hold on a little while longer… The things that catch your eye in this life will never satisfy the vision that God has placed inside of you… The difference between being blessed and not lies in the sacrifice and obedience that one has within… Daily, we all face decisions; however, the question that we have to have at the heart of our decisions is to whom are we trying to please… You can only endure temptations if you have a hearts desire to please the Lord… Make no mistake about it, the story of your life is unique to you, but the challenges that you faced in getting to where you are now is quite similar to everyone on this journey… We all have been and will be tested; this is why James says “for when he is tried…” he doesn’t say if, but when; you can rest assured that in seeking to live according to the will of God that Satan will try you… He will try to paint a picture of gloom and doom and lead you down a path of destruction that will end with you throwing in the towel… See often times we try to paint a image of Christianity without temptations or snares and this is why so many people can’t endure the rough terrain of this journey… I don’t’ know what your bible tells you, but the word of God that I read tells me that we will be persecuted, we will suffer and that we will endure hardships… We must stop relying on our own ability and start to allow God to move on our behalf… It doesn’t matter how strong you are, it doesn’t matter how tough you might appear to be, you cannot defeat this enemy on your own and this is why you are not called to overcome but to endure… To endure means that you bear, tolerate or undergo; you must bear the storms in your life, you must tolerate the words of your adversary and undergo the battles of the opposition… Notice that in this enduring you are not called to fight back or engage… A lot of times we misunderstand endurance and confuse it with perseverance… You are not called to stand against the enemy, you are called to speak Christ and let the Lord fight your battles…

This is why Isaiah tells us that we can only walk in run in Christ… “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Notice that when we grow tired in life, when we stumble in fall we must put our hope in the Lord to have our strength renewed… I recite this passage because a lot of times we say that people are falling by the wayside because they have lost their battle when in reality they have fallen because they are fighting a battle that is not theirs to fight… You get weary from toiling, from laboring and when you do this on your own you are assured to fall… This same principle can be applied to our very lives; we seek success by our hands and so we fall into the temptations of pleasing men and not God… In your endurance you are assured success as James tells us that when you endure and don’t give in “he shall receive the crown of life…” When you labor in the Lord you will bear fruit for life; when you labor in the world you bear fruit for the moment… The fruit of life takes longer to bear because it last beyond the moment; I say this to challenge you to seek the longer lasting fruit of life instead of the tempting fruit of the moment… The things we endure on this earth in the name of our Lord are guaranteed to produce lasting fruit in our lives as we are told in the concluding words of this verse that God will bring them to past because “the Lord hath promised to them that love him…” James calls us in today’s focus verse to make sure that our priorities align with the will of God… This is a daunting task to undertake as we all seek to achieve success and be accepted within our peer’s circles…  On this journey we will be tried, we will be tested, and we will experience adversity. People will talk about us, people will turn there backs on us, and people will try and discourage our walk. The devil will continue to press us, the devil will continue to try and push us over the age, and the devil will try to destroy our faith. However, it is very sweet to know that Jesus sits high and looks low; Jesus hears our every cry, and Jesus is waiting for us to complete this journey so that he can crack the sky and say well done thy good and faithful servant. So just hold on, be strong and of good courage, we have to be tested, but there is a tremendous reward if we continue to pass the test!

BE BLESSED!!!

Labor & Suffer With A Purpose...

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

1 Timothy 4:10

There are two kinds of men on this earth; those who work for the reward of today and those who work for the reward of tomorrow… Your drive as far as your work ethic displays the kind of man that you are… When things don’t go as you planned or you don’t’ see the immediate fruits of your labor, how do you handle those situations… Paul reminds us today that we must remember that the prize we labor for will not be manifested upon this earth… Timothy faced a lot of peer pressure when he took up the calling of ministry that was placed upon his life; however, it was through this passage that Paul reminds Him that we suffer not for material things, but “because we trust in the living God…” Not every person you meet will have a zeal of love for Christ… Not everyone you meet will want to share in your witness or see the name of Christ exalted; it is in these times that we must remember the services that we take part it… We are not about pleasing men nor are we doing this for form or fashion… I serve Christ because I believe that He died for y sins, I serve Him because I believe that I can do nothing without Him, but that with Him all things are possible… I will “suffer reproach” because I believe I have found a (n) answer to the void that is in my life which cannot be filled my men… Don’t give in to the temptation of earthly success; don’t give in to the appearance of happiness that comes with material things… Know that you are working toward a far more precious prize and the more you go through the better it will be… Paul is reminding Timothy of the same thing that he told the Church of Rome in the 8^th chapter of his letter… “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior, there are two things embodied by that choice that are guaranteed; one is that you will inherit eternal life and the other (least talked about) is that you will suffer… Paul charges Timothy today after Timothy tried to run from the gospel, Timothy found this road to be to difficult at times and wanted to give up… The bible is filled with passages that speak to the suffering that a child of God will endure… When Paul had his Damascus road experience, the Lord said that he will see how much he will have to suffer for me, when Jesus was instructing His disciples he told them to keep in mind that they hated him first and that they would experience much persecution… David pleaded with God on several occasions through his psalms about the suffering that he was experiencing throughout his life… This road that we travel is not for the weak at heart! This journey is not for the swift, but for those who endure! Paul said, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling…”

In today’s passage, Paul is teaching and instructing Timothy that this walk as a Christian is in fact harder than to walk as a man of the world! When you choose God, you go against everything that you come in contact with on this earth; it is in essence, “it really is you against the world!” Paul knew what he dealt with and he is teaching us today, that because of your commitment to God, the devil will try to destroy the hope and visions that you cling too as a child of God! You will face trials and tribulations, there will be days when nothing makes sense in your life, and you will find yourself crying from time to time at night! Jesus said for us to keep in mind, “that they hated him first!” We are walking in Jesus light, he was spit on, he was whipped, he was mocked, he was scorned, but in the end he received all power in the palm of his hand! We are assured that every trial will serve a purpose; we are assured that every obstacle will be overcome; we are assured that all who believe will be saved… Jesus said that all who suffer for his name sake shall be saved… The storms of your life come because you are serving Him, the trials that you face are because you desire pure love… Paul wants us to understand that we have made the best decision for us and the worse decision for Satan and that’s why we suffer reproach… Reproach is criticism, scolding, accusation and rebuke… People will talk negatively when you try to better yourself, the devil will try to pull you down by lies and gossip when you choice to follow Jesus, but even through all that we are assured that trusting in God will lead to victory and salvation… Your hardships bring about maturity, your destiny will be met through your tribulations, and God knows that this is an uphill battle! It is easy to sin because we came into the world as sinners! The transformation to be more Christ like is like learning how to walk; it’s easier to crawl, but walking opens up doors for you to experience other things such as skipping, jumping, and leaping! If you crawl (walk in sin) you are limited by what you can achieve! If you walk (live as Christ) doors are open for you to experience more than you ever thought possible! So let us walk in the light, let us endure the pain and fiery darts, because in the end it will be well with your soul and your rewards will be far beyond what the world could offer! When you crawl you are at one of the most vulnerable positions you can be in; however, in order to walk you must first stand up… Doors will be opened, progress will be made and yes you will fall sometimes throughout your learning curve, but take confidence in knowing that through Christ you will always be able to get up! More importantly know that you will achieve more in Christ than you will and the world and you will receive more as well…

BE BLESSED!!!

It Shall Come To Pass...

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2:21

The saving grace that is our God will be most evident in our transition from this life to the next… Don’t get bothered by the measures of the success that appears to be obtained by men of this world, don’t become bothered or bogged down when you see someone who appears to have more than you; the scriptures tell us today the same things that is echoed in the gospel of Matthew which says, "So the last will be first, and the first will be last." The people who appear to be in front will be the same ones knocking on heavens gates when this life is over… The people who suffer now will be rejoice later and the promises of God shall be fulfilled… No matter what you face in life or the storms that you currently are going through; Luke reminds us that we need to continue to “call on the name of the Lord…” He will hear your faintest cry, you are not out of the reach of His love and mercy… When you call on the Lord know that He will save you… This saving spoken of in today’s focus verse may be evident in the path of life you lead or it may just be that when you have run this race your reward will be one that takes your breath away (in awe) instead of having you screaming and yelling from the heat of hell… Luke wants you to have faith in knowing that you shall be saved; it doesn’t matter what you have done or what you have been told, God can save any man or woman if they call on Him… This passage is written after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ; the disciples have been hiding in the upper room and many have feared for their very lives… Through this trying time Jesus shows himself unto the disciples to reignite their faith… The faith that had them walking in adoration to the Lord needed to reignite in them because their faith had become fear… You may be in a place where the faith you once claimed now has become the fear that you are limited by… Jesus comes to reignite you today through these words and this is why the pass starts out with the words, “And it shall come to pass”… Though we suffer for a moment the promises of God “shall come to pass”, even though we face trials, hardships and adversity we are reminded today that the fulfillment of God’s promises are not notated by an “if” but “when”… Through Jesus death we all were given a chance to inherit eternal life… Through His suffering the path was paved for all mankind to change direction and not be condemned according to the sin that we are born in… The bible tells us that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; understand that we all have done things we wish we could change or have made decisions that weren’t the right ones… Luke writes today in the book of Acts that we all have a chance to right our wrongs, we have an opportunity to change our direction, and we have be given an opening to improve our future and outlook on life! This chapter recorded in the historical book of Acts takes place after Jesus departure from this earth, in the 1^st chapter 8^th verse Jesus instructs His disciples that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes, He then goes on to tell them that they will be His witness throughout the world… Shortly after Jesus final instructs unto His disciples He disappears into the clouds and we find Peter and the others beginning to lay the foundation of Christianity…

God’s desire is that all men would come to know Him, love Him and honor Him… Jesus life on this earth simply teaches me that despite my faults and missteps God truly does love me and wants me back in the fold… This passage reminds me today that I need not be focused on my past failures; it reminds me that I need not regret my choices of yesterday, but that I should take pride in knowing that I have a chance to receive eternal salvation through the sacrifice of Christ! The next piece in this verse says, “Whosever shall call on the name of the Lord”, it doesn’t matter your economic status, political party or even how far you have strayed away… God is not worried about the depths of your mistakes or the impact of your choices, if you acknowledge Him and His saving power you can be delivered from the deepest pit or your darkest hour… Whosever tells me that there isn’t a single person on this earth who can’t change their future! What Luke is telling us today is that the backslider can repent and be forgiven, the adulterer can receive a new lease on life, and the drug addict can become a symbol of hope and a bright future! All you have to do is call on the name of the Lord… Today, stop trying to figure things out on your own, stop trying to handle every situation and turn to the Lord for the time has come and is upon us where we shall be saved… Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord (there is only one Lord) shall be saved! Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy! He came for the one’s who sought the wrong pleasures, the one who engaged in the wrong activities, the one who is lost and confused… He strung his arms out for that person, He died for that individual! If you look at your past, you will know that your name was written in His thoughts and was purified as the blood came trickling down His face! Again, this verse starts by saying, “And it shall come to pass…” You will be saved, you will be victorious, and you will overcome when Christ returns… You may not be experiencing victory right now but victory will come to pass… You may not be smiling right now but your smiling time will come to pass… We are assured through the writings of Luke that the day will come when Jesus will crack the sky, the time will come when all the dead in Christ shall rise and be caught up in the air, the moment will come when we will here the words “Well done…” Luke says the time shall come, it is upon us today… Stop what your doing and know that Christ is real and waiting for you to turn to Him… Tomorrow is not promised; today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present… So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and revitalize your life by giving Jesus a chance…

BE BLESSED!!!

He's Worthy of Glory, Honor & Power...

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Revelation 4:11

The message of our focus verse today is quite simple; don’t forget who the creator is…? Keep in mind today of who formed you in your mother’s womb and who has kept you thus far… The best temptation that we face in life is taking great for things that happen as positives in our lives… It is so easy for us to question God when things don’t go according to plan; however, it is just as easy to say I when things work in your favor or on your behalf… John reminds us today to bring into captivity that the Lord is worthy to receive glory and honor and power, for He created all things… Your life should be overflowing with thanksgiving to God because He and He alone has you where you are today… For those who may say that I am not happy where I am, you should be thankful that you still have a opportunity (if you are reading this message you are alive) to gain the knowledge and wisdom that comes from your current situation so that you can go to the next level that Christ has for you… This passage puts forth the importance of the glory, honor and power that is due to the father… Turnover every situation to Him, trust that He can do anything but fail and know that there is a reason in everything that happens and a method to the madness… John wants you to know today that when you open your mouth to the Lord the words that come out should be words of praise and humility before Him… So many of us have gotten bold (this is not the boldness that we are to have as mentioned in Hebrews 4:16) with the Lord and we wonder why things have not gotten better… You complain about your problems instead of asking God to open your eyes to see and understand the message amidst the storm… In everything that you achieve or any measure of praise that is directed toward you, remember that all these things are made possible because of the grace that has been bestowed upon you… You are alive not because of your alarm clock or a dream this day; it is because of His grace… You are able to make it through storm after storm and trial after trial not because of your perseverance, but His grace…

John challenges us to offer of praise in the midst of great hardship and travail… He challenges us to hold our head up in the midst of great affliction or suffering… You may ask how this is possible and it is possible by reading the way John concludes this revelatory verse… John ends the 11^th verse by saying, “for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." I know that someone may be saying right now, what does this have to do with the storms and trials that I face and the answer is that nobody knows the creation better than the creator… This is why you can give Him glory and honor; this is why you can turn the power over to the Lord concerning your situation… You were created in the image of God, you were formed for His purpose and designed with a unique plan… You can smile in the face of adversity because you know that the creator knows the limits of His creation… God will never put more on you than you can bear… He has you in the palm of His hand and no man can pluck you out… You can give Him glory, honor and power for He has created all things… The storms you face, He knows how to overcome it, the trials that have been created to hold you down He designed to prop you up… The stumbling blocks that lay before you are really stepping stones leading you to your destiny… Stand still today and know that God is God… John says that everything was created for His pleasure… God doesn’t gain pleasure out of the suffering of His people, He gains pleasure when they overcome and turn to Him… God will gain pleasure out of the things that you go through because they are designed to turn you to Him and your destiny… Joseph, the son of Jacob received dreams from the Lord about His life and told His brothers; the bible declares that in the book of Genesis his brothers were envious of him and sought to get rid of him… After placing him in a cistern (there was no water) and eventually selling him into slavery; Joseph goes on to be falsely imprisoned at the hands of potiphar’s wife; however, in the end the dreams that God gave Joseph at the age of 17 was still fulfilled and he was able to look back and say, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” There is an expected end for you and the creator knows that needs to happen in the creations life in order for it to come to pass… Stay before the Lord not because of the situation, but because you know that His plan is perfect and you will emerge from the fire as pure gold… For that alone, God truly is worth of all glory, honor and power…

BE BLESSED!!!

The Door Hasn't Closed On Your Future...

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Ezekiel 18:21

There is still hope for all who continue to fall short in this journey we call life (I am included)… Though we have made mistakes and given into temptations we are reminded today that we still can overcome and be victorious… Ezekiel speaks to a rebellious house today who turned from God to seek other gods and other possessions… The message written at the time of Israel’s disobedience carries the same value and weight for us today… We too, have strayed away from God’s will… It’s not about the magnitude or ripple affect of your ways, but the fact that you must humble yourself in your imperfection and seek to turn from sin… Even though you may not be suffering or experiencing great turmoil in your life, Ezekiel reminds us that we all have to turn in order to live and not die… This means that the person that feels like their life is successful still needs Jesus just as much as the person who may be in the dark alley amongst spirits of addiction… The scripture we find today informs us of the process that we must undergo in becoming a child of God and reaching the heights in this life that only God can and has made possible… As I have stated several times through different devotions or inspirational messages, it doesn’t matter how far you have fallen, how many mistakes you have made or how many temptations that you have given into… God sits high and looks low, He desires to have a more intimate relationship with you and if you desire the same Ezekiel outlines the way that this relationship can be established and maintained… Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” All have sinned and fallen short, every man or woman, every boy or girl… It’s a sobering reality, but it is also the first step in developing the right relationship with the Lord…; today we find the steps to redemption and salvation which are outlined here in the book of the prophet Ezekiel…

1) The first step “But if the wicked…” We must not acknowledge our position as sinners and accept the fact that we are not nor will we ever be perfect on this earth… Ezekiel is speaking to a rebellious house, a people that abstained, objected and denied God… We too have rejected the teachings of God; we have denied the will of God in our lives and clothed ourselves with the will and ways of the world… God desires all creation to return unto him, but we must understand that we are wicked and acknowledge that we are in need of a savior in order to open up the door that God will enter into… The process of becoming a child of God and receiving His blessings begin with this vital step. In acknowledging sin, we humble ourselves and allow God to become the center of our lives…

2) The second step is “turn from all his sin that he hath committed…” you must have an attitude that learns from your mistakes and doesn’t continue in the path of darkness! We all have fallen short, but must realize that until we turn away and back to God we will not be released from the weight of our sin… Change is never easy to accept of to do, but we must “turn” and change our lifestyle, habits and friends in order to even begin to entertain a relationship with God… This step is critical after acknowledging your wickedness because it isn’t until we turn that change can begin to manifest itself… The first two steps go hand and hand, the bible says “if you confess with your mouth (acknowledge) and believe in your heart (turn) you shall be saved…

3) The third step in this process of sanctification is “…and keep all my statues…” Even though we understand the importance in recognizing your sin and desiring to turn away from it, it is not enough to turn from your wickedness, that is the beginning but that doesn’t release you from eternal damnation; in turning you are prepared for accepting and committing your life to Christ! Once you join a gym, results are not seen until you actually workout and develop your regimen; likewise, we must abide within God’s will if we want to experience results and receive God’s bountiful blessings and rewards!

4) The last step in this process is that you “…do that which is lawful and right…” No only must we keep his statures, but we must remain steadfast in God’s laws; understand that this is not an overnight process, and that it takes time… You must do that which is lawfully right, adhere to His commandments daily, when you begin to analyze your ways and thoughts and focus your attention on God, you will begin to live and death will have no more dominion over you!

BE BLESSED!!!