Listen More And Talk Less

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

James 1:19-20

I was once told you were given one mouth and two ears for a reason… You should listen twice as much as you speak… Growing up with 7 siblings, arguments seem to be a daily routine within our household; whether someone was wronged, a (n) item was taken or the channel on the television was switched; it was never a matter of talking through things but rather yelling out of control until our parents stepped in and took whatever we were arguing about away from us… Being rebellious and retaliatory are natural traits of human nature… When someone has wronged us we naturally want to get them back or at the very least let them know our thoughts (most of the time these are not kind words)… If we come to the realization that the state we enter this world in produces negative things, than we will understand that as a child of God we show our maturity and growth in how we resolve issues and communicate with others… Personally speaking, my father will tell you that I was beat the most of any of my siblings and that I caused the most chaos, there was no question that if you crossed my path in a negative manner you were susceptible to my wrath; however over the years I can truly say that I have grown as a child of God because I can turn situations over to the Lord in prayer and not allow my emotions to get the best of me… To be able to refrain from what comes naturally is a testament to your faith and advancement in the will of God… Sin is natural; however when we make attempts to avoid sin and live a life that is pleasing to God we are displaying the characteristics that a child of God should display and we are living the life that James speaks of in our focus verses today… Self control demonstrates how far we have grown in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… James reminds us today that we must be swift to hear, but slow to speak… In other words, it’s best that you shut your mouth and open your ears… In listening you can better understand someone’s view, you can get a better realization of where they are coming from and also, in hearing you can be better prepared to answer in a many that will promote healing or understanding… If we speak more than we listen, James teaches us today that we are not walking in the will of God…The bible tells us that we are to repay no man evil for evil, but that we are to give room for God’s vengeance and let Him repay… When we try and take matters into our own hands we remove God from the situation and nothing good can come of it… We must learn that there is a difference between listening and hearing… We are called not to simply listen to words, but hear what the meaning of the words are and when we do this we can defuse situations instead of allowing them to spread like a wildfire… Today let us focus on these verses and test ourselves in the area of hearing; instead of speaking when something goes wrong… Today, hear what the other person has to say, digest what it is that they have said and pray that if and when you open your mouth you do so in a Godly manner and not out of vengeance… When we give place to our own vengeance James tells us that it doesn’t work the righteousness of God… Remember that Jesus was on trial and He heard all the testimonies against Him, He never said a word until a question was posed to Him… Today, let us model Jesus by living according to the will of God and walking in His precepts… It is only by the grace of God and His spirit that we have life and can live; the bible says that when we crossover from this life to the next that our bodies will change (the corruptible must put on incorruptible and the mortal must be clothed with immortality)… We have not crossed over yet, so we are still corruptible and mortal… I say this because sin still lives within us and it displays itself in the areas we allow it too... Proverbs 4:24 says, “Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.” It’s good for people to see a change in you, it means that you are leaving what comes natural and moving toward what is more spiritual…

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

We'd Be Hell Bound If Not For Christ

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6

There is no one upon this earth who is blameless or without flaw… The biggest step toward becoming what you were created to be is realizing that you aren’t what you were designed to be…  Isaiah says, “All we like sheep have gone astray…” A sheep is a animal that needs guidance, discipline and structure provided for them… Sheep are frequently thought of as extremely unintelligent animals who can become frightened easily, intimidated and subdued… We “being like sheep” can easily be lead astray because of the self discipline we lack and the fear of the unknown that leads us to cling to the inferiorities of the present… Sheep have to be monitored and guided because they can very easily wonder off… The same is true of the body of Christ; we need the presence of the Holy Spirit and fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ in order to keep from wondering off and becoming subject to many snares and traps… This verse taken from Isaiah tells me that since my birth I have wondered aimlessly through life, I have wondered away from the destiny God has for me and have turned away… It is because of this that “…the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all...” This is why Isaiah says in the previous verse “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he wasbruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” We can’t find the way through the fall of mankind and it was only through the blood of the savior that we have a guiding light which will lead us to the path that we were created to travel with a  clean slate and hope for a better tomorrow… I once read a billboard that had this recorded, “Lost??? Try GPS – God’s Plan of Salvation…” Remember when Jesus was on this earth, He told His disciples, “No greater love has a man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends…” In the midst of our crooked and perverse ways, while we were yet sinners, while we continued to disobey the will of God Christ died for us… Before we even knew how to love ourselves let alone love God, Christ had already stretched out His hands; He was already pierced for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquity… Isaiah reminds us today that no matter where you are, not matter how much success you have experienced or even how much prosperity you have seen that we all have gone astray… Through the sin of Adam all have fallen short of the Glory of God and it took the precious blood of the ultimate sacrifice to pave the way to Salvation… Make no mistake about it, your success derives from His outstretched arms, your victory comes from His blood, your deliverance came in the times that He shouted out from the cross and your Salvation was secured when He bowed His head and gave up the ghost… Paul told the church that I preach Christ crucified, your foundation was established in His death and you are alive because of it… In the church today so many people want to act as if yesterday didn’t exist, they want to ignore the sin of an hour or minute ago and try to portray a perfect life… Isaiah says, “…we have turned every one to his own way…”There was a time when you turned away, there have been times when you wanted to march to your own drum and do the things that pleased you… There was a day (maybe even now) that you desired to worry about “me, myself and I” and didn’t even care about how your actions could impact someone else… If we are truthful with ourselves we will understand that there is no truth in us until we receive Jesus Christ… The second thing we are taught today is that because of our sin and transgressions we have sowed seeds of adversity that sprout periodically in our lives… This second notion is why it is of the utmost importance that we do not blame God for trials and tribulations… We were made in His image, but when we transgressed the law of God we begin to sow seeds of disobedience that lead to harvest of tribulations… God has not punished us nor has He allowed the true judgment that we deserved to be rendered… We have punished ourselves and are just looking for someone else to point the finger too…The bible says that His mercies are new every morning; this is good news, because I will be the first to admit that I sin quite often and like sheep wonder away from the path…Thank God for the Ultimate Shepherd...

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

God Bestows Grace When You Resist Pride

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1 Peter 5:5

As a child, growing up it was very challenging for me to respect my elders, especially if I felt that they were wrong or not understanding me… I can recall as if it was yesterday how often I would become upset and feel a sense of anger toward those who thought that just because of their years upon this earth respect was due to them… There is no tougher situation that I have faced in this life, than to respect and submit to someone who I didn’t or don’t think deserves it… Rolling back 3 chapters in this book and looking at verse 9 you will find these words, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” The reason why I bring this verse to the forefront of our study today is because we are a chosen generation and called a peculiar people… Understand today that you are held to a higher standard, though others may talk about people and slander their brothers or sisters we are “chosen” to extend a hand to the needy and to not give way to our own vengeance… In walking this Christian journey remember that you are a “peculiar people,” this means that you will handle situations different then the norm and you will find happiness in things the world counts as useless… This is the very reason why Jesus was able to call Judas “friend” even though he had come to betray Him, it’s the same reason why Jesus prayed for forgiveness on the cross and healed the soldier’s ear which had been cut off… The work we do on this earth is for the purpose of building God’s kingdom… We willingly submit knowing that there is power in submission… Christ submitted to the will of His father and received all power in heaven and on earth…  We are called to remain humble and “be subject one to another” simply because we need each other… Fellowship in the body of Christ is important, when we face trials and tribulations we surround ourselves with people who can relate, understand and more important keep our focus on God instead of the storm we are facing… You must be “clothed with humility” because it is very easy to allow the enemy to lead us astray… When we are defiant we give place to ego, we give place self-righteousness and we give place to independence… All these characteristics lead us away from the will of God which is why Peter goes on to say, “…for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble…” In the body of Christ, we are called to remain humble and one of the biggest tests of our humility is remaining modest in the face of others or adversity… I know that we have all heard the saying “respect your elders” and this is written in God’s word that we are to do that (hold your horses for those who are ready to pounce on your children or brothers and sisters in Christ); but notice what is written after that portion of scripture. “…all of you be subject one to another,” this means that even the elder must show respect and accountability to the younger. This is often overlooked, many people will say that I do not have to do this or that because I am 50 years old, I am your senior, I have been on this earth longer than you and have had or seen my share of days (sound familiar). We become so stubborn about our feelings, and when that happens pride sets in to the point that we will hurt others instead of helping others. In order to be a child of God and walk in Hs will we must show kindness and respect to those who are half our age, or may even be separated by two or three generations. This is not a (n) easy task, and again, this is why Peter says that we are to be clothed with humility. We have to keep ourselves grounded in God’s word and desires in order to carry out this directive recorded by Peter. If you seek to be humble, God will provide the things you need to obtain that level of humbleness so that you will be respected and be able to give respect to one another!

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

You'll Know Them By Their Fruit

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 7:20-21

This passage taken from Matthew simply reminds us that talk is cheap. This verse declares a statement in the very beginning that by their fruits you will know them; this means that we have to be careful to observe the people we interact with and the kind of fruit they bare. So many of us get caught up in the elaborate or eloquent words that people use, but Jesus reminds us today that we must look deeper than the outward appearance… Taking this to a worldly view, we see many mega-churches today and so much corruption at the same time! How is this possible you ask, because people are following the messenger with his style a (n) swag instead of heading and seeking the word of God! So many people end up in abusive relationships or get hurt because the focus on the wrong things in a person and ignore the fruit that they bare… These are the things that we are being warned about today, the fact that as a child of God we must be proactive and defeating the enemy by seeking the will of God and doing this on our own and not allow others to deter us from our divine paths… Jesus says, “Not everyone that saith Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven…” This tells me that not everyone who speaks the word of God is about the word of God, not everyone that goes to church is a part of the church and that it is only by the fruit that they bare that we can know who they are… The bible says that there will be many that come in the Father’s name and they will deceive many; don’t be deceived today, observe the fruits around you, but also make sure that the fruit you bare is acceptable to the Lord! These passage next states, “but he that doeth the will of the Father which is in heaven…” We all have a destiny that God desires for our lives, we all have a journey mapped out with our names on them, it’s time now that we focus on the true will of God and stop giving lip service… Stop going in the church and saying all the right things, let us learn to do the right things… One saying that I believe is true is that “you can’t lead where you aren’t going…” The church of today has lost the focus of Christ being the center… We have surrounded ourselves with the wrong people, with the wrong motives and with the wrong desires (so we bare the wrong fruit)… The Israelites selected Saul as their King because of his stature, but he was rejected and failed during his reign… Let us remember today that it is no about appearance when it comes to the will of God, it’s not about what you say, it is not about how well you talk or how intelligent you are, but rather how you profess your love for Christ through your actions and you lifestyle! In short, TALK IS CHEAP!!!!

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

Your Faith In Prayer Is Key

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

  

James 5:15

If you want to see the sick healed, pray; if you want to see the one in the midst of adversity lifted up, pray; if you want to have sins forgiven and blotted out, pray… This is not to suggest that every healing sought through prayer will always be granted (as God has a perfect plan which at times we may not understand; this passage just teaches us that the most powerful tool that we have is the ability to go directly to the Father in prayer casting all our cares upon Him knowing that He cares for us... The very next verse in this chapter says that the prayers of the righteous availeth much… Understand that when we pray, the key is not the words that you uttered, but the foundation of faith that your prayers stand on… James says the prayer of faith, when we pray in faith we leave it with God, we don’t get consumed with the outcome or results, we simply pray knowing that God has the authority and power to change and transform situations… This passage today focuses on the importance of Prayer, not in the since of closing your eyes and speaking to God, but that we must believe in what we are doing… So many of us pray every day of our lives, but we don’t feel or see God moving because we haven’t trusted in His word… The bible says that we are able to go “boldly before the Lord…” Through the Holy Spirit we cast all our cares upon the Lord, we don’t hold on to them and we don’t simply go to God just to vent… Let your prayers be prayers of faith; knowing, trusting, believing and focusing on the power of God! Notice that James says that the prayer of faith shall save the sick, so many aren’t being saved because we aren’t really praying… We close our eyes and lift up their names, but do we really believe God will supply all our needs as His word tells us? Do we really trust that the Lord will raise up a standard against the devil and that no weapon formed against you shall prosper? The word of God says that we are not to pray as those in the synagogues do, using elaborate words and putting on a show; God says they have already received their reward… Prayer is about humility, acknowledgement and faith… We go humbly before the Lord because He is the creator, we acknowledge that all power resides within His hands and we have faith that He can transform and exalt… God hasn’t moved because we haven’t believed that He will… How often do you pray to the Lord and then try to take care of the situation on your own? This probably sounds real familiar and then we wonder why the sick continue to suffer and the poor continue to perish… James tells us in the passage, that the Lord will raise up the sick (heal them) after we have prayed; if He has committed sins they will be forgiven. This is an awesome revelation that we can have a clean-slate presented unto us through our Lord and Savior by praying and believing. But notice the beginning of this passage and the rule to which these blessing will occur. The prayer of faith shall save the sick; we all have to be in prayer for one another believing that “nothing is too hard for God…” Instead of gossiping and causing harm to each other, let us learn to pray for each other so that we all may be blessed by our God. James tells us that the best weapon we have on this earth is prayer. We need to seek the Lord on behalf of our brothers and sisters. If your boss is riding you and stressing you out, PRAY; if your children have seem to lost focus in their Christian walk, PRAY; and if you feel like all hope is lost and you want to give up, PRAY and not only that, but have FAITH the size of a mustard seed and that mountain will move... This saying is indeed true and we see it in this passage; PRAYER CHANGES THINGS!!!!!!!”

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

Christ Is Coming Back

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Revelation 1:7

There is one thing guaranteed in life and that is that Jesus is coming back… Paul states in his letter to the church of Philippi “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” The “secret” Paul is referring to is trusting and having faith in Christ… No matter what you face or encounter in this life, you must have the understanding that Christ will be exalted and through all things His name will be glorified… As I go through life, my hope is neither in the present nor in the conditions of this earth, but in the promise of Christ’s return to this earth… Through John’s suffering and isolation God reveals a plan and purpose behind all that we go through… We are reminded in the 22 chapter of Revelations (12^th verse) that the Lord’s coming is approaching “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”… As a Christian we are to live everyday as if it’s our last (not live it up according to the world but live knowing that pleasing Christ should be our desire knowing that tomorrow isn’t promised… We are called to leave no stone unturned and always go about conducting business as if we are doing it for the Lord , “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, (Colossians 3:23)”… In this passage, John informs us that“…he cometh with clouds…” There are many times the bible refers to a cloud (the essences of God) being present… When the Israelites were being lead out of Egypt, there was cloud that covered them during the day; when Jesus was Baptist a cloud appeared and a voice spoke saying “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased”, on the mountain of transfiguration the bible says that a cloud enveloped them and God said“this is my beloved son, listen to him” and John the revelator tells us that “He will come with clouds…” Knowing that Christ will return tells me that I must stay sober, vigilant and equipped… I am reminded of the story about the ten virgins and the bridegroom ( we will examine in the coming sentences)… Some were prepared, some weren’t… Now while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, "Lord, Lord, open up for us." But he answered them and said, "Truly I say to you, I do not know you." Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour”.  (Matthew 25) Those who aren’t prepared for this return will be saddened; however, we who believe in the Lord should be offering up our praise as He has come to take us to our eternal resting place! John says that the ones who pierced Him will see Him! John says that every eye shall see Him, those who persecuted Jesus will see Him in His glory and the earth will cry out when the trumpet indeed does sound… John is saying that those who thought they killed Jesus will see the living savior, those who put Him down will see Him reigning with all power; likewise, the ones who persecuted you will see your exaltation, they will see you lifted up and will see your breakthrough! There are many times where we feel that Satan is winning, but just know that we look to the hills or rather the clouds knowing that God will deliver, knowing that His word doesn’t come back VOID and believing that victory was assured through the blood of Jesus… This very passage embodies our victory and reward of salvation! I believe the songwriter said it best, “soon and very soon, we are going to see the king, soon and very soon, we are going to see the king. Hallelujah, Hallelujah we are going to see the king.” He goes on to say, “No more dying their, we are going to see the king!”

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

Christ Has Delivered You

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

It is only through the mercy of God and the grace of His son that you have been“delivered from darkness…” This passage cautions me to be thankful unto the mercy and saving power of our God… As I read these verses, this epistle informs me that there is news for the one who thinks more highly upon himself than he ought to think, this letter provides a bit of information for the one who places all his care into the hands of physical wealth or power… Paul asks a question to the church of Colossae that should be echoed to us today, “who hath delivered us from the power of darkness…?” As the songwriter said, “If it were not for the Lord who was on my said, tell me where would we be?” Make no mistake about it, you are here by the grace of God and are alive because He has afforded you the opportunity to experience His love, affection and tender mercies… It is of the utmost importance that we remember who has delivered us from darkness. Paul posed this question to the body of believers and it is very germane to today’s church as well… The bible cautions us several times that we “are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think…” You cannot do it on your on, if you look at your life when you have tried to handle things in your on power, I am sure that you can agree with that statement knowing that nothing worked as you planned… We couldn’t save ourselves and the filth that we are wasn’t nor is it worthy of heaven… This is why Paul goes on to ask not only who delivered us but also who “hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son…?” To be translated in this since is to be converted, transformed or turned… God has converted us from what we were, He has transformed our way of thinking and what we truly desire and He has turned us from our path of sin…  God has delivered us from the bondage of sin and has provided us a golden opportunity to come back to Him through the sacrifice of His very own beloved son Jesus Christ! These verses shine light on the glory and majesty that defines our God… The fact that He thought enough of you to deliver you from your failures and seeks to wipe away all your flaws… The fact that it doesn’t matter how much darkness consumes you, He is willing to meet you where you are, pluck you out of your current circumstance, wash you in His love and clothe you in His protection… Understand that God delivers you from your mistakes, but He goes a step further and transforms you because He wants you to prosper as well… This is the love that He has for you, going above and beyond to take you to higher heights… You cannot reach these levels because you can’t see them and this why we must remember who makes each and every day of our lives possible…  Romans 5:19 says, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous…” By one man’s sins we all have sinned (Adam’s seed), but by one man’s righteousness we all have an opportunity to obtain salvation. Without Christ we are nothing, remember He told us that He is the way, the truth and the light… He told His disciples that no man come unto the father but by me… Let us never forget that Jesus is our salvation. Let us stay focused on the fact that had He not given His life, and shed His blood on Calvary, that we would not be here today. Let us walk in the light, because He is the light, and has promised that He now has gone to prepare a place for you and I to be with Him for eternity! Paul says that“redemption was through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins…” To redeem something, you must cash in, trade in, exchange or buy back! Christ cashed in His life for you, He traded in His home of glory to provide a ray of hope for your life, He exchanged His heavenly realm for an earthly vessel and through this He bought back your very soul! In knowing all that Christ has done it is important for us to stop trying to conceal wounds that Christ already healed… Jesus paid the price for our sins and not we ourselves… We didn’t have the pure sacrifice that was needed to pay the debt that we owed and if we understand that, we can understand and know that Christ has delivered us and wiped our sins away!

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

Victory Is Found In Christ

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

John 15:7

The word of God declares that you have the ability through the offering of Jesus Christ to “come boldly before the thrown of grace…” We are promised that “ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you…” This is very good news to know as we are assured that our prayers do not fall on deaf ears; however, in order to see this promise come to fruition you must first choose the path of life that you desire to travel… Notice that Jesus says before you can ask and it will be done that you must“…abide in me…” Your prayers haven’t been answered because your life hasn't been submitted or surrendered… How many times have you heard people say that God will do whatever it is that you ask? How many times have you heard people recite John 14:14 or say that if you ask God He indeed will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19)…? These sayings and the reciting of these scriptures are frequently uttered in the church or serve as reminders when we are in the face of adversity or opposition; however, we are called today to remember that asking God to do something or praying for a breakthrough is one thing that can be done, but in order to experience God’s goodness we must first submit to Him… The bible says that “when you seek me with your WHOLE heart, then you will find me…” You must have a desire to totally give your life to Christ; you must be abiding in the plan for your life and making the word of God a part of your everyday being in order to see these promises come to light… This scripture starts off by saying, “If ye abide in me…” God must be the head and center of your life, when you wake up in the morning what do you do? When you get paid on Friday, what do you buy? These are things that declare where your loyalty is or who is first in your life… A lot of us have been praying for God to move, we have been seeking a better way and hoping that doors would open, but the reason for the delay in God’s moving is squarely on your shoulders because you will not put Him first… Again, often times we hear people quote the promises of God and allude to the fact that “he will supply all of our needs”… Make no mistake about it, this promise is very true and speaks to the desire of God to have all mankind live abundantly; however, too often we forget that there are conditions that must be met in order to profess this promise… Jesus, speaking to His disciples states that “if ye abide in me and my words abide in you…”Understand that this is a powerful tool that we all have, the time was coming for Christ to depart, the hour was drawing near for Christ to return to heaven and He is releasing the very power of God so that we have confidence in knowing that even though we don’t physically see Him we have the power to overcome if we remain faithful to Him… We have an obligation to live up to if we want to receive and inherit the gifts of God! To “abide in him,” we must humble ourselves and focus on living according to the will of God! This speaks to the fact that we must push our own agendas out the door and give God preeminence in our lives! To abide is to reside, dwell, or take up! Let us dwell in the house of the Lord, reside within His counsel and take up our cross and follow Him… Not only must we abide in Him, but the second condition is that His word must abide in us… Abiding in Christ is more than going to church; we must apply the things that we learn from church and our own intimate study sessions to our lives… It is not enough to go to school and sit in the class room; sure, on the roll you are accounted for, but your knowledge will be lacking until you apply the resources and strive to learn! The bible is the foundation that we must build upon and live upon… We must take the word and manifest it in our lives… Ezekiel wasn't able to speak until he “ate the scroll,” if you want to see the promises of God come to fruition, if you want to be victorious, eat the scroll and humble yourself before the Lord!  God is calling and desires for a (n) intimate relationship with you, a relationship that you put your full trust in and will adhere to as it relates to His divine plans... THEN and only then, you can ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. This command is not negotiable, there is no reading between the lines or loop holes to a quick turnaround; if you abide in Him, He will abide in you!!!

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

Edification Requires Thinking Before Speaking

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

Ephesians 4:29

When I was a little child I can recall how often my father would instruct me to think before I speak… Even though I never really paid his instruction in mind, today I have come to know and understand exactly what he meant… Words are powerful, the things that we speak can produce seeds of abundance or failure in one’s life; this is why James writes in the 3^rd chapter of his book about the importance in taming our tongue… In this chapter he says, “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. ...”Your tongue has the ability to transforms lives or tear them down, your tongue has the ability to reap corruption or alter the atmosphere; because of the power that lies in it’s use, we are reminded today that we must not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouth… When I read this passage there are two points that jump out to me; either you think before you speak or you need to just learn to shut up… Through today’s devotion we learn the importance of control our tempers and not allowing any crack or crevice to be created so that the enemy can manipulate his way into our lives and situations through a bit of anger within us… There are many verses in the bible that deal with anger; however, to become angry is not a sin… Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” You can and will become angry (even Jesus became angry), but the key is not allowing your anger to be vented and the easiest way to keep this from happening is controlling the things that come out of your mouth… Paul writes to the church of Ephesus today and instructs them about how to conduct themselves in their relationships with other people… All of us have a boiling point, a height of anger or rage in which we will lose our minds and be careless with the things that are spoken out of our mouths! Our patience’s has been pushed to the brink of the cliff and we just can’t bite our tongue any longer; we have tried to be kind but it just seems like different words must be used to address this person and resolve this conflict… Understand today that Jesus had plenty of opportunities to “flip his wig or go off the deep end,” but the way you talk to people and about people shows your maturity and ultimately your relationship with God! The things you say about others are really a reflection of yourself… When you speak to someone in love, this directly displays the love that lives inside of you; on the contrary, when you allow unwholesome talk to come from your mouth you really are putting forth a public display of who ugly you are inside…“What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.” People will always talk about you, they will always say things that you may not agree with or may be hurt by, but the ultimate sign of a true Christian is not your response in words to the accusations, but how you flip this trial so that God receives glory and honor. Isaiah 53:7 says,” He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Bottom line, think before you speak and if that doesn’t work just shut up…

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

Purification Works From The Inside Out

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

1 Peter 1:22

Notice that this passage says that you have purified your souls through obeying the truth by the Spirit. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit residing within you, you can not accomplish anything. We have to be led by the spirit; we have to have the Holy Spirit abiding within us. Remember Christ spoke to the disciples prior to His departure and said that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes; we, through the Spirit have the ability to overcome and be victorious on this earth. It is also through the Spirit that we can love unconditionally; we can help our enemies, and be kind to those who show no kindness towards us. This passage emphasizes the fact that I should be able to tell your spiritual makeup, by the way you fervently love one to another. To be fervent means that you are passionate, eager, zealous about something, I should be able to see all those traits in your lifestyle as a Christian. Remember, greater man have no love than this, that he lay down his life for his friends!!!!!! That is Jesus showing his fervent love for us! This is the same love we are to show and will show through the aide and presence of the Holy Spirit… The bible declares that everything is possible through Christ… This has a new meaning for us today as we walk in love; we can love our biggest adversary through Christ, we can smile in times of frustration and adversity through Christ and we can turn the other cheek even in the most daunting of all challenges through Christ… These traits can be displayed when we are of Christ because we are no longer thinking and acting according to the worldly standards… You have to have a purified soul in order to obey the truth of what God is speaking to your spirit… You have to have your life focus and desires refined by the fire of the Lord which will remove the dross from your life… This verse speaks to the process of sanctification which we all must go through as we grow and advance in the knowledge of Jesus Christ… Peter is speaking about the development of the body of Christ; he is speaking to the continual growth that must take form in our lives… He says,see that you love one another with a pure heart, but before that, he starts off by saying that we have purified souls! Let us recognize that evil is our intent when we are brought into this world; the fleshly desires are things that we are born with through the fall of man in the Garden of Eden! We must go through a transformation in order to fulfill the will of God… Our souls must be purified daily because our desires naturally are filthy! We don’t desire to do the best we can, but we do desire to pleasure ourselves in the sins of this world. Peter is telling us to acknowledge today that we aren’t perfect and can only approach perfection through the Love of God and His Holy Spirit! Naturally we don’t extend love to our enemies, we don’t lift a hand to someone who has stabbed us in the back and we don’t care to go the extra mile for someone who does not appreciate it! These are the feelings that we demonstrate naturally… Seeing you have purified your souls by obeying the truth means that you have said that I deny my flesh and have immersed myself in the word of God… This can only be done by allowing the spirit to take hold of your soul and purify the damage done by our natural desires! See that you put the Spirit of God within and allow it to work through you! Jesus had to in order to lay down his life on the cross; we must do the same if we want to be able to do the things that God has called us to do!

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

If You Desire Gods Approval; Study His Word

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 

There is no exaltation in the kingdom of God without being diligent in the word and will of God… Today we are reminded that DAILY we must study the word of God; we must continue to grow and mature in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… This passage reminds us simply that talk is cheap. Many claim to be Christian but we are to study to show ourselves approved. We must be immersed in God’s word, this is not to be confused with going to church, or attending Sunday School, but rather that we open the bible to start the day, we meditate on God’s word, and consume what He has given us (Ezekiel before going before the people was told to “eat the scroll”). When you get to that point where you are about God’s word and studying, than you can be a workman who is not ashamed, this means that you are confident in your faith knowing that the scriptures are true. You are confident in approaching any situation or even other religious beliefs because you are able to stand against the enemy… Not being ashamed means that you know the truth and you are not ashamed of what people may say and/or try to do… Let’s not get it twisted, we must understand that weeping may endure for a night; however, we are not ashamed because we believe that God is the creator and sustainer and have the assured certainty that joy will come in the morning (whenever God deems fit)…When you believe that, you can walk boldly on this earth, you can be about God’s work, and know that the devil is a liar! When you dust off the bible that sits on your coffee table and read the word of God you will be able to rightly divide the word of truth… This passage has several meanings for the Christian that embodies God’s word… The first is that you will begin to understand the desires of God for your life and will be able to address areas in your life that God would have you to leave or learn from… James compares the word of God to a mirror and a mirror reflects back the image that is presented before it… All the imperfections that are present are revealed in and through the mirror… When we study the word of God we will gain a better understanding of who we are and what things in our lives must be changed; therefore, we will be able to rightly divide the word of God as it applies to our lives and those who we encounter on a day to day basis which is the second meaning of this passage… Often times we find ourselves missing opportunities to shine God’s divine light upon various situations… Daily we walk through this world and come across individuals who are lost and don’t know the word nor the will of God! When we apply God’s word and study His word, we equip ourselves to help those we encounter…We can rightly divide the word of God when we can give someone what it is that God wants them to have, understand today that many of people that we encounter are in need of a breakthrough, sometimes the breakthrough they stand in need of is written upon your lips, but you can’t utter it unless you are immersed in God’s word! Every situation you face, every obstacle you encounter shows the strides you have taken in the will of God or the lack thereof… When you study, God approves you for bigger and better things, He increases your territory which gives you chances to witness to others and grow into the man or women of God that He has called you to be…

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

Lift Him Up And He Will Draw

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

John 12:32

The promise Jesus makes in the Gospel of John today to His disciples is a promise of simplicity and a promise of power… The simple task we have (which isn’t actually that simple given our sinful nature and natural desires) is to lift up Jesus and it is through this very act that the power comes through His exaltation which “will draw all men unto him…” This very passage recorded in the 12^th chapter is the key to our life on this earth and serves as a great tool of witnessing for those who do not know Christ or have gone astray... As a Christian we have the faith that Christ is the center of our being. This says that if we lift him up, He will draw. In all things focus on Him; continue to lift His name above your pain and suffering, lift Him in you worry and tribulation, exalt Him during your storms; knowing that if you focus on Him, He will bring you out. He will deliver you from the muck and mire; and you will be just like a tree planted by the waters; you shall not be moved!!! When something is lifted it is exalted, raised or elevated above. This speaks to the true heart of a Christian! It is very easy to praise God when you or your family and friends are blessed, but is His name lifted in and through your life when storms rise? Is He receiving your praise when tribulations come knocking on your door? Christ is posing a thought to us today, “if I be lifted up…” He is seeking for you to lift Him above every situation; He wants you to speak His name over every obstacle and blessing you incur or encounter… Don’t lose sight of God’s goodness and the power that lies in the name of Jesus! The word “if” implies that a choice must be made; so many lives have been lost, and so many paths have been unaltered because people are scared to lift up Jesus… When trials come, when a family member goes astray, we are to focus on God and not the situation… When we lift up Jesus, He promises that He will draw… It doesn’t matter how far they have gone, it doesn’t matter how many mistakes you have made; when you lift Him up He will draw and bind every broken piece back together… I was once told that we should never tell God how big our storm is, but that we should tell the storm how big our God is… Today learn to focus on Jesus knowing that He will draw you out and plant you feet on solid ground… Again, Jesus says that if we lift Him up, He will draw all men unto Him… There are some of us whose children are straying from God’s will, some of our friends have been struck by the hand of the evil one, some of the people closest to us have chosen the wrong road to travel… Jesus is saying to you today, if you want your child to turn “lift Him up,” if you want that friend to be planted on solid ground “lift Him up,” if you want a Damascus road experience for that close loved one in your life “lift Him up…” We know what happened when Jesus was lifted up on the cross, a thief was saved and many who didn’t’ believe begin to believe… Also on the cross when He hung His head the veil of the temple was torn in two, there was a mighty earthquake in the land, darkness filled the earth and a certain centurion was convinced that “surely, He was the son of God…” When Jesus rose (was lifted up by His father) all power was given to Him on earth and in heaven… When you lift Him up spiritually you plead His blood over every circumstance, you plead His blood over every stronghold and you focus on the Master instead of the problem… It doesn’t matter how bad things appear to be, it doesn’t matter how dim the situation may seem, “all power is in His hands…”  John 14:14 tells us that whatever we ask in the name of Jesus will be given unto us… We ask and shall receive when He is lifted up… We must prioritize our life and focus our praise toward the heavens… When Jesus is lifted, He will draw… By lifting His name, not only will He save the lost, but He will make the vision plain for your life, He will sketch the plans of His will for you and make the course that you are to travel clearer everyday that you lift His name! So lift up the name of Jesus so that things can begin to change, lives can be altered and your path can be defined!!!

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

You're Here Because Of Gods Patience

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Romans 2:4

I was once told you can tell a leader not by their title but by how many people are following them… In today’s focus verse Paul is writing to the religious leaders of the Church of Rome… This church had not been visited by Paul; however, the religious structure and advancement of the church were brought to His attention which compelled this letter… Paul is instructing the leaders to look within themselves before they pass judgment on another person! Often times we find ourselves down-playing the sins that we have committed by trying to magnify the sins of our colleagues… We take a stance of being “holier than thou” and not having any fault within us. Paul is saying that we must remember that God has tolerated all of our sins, we must remember that He will stand as the judge and that He desires for all to be saved… We have all been guilty at times of “despising the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering…”  This simply means that we belittle the things that God has done despite the many flaws we have… We don’t give life to the grace and mercy that He has dispensed upon our lives; however we want to be critical about the paths that others travel… Whether we want to admit the truth today or decide to live a life of deceit; God knows that it is only by His desires for all to be saved and to repent that we are not consumed by the temptations and lust set before us by the enemy… We make mistakes, but we must know that God has given us a way to be victorious through His son Jesus Christ. The key to the mistakes you make is realizing that only Jesus Christ can cleanse you and wipe your slate clean… There is no sin that God can’t heal, no path that God can’t alter, and no mistakes that God can’t correct… Paul is charging us today to remember that we are to look on those around us with the same compassion and love that Christ showed us on the cross and His father showed by sending Him in the first place… Paul is asking us to remember that it was by God’s grace and mercy that we have been offered the opportunity to defeat the grasp of sin and be the victorious creation He called us to be… The “longsuffering” of God means that He has been patient despite our mess, despite our mistakes and despite our disobedience… Know the importance of what Paul is saying to the church… We all were bound to sin; however the sins that bound us before Christ bind us no more… The power the enemy has over you is what you give Him… He doesn’t want you to turn to the Lord; Satan doesn’t want you to acknowledge the “goodness of God…” If you do than your heart will be broken and contrite just like David and this will conduct the very work of God which will “leadeth thee to repentance…”  Paul writes one chapter later in Romans 3:23 that “we all have fallen short of the Glory of God!” It is only through your acknowledgement of sin that you can be healed and turn away from your transgressions which is what God desires and what Paul is writing about… God has not liked or been pleased by your path of sin and the choices you have made; however, He has tolerated the choices you made, He has bore the heavy burden of the decisions you choose and has always desired for you to seek him so that He can heal and restore you…  By His Grace, By His Mercy, By His Longsuffering are we here and have been presented the opportunity of a life-time… Take advantages of this chance, but more importantly, don’t condemn others… Allow them a chance to experience God’s love just like you…

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

God Cares For And About You

"As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him."

Deuteronomy 32:11-12

Despite what people may want you to believe, you are here by the grace, mercy and directive of God… The bible records in the book of Jeremiah that God know you before “…you were formed in your mother’s womb…” In Luke 12:7 we are informed that “God knows the very hairs on your head and therefore we should not fear for He knows what we stand in need of…” God is the creator and you are the creation, each person on this earth was designed for a specific task in the divine plan and will of God… You are a unique creation, one which literally means everything to God, this is the very reason why He sent His only begotten son and why He will watch over you just like a (n) eagle who oversees her offspring… Make no mistake about it today; even if you have accumulated multiple degrees, obtained a sound financial future and a good job; God is with you and has been with you in every facet of your life… In today’s focus verses, the historical book of Deuteronomy compares the care of God to that of a (n) eagle with her young… Look back at these verses and notice how many different avenues the mother takes to ensure the security of her offspring… She “stirreth the nest, fluttereth her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them and beareth them on her wings…” Remember in Isaiah we are told that they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they will mount up on wings like eagles… Know today that there is no point in time in your life where God is not present… A baby as it grows never really knows all the avenues and paths that their mother has taken to ensure their protection and security… When a child is born, it doesn’t know how a mother goes to check the temperature to make sure the baby is clothed correctly, a baby doesn’t see how much the life of their parent revolves around them and very rarely even come to understand how many things are sacrificed to tend to their needs; likewise, as we grow in Christ we never really understand how much effort, attention and love is poured out upon us from the windows of heaven each day of our lives… 

The bible often talks about God’s mercy and the book of Lamentations tells us that they are new every morning… God is going out into the day before you wake up, He checks the temperature of the obstacles you will face, He sets the thermostat for your path so that you can maintain a level of comfort and then He clothes you with His hedge of protection which you never physically can see… I live by the motto, “Things could always be worse…” You will never really understand or comprehend all that goes on in the workings of God in your favor; however, it is important to understand that He is working and that even though the picture may not conclude the way you imagined it, you need to know that it will conclude in victory… Just like a (n) eagle, God stirs your nest every night as He rocks you to sleep; He flutters His wings over you every morning and wakes you up; when you step out of your house He spreads His wings around you knowing that the enemy is lurking and takes you on the path that you should go… When you are weak and feel like giving up, God bears you on His wings, gives you a little more energy, a little more power, a little more perseverance to go the extra mile and not give up… This is why Paul penned the words “His grace is sufficient… Moses was called to lead the children of God out of bondage, He was called to go before Pharaoh and even with a speech impediment was able to lead God’s people to the edge of the promise land… Today know that God is leading you, people will say you can’t do it, they will question your ability based on what they see; however when you reach your appointed destination those same people who questioned your ability will come to know the power of God and that there is no “strange God with you…” Remember the story of Job and how Satan entered the courts of the Lord and when God told Him to consider Job as far as inflecting tribulations Satan replied and said that “you have a hedge around Him…” God has a hedge around you, a thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you if you make the Lord your dwelling place… God cares for you; He shows it every day in every way possible just like an Eagle over her young…

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

Don't Worry; The Lord Will Deliver You

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

Psalm 34:19

Make no mistake about it, as a child of the Most High God you are guaranteed afflictions along this Christian journey… When you are walking upright, in honesty and blameless throughout this world (which are all characteristics of righteousness) you are assured to be persecuted and afflicted… There are none on this earth who are righteous; however, through the bloodshed of Jesus we can be clothed in righteousness and therefore walk in victory as oppose to darkness… I state this about righteousness because it is important to understand that when you face trials because of your desire to walk in righteousness you must remember that the attack isn’t’ against you but against the one you are clothed in… This is why the psalmist states that even though we are afflicted, “…the Lord delivereth him out of them all…” This battle is about the God you serve; remember this in the midst of your storm because it will help you to know that you are not alone and not fighting this battle within your own abilities… This Christian walk isn’t green pastures, it isn’t fields of orchards or streams of rivers and despite what you may want to believe, you must understand this so that you don’t find yourself susceptible to the attacks within your mind by the enemy… As we look to this day to celebrate love, let us remember the love of Christ and the afflictions He bore on our behalf… Today is a day that we associate with love and romance… We associate today with spending time with that special someone and enjoying the love that we have been blessed and fortunate to obtain… Let us remember the love that we have today, but let us more importantly remember the greatest display of love ever shown to mankind… The psalmist reminds us today that the afflictions of the righteous are many; affliction is suffering, burden, hardship or pain and today as we embrace love let us know that affliction is a very important key to that word we so easily throw around… I often tell people that love is a (n) action word and must be followed by actions in order to validate the notion that is being put forth out of your mouth... I don’t’ know about you, but the word of God has taught me the meaning of true love… When I say I love someone I am willing to suffer for them, I am willing to endure hardships and accept trials and tribulations… We, as children of God are called to endure the temptations of this world, we are called to suffer for the name of Christ in order to showcase the love and desire we have for Him… Remember that Christ said no greater love hath a man than this that he lay down his life for his friends…We are told in John 3:16, “…that God so loved the world…” After that we see Jesus enduring the afflictions of a whip, spit, punches and a cross… We see Jesus mocked, humiliated and pierced in His side; the love of God was on display through the affliction of that very night in which Christ was crucified… Know that love is not valid without suffering… True love is showcased in what you are willing to accept and/or overlook… I once heard a preacher say that when we love someone it isn’t a physical attraction, it means that we have come to a point where we say I know this persons faults and I am able to accept them and embrace them for who they are… Understanding love today is vital to our Christian growth and walk, if we are not willing to suffer for Christ, if we are not willing to endure the cross that is for us to bear than we are not really walking according to the will of God and are simply fooling ourselves… Know that there is not affliction that is insurmountable; there is no trial that you can’t overcome and no door that cannot be opened or closed by God… Notice that the psalmist says “Many are the afflictions of the righteous,” it is certain that trials will come knocking and storms will approach your door; however, it is also certain that “…the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” God knows that trials aren’t fun, His word tells us that in Hebrews 12:11 “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Trials come to make you stronger; love is showcased through the trials you face… Today when you say you love someone know that afflictions speak the words that you can’t and love is shown in times of adversity… In times of adversity God is going through it with you, that’s the only way that you make it out every single time and this is the greatest example of love…

GO ALL IN FOR CHRIST!