Your Soul Is Priceless

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 16:26

On this day of celebration, as we recognize the risen Savior; the question that I pose to you today is what is your soul worth? Over 2000 years ago Jesus walked this earth for 33 ½ years. The final 3 ½ years of His life was full of healing, teaching and serving all the way up to the cross… Though many came against Him, Jesus stayed the course and it is ever so clear today that His soul was not for sale as we read in this passage taken from the gospel of Matthew… Ask yourself today if your soul can be brought? The two questions posed in today’s devotion are the questions that we are challenged to observe and look at throughout each and every day of our natural lives… For your soul Jesus came to this earth, for your soul He laid down His life, for your soul He was mocked, spit upon and beaten, all these things He endured for your soul… So what exactly is your soul worth? So many of us partake in communion and commemorate the sacrifice that Jesus made on Sunday’s, but we all too soon forget that and sell our soul for far less than its true worth… The world is not worth dying for; Christ didn’t die for the world but for those in it… Today, let us recognize that our heavenly calling is priceless compared to the things that we strive to obtain in the physical life… That’s why the question is posed in the 16^thchapter of Matthew, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” On Good Friday (the Friday that precedes Easter), people pay tribute to the death of Christ, it is good because we know that on that day the path to Salvation was made possible, Everlasting Life begin to come to fruition on that day and we no longer needed a priest to go before the Lord or offer sacrifices on our behalf. The question is posed here, what does a man gain if he has the world and no soul? To understand this question better, we must first understand what a soul is. A soul is your core, inner being, your psyche, spirit, and person; your soul is what Christ died for, your soul is want the devil desires, your soul is what lives in eternity. So if the soul is your very being what do you gain by living a life with no purpose or direction? What have you obtained in this world that will outweigh the spirit that God has placed within you? This passage in Matthew hinders on the importance of seeking the kingdom of God first and not being caught up in the desires of the world… In essences a person that gains the world doesn’t know nor understands the love that was poured out on Calvary, they have disowned the sacrifice that Christ made on “Good Friday…” Jesus died because He didn’t want your life to be sold short; Matthew is speaking to the masses today and saying the same thing, “don’t’ sell yourself short…” No matter how much you have on this earth, your soul is the only thing that lives for all eternity. Your soul is what separates life and death; your soul is what separates happiness and sadness; not your personal bank account, or how much money you can give to the church. In the end, we all must stand before the judgment seat of Christ and those who have lived for the moment and the money will soon find themselves trying to write a check that can’t be cashed, trying to swipe there MasterCard at the gate of Heaven to have it come back saying “insufficient funds!” It is a this point, that the same person who gave up his soul for wealth and physical prosperity will be willing to give away all his money and power to obtain the gift of God; model Jesus (even through suffering and bearing your cross) so that you are not that person. When we lose our soul to gain the world and death comes knocking, we then try to give all we have obtained to regain our soul! Ironic isn't it?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Gods Exactly What You Need

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

One thing that’s certain is that God desires for you to have a clear focus in life… He desires for you to prosper beyond your imagination and He doesn’t want to see you fail. Evidence of this desire being true can be found in God sending His only begotten son to die for us while we were still sinners and didn’t even love ourselves let alone Him… Paul makes a powerful statement today through this passage however, the first portion encompasses what the true Christian must come to obtain and remember as he simply states to the body of believers today that “God is able…” Despite the way things may appear, despite how gruesome the outlook may be, you must stand your ground, continue to fight the good fight of faith and hold on to the almighty’s unchanging hand knowing and having full confidence in the fact that He is able… There isn’t any problem He cannot solve, no pain He cannot heal no broken heart that He cannot mend… Wherever your storm wages its biggest attack on your life, wherever you feel like the weight that is upon your shoulders has increased and become unbearable know that not only is God able but that He can “make all grace abound toward you…” This is something that we must depend on and rely on in the basis of our faith… God is able to bring you through the storms of life, love and maturity! God is able to lift you up in times of despair, tragedy and hardship. In times of struggle, in times of tribulations, in times of turmoil, when we feel like giving up, when we feel like throwing in the towel, when we feel like the enemy has won, the bible says that we are to “stand still and know that I am God!” Remember where God has already brought you from, remember the things that He has promised to those who remain faithful, remember that God is able… This passage taken from Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth states that God is able to make all grace abound toward you, this tells us that if we walk within the will of God and live within the power of His being, we will be able to complete the task that are put before us and will receive all that we stand in need of. All grace implies that God won’t take any shortcuts, nor will He sell you short of reaching the ultimately goal… The bible says that we are to “seek ye first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness and everything else will be added unto you…” God won’t turn His back on you, He won’t put more on you than you can bare and will always bring you out victoriously… Remember the writer is Paul and He too had trials that he had to face, hills he had to climbs and storms that were purposely designed for him… Paul was given a “thorn in the flesh” and prayed for God to remove it… God did not honor Paul’s request, instead He said “my Grace is sufficient for thee, my strength is made perfect in weakness…” Through God’s grace you are strong even at your weakest moment, by God’s grace you can finish the race even when there is nothing left in the tank, by God’s grace you can endure this rugged road and make it through… The church of Corinth had endured many hardships; they were dealing with many false doctrines, and evil within the church. Paul is sending a letter of encouragement today for them to keep the faith, continue to trust in the Lord, and continue to hold to his unchanging hand. This encouragement is needed for us today, we need to remember that God has said that He will never leave us, we need to remember that He said he will never forsake us, we need to bring back to remembrance that He is able to make all grace abound to you. Paul says you will have sufficiency in all things, you will be capable of handling every obstacle, and you will be competent when the storms of life rage against your home… Paul stated on his death bed that he had fought the good fight; he tells the church that God will do all this to “every good work!” As long as you are doing the work of God all grace will abound, as long as you are serving our God all grace will abound, as long as you remained focused on the will and way of the Lord all grace will abound… So keep fighting the good fight, finish the course, run the race, keep plowing in the vineyard, and keep your faith alive because there is crown of glory waiting for you…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love Is Your Foundation

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 22:37-39

This passage deals with the priorities that we set in life, a certain man inquired of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew as to which of the commandments is the greatest, Jesus replied that “thou shalt love the Lord they God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind…” These verses deal with the required level of commitment that one must have in living under the authority of our Lord and Savior… Simply put, God must be preeminent in you life and you must serve Him in all that you do… We cannot be unstable or double-minded when it comes to following Jesus; either we take up our cross or we live according to the will of the world! The book of revelations tells us that a lukewarm church will be vomited out of the mouth of God and Jesus is speaking to us today and telling us that we must be committed to serving the Lord in every aspect of our living. This requires that we believe even when things get tough, that we have faith even in times of uncertainty and that we praise Him even when storms have swept through our households! Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.To love is to sacrifice; to love is to take action towards something and that we are giving up ourselves to exalt another… So when you tell someone you love them, do you mean it? Are you willing to sacrifice your own desires to see them succeed, are you willing to humble yourself that they may be exalted, or are you merely saying what they want to hear? This journey takes total humility, reliability and accountability towards our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… Don’t ask it; don’t say it, unless you are ready to live it… This goes hand and hand with our spiritual journey to, are we speaking the words we believe God wants to hear, or are we living a life of love? Notice that this is the first commandment; this is the first and most important rule to live by. Of course, we are not to kill, we are not to steal, and we are not to covet, or speak the Lords name in vain. Yes we are to keep the Ten Commandments given to Moses, but Jesus is telling us that in order to keep those commandments, we must first build a foundation of love. Jesus goes on to say that the second is like unto it,“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself…” Again love is an action word; it requires expression through movement… In acknowledging our love for God, we must show it to our fellow man as well… Jesus said that, “if you enemy is hunger, fed him, if he is thirsty, give him drink…” We have a duty and responsibility to serve on this earth… Jesus came to serve, not be served and we are here on this earth to serve Him by serving others… We must give to those in need, lend a helping hand whenever it is needed and sacrifice our own desires to lift our brothers up… James said that it’s not enough to tell someone in need that they shall be well fed and go in peace! We must move and show the love that we claim we have… James also said, “Faith without works is dead…” Let us not be about lip service, but about serving the words that come from our lips by living a life that is pleasing to our king… We often talk of the life that Christ lived, but we never look at His life. He always gave of himself, from the time He was teaching in the synagogues up until the time He was strung out on the cross. His life was sacrifice, His life was obedience, His life was humility, His life was an offering to mankind, when we see all this; we can truly say that Christ life was love!!!! The bible says that we are co-heirs with Christ and are to follow Him, let us live accordingly and treat others as He desires and treated them!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Conceited Wisdom Digs Your Own Grave

Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

Proverbs 26:12 

The same point when we think we have figured everything out is the same point that we come to the harsh realities of life and realize that we have figured out nothing… The bible refers countless times about the importance of remaining humble and always seeking to learn and grow… Eartha Kitt said, “I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.” What is the difference between a wise man in his own conceit and a fool? This is the question that has been put forth within this proverb and the answer can be found in these very words. The wise man spoken of in this passage believes he is wise by his on regard; this is a scary concept that plagues a lot of mankind in this day and age. We get a little money in our pockets, a “dream job” and all of a sudden we have a since that we have arrived… We feel that we are entitled to look down on others and flaunt our success… Solomon is driving us to remember who is at the helm, who touches you in the morning, clothes you in your right mind and sheds His grace upon your life… When we are conceited, we believe that nobody can tell us anything, we believe that we have the ability to do whatever we want whenever we want and that all of our life-decisions are true and pure. This can’t be any further from the truth… Jesus said that if we confess our sins that He is faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This wise man will never confess, because he doesn’t see any wrong. Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a “rich man” to enter heaven… This speaks to the heart of a conceited person, this kind of person refuses to humble himself, they deny the flaws that are present within their lives and try to paint this picture of perfection… That is why there is more hope for a fool, a fool acknowledges himself for what he is, and he doesn’t try to pretend and has already observed the lowest position on this earth… The fool has come to a realization that he is messing up, the people around him have told him of his faults and he has acknowledged that there are things in his life that he needs to change, but until that happens he is of no use to God. A fool is a con, a dupe, and a deceiver. This means that this person is a liar, a cheat, and a backstabber! Both people portrayed here are on the wrong path; however, the fool has a better chance at salvation because he knows his faults, the question is, is he willing to change them? It’s one thing to know the mistakes you have made, but it is a total different situation when you feel that you don’t make mistakes… The person who can identify mistakes can (over time) learn from them and possibly correct them; however, the man who doesn’t see any wrong and believes that every decision is right will never revisit failures and therefore never inherit the precious promises of God… Ask yourself today, do you know the things in our lives that God is not happy with? Do you realize that there are some things in your lives that God wants you to abstain from, or remove so that you can be purified? We all are faced with these questions because none of us are perfect. These questions are answered daily along this Christian journey as we are challenged and tempted until Jesus returns to this earth. It is only through humility that you can be lifted up, it’s only through turning away that you can find your way… Acknowledge, identify and submit unto the Lord! If you feel that your life is perfect, if you feel that nobody can tell you anything of substance, or if you feel that you are just too wise for people to see; check you self now, you might be the wise man that really is the FOOL without knowing it!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Release The Negative; Embrace The Positive

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

There are two important steps in our Christian walk that must be taken daily… The first is that we must cast down imaginations; everyday of our lives we are tempted by oppositions or the lust of the flesh, Paul calls for us to stand firm in the faith… Second, once we free ourselves from temptation we must set our minds on the thoughts of Christ… The psalm writer said, “I have hid thy word in my heart that I might not sin against thee…” We must cast down evil while we cleave to good… Paul tells us in his letter to the Church of Rome, the 12 chapter that we are not to be conformed to this world, but that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds… Your mind is one of the most powerful tools that you posses… The bible says that if we believe and not doubt we will be saved and can move mountains… Believing involves your heart and mind (remember Paul said we wrestle not against flesh)… We must focus our thoughts on things of God or we will fall short in every trial or obstacle that we face… Today Paul reminds us that this war we fight daily is not physical, but spiritual and mental. Our thoughts lead to actions and actions lead to results that could be fatal… We must learn to remove negative thoughts that labor in our minds daily (cast down imaginations) and bring into our thoughts the obedience of Christ; that is, learning, studying and applying His word within our lives…First we must cast down imaginations and high thoughts; in short we must pry ourselves away from the worldly view and physical gains on this earth. The three P’s (Power, Prestige and Pride) of life are the biggest hurdles that we must overcome in order to abide within the perimeters of this passage… Power is a vice that all too often people will do whatever it takes to obtain, when we seek vain glory and positions of authority we are focused on Prestige, the accolades associated with a title and this leads to a haughty attitude which is better known by its five letter name Pride… So many of us have become so prideful and power hungry that we have eased away from God and have a false since of confidence that we have now placed in the flesh. That’s why Paul says to cast down imaginations, we are imagining the safety in money, and we are imagining the safety in man, or in wealth, when we need to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Every high thing could be positions of authority, it could be items that cost a substantial amount of money, or it could be relationships built upon everything but God. Notice that Paul says these things go against God, how many things in your life have tried and or become more substantial to you than knowing Jesus? This walk as a Christian begins with you, Christ is standing with open arms, but we must humble ourselves by casting down the evils of this world, and the schemes of the devil.Once we have hurdled the obstacle of self value and ego, we must cling to the word of God. Notice this verse say to bring into captivity. Not only must we turn from evil, but we must cleave to that which is good… The Israelites were in bondage for hundreds of years in Babylon, to bring into captivity is to capture, and never let go! We have to capture God’s word within our hearts, we have to put the word of God into bondage within our temple and never let go! Jacob wrestled with all night long and said, “I will not let go unless you bless me…” Again, I believe the Psalmist said it best when he said “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you…” It is not good enough to read the bible every now and then, or go to church every now and then, because we are not being equipped for the battles ahead. Think of it this way, everyday that you go without reading Gods word is a day you have lost in the battle. We say its okay, and I am too tired to study tonight, or that God understands. The ironic thing about saying that is that these words are the false imaginations that Paul is writing about to us today that must be cast down!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Angels Minister To The Heirs of Salvation

Are (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Hebrews 1:14

Angels are spiritual beings which serve in many facets; one being messengers of God… Angels were the very beings that came to tend to Jesus after His fast in the wilderness and the temptation He faced with Satan; Angels brought forth the decrees to Mary about her immaculate conception, Joseph about taking Mary as His wife and Zechariah about Elizabeth conceiving; Angels are the ones spoken of in John’s revelation about the bowls of God’s wrath being poured out; angels were coming from the 4 points of the earth… Angels serve very prominent and powerful positions in the kingdom of God… The bible records the love and affection that God had for His creation of man and how everything on this earth was under his authority; however, Hebrews 2 reminds us that as powerful as man was and is, he was made “a little lower than the angels…” I quote this verse from the book of Hebrews to echo the divine rank that angels hold. God, through the grace and mercy that He continues to display toward us wants us to take courage in knowing that there have been ministering spirits placed throughout the world and our daily journeys to encourage, uplift and comfort us. This passage brings me to understand that there will be days when I am frustrated, there will be times when I want to give in or give up, there will be points in this walk when I will become unglued and feel like the weight of the world is upon my shoulders… In these perilous times, we should find encouragement in knowing that God has designed spiritual beings for the purpose of “ministering. One of my favorite passages from the bible is Psalms 91; this psalm speaks to the shelter that one finds in the shadows of the almighty… In this 91^st Psalm, the writer records in the 11^th verse that God will deploy angels to journey with you, “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” As you go up the rough steep incline that is your daily mountain, know that Angels are there aiding you, pushing you and even sustaining you… This is why our focus verse starts of by posing a question concerning the duties of angels… Make no mistake about it; Angels are all around you, conducting works that you don’t even know are being done…. The kind word you receive to give you enough motivation to push a little harder can be bestowed by an Angel, the pat on your back for a job well done when you think nobody recognizes your worth can be from an Angel; the person you met on the street that really touched and wormed your heart can be an Angel… Knowing the institutional makeup of an Angel and the duties they carry brings me to another key component that we must grasp from this verse. As a child of God we are held to a higher standard and are also charged to embrace; we must embrace strangers, embrace situations, and embrace obstacles knowing that we are called to walk in faith… The same obstacle you reject could be the very obstacle that will take you to your God given destiny… The stranger you avoid could be the same stranger that will lead you to the path of your prosperity in Christ… Learn to love, learn to be content, and learn to be worry free from this passage knowing that God has dispatched His angels to take care of you… Receive those kind words, speak to that person that everyone avoids, that person you encounter today could be your Angel… The bible records in Hebrews 13:2,“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” We have heard many times about angels bringing forth information to a person or a people regarding the pathway of God… Many of us now are encountering Angels on a daily basis (people in our lives); they bring you comfort, they bring you peace, they bring you joy, they bring you happiness, they bring you encouragement… They minister to your needs; however, you’re missing the blessing because you don’t’ see the wings or the halo…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Christ Provides A Clean Slate

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17

You aren’t a child of God if your lifestyle and attributes have not changed… Paul (the writer of this letter to the church of Corinth) once recognized himself as the chief sinner; however, after His encounter with the Lord on the Damascus road his outlook on life changed... This same thing can be said for Nicodemus after speaking with Jesus in the night; the bottom line being that when we become a member of the body of Christ we are a “new creature”, your life cannot be the same. I recall several stories that people have told me regarding different things that they experienced in their respective lives. Near death experiences, death defying stunts that completely altered their way of thinking. The same is to be said about encounters with the Lord. The things your eyes are opened to defy the odds, they defeat the stronghold of death and temptation and they expose you to God’s sovereign power and the might He possess to pull you out of near death experiences… Paul was headed to hell if it where not for the grace and mercy of God… When you really come to understand that Jesus loves you, when you really come to understand and know that God thought enough of His creation to save you, your life cannot be the same. When I hear about kind words that have been spoken about me they impact my life. When I hear about the potential that someone sees in me that means more than you can imagine. These are the same things that God says and thinks about you. This is why He was willing to allow His son to lay down His life for you… When you realize that you were created in God’s image, you were made in perfection and clothed in humility; your life can no longer be subject to people’s perspectives or thoughts…. This is why Paul goes on to say “old things are passed away…” Your mindset changes; what was important before is a (n) afterthought now and you soon realize that beauty is more than skin deep… After encountering Jesus, Paul realized how ugly and dark His life was… It isn’t until you see the beauty of God and the wonders of His desires that you realize how misguided your way of thinking is without Him… It isn’t until you feel His unconditional love and warmth that you realize that this is a love that exceeds what any man or woman can give you… Knowing that “all things become new” tells me that there should be evidence of God in your life through the actions and steps you take. Your directive should be altered, your direction should be rerouted and your focus should be on things eternal and not seen… This is why Paul also says that we are called to “walk by faith and not by sight…” Your old way of thinking was focused on the physical, you approached life from a visible state; however, in Christ you see things on earth but recognize that they can be altered and overcome with your attention being eternal. In Christ you indeed are a new creature and I should see it with the new walk that you demonstrate… Things that could annoy you or upset you should be discarded and brushed off in Christ. People who speak unkind words will be prayed for and over in Christ. You indeed will show forth proof of Christ indwelling Spirit and a transformation will be apparent in your life… Through Jesus death on the cross, we have been enabled to experience eternal life… All sin was bore on the cross, all power is now in His hands, and He has given us that same power to overcome sin, and eternal damnation if we believe in Him and His bloodshed… Thanks be to God our father forever, if you can’t say amen to things below, you may still be in the world instead of being in Christ…

Are you in Christ Jesus? You should have a new walk.  Are you in Christ Jesus? You should have a new talk. Are you in Christ Jesus? There should be a beat of a different drum. Old things are passed away, your slate is clean; you have a fresh start, you’re a new creature!

The bible declares that we are called as children of God to do the following:

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN THAT THEY MAY GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Fast With A Purpose

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 

Isaiah 58:6

I find it ironic how many times we throw our hands up in despair and wonder why God would allow trials and tribulations to ravage our lives. We continually find ourselves complaining and becoming frustrated as we proclaim that we are trying to live a Christian life, but things are just too complicated and are never easy. Isaiah declared to the Israelites the same thing that he declares to us today; God has not caused your pain and chaos, it was of your own doing. The Israelites had become so prideful amongst themselves, they believed that they could just do want they wanted and if things got dicey God would show up and deliver them out of whatever it is they were facing; sound familiar?They remembered slavery in Egypt, they remembered the cloud by day and fire by night, and they remembered the red sea and manna from heaven. They just know that God would always provide for them and never allow them to see pain, even if they deserved it! Sound familiar? Today, Isaiah reminds us that the desires of God are “To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens…” The plan that God has for creation didn’t involve suffering, it didn’t involve persecution nor did it involve pain; however, through the enticing that is our sinful nature we incurred several complications which caused unnecessary chaos and confusion… This is why our prayers fall on deaf ears, this is why the children of God fasted and the movement of God was not felt… We often times pray about situations and then go on with our lives doing exactly what we are not suppose to do… God desires more than just prayer, He desires more than sackcloth and ashes (which is written in the previous verses of this chapter)… He desires a willingness and determination to bind wickedness; break strongholds and set the captives free… The true fast isn’t simply giving up food for a period of time; it involves a total sacrifice of mind, spirit and body… The true fast is a willingness to completely depend on God to supply all your needs… The children of God had become engulfed with tradition instead of intent which is what so easily besets the church of today… This is why Isaiah is called to remind them of the true fast and what it is that God desires from them… Verse 3 and 4 or our focus chapter today says, “³Why have we fasted, they say, and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. ⁴ Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.” The time has come for us to worship God in spirit and in truth… Playing church is no longer a (n) option… Your connection with God is evident in your walk as it will display the traits listed above in the 6^th verse… When you are fasting in total submission to God things will change, lives will be transformed and hearts will be mended… Understand today that what plagued the Israelites back then is what plagues mankind today; we have this false impression that God is a bell-hop waiting at our beaconing call to remove evil and trials from our lives. On contrary, God allows us to go through tough times because we don’t allow Him to guide our lives. Notice the message from Isaiah to God’s children; is this not the fast I have chosen; to loose the wickedness, undo burdens, let oppressed go free, and break every yoke! God has chosen to remove the dominion of wickedness, bare our burdens, and set the captives free. All this was accomplished through the bloodshed of Jesus Christ. He makes it clear in the beginning of this verse that this is what HE has chosen to do, God had a choice, and we have choices. He choose to give us a second chance, He choose to send His son to die that we might live, He choose to clothe is son in imperfection, that we might be perfected! A lot of our burdens are self-inflected; God doesn’t want to see you suffer without the fruits that will promote growth and maturation; so ask yourself today, what is the reasons behind your pain?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Forgiveness Leads To Answered Prayers

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 11:24-25

The key to prayer isn’t the words you speak or how long you are in conversation with God; the faith you have in the Lord you serve and over the situation you face determines whether or not your prayer reaches the ears of the almighty or stops at your ceiling… Mark reminds us that just as much as we desire we must believe… “…when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them…” This passage taken from the gospel of Mark speaks to the heart of a Christian; in that, we may go to God in prayer, but we must have faith and not doubt… In the verses before these scriptures, Jesus has made is entry into Jerusalem and while in Bethany went up to a fig tree that had no fruit(when Jesus arrived, the tree wasn’t prepared but that’s for a later day and time),in front of His disciples Jesus cursed the fig tree and when the men returned they found that the tree had withered (died)… The disciples were amazed, but Jesus goes on to tell them that we (as believers) have the ability to do miraculous things (move mountains),but we must have faith in God and not waver about His abilities… Whatever you ask of God believe that He not only hears you, but will respond to your prayer… The bible declares in the book of Acts that we are to come BOLDLY to the throne of Grace. We have to have an attitude that God is not only in charge, but that He will fulfill the desires and needs of our heart. Notice the scripture tells us that whatever we desire, when we pray we must believe. So many go to God in prayer, but in our heart we do not believe that He holds the world in his hands, often we go to Him in prayer and if things aren’t changed right away we doubt His supremacy, we call on the Lord, but don’t not have the Faith of one who knows the miracles and blessings that God can and does perform. It is not enough to go to the Lord and lay your burdens down, if you do not believe that he is going to pick them up and carry them for you. The bible declares “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Faith is essential to life and liberty… To believe something, means you accept it as truth, I don’t know about you, but I believe that Jesus died on the cross, I believe that He paid sins penalty, and I accept as truth the message Jesus gave to his disciples after His resurrection when he said, “ALL POWER IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH HAS BEEN GIVEN ME!” Faith requires trusting God and also extending helping hands to your adversaries… Notice what Mark says,“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any:” We must be willing to go before the Lord and admit our faults, but more importantly forgive those who have wronged us (faith comes in trusting God to deliver and also trusting God to mend). So many of us carry the offense of another on our shoulders or in our hearts and because of that there is no room for God to work in our lives. We hold on to pain, we hold on to hurt, and wonder why God has not moved in our lives. In short, don’t carry grudges because all they do is occupy your thoughts and take up residence where God would like to be… We must understand that people will always upset you, people will always offend you, and people will always hurt you. Remember God said whatever is loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven, and whatever is bound on earth will be bound in heaven, so forgive and forget, so God can do the same for you on earth, but more importantly when you go from labor to reward! God will open doors in you life that you never thought possible, but you must be willing to close the doors of malice, resentment and anger first; this requires faith that believes and never doubts…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Put On the WHOLE Armor

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:10-11

There are two things that are certain as we journey through life, the first is that we all shall physically die and the second is that we cannot stand against the devil alone… When we come to know and accept these things, we learn that physical death as well as the devils attacks can all be overcome by Jesus Christ… Paul has written this letter to the church of Ephesus and in the preceding chapters has given them instruction on how to live. He has taught them how to bring honor and also how to obey the word and will of God.At this point in his letter, Paul is concluding by reminding them that they must be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Notice the way in which this letter is formed, we are reminded how to live (being a child of God), but the most important point comes at the end and that is that we must put on His armor… The church of Ephesus had endured hardships (just like you and I); it had gone through ridicule and demise. I believe that we can draw a direct parallel to our lives and know that these same situations have been presented to us. As we continue on this Christian journey the road becomes steeper and harder to climb, Paul wants us to be refocused and have a renewed Faith in the power and strength of God. The same God that delivered you before is the same God that will deliver you now… Paul says, “be strong in the Lord,” stop trying to handle every situation on your own, stop trying to figure everything out and live according to your own agenda… Paul is saying that we must live by Faith; we must humble ourselves before the Lord and trust that He will move at His appointed time… Often times we pray about situations and then go out trying to resolve them… Paul is telling the church to ignite their faith in Christ by seeking His might… We must understand that we are nothing and powerless as a people, but as Paul stated in his letter to the church of Philippi “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me…” Know where your strength comes from, know who has all power in palm of His hand and take your situations BOLDLY before His throne, lay them before the Lord and leave them their… The bible tells me that Hezekiah was faced with adversity; however, notice what he did… Isaiah 37:14 says, “And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.”We must understand that hard times are necessary; we must realize that pain is essential in growth, and tribulations are vital in experiencing God’s sovereignty! Paul says we must put on the whole armor of God to stand against the attacks of the devil. So many of us have fallen in to the devils traps because we omit the words “WHOLE ARMOUR,”we believe that we can go into battle with 50%or 75% coverage. We always leave a little room for our own thoughts and priorities and surely we fall short because we haven’t heeded the scriptures… Paul is telling us this morning that if we want to experience God’s power, if we want to see His strength, if we want God to unveil is Lordship; then we must accept our circumstances and simply prepare ourselves for war! Notice Paul says that we are to put on the whole armor of God that we may stand… Again you will not be able to stand without God’s armor; you must be fully immersed in His word, you must let you faith be your guide, you must sacrifice your own desires if you want to win this battle or as Paul says “finish this race…” The bible says that the devil is like a roaring lion, seeking whom He may devour… When you wake up in the morning, the devil is sitting right there at your door, maybe even by your bed waiting for you to seek your own direction… Today, let us remember to be strong In The Lord, let us remember to do everything in the power of His might and tell the devil “get thee behind me…”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Promotions Come From Above

For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.  But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Psalm 75:6-7

Isn’t it ironic that so many people get upset and question God when things are going negatively in their lives…? So many people want to go to their pastors or friends for a (n) answer to their troubles or to simply encourage them to keep the faith when storms come their way… It never ceases to amaze me at how many people will look at the negatives in this world in use that for the basis of their argument against the realness of God; however, how often do we apply this same measure when we are blessed or things are going well… When the storm passes and the rainbow shines, how much praise do we lift up to the Most High? See today’s focus verse teaches us that all promotions, all blessings come from the works of God and not your own hands… James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Understanding this fact leads us to a question that we all must answer, how often do we take credit for a level of success in our lives? How often do we thank our boss for recognizing the work we have done or contributed to the excelling of a company? The psalmist reminds us of who is in charge and has the final say to our everyday situations. Understand that nothing can be done without the approval of God, remember Job was successful, but was stricken when God allowed the devil to wreak havoc upon him, remember Jonah was fleeing and God caused a storm to rise upon him and humble him to the point where he could be used. Job received far more than he had before and Jonah went on to preach and get a city to repent from danger. Job later says do we take good from God and not evil? We have to come to the conclusion that God holds our fate and has promised to provide all that we need. So, when you are low on funds and receive that bonus, thank God. When you are worried out of you mind about your job in this economy and your Boss assures you of your safety, praise God. God is the judge, He will humble whoever needs to be humbled; likewise, He will lift up whoever deserves to be lifted! Notice that the psalmist speaks of the promotion not coming from the east, west or south… He doesn’t say “north” for a reason in this passage, when we speak of going north on a route we equate that with going up and the psalmist wants us to know that the blessings don’t come from below us (south) or around us (east and west) but from above (north) through God’s grace and mercy…God is a just God and will take care of any and every situation… When you receive the breakthrough you have looked for, remember who gave it to you… When you receive praise for God works, remember “to God be the glory…” A lot of times we take the credit when we find favor in anything that we do or are apart of, at the same token, we blame God when things don’t turn out the way we imagined or wanted them too… The psalmist wants us to acknowledge God in all that we do and all the blessings that come our way… Don’t live a double life; humble yourself before the Lord before He humbles you… That’s why the psalmist says He putteth down one and setteth up another… When we go on our ego trip, God will bring you back down to reality real fast. A friend of mine wants told me that we must remain humble as we climb the ladder of success and not become arrogant or prideful; because the same ladder we climb up is the one that we will surely use to come back down… In other words, don’t humiliate yourself by thinking you have “made” it and are better than everyone else, because when God humbles you (and He will) you will need a friend to lean on… Keep everything in your life in the proper context, know that God doesn’t make mistakes when you are humbled, but also have faith in knowing that your breakthrough is on the horizon… I believe Paul (who was humbled and exalted by the Lord) said it best in his letter to the Church of Rome, “know that ALL things work together for the good of those who LOVE the LORD!” If you love God, understand that His blessings come in many ways, even in ways you would least expect; like on your job!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Seek Him; He Can Still Reach The Loss

But if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.

Nehemiah 1:9

The bible declares in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God…” The sooner we come to the realization that we need Christ in our lives, the sooner we can begin to live and live more abundantly… The people of God have been uprooted, scattered throughout the land; however, Nehemiah comes and reminds them that no matter how bad things appear, God can still hear and heal “…if you return to me and obey my commands…” Disobedience led to the alteration of God’s children’s lives and this defiant attitude will lead to our demise as well… Notice the call Nehemiah puts forth in our scripture reading today; if you want prosperity, if you want peace, if you want health, if you want joy, you must obey… When you obey God, “…then, even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there…” Your call is to walk according to the will of God, not worry or chase souls… This passage taken from the book of Nehemiah reminds us of the importance of staying focused on our Christian journey… God spoke to Joshua when Moses had passed and told him “not to turn to left or the right…” Isaiah spoke of the path of righteousness in the 30th chapter of his prophetic book and said that we aren’t to “go to the left or the right…” The children of God had lost their way and were in great suffering; however, God speaks through Nehemiah and reminds them that His grace still abounds when we have turned away, His mercy is everlasting even when we have strayed and that if we return unto Him and obey His commands He will hear our cry and gather us unto Him… This speaks to the love and desire God has for you to be more and do exceedingly and abundantly above all you can comprehend… He desires for you to “Be Blessed,” He desires for you to reap the harvest and lay up a crown of righteousness… Know that God still sits high and looks low, He is still our all and all and in due time He will snatch you out of the very depths that THINK they have your fate in their hands… 2 Chronicles 7:14 says it best, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from there wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and will heal there land…” This passage has a two-tiered meaning, not only must we remain focused, but we must understand that the decisions that we make don’t only affect us, but they affect our children, our spouse and various other people who we encounter… Stop trying to figure out this world on you own, stop trying to handle every situation within your own might, put your hand in the hand of Jesus and He will right the vision and make it plain… It is through our own feeble thinking that we make situations worse; we build greater obstacles and find ourselves in harder trials… The word of God through Nehemiah says “if you return and obey… even the exiled at the farthest horizon I will gather…” It starts with you, if you have a child that has gone astray, a marriage that is falling apart, a friend that you have lost; return unto the Lord, obey His commands and walk according to His will… God is trying to instill in you this very valid and strong point; don’t try to fix things that are out of your control! If you have a relationship that has fallen apart, return unto the Lord… Jesus said, “If I be lifted up, I’ll draw all men unto me…” Return unto the Lord, obey His commands… Don’t worry, don’t fret, because when you submit yourself unto the Lord, He takes the burdens of your life and answers your prayers… The parable of the prodigal son showcases the power of prayer and faith, the father had to let his son go, throughout the sons riotous living the father let go and let God… In the end, the son returned and through the prayers of his father was saved… Letting go isn’t a sign of weakness, but faith… As long as God is first in your life, everything (in due time) will fall into place… We all have fallen short of His glory, but through His son we all have a chance of Eternal Life… The same chance is afforded to all, so return unto Him and let Jesus gather the lost sheep!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Will Supply All Your Needs

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:19-20

Through the hardships of life, Paul learned invaluable lessons… When no one was there for him, he learned who was always by his side… When he was cast down and stoned, Paul came to know who lifted him up and healed his body… Through all the toils and snares, the ups and downs, the trials and tribulations; there was one constant in his life… This is the reason why he states 9 verses early, “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.” Paul had grown in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior and his faith would not allow him to become disheartened or sadden by the frailties of life… This passage we focus on today speaks of the faith that we must have knowing that God not only can but that He “…shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory…” Hebrews declares that faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen… Paul explains to us that we are called to walk by faith; this means that we are too trust the Lord in all our affairs of life… One of the biggest challenges that face the Christian today is trusting in the Lord when we are called to move from our realm of comfort… If we believe that God will never fail us, than we should have faith to give to others and let go of things in order to help others while we ourselves solely depend on the Lord… One of the greatest things I was ever told was that sometimes God takes things out of our hands so that something else can be placed in them… If we believe that, than we trust that all of our needs will be meet when we walk in obedience to His word and have faith through all the circumstances we face in life… At the pinnacle of our Christian journey we must display the Faith that we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… We must have faith in God, knowing that He will supply all our needs according to His riches in Glory… Paul thanks the church for their diligent service and also reminds them that God has seen there sacrifice and will take care of them… God has all that you stand in need of, call on him, ask him, seek him, and allow him to do great and wonderful things on His timetable… This is one of the biggest stumbling blocks in faith… We pray to God, we believe that He has heard us, but when He doesn’t answer when and/or how we want Him to than we become frustrated and take action ourselves… Paul wants you to remember your faith opens the door to God’s faithfulness… He will supply your needs “…according to His riches…” He won’t do it according to your standards; He will do it according to what He knows you need… This is why faith is a must in pleasing God! Yea you might be struggling right now, yea you might have unpaid bills right now, yea you might be between a rock and a hard place, but just know that when you put God first, when you focus your eyes upon the Lord and seek His kingdom, everything will be added unto you… Paul says “But My God…” Before this verse Paul spoke of the limitless giving the church performed, he spoke of the undying love that the church displayed by not worrying about today’s obstacles but instead focusing on God’s will… Malachi said that we should “test the Lord in giving”and that when we do “He will open a window in heaven and pour you out a blessing that you will not have room enough to receive it…” Test the Lord today by giving and relying on His Grace, test the Lord today by giving and relying on his Mercy today, test the Lord and watch Him supply all your needs when you put Him first… The church of Philippi gave all they had to Paul (the Ministry of God’s word) and never focused on there own circumstances, how often do we withhold from God because of a bill or a purchase that we want to make? How often do we let worldly circumstances take precedent over God’s will? Paul says to the church of Philippi earlier in the chapter that the gifts you sent to me in my time of need weren’t for me, but so that you’re giving may be credited to your account… We all have a (n) account in heaven, one that can never be overdrawn, and one that will never leave us with a notice saying “insufficient funds…”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Gods' Spirit Proclaims And Sets Free

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.

Isaiah 61:1

Isaiah was called by God to go and prophesy to the children of the Lord, He was called to go to a rebellious people and declare the things that God revealed to him… What I find so fascinating about this scripture is the boldness that Isaiah has to go forward and speak the word of the Lord… Understand today that we are all called to set the captives free; however it is through the spirit of God that we obtain the might, authority and direction in order to fulfill this task and the destiny that God has called us to… Isaiah 6: 5-8 teaches us about where we were and how the spirit’s presences changes and transforms situations… 5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seenthe King, the LORD Almighty." 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? "And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"Isaiah wasn’t always about the work of the Lord, when He saw the glory of the Lord he cried out woe is me, I am undone, I am not worthy to behold this wonder; however when He was touched by the live coal the Lord asked who shall I send and Isaiah replied “Here I am. Send me… We too are not worthy of the glory of the Lord, we are not worthy of the offering that Christ poured out on the cross; however we have received a golden opportunity to walk in the will of the Lord and are promised Eternal Life when we obey His calling…

Isaiah’s confidence is found in knowing that God has cleansed him and prepared for this task… Remember where you were before God gave you that second chance; when you realize that you were filthy and deep in sin you better appreciate the avenue that God has paved for you and therefore can be bold in the midst of a troubled world and society… Understand that Isaiah wasn’t ready for his calling until he was touched by the live coal; remember that Peter stood up in the book of Acts on the day of Pentecost after the tongues of fire came down from heaven… When “The Spirit of the Lord is upon you”things don’t remain the same, your direction of walk changes, your approach to life is altered and you have the might to overcome and deliver those around you… When you are in the spirit you don’t just sit by the wayside, the spirit will lead you to action, it will lead you to taking up your cross and will cause you to utter the words that Jeremiah uttered in the 20 chapter of his prophetic book, verse 9 tells us that he couldn’t keep the word to himself, it was just like fire shut up in his bones… The spirit won’t allow you to remain still; it won’t allow you to keep the status quo… Many people proclaim just as Isaiah, “that the spirit of the Lord is upon them”; many say that they are anointed and I will not dispute any of that, but notice what follows Isaiah’s proclamation. When you are anointed by God, first you know what it is that He has called you to do (preach good tidings) and furthermore; you are taking action in and towards your calling. You can be anointed and that may be true, but your anointing is of no use if you are not putting it to use and that means walking in the will of God! The bible teaches that we all have spiritual gifts; however, know that this doesn’t mean that we are all called to preach the word of God… The body is composed of many members, each one being critical to the entire makeup of the body… You are a critical piece to the body of Christ, no matter what the position is that you are called to, no matter what the direction that God has called you to go, know that when you walk in the will of God you along with everyone else in the body benefit… Do what God has called you to do; whatever ministry He has placed in you will bare fruit of His anointing upon your life… When you walk in His will you will set captives free, you will bind up the brokenhearted and you will open prison doors… There is somebody that you will encounter today that is waiting for you to display your boldness in the Spirit of God… Allow God to use you in the way he deems fit; lives will be changed and situations altered…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

I Know My Redeemer Lives

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.

Job 19:25

This passage taken from the book of Job speaks to the faith that a Christian must display not only in the good times, but in times of adversity… So often we praise God when things go well and we feel happy, but as a child of God we must understand that persecution is a part of growth, trials bring about maturity and obstacles develop your endurance on this course of life… The devil is seeking whom he may devour and he wants to devour the one who has chose the will and path of God (he isn’t concerned about those of the world because they aren’t following the will of the most high)! Remember that Jesus was on this earth for 30 whole years, but you never hear about the devil tempting Him until He was baptized and preparing to begin His ministry! Job was a man of faith and this passage speaks to that aspect of His life when everything around him seemed to fail… Remember the circumstances that Job faced in his life; he had everything a man could want (good health, a loving and strong-bonded family, and wealth of cattle). Job was considered by many as a (n) ideal man who had accomplished all that he could and achieved success at every level and avenue of his life. In the blink of an eye,by God’s permission; everything was taken away from him. His children died, his cattle was stolen and his health was hampered. The closest person to him left in his life was his wife and she told him to curse God and die. How do we react when things in our lives take a turn for the worst, the one we trust betrays us (Job’s wife and friends) and we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place, on an island of misfortune by ourselves…? Some of us are living the life of Job right now, we have seen beautiful days and reached heights of success that we never thought possible, but know we have witnessed the storms come knocking and our foundation be engulfed by turmoil… How you deal with and handle hardships, displays your measure of faith as a child of God! Today we find Job here declaring to us something that we should too be able to say. I know my redeemer liveth, people have a false since that being a Christian means you won’t have bad days, trials and tribulations, or sleepless nights, but on the contrary this walk is for those who can endure, and Jesus told his disciples that they hated him first. To say I know my redeemer liveth means that you can see the sunlight behind the rain, you can lift your head up in times of despair and you can maintain your faith in times of tribulation… Job not only knows that his redeemer liveth, but knows He shall return… “He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth”, our father has gone to prepare a place for us, we shall have a mansion with our names on it, Jesus shall return on a cloud and the dead in Christ shall rise and we all will meet Him in the air… You will make it through this storm, you will survive and in the end you will win… Jesus made it known that you would struggle, you would have dark days, and definitely you will deal with sleepless nights. But our hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and righteousness. We believe that the suffering of this present time will not equal our reward in heaven, so we await Jesus return with great anticipation. We live just as Job and say “THOUGH HE SLAY ME, YET WILL I TRUST HIM!”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Don't Forget That Christ Is In Control

Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
 

Revelation 1:17-18

 

As we walk this earth we are reminded that we have nothing to fear; understand that there is nothing in this world or of this world that can overtake the will and plan that God has for your life… The revelation revealed to John teaches us that before us God was there and in the end He will still remain… Jesus indeed did die as all human will; however, spiritually the bible says that He gave up the ghost and it is by His spirit that we have nothing to fear, by His spirit we can overcome mountains and receive life and life more abundantly… Notice the blessing and strength given unto the Children of God in this passage. It tells us to FEAR NOT, so many of us are worried about what the future holds, where we will be in the next couple of years, will we find that special someone, will we be happy and have a stable job and income. John reminds us through the sacrifice of Jesus that we have nothing to fear. We don’t have to worry; we don’t have to be confused, or unstable in our actions on this earth. Jesus declares that he was the first and the last. This means that He was the first to endure hardships, He was the first to go through the grind of dealing with the penalty of sin, but it also means that He was the last, He went through the obstacles and defeated every last one of them. Your sin has already been dealt with, you future already promised to be fruitful. There is no need for you to fear because God already knows what you stand and need of and as long as you seek Him first, you will receive all you need and more… It’s good news for the struggle Christian today, this is a spark of encouragement for those ready to throw in the towel and give up… Some of those with mountains of bills staring them in the face may wonder what strength they can draw from this passage, some may be wondering how it is that they can continue to run this race and walk in faith… The answers to all these questions are found in the middle of these two verses; “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore…” Though He was abused, mocked, beaten and spit on, we know that our savior lives and all power is in His hand… He is the one who rose on the third day and lives for evermore, and the greatest thing is that He has the keys to hell and death. Jesus determines where we spend eternity; this is good news, because we are children of God and co-heirs with Christ. Being co-heirs tells me that my mortgage for my plot of land in heaven has already been approved and paid… Knowing that my Salvation is secured helps me to not become fearful of any man or any circumstance while I walk this earth… So we need not be worried about the future, we need not be afraid of the unseen and unknown, but rather embrace every day, look forward to every challenge and believe that Christ has paid it all and He will return unto this earth one more time to judge. Believe that the dead in Christ shall rise, and all the others that remain on this earth shall be caught up to meet Him in the air. He has gone to prepare a place for you and me.We each have our own mansion in heaven, and there will be no more sorrow, no more worry, no more sin, but rather everyday will be Sunday and our eternal bliss will have no end! Christ died once so that all mankind would not have to taste death, this is our hope, this is why we don’t worry nor fret… Christ has the keys and He will open the door of Eternal Life to those whose hope and trust lies upon His sacrifice on Calvary…

 

This is my hope and passion, this is what I rest and look forward to, this is why I don’t fear the current circumstances and NEITHER SHOULD YOU!!!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Enemy Has Become His Footstool

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

1 Corinthians 15:25-26

In the midst of your trials and tribulations God is at work… While Jesus was enduring the mocking and agony of the cross His rewards were being prepared as well… Today let us understand that the enemy may appear to have the upper hand, but while we are in the worst of times, God is in the best and will defeat the foe that stands before us… Paul says He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet… Jesus will stand the test of time (as He showed when He took the form of man), there is nothing in or of this world that will outlast God’s love, grace and mercy. We as believers should take courage today in knowing that Paul was right when He said “no weapon formed against you shall prosper”… Isaiah was dead on when he said that “He will make His enemies His footstool”… Every obstacle you face can be overcome, every trial can serve a positive purpose and every tribulation can promote endurance within you… Paul also wrote that this race is not given to the swift, but to those who endure! Let us endure as Jesus did us on the cross, let us endure as Jesus did when He was mocked, and let us endure as Jesus did when He was spit on… A lot of us may be finding ourselves in situations where the enemy seems to be winning, let us not become weary in well-doing for we shall reap a harvest if we faint not… Your task at hand is to hold to God’s unchanging hand, your objective is to maintain your faith throughout every storm that comes your way because God will reign over your life and provides victory through your turmoil… Paul is speaking to the embattled believer today, He is talking to the worn out Christian that doesn’t feel as if there is anything left in the tank to serve God and He is simply saying hold on! Jesus held on and is sitting at the right hand of the father; you can hold and reap bountiful blessings from the Lord! Don’t give up, don’t give in, just believe and you will indeed achieve! Yesterday we examine Isaiah the promise that God’s word will not come back void, but that it will accomplish what it was set out to accomplish; today, this passage taken from Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth reminds us of the awesome power of God once again in that He will not be defeated and His ways will prevail.. This verse starts off by saying that HE must reign, there is no other God but one, there is no other savior but Jesus, and no other way but through God’s Will. This passage reminds us that Jesus will reign until all His enemies have been put under his feet; this means that we, being believers in Christ and His sufferings are assured of triumph over sin. This passage says all enemies, sickness is conquered, worry has no place, jealousy has ended, hatred will be turned away, and most of all DEATH will be defeated. These things have been replaced in the body of believers by love, kindness, meekness, temperance, and longsuffering. Jesus says I am the way, and we have a clear depiction of that, because all obstacles have been surpassed through His ultimate sacrifice. We have the God-given ability to overcome any obstacle now, through His bloodshed on Calvary! Paul makes it clear that the last enemy was and is death! Jesus died so that we could live, He endured hell so that we wouldn’t have to taste it and now He reigns desiring for all to be with Him and to inherit Eternal Life! Death is separation from the Lord, death is finality, but Jesus conquered the greatest evil of all and now says through Paul that you can do the same if you hold on and keep the faith! When Paul was coming to his last breath, he said“I have fought the good fight, I have run the race, I have kept the faith; henceforth, now there is a crown laid up for me…” Your crown of victory, your crown of endurance and your crown of reigning with Jesus waits… Keep fighting the good fight and finish this race, those running against or those who appear to have the upper hand will not beat you to the finish line!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!