Beware Of Tradition

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

Colossians 2:8

We are tempted in many ways and forms to follow anything but the path that Jesus Christ paved for us through His bloodshed on the cross… Paul reminds us of that fact in today’s focus verses which sheds light on the many avenues in which we can be deceived… Today we focus on a letter that Paul writes to the church of Colosse about guarding yourself against the attacks of the devil and his evil intentions… Paul has laid the foundation of the Church of Colosse and as the people have begun to convert unto Christianity, there are some men who have begun to try and infiltrate the church and deceive the congregation… Make no mistake about it, as soon as you make the choice to follow Christ; that’s the same time in which the devil turns his attack toward you… Often time we focus on the things of the world as being evil, but today Paul reminds us that our biggest adversary can be found within the church… I once heard a man say that the devil resides in the church, not because He wants to be religious, but because he has no cares about whoever is living according to the worldly standard… Paul teaches us today about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right kind of people and also establishing a sturdy foundation upon the word of God on your own…

 We live in a world where we have more and more people receiving their doctorate in theology, more and more people attending seminary and more and more people building churches; however, we see more and more corruption in the church, more and more thieves in the pulpit and more and more souls being lost… People have begun to follow men instead of following God and Paul reminds us today through his letter to the church of Colosse that we must beware and be vigilant… Understand that there are a lot of people in the church that aren’t of the church and will try to spoil the congregation… Jesus informed us of this when He said, “a little yeast leavens the whole loaf…” It doesn’t take much to stray away, it doesn’t take much to make a mistake, and it doesn’t take much to lose focus… Not only must we understand that the devil is active in attendance in the church, but Paul reveals to us exactly how it is that he conducts himself… “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit…” If you don’t study the word of God for yourself how will you know when you are being deceived or feed a personal agenda… The devil isn’t sitting back plucking your nerves during the church service, he is teaching the word of God through false doctrine and satisfying the itchy ear…  When Peter established the first church in the book of Acts, Luke records that the disciples listened to the teachings of the Apostles and then went home to read it for themselves… The bible instructs us that we are not to put confidence in man; this applies physically and spiritually…

 People have been lead astray because they have not studied the word for themselves, people have fallen short because they have not applied themselves to the teachings and preaching’s of Jesus Christ… The devil in active in every phase of our lives and we must understand that his biggest point of attack is deception… Paul was worried about the church becoming distracted, Paul was worried about the disciples being sidetracked and diverted… There are many men who are looking to prop themselves up, place themselves on pedestals and receive recognition… It is of the utmost importance that we not only actively study the word of God, but that we surround ourselves with people who are focused on living a life that pleases the Lord… The bible says that we can tell a tree by the fruit it bares… A man can be known simply by watching their actions and examining their intent; instead of living and abiding in the word of God they get caught up in traditions (just like the Pharisee’s), instead of reading the word of God they are more worried about what the latest trend is or fashion statements are… We often hear people say that they are looking for the perfect church and I once heard someone say that you will never find a perfect church because its perfection will be lost as soon as you join…There is a lot of truth in the fact that you will never find a perfect church; however, the key is knowing and understanding where the flaws are so that you aren’t ensnared by them…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Receiving Christ Is The Key To Receiving Power

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

John 1:12

The door to your victory is right in front of you; the questions that lie as the doormat are whether you will open it or not… John starts off this verse by saying “as many as received him…” You have a choice to make, you decide the outcome and verdict of your life… Jesus said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock,” he wants you to open up and let Him in… You can withstand this test, you can overcome this obstacle and you can master this journey… You have the ability because Christ deposited it in you from Calvary… You have the power to become sons of God, what a truly powerful statement… This declaration simply means that you have the power to alter your life, you have the power to be what people said you couldn’t be and you have the power to decide to live instead of die… The keys to victory are within reach, the mantle of success is within your sight and the first step to obtain them is to receive the Lord Jesus Christ… When you are a son of God you are covered and are assured victory… We are told in John the 10^th chapter 28^th verse that as a child of God we are protected and safe… Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” 

When you walk in the will of God though you may stumble you won’t fall, though you slip you will not be cast down for God cares for you and will sustain you… Know that Just like Jesus, we have a mission to complete, a set of task with our names on them… Jesus came to this earth with a purpose, He came to this earth to complete a mission and fulfill the prophesies of old… John records today that when Jesus took the form of man there were many who didn’t believe, when Jesus went about through the countries, villages and communities their were many who rejected His teachings; however John speaks today to those who embraced the teachings of Jesus and accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior… The purpose of Jesus ministry was simple, to seek and save that which was lost, sadly just as in the days He walked this earth, there are many that have rejected His word and have not acknowledged the fact that they are lost… God desires a relationship with all His creation, but you must first understand where you are as a lost soul… John says, “As many as received Him…” Not everyone receives Jesus Christ as Lord, for many religions this is the stumbling block or the divider that separates each form of spiritual identity… As a child of God, we take pride in knowing where we ONCE were and where we now stand in receiving Jesus Christ… John starts off his book of the gospel by informing us that “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God… He was God in the beginning…”Salvation is not obtained by works or deeds, salvation is not purchased or won; salvation is a gift which came through the form of Jesus Christ and can only be obtained through Him… Salvation was made available unto the Jews first, but because of their stubbornness and unwillingness to accept Jesus Christ you and I have now been afforded a golden opportunity… 

Just think about how many doors have been opened unto you because someone else didn’t want to walk through them, think about the path of life you were on which led to hell, but now you have a chance to turn and go in a new direction… Salvation is as far away as your heart is from your mouth… The bible says that if we confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts that Jesus is the Christ we shall be saved… When we accept Jesus Christ as our savior we receive power to become sons of God… The power to become sons of God also gives us the power to overcome, the power to maintain, the power to succeed and the power to be victorious… Jesus had this power and it led Him to the cross and raised Him from the dead… We have the power, but it will be shown when we face our cross (trials), when we face our death (adversity)… God’s power doesn’t mean that you won’t get knocked down from time to time, God’s power means that you will get back up… God’s power that we receive as His child doesn’t mean you won’t cry sometimes, it means that eventually those tears of sorrow will turn to tears of joy… God’s power doesn’t mean that you won’t make mistakes sometimes, God’s power means you will learn from them and become a stronger and more mature Christian… We have Jesus to thank for the ability to have life and have it more abundantly; we have Jesus to thank for paving ways out of no way and opening doors for us to walk through… We have Jesus to thank for giving us the power and might to overcome and be reconciled back to the father… If you receive Him today, He will transform you, He will strengthen you and He will deliver you… You were created in God’s image; now receive Jesus so that you can walk in the prosperity and victory that God ordained for your life before you were even born…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Life Begins And Ends With Your Heart

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

Proverbs 4:23

The most important thing you have is your heart… Your heart provides life within your physical body as well as your connection with the Lord… You are called to guard your heart today because your life (physically and spiritually) depends on it… If you have a heart of hatred and envy you cannot have a connection with the Lord; the bible tells us that God is love and love is something that starts in the heart… The heart is a very sacred and vital organ both to your physical and spiritual life… If we take the analogy of the heart being a pump, we know that whatever is inside the heart will be pumped out (in the physical since this is the blood that travels through our veins, in the spiritual we are talking about whatever Godly or worldly things that reside within)…This is why we are reminded that if we want to live we must keep our heart… The heart is the source, it’s the critical point and it’s the very place you’re most likely attacked by the devil… Luke 6:45 says, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” 

How often do you give your heart to others? How many times have you found yourself allowing someone or something to have authority over you by controlling your heart…Whether we have come to realize it or have not comprehended it yet, the heart is the center of our living and being… David wrote in Psalm 37 that if we delight in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart… God knows how critical it is that we maintain our heart; He knows the importance of the heart and has told us that if we make Him first in our lives He will give us the things that we seek… God knows the things that we seek are love, appreciation, acceptance and happiness… Today we are reminded that just because we seek those things doesn’t mean we try to obtain them at all cost… The proverb today reminds us that we must “Keep thy heart with all diligence…” The book of Proverbs was written by the wisest man that ever lived (Solomon), but even he was subdued and humbled when he did not protect his heart… I am a firm believer that doors open in your life, but I am a (n) even firmer believer that not every door is meant for you to walk through… That being said, we must understand that being patient and thorough when it comes to matters of the heart are critical not only in Christianity but in simply living in this world… The bible says that the devil is seeking to steal, kill and destroy and the truth of the matter is that he will only accomplish this by obtaining control of your heart… 

The proverb says in all diligence, we must make every effort, put every last bit of energy in preserving our heart… The bible records many verses speaking to the importance of the heart and how it is the foundation of our direction… Paul wrote to the Romans about salvation and how it is received through the heart, Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It is critical that we understand the value that the heart holds… When we say that we truly love someone, that love comes from the depths of our heart, when we look beyond someone’s faults what is displayed is the genuine heart that we possess… Solomon goes on to tell us that the reason we must protect our heart is because the issues of life come from the heart… When we have a heart for something we have the mindset and drive to do it, that in and of itself is important because a lot of us have the heart to do the wrong things… We have allowed the enemy to penetrate our minds so long, that our heart has become poisoned and we have begun to go down the wrong roads in this life… Every turn you make in life is decided by your heart, every decision you make is validated by your heart and if your heart is in the wrong place than that is where you will be also… The heart is serves as the lead for all actions; whether good or bad… This is why (as we read earlier) Luke tells us that the good in a mans heart brings forth things that are good, while a evil heart bringeth forth evil… Nobody will every truly understand your actions or what motivates you to do things in your life because they cannot see your heart… If Solomon was allowed to go by his eyesight he would’ve anointed David’s oldest brother king; however, in that very passage God tells us how important the heart is, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Your heart will manifest its true desires by the way you conduct yourself in every day affairs… This is not to be misconstrued to say that you will be perfect, but that your actions will be justifiable based on your heart… 

This is why in the midst of all the sins that David committed God said that “he was a man after mine own heart…” You are guaranteed to make mistakes, but you must make sure that in the process of your failures your heart stays right… As men and women, we see the desires of mankind and the issues of people’s lives by how they act from day to day… If you are a genuine person and a person that desires the right things, your heart will show that by the actions that you choose to engage in… Today is a day where I think it is appropriate that we examine our hearts… We examine the desires of our heart and make sure that we have protected our heart from the devises of the devil… The issues of life are the things that affect us, but also the ways in which we live… An issue is subject, concern or topic; the issues of life are whatever we make them… If we become worried about a job it’s a (n) issue, if we stay up all night because of a relationship, we make it a (n) issue and all this derives because we have allowed our heart to be invaded by things that are not of God… When we allow God in and keep our hearts with all diligence the issues of life become living the way God would have me to live, smiling in the face of adversity and speaking a good/kind word to an enemy… I don’t have to hear you speak or even ask you questions to determine what kind of heart you have; it will be shown in your living… The bottom line is that you must protect yourself and your life… If you’re careless with your heart and give it to any and everybody, it will be shown by how torn and tattered your life is…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Never Said It Would Be Easy

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

1 Timothy 4:10

There are two kinds of men on this earth; those who work for the reward of today and those who work for the reward of tomorrow… Your drive as far as your work ethic displays the kind of man that you are… When things don’t go as you planned or you don’t’ see the immediate fruits of your labor, how do you handle those situations… Paul reminds us today that we must remember that the prize we labor for will not be manifested upon this earth… Timothy faced a lot of peer pressure when he took up the calling of ministry that was placed upon his life; however, it was through this passage that Paul reminds Him that we suffer not for material things, but “because we trust in the living God…” Not every person you meet will have a zeal of love for Christ… Not everyone you meet will want to share in your witness or see the name of Christ exalted; it is in these times that we must remember the services that we take part it… We are not about pleasing men nor are we doing this for form or fashion… I serve Christ because I believe that He died for y sins, I serve Him because I believe that I can do nothing without Him, but that with Him all things are possible… I will “suffer reproach” because I believe I have found a (n) answer to the void that is in my life which cannot be filled my men… Don’t give in to the temptation of earthly success; don’t give in to the appearance of happiness that comes with material things… Know that you are working toward a far more precious prize and the more you go through the better it will be… 

Paul is reminding Timothy of the same thing that he told the Church of Rome in the 8^th chapter of his letter… “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior, there are two things embodied by that choice that are guaranteed; one is that you will inherit eternal life and the other (least talked about) is that you will suffer… Paul charges Timothy today after Timothy tried to run from the gospel, Timothy found this road to be to difficult at times and wanted to give up… The bible is filled with passages that speak to the suffering that a child of God will endure… When Paul had his Damascus road experience, the Lord said that he will see how much he will have to suffer for me, when Jesus was instructing His disciples he told them to keep in mind that they hated him first and that they would experience much persecution… David pleaded with God on several occasions through his psalms about the suffering that he was experiencing throughout his life… This road that we travel is not for the weak at heart! This journey is not for the swift, but for those who endure! Paul said, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling…” Paul knew what Timothy would deal and was dealing with and he is teaching Timothy in our focus verse a listen which we all must come to realize and understand. Because of your commitment to God, the devil will try to destroy the hope and visions that you cling too as a child of God! 

You will face trials and tribulations, there will be days when nothing makes sense in your life, and you will find yourself crying from time to time at night! Jesus said for us to keep in mind, “that they hated him first!” The storms of your life come because you are serving Him, the trials that you face are because you desire pure love… Paul wants us to understand that we have made the best decision for us and the worse decision for Satan and that’s why we suffer reproach… Reproach is criticism, scolding, accusation and rebuke… People will talk negatively when you try to better yourself, the devil will try to pull you down by lies and gossip when you choice to follow Jesus, but even through all that we are assured that trusting in God will lead to victory and salvation… Your hardships bring about maturity, your destiny will be met through your tribulations, and God knows that this is an uphill battle! It is easy to sin because we came into the world as sinners! The transformation to be more Christ like is like learning how to walk; it’s easier to crawl, but walking opens up doors for you to experience other things such as skipping, jumping, and leaping! If you crawl (walk in sin) you are limited by what you can achieve! If you walk (live as Christ) doors are open for you to experience more than you ever thought possible! So let us walk in the light, let us endure the pain and fiery darts, because in the end it will be well with your soul and your rewards will be far beyond what the world could offer!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Endure Temptation; Your Crown Awaits

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

James 1:12

Every man faces temptations; however, the one that is blessed is the one that endures them and doesn’t give in…  I was once told that the saddest thing about someone quitting a project or process is that they never realize how close they were to completing it and the same can be said of our Christian journey… The temptations we face appear to be the easy way out, but the reality is that you are so close to the blessings of God if you just hold on a little while longer… The things that catch your eye in this life will never satisfy the vision that God has placed inside of you… The difference between being blessed and not lies in the sacrifice and obedience that one has within… Daily, we all face decisions; however, the question that we have to have at the heart of our decisions is to whom are we trying to please… You can only endure temptations if you have a hearts desire to please the Lord… Make no mistake about it, the story of your life is unique to you, but the challenges that you faced in getting to where you are now is quite similar to everyone on this journey… We all have been and will be tested; this is why James says “for when he is tried…” he doesn’t say if, but when; you can rest assured that in seeking to live according to the will of God that Satan will try you… 

He will try to paint a picture of gloom and doom and lead you down a path of destruction that will end with you throwing in the towel… See often times we try to paint a image of Christianity without temptations or snares and this is why so many people can’t endure the rough terrain of this journey… I don’t’ know what your bible tells you, but the word of God that I read tells me that we will be persecuted, we will suffer and that we will endure hardships… We must stop relying on our own ability and start to allow God to move on our behalf… It doesn’t matter how strong you are, it doesn’t matter how tough you might appear to be, you cannot defeat this enemy on your own and this is why you are not called to overcome but to endure… To endure means that you bear, tolerate or undergo; you must bear the storms in your life, you must tolerate the words of your adversary and undergo the battles of the opposition… Notice that in this enduring you are not called to fight back or engage… A lot of times we misunderstand endurance and confuse it with perseverance… You are not called to stand against the enemy, you are called to speak Christ and let the Lord fight your battles… This is why Isaiah tells us that we can only walk in run in Christ… “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Notice that when we grow tired in life, when we stumble in fall we must put our hope in the Lord to have our strength renewed… I recite this passage because a lot of times we say that people are falling by the wayside because they have lost their battle when in reality they have fallen because they are fighting a battle that is not theirs to fight… 

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

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Call On Him And Be Saved

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

Acts 2:21

This passage is written after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ; the disciples have been hiding in the upper room and many have feared for their very lives… Through this trying time Jesus shows himself unto the disciples to reignite their faith… This pass starts out with the words, “And it shall come to pass”… Though we suffer for a moment the promises of God “shall come to pass”, even though we face trials, hardships and adversity we are reminded today that the fulfillment of God’s promises are not notated by an “if” but “when”…  Through Jesus death we all were given a chance to inherit eternal life… Through His suffering the path was paved for all mankind to change direction and not be condemned according to the sin that we are born in… The bible tells us that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; understand that we all have done things we wish we could change or have made decisions that weren’t the right ones… Luke writes today in the book of Acts that we all have a chance to right our wrongs, we have an opportunity to change our direction, and we have be given an opening to improve our future and outlook on life! 

This chapter recorded in the historical book of Acts takes place after Jesus departure from this earth, in the 1^st chapter 8^th verse Jesus instructs His disciples that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes, He then goes on to tell them that they will be His witness throughout the world… Shortly after Jesus final instructs unto His disciples He disappears into the clouds and we find Peter and the others beginning to lay the foundation of Christianity… God’s desire is that all men would come to know Him, love Him and honor Him… Jesus life on this earth simply teaches me that despite my faults and missteps God truly does love me and wants me back in the fold… This passage reminds me today that I need not be focused on my past failures; it reminds me that I need not regret my choices of yesterday, but that I should take pride in knowing that I have a chance to receive eternal salvation through the sacrifice of Christ! The next piece in this verse says, “Whosever shall call on the name of the Lord”, it doesn’t matter your economic status, political party or even how far you have strayed away… God is not worried about the depths of your mistakes or the impact of your choices, if you acknowledge Him and His saving power you can be delivered from the deepest pit or your darkest hour… Whosever tells me that there isn’t a single person on this earth who can’t change their future! What Luke is telling us today is that the backslider can repent and be forgiven, the adulterer can receive a new lease on life, and the drug addict can become a symbol of hope and a bright future! All you have to do is call on the name of the Lord… 

Today, stop trying to figure things out on your own, stop trying to handle every situation and turn to the Lord for the time has come and is upon us where we shall be saved… Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord (there is only one Lord) shall be saved! Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy! He came for the one’s who sought the wrong pleasures, the one who engaged in the wrong activities, the one who is lost and confused… He strung his arms out for that person, He died for that individual! If you look at your past, you will know that your name was written in His thoughts and was purified as the blood came trickling down His face! Again, this verse starts by saying, “And it shall come to pass…” You will be saved, you will be victorious, and you will overcome when Christ returns… You may not be experiencing victory right now but victory will come to pass… You may not be smiling right now but your smiling time will come to pass… We are assured through the writings of Luke that the day will come when Jesus will crack the sky, the time will come when all the dead in Christ shall rise and be caught up in the air, the moment will come when we will here the words “Well done…” Luke says the time shall come, it is upon us today… Stop what your doing and know that Christ is real and waiting for you to turn to Him… Tomorrow is not promised; today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present… So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and revitalize your life by giving Jesus a chance…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Lord Is Worthy

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

Revelation 4:11 

Can you still praise God when things don’t appear to be going your way? Do you still adore His name when the storms of life rage over your head…? These questions define the true worshipper and believer of Christ… Though he experienced many low points in his life, this scripture comes at a time in John’s life when he has been exiled to the island of Patmus… John has no friends to lean on and is literally all alone, even then he writes this revelation praising God for all His goodness despite the situations that he has and currently faces… John recognizes today that God has created all things; John recognizes that all things were created not only by God but for His pleasure… This is good news to us today, this teaches me to know and understand that even when I am on the island of misfortune, even when I am isolated and feel alone, that every situation will bring God pleasure… Jesus said if I be lifted up, I’ll draw all men unto me… When we lift Jesus up through the trials and tribulations that we face we are sure to be lifted up out of the miry clay and sinking sand that we find ourselves in… John is at peace because he knows that God is still with Him, we can have an attitude of praise despite the circumstance because we know that God has all power in the palm of His hand and will never leave us nor forsake us… All I can say is, “To God be the glory”, as I read this piece of scripture I am encouraged by the revelation of John… 

This passage speaks to me and confirms my faith by informing me that God is worthy to receive honour and power (authority) from us. We can put all our trust in Him and know that He won’t let us down… It doesn’t matter what we are going through, God deserves the honour and the power, you can look back over your life and see the things that God has done for you, just the fact that you have the ability to go to work, the ability to sleep in a bed is recognition enough that God is truly worthy of our praise… Jesus was awaken by the disciples and calmed a storm; we can praise God right now, because we know that He can calm the storms of our life and give us Grace to withstand the test of this world. To know God created everything for His pleasure tells me that I was created to pleasure God… I was created with a unique purpose and my life will bring great pleasure to the one who did create me… Don’t lose sight of who created you; don’t lose sight of the plan and purpose that He has for your life… Everything is under His hand; the storms you face will never overtake you because God knows the weight you can bare… Things may seem bleak right now, but you are assured that they will never be as bad or worse as they could be… Again, understand that we have been created for His pleasure; we should be giving God praise, simply because He created us, and wants to take pleasure in us. In other words, God wants to be happy, and His happiness is when we allow Him to be the head of our life, and supply our every need! The bible tells us (Romans 8:28) “…all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose…” 

When we please God, we created an atmosphere of praise which will drive the enemy out… John praises God not only because things can be worse, but because the enemy is removed when we focus our praise and attention upon the Lord… God is worthy of all praise, just look at where He has brought you from, the goals He has allowed you to achieve and the obstacles that He has given you victory over… If you love God you can take pride in knowing that everything will work out in your favor because God will be exalted… You can give God all the praise because you know that as long as you are serving Him you are under His protective covering and will be victorious… This is why John can say you are worthy of all praise despite being exiled, this is why we can smile in the midst of hardship, this is why we can persevere through treacherous storms and obstacles… My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness, on Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand… Don’t be discouraged, don’t give up, God created you for a purpose and you will fulfill it… I believe that Jeremiah said it best in his prophetic book, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (29:11) Your hope is in your praise, your breakthrough is in your praise, your deliverance is in your praise… He’s worthy and He has a plan! Stay the course, give Him authority over your life and watch what He does on your behalf…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Turn From Sin; There's Still Hope

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

Ezekiel 18:21

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

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

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

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

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

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Word Will Cleanse You

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalm 119:9-11

There is only one way that we can purge the sin within us and be released from the penalty of Eternal Death… Many have tried to develop their own way or abided in their own will to fulfill the desires that they have; however we are reminded by David today that the only way to be brought out of condemnation is through the word of God… David was a man that made many mistakes in his life; from adultery with Bathsheba to encamping with the enemy we find many instances in which David made poor decisions… I am sure that if we look over our lives, we too can agree that there are a lot of choices that we made and things we have done that have strained our relationship with God and caused us to fall short of His calling… The key is not living a mistake-free life, but in recognizing your mistakes and knowing who is able to deliver you from them… After making mistakes, David poses a question here in the 119^th psalm that we all ask when we are down and out, “wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?” How can we get back up when we have fallen, how can we be cleansed from the filth in our lives, how can we overcome the mistakes that we have made, how is it that we can right our wrongs or turn a negative into a positive? We all have asked ourselves these questions and David provides the answer to us in the very next piece of the text, “By taking heed thereto according to thy word…” 

The bible is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our pathway… When we are engrossed in the word of God it will show us our mistakes and convict our spirit into remorse… Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” If you really desire to walk in the will of God, if you want to learn from your mistakes and see the areas in which you need to grow than study God’s word for it will penetrate down to your very soul and expose the areas of your lives that are keeping you from living according to the will of God… In understanding that it is the word of God that reveals to us our duty to God and how we are to conduct ourselves on this earth we acknowledge that there isn’t anybody on this earth that can cleanse us, there isn’t any good deed or task you can complete to be made whole. David understood that he made mistakes, but the most important thing he learned was that the word of God had to be a part of him and within him in order to be cleansed and made whole… If you want to become a better person, study God’s word, if you want to overcome the challenges of this life, be immersed in the word, if you want to fill the voids in your life, spend time with God by reading His word… David had tried everything and could not overcome, he sought vain things and still couldn’t fill the voids in his life, in this scripture he has turned everything over to the Lord… If you want peace in your life, turn it over to the Lord, if you want victory in your life; turn your trials over to the Lord… 

David said, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments…” When you experience the peace, love, kindness and compassion that comes from God you won’t want to leave it, when you know that God has filled the voids in your life, forgiven you of your sins and mistakes you won’t want to turn away from Him… David has found joy and doesn’t want to lose it, he has found love and doesn’t want to destroy it… We too have seen many struggles in our lives and have also seen God’s faithfulness manifested, let us live a life that mirrors David today… David said with his whole heart he sought the Lord, he wasn’t trying to hide his skeletons, he wasn’t worried about the dark corners of his life, and he looked intently for the Lord desiring to be made whole… Have we sought God with our whole heart, have we given all that we have to him, do we desire to stay the course and not wander from His commandments? This will call for you to confess your sins, this will call for you to acknowledge your mistakes, and this will call for you to humble yourself… We enter this world as sinners but we have a choice as to whether or not we leave the same way… David said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee…” The bible makes many references about the importance of your heart and how it is the guide and shows your true intent… You will have some short-falls, you will make mistakes, but understand that God can cleanse you if you immerse yourself in His word and allow His word to be the guide of your life within your heart…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You Can Do It Through Christ

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:12-13

On this roller coaster of life we are sure to experience highs and lows, we will have days of joy and days of sadness, laughter and pain go hand and hand along with great abundance and fearing that you don’t have enough… Thou the season of life change and we experience them all; Paul reminds us today that we must be content not in our earthly possessions but in our standing with Christ…  Paul says I know how to live when I am low (abased) and how to live when I abound (have plenty)… No matter where you are in your life today, whether you have plenty or don’t think you have enough you must make sure that your faith in Christ reminds and that you continue to seek His will… When we have little it is a time where we can be tempted to question God and give up; likewise, when we have plenty we can find ourselves taking the credit that God deserves by becoming confident in what we can do… 

In both scenarios we begin to ease God out and this is why we must go through seasons… The seasons that we face change at any given time; however we are told in Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” We can learn to be content with what we have and what we are dealing with because we know that through it all Christ is with us and will always be our guide and our sustainer… The more you focus on God and turn away from the cares of this world reflects your growth and showcases your contentment in Him… Paul is not content because he doesn’t desire more; he is content because he knows that in doing the will of God all his needs will be taken care of… This is why he says in the 19^th verse of this chapter, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” When we have faith in Christ we will endure the suffering and face the adversity knowing that the reward will be that much sweeter and the place of rest will be more enjoyable… Again, if we understand that we all have experienced ups and downs, joy and sorrow, or even happiness and sadness than we can attest to what Paul writes today... Not only are we to be content in knowing that Christ is with us, but we also must be content in knowing that the pains of life are for our benefit and maturity… These verses in Philippians remind us to be content knowing that we are being molded into a masterpiece. Paul needed to be humbled after serving as a high-ranking official who sought to persecute Christians… We too must be humbled at times to keep us in line with the will of God and allow us to grow into the children God has called us to be… 

The book of James tells us in chapter 1, verses 2-4 to, “² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  Every trial you face serves a purpose, every obstacle is there for a reason and part of your contentment in Christ is knowing that He doesn’t make mistakes and that He will not only be exalted but that you will grow from your experiences… Paul concludes by saying that “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me…” Don’t forget who your source of strength is, don’t forget who has brought you this far and don’t forget who will lead you on… The bible says every good and perfect gift comes from above… When the sunshine comes remember who brings it, when the rains fall remember who gives you shelter… We all have known the feeling of hitting rock bottom, we have known the feeling of seeming invincible, but what we need to know and remember is that everything is possible through Christ. Think about all the things that you have been through, and then ask your self how you made it. When the sun was shining so bright but in the blink of an eye darkness covered your sky… When things at your job were so peaceful and all of a sudden you were unemployed who kept you, who opened another do for you…? Be content because Christ has already done it before, be content because you are growing and be content because you know that Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever… The same results that we see in the bible when people remained content are the same results we will see in our lives when and if we remain content in the will of God…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Stay Focused On God's Word

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua 1:8

The Lord wants you to be blessed and prosper; He wants you to reach higher heights and measures of success that were thought to be unobtainable… The word of God tells us through the prophet Jeremiah this very thing… It is in the 29^th chapter and the 11^th verse that we find these words recorded, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” In the time of Jeremiah the children of God had lose focus and were subject to captivity; however, even in the lowest position God reminds them that He desire for them to prosper; however, the key to their prosperity is their willingness to obey His will… Today, you may be in a place where it appears that you aren’t prospering, you may be at the end of your rope and feel like there is nothing that can be done or no words that can be said to change your circumstance; wherever you are today and whatever you are dealing with, know that you (through the obedience to God’s word) have the ability to transform your life and alter your direction… God speaks to Joshua in our focus verse today at a point in his life were he is called to lead the children of God… Moses has gone on top of the hill and passed away and the children of God are on the very doorstep of their destiny, but still have a stiffness and disobedient spirit in them… With all eyes on him and the pressure of leadership being upon his shoulders; God speaks the key to Joshua’s success in the first part of this text when the Lord says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth…” 

Being in leadership means that you have people who are following you… With leadership comes distractions and temptations; however, despite how much pressure Joshua may feel to please the crowd, God reminds Him that as long as he stands on faith and seeks to please the Father he will prosper… You may be in a position today where there are a lot of people who are trying to persuade you to please them; you may be battling in the mind about a decision that has to be made and you are worried that you will lose some friends of break some hearts in the process, the word of God challenges you today to stay focused on the will of God… This is why the Lord proceeds to tells Joshua, “but thou shalt meditate therein day and night…”When you are in the midst of a storm or a trial stay in the proximity of God… Keep Him closer than any other thing in your life and meditate on the word that He has given you… When you seek God, those who are not suppose to be there will be removed, but when you meditate God will provide a comfort and peace that will keep you through the entire process… God will never lead you to a particular point if you are not first equipped for the task at hand… The word of God goes on to say that when we keep the law of God in our mouths and meditate on it day and night we shall prosper and have good success… When you pray, make sure that you seek the approval of God in the direction that you are going… Make sure that you seek His guidance in your life knowing that this is the key to success and prosperity…  If we understand that Joshua was told these are the things that he had to do to prosper and be successful, I believe that we can apply these fundamental principles to our lives and come to the realization that we have the ability to prosper… 

The word of God is clear, when, you decide to put God first He will begin to take you place and transform your life… You have the ability to overcome, you have the ability to succeed; however, it is entirely up to you based on the decisions that you make when the pressures of life are at your doorstep… This is why Joshua goes on to say (after marching around the walls of Jericho and seeing the hand of God move), “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Understand today that there will be a time and point in your life where you will be called to lead… You may not sit on a throne or hold a certain title, but everyday of your life you can lead someone to Christ… As stated earlier,  Moses has now passed and the reigns have firmly been placed in the grasp of Joshua… He (as many leaders) became hesitate when contemplating the task before him (leading the Israelites into the promise land). God is speaking to Joshua, assuring him of a promised outcome IF he follows the will of God. He tells Joshua to not allow the book of the law to depart from his mouth, he tells him to meditate day and night, and to observer the teaching and writings of the law; then you shall prosper… God is waiting for you to take your eyes of the problem and focus on the solution (His word). He is waiting for you to have enough faith to believe that you shall not fall or fail… He is waiting for you to obtain your success and reach your goals through the empowerment and guidance of His word!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Worldly Perception Is Flawed

Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

Proverbs 23:17-18

You may be at a point in your life where it seems like everyone around you that isn’t following the will of God is obtaining the measures of success that you desire… You may be battling in the mind with staying the course and holding to God’s unchanging hand because the grass appears to be greener on the other side; wherever you are in your life or whatever you are battling today, know that Solomon reminds us today to “Let not thine heart envy sinners…” The prize that you are working and competing for may not be seen on this earth, but you can rest your thoughts today on knowing that “there is an end…” The path that is broad which many follow appears to be the right direction to go, but the end is destruction and resentment… Solomon followed the ways of the land even though he was the wisest man to ever live and in his wisdom he instills in us the fact that the most important thing we must do on this earth is “be thou in fear of the Lord all the day long…” Despite what questions or concerns you may have about your situation, you must maintain your reverence and admiration to the Lord… The bible declares that as a child of God, we walk “by faith” and not “by sight…” This is mentioned to us because if we walked according to the things we see and observe we would become disheartened by circumstances, we would give in to temptations and eventually stray away from God. 

The bible also says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen…” God knows that we will face man hardships on this earth and that whenever we allow ourselves to focus on worldly issues we will strain our faith and lose sight of our focus in walking according to His calling… This pilgrimage that we have begun will surely have twist and turns and if we allow our drive to be altered by things we see we indeed will fall short… The bible says that the people during the time of Noah were drinking, dancing and having a good time while Noah built the ark… This people walked by Noah laughing at him, calling him crazy and enjoying life… If Noah would have become envious toward these people, he would have stopped his work on the ark and joined the parade… However, by him adhering to God’s calling all creation was saved and in the end I can only imagine how many of those people were knocking on his door as the flood waters poured in… This Proverb that we read today speaks in parallel with the situation and opposition that Noah faced in building the ark… Solomon sat on the throne over the house of David (his father)… He ruled many years; however, despite having all authority and 1,000 women, he tells us in the 3^rd chapter of Ecclesiastes that “Everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind…” You can achieve all manners of success on this earth and will never have the happiness or joy that comes from the father… This is why we are called to remain in fear of Him and remember that everything that doesn’t align with the will of God “shall be cut off”, while those who walk according to His purpose“shall not be cut off…” We must understand that in doing the will of God, we must have a heart for service and not be distracted by our peers…

It is very easy for a Christian to envy and become jealous of one who doesn’t walk in the will of the Lord. You may see someone who looks to be prospering while you suffer, one who has plenty while you never have enough, or one who seems happy while you are constantly confused and shaken… The scripture tells us today that we must have fear (reverence, respect) of the Lord all day long… God created all things and in believing that, we know that He hasn’t neglected us despite how bad the situation may be or how good the life of sin may appeal to you…“For surely there is and end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off…” There is a finish line for your labor, there is a crown that awaits and there is a mansion with your name on it… The sinner seems to be happy, but this world is where his happiness rest, we are looking forward to a bigger prize, one that will outweigh and out trump the rewards for the earthly vessel. I know that it is not easy to walk this course of life, when it seems like the other routes may be easier and more enjoyable… That is why Paul always wrote letters to encourage the church to press toward the mark and obtain the prize of the high calling… God will pour out bountiful blessings upon you in dew season! He has not forgotten about you, He has not abandoned you; He has not turned away from you! So keep the faith and remember that everything will be well worth the journey when you hear the words; WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Return Is Imminent

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Revelation 22:12-13

We do not know the end of our day; however we do know that there is a (n) end coming… I hope to see my children and children’s children, but the truth of the matter is that my life could come to an end before the sunsets… Often times we don’t want to think or even talk about this truth, but we are reminded that each day we see on this earth is one we will never see again and there will be a day that others will see and we will not… I presume that we all have heard the phrases “tomorrow is never promised” or “don’t wait until tomorrow?” If you have, the question that I pose to you today is do you truly believe them? As a child of God we are to live everyday of our lives as if it’s our last, we are to let the light that God has placed within us shine for all mankind to see… Sadly, the reality is that we constantly place God on the backburner of our lives, we place value on other things and people, but today we are reminded that we must “seize the moment because God indeed is coming quickly…” Believe it or not, but everyday of our lives that passes by, every second that flashes before our eyes is another opportunity that we can take a step closer to Christ or stray away… The book of revelations tells of the coming things that will happen upon this earth and today Jesus writes to us telling us that His return is closer than we may believe… 

Any stone that you have left unturned, turn it over, any job that you have put off, complete it, and any wrongs that you have done should be resolved. Too often we just assume that I can do this later, or I can go see this person tomorrow, when Jesus has always instructed us to live a complete life every day. Not only does Jesus make it known that His return is coming, but He says “my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be…” If Jesus was to return to earth today, what would your reward be? If God called you from this earth today, where would you spend eternity? These are the questions that I try to ask myself every morning, I don’t want to allow the sun to go down on my life and I not be ready… Your reward (whether good or bad) will be given unto you when Christ returns… God isn’t worried about the material wealth you store up; He is worried about what you’ve done on this earth to exalt His kingdom and others… It’s not the car you drive, but how many rides you gave, it’s not the money you have, but how many mouths you helped feed… You won’t be able to say I didn’t think you were coming now, it won’t be enough to say give me another chance, your reward will be based off of the life you live on this earth and how much you devote to the calling that God has for you… Understanding that Christ is coming back reminds me to not get, but “keep” my house in order… When people recited this scripture the often try to use it as a scare tactic… These verses taken from Revelations have often been uttered to convict or frighten a person about there walk on this earth, but in reality this should be an encouraging message for the Christian church… 

Yes we know that one day this life will be over and Jesus is encouraging us to know that even though we experience hardships our “reward” that He will bring with Him will outmatch the hardships that we have and will face… Knowing He comes quickly tells me that in the blink of an eye my troubles will be no more, my pains will be removed and temptations will cease… We all have been dealing with different trials and tribulations, different obstacles and struggles and for your perseverance Jesus offers these words; behold I come quickly and my reward is with me! Jesus says your struggles will end soon, your breakthrough is on the horizon and your reward is at hand… Paul said I have fought the good fight, therefore there is a crown laid up for me! You have a crown because of your perseverance, you have a reward for you diligence, and you will enter in because of your faith. Remember He is alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last… He has everything you stand in need of and your Christian journey will bless you with abundant satisfaction if you hold to his unchanging hand! When Jesus returns there will be no more weeping, when Jesus returns there will be no more sickness, when Jesus returns there will be no more dying, no more sin, no more heartache…. BEHOLD I COME QUICKLY encourages me because there will be eternal rest, there will be peace, there will be love and we will one day walk the streets of gold…. These verses speak to two kinds of people in this earth… If you aren’t doing the will of God than you dread the day of Christ return, but if you are His child you embrace it with open arms!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!