Victory Is In Christ

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

John 15:7

The word of God declares that you have the ability through the offering of Jesus Christ to “come boldly before the thrown of grace…” We are promised that “ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you…” This is very good news to know as we are assured that our prayers do not fall on deaf ears; however, in order to see this promise come to fruition you must first choose the path of life that you desire to travel… Notice that Jesus says before you can ask and it will be done that you must“…abide in me…” Your prayers haven’t been answered because your life hasn't been submitted or surrendered… How many times have you heard people say that God will do whatever it is that you ask? How many times have you heard people recite John 14:14 or say that if you ask God He indeed will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19)…? These sayings and the reciting of these scriptures are frequently uttered in the church or serve as reminders when we are in the face of adversity or opposition; however, we are called today to remember that asking God to do something or praying for a breakthrough is one thing that can be done, but in order to experience God’s goodness we must first submit to Him… The bible says that “when you seek me with your WHOLE heart, then you will find me…” You must have a desire to totally give your life to Christ; you must be abiding in the plan for your life and making the word of God a part of your everyday being in order to see these promises come to light… 

This scripture starts off by saying, “If ye abide in me…” God must be the head and center of your life, when you wake up in the morning what do you do? When you get paid on Friday, what do you buy? These are things that declare where your loyalty is or who is first in your life… A lot of us have been praying for God to move, we have been seeking a better way and hoping that doors would open, but the reason for the delay in God’s moving is squarely on your shoulders because you will not put Him first… Again, often times we hear people quote the promises of God and allude to the fact that “he will supply all of our needs”… Make no mistake about it, this promise is very true and speaks to the desire of God to have all mankind live abundantly; however, too often we forget that there are conditions that must be met in order to profess this promise… Jesus, speaking to His disciples states that “if ye abide in me and my words abide in you…”Understand that this is a powerful tool that we all have, the time was coming for Christ to depart, the hour was drawing near for Christ to return to heaven and He is releasing the very power of God so that we have confidence in knowing that even though we don’t physically see Him we have the power to overcome if we remain faithful to Him… 

We have an obligation to live up to if we want to receive and inherit the gifts of God! To “abide in him,” we must humble ourselves and focus on living according to the will of God! This speaks to the fact that we must push our own agendas out the door and give God preeminence in our lives! To abide is to reside, dwell, or take up! Let us dwell in the house of the Lord, reside within His counsel and take up our cross and follow Him… Not only must we abide in Him, but the second condition is that His word must abide in us… Abiding in Christ is more than going to church; we must apply the things that we learn from church and our own intimate study sessions to our lives… It is not enough to go to school and sit in the class room; sure, on the roll you are accounted for, but your knowledge will be lacking until you apply the resources and strive to learn! The bible is the foundation that we must build upon and live upon… We must take the word and manifest it in our lives… Ezekiel wasn't able to speak until he “ate the scroll,” if you want to see the promises of God come to fruition, if you want to be victorious, eat the scroll and humble yourself before the Lord!  God is calling and desires for a (n) intimate relationship with you, a relationship that you put your full trust in and will adhere to as it relates to His divine plans... THEN and only then, you can ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. This command is not negotiable, there is no reading between the lines or loop holes to a quick turnaround; if you abide in Him, He will abide in you!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Edification Requires Thought Before Action

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

Ephesians 4:29

When I was a little child I can recall how often my father would instruct me to think before I speak… Even though I never really paid his instruction in mind, today I have come to know and understand exactly what he meant… Words are powerful, the things that we speak can produce seeds of abundance or failure in one’s life; this is why James writes in the 3^rd chapter of his book about the importance in taming our tongue… In this chapter he says, “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. ...”

Your tongue has the ability to transforms lives or tear them down, your tongue has the ability to reap corruption or alter the atmosphere; because of the power that lies in it’s use, we are reminded today that we must not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouth… When I read this passage there are two points that jump out to me; either you think before you speak or you need to just learn to shut up… Through today’s devotion we learn the importance of control our tempers and not allowing any crack or crevice to be created so that the enemy can manipulate his way into our lives and situations through a bit of anger within us… There are many verses in the bible that deal with anger; however, to become angry is not a sin… Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” You can and will become angry (even Jesus became angry), but the key is not allowing your anger to be vented and the easiest way to keep this from happening is controlling the things that come out of your mouth… Paul writes to the church of Ephesus today and instructs them about how to conduct themselves in their relationships with other people… All of us have a boiling point, a height of anger or rage in which we will lose our minds and be careless with the things that are spoken out of our mouths! 

Our patience’s has been pushed to the brink of the cliff and we just can’t bite our tongue any longer; we have tried to be kind but it just seems like different words must be used to address this person and resolve this conflict… Understand today that Jesus had plenty of opportunities to “flip his wig or go off the deep end,” but the way you talk to people and about people shows your maturity and ultimately your relationship with God! The things you say about others are really a reflection of yourself… When you speak to someone in love, this directly displays the love that lives inside of you; on the contrary, when you allow unwholesome talk to come from your mouth you really are putting forth a public display of who ugly you are inside…“What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.” People will always talk about you, they will always say things that you may not agree with or may be hurt by, but the ultimate sign of a true Christian is not your response in words to the accusations, but how you flip this trial so that God receives glory and honor. Isaiah 53:7 says,” He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Bottom line, think before you speak and if that doesn’t work just shut up…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Purification Works From The Inside Out

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

1 Peter 1:22

Notice that this passage says that you have purified your souls through obeying the truth by the Spirit. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit residing within you, you can not accomplish anything. We have to be led by the spirit; we have to have the Holy Spirit abiding within us. Remember Christ spoke to the disciples prior to His departure and said that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes; we, through the Spirit have the ability to overcome and be victorious on this earth. It is also through the Spirit that we can love unconditionally; we can help our enemies, and be kind to those who show no kindness towards us. This passage emphasizes the fact that I should be able to tell your spiritual makeup, by the way you fervently love one to another. To be fervent means that you are passionate, eager, zealous about something, I should be able to see all those traits in your lifestyle as a Christian. Remember, greater man have no love than this, that he lay down his life for his friends!!!!!! 

That is Jesus showing his fervent love for us! This is the same love we are to show and will show through the aide and presence of the Holy Spirit… The bible declares that everything is possible through Christ… This has a new meaning for us today as we walk in love; we can love our biggest adversary through Christ, we can smile in times of frustration and adversity through Christ and we can turn the other cheek even in the most daunting of all challenges through Christ… These traits can be displayed when we are of Christ because we are no longer thinking and acting according to the worldly standards… You have to have a purified soul in order to obey the truth of what God is speaking to your spirit… You have to have your life focus and desires refined by the fire of the Lord which will remove the dross from your life… This verse speaks to the process of sanctification which we all must go through as we grow and advance in the knowledge of Jesus Christ… Peter is speaking about the development of the body of Christ; he is speaking to the continual growth that must take form in our lives… He says,see that you love one another with a pure heart, but before that, he starts off by saying that we have purified souls! 

Let us recognize that evil is our intent when we are brought into this world; the fleshly desires are things that we are born with through the fall of man in the Garden of Eden! We must go through a transformation in order to fulfill the will of God… Our souls must be purified daily because our desires naturally are filthy! We don’t desire to do the best we can, but we do desire to pleasure ourselves in the sins of this world. Peter is telling us to acknowledge today that we aren’t perfect and can only approach perfection through the Love of God and His Holy Spirit! Naturally we don’t extend love to our enemies, we don’t lift a hand to someone who has stabbed us in the back and we don’t care to go the extra mile for someone who does not appreciate it! These are the feelings that we demonstrate naturally… Seeing you have purified your souls by obeying the truth means that you have said that I deny my flesh and have immersed myself in the word of God… This can only be done by allowing the spirit to take hold of your soul and purify the damage done by our natural desires! See that you put the Spirit of God within and allow it to work through you! Jesus had to in order to lay down his life on the cross; we must do the same if we want to be able to do the things that God has called us to do!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Study To Show Thyself Approved

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

2 Timothy 2:15 

There is no exaltation in the kingdom of God without being diligent in the word and will of God… Today we are reminded that DAILY we must study the word of God; we must continue to grow and mature in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… This passage reminds us simply that talk is cheap. Many claim to be Christian but we are to study to show ourselves approved. We must be immersed in God’s word, this is not to be confused with going to church, or attending Sunday School, but rather that we open the bible to start the day, we meditate on God’s word, and consume what He has given us (Ezekiel before going before the people was told to “eat the scroll”). When you get to that point where you are about God’s word and studying, than you can be a workman who is not ashamed, this means that you are confident in your faith knowing that the scriptures are true. You are confident in approaching any situation or even other religious beliefs because you are able to stand against the enemy… 

Not being ashamed means that you know the truth and you are not ashamed of what people may say and/or try to do… Let’s not get it twisted, we must understand that weeping may endure for a night; however, we are not ashamed because we believe that God is the creator and sustainer and have the assured certainty that joy will come in the morning (whenever God deems fit)…When you believe that, you can walk boldly on this earth, you can be about God’s work, and know that the devil is a liar! When you dust off the bible that sits on your coffee table and read the word of God you will be able to rightly divide the word of truth… This passage has several meanings for the Christian that embodies God’s word… The first is that you will begin to understand the desires of God for your life and will be able to address areas in your life that God would have you to leave or learn from… James compares the word of God to a mirror and a mirror reflects back the image that is presented before it… All the imperfections that are present are revealed in and through the mirror… 

When we study the word of God we will gain a better understanding of who we are and what things in our lives must be changed; therefore, we will be able to rightly divide the word of God as it applies to our lives and those who we encounter on a day to day basis which is the second meaning of this passage… Often times we find ourselves missing opportunities to shine God’s divine light upon various situations… Daily we walk through this world and come across individuals who are lost and don’t know the word nor the will of God! When we apply God’s word and study His word, we equip ourselves to help those we encounter…We can rightly divide the word of God when we can give someone what it is that God wants them to have, understand today that many of people that we encounter are in need of a breakthrough, sometimes the breakthrough they stand in need of is written upon your lips, but you can’t utter it unless you are immersed in God’s word! Every situation you face, every obstacle you encounter shows the strides you have taken in the will of God or the lack thereof… When you study, God approves you for bigger and better things, He increases your territory which gives you chances to witness to others and grow into the man or women of God that He has called you to be…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Lift Him Up And Let Him Draw

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

John 12:32

The promise Jesus makes in the Gospel of John today to His disciples is a promise of simplicity and a promise of power… The simple task we have (which isn’t actually that simple given our sinful nature and natural desires) is to lift up Jesus and it is through this very act that the power comes through His exaltation which “will draw all men unto him…” This very passage recorded in the 12^th chapter is the key to our life on this earth and serves as a great tool of witnessing for those who do not know Christ or have gone astray... As a Christian we have the faith that Christ is the center of our being. This says that if we lift him up, He will draw. In all things focus on Him; continue to lift His name above your pain and suffering, lift Him in you worry and tribulation, exalt Him during your storms; knowing that if you focus on Him, He will bring you out. He will deliver you from the muck and mire; and you will be just like a tree planted by the waters; you shall not be moved!!! When something is lifted it is exalted, raised or elevated above. This speaks to the true heart of a Christian! It is very easy to praise God when you or your family and friends are blessed, but is His name lifted in and through your life when storms rise? Is He receiving your praise when tribulations come knocking on your door? Christ is posing a thought to us today, “if I be lifted up…” 

He is seeking for you to lift Him above every situation; He wants you to speak His name over every obstacle and blessing you incur or encounter… Don’t lose sight of God’s goodness and the power that lies in the name of Jesus! The word “if” implies that a choice must be made; so many lives have been lost, and so many paths have been unaltered because people are scared to lift up Jesus… When trials come, when a family member goes astray, we are to focus on God and not the situation… When we lift up Jesus, He promises that He will draw… It doesn’t matter how far they have gone, it doesn’t matter how many mistakes you have made; when you lift Him up He will draw and bind every broken piece back together… I was once told that we should never tell God how big our storm is, but that we should tell the storm how big our God is… Today learn to focus on Jesus knowing that He will draw you out and plant you feet on solid ground… Again, Jesus says that if we lift Him up, He will draw all men unto Him… There are some of us whose children are straying from God’s will, some of our friends have been struck by the hand of the evil one, some of the people closest to us have chosen the wrong road to travel… Jesus is saying to you today, if you want your child to turn “lift Him up,” if you want that friend to be planted on solid ground “lift Him up,” if you want a Damascus road experience for that close loved one in your life “lift Him up…” 

We know what happened when Jesus was lifted up on the cross, a thief was saved and many who didn’t’ believe begin to believe… Also on the cross when He hung His head the veil of the temple was torn in two, there was a mighty earthquake in the land, darkness filled the earth and a certain centurion was convinced that “surely, He was the son of God…” When Jesus rose (was lifted up by His father) all power was given to Him on earth and in heaven… When you lift Him up spiritually you plead His blood over every circumstance, you plead His blood over every stronghold and you focus on the Master instead of the problem… It doesn’t matter how bad things appear to be, it doesn’t matter how dim the situation may seem, “all power is in His hands…”  John 14:14 tells us that whatever we ask in the name of Jesus will be given unto us… We ask and shall receive when He is lifted up… We must prioritize our life and focus our praise toward the heavens… When Jesus is lifted, He will draw… By lifting His name, not only will He save the lost, but He will make the vision plain for your life, He will sketch the plans of His will for you and make the course that you are to travel clearer everyday that you lift His name! So lift up the name of Jesus so that things can begin to change, lives can be altered and your path can be defined!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God's Goodness Preservers You

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

Romans 2:4

I was once told you can tell a leader not by their title but by how many people are following them… In today’s focus verse Paul is writing to the religious leaders of the Church of Rome… This church had not been visited by Paul; however, the religious structure and advancement of the church were brought to His attention which compelled this letter… Paul is instructing the leaders to look within themselves before they pass judgment on another person! Often times we find ourselves down-playing the sins that we have committed by trying to magnify the sins of our colleagues… We take a stance of being “holier than thou” and not having any fault within us. Paul is saying that we must remember that God has tolerated all of our sins, we must remember that He will stand as the judge and that He desires for all to be saved… 

We have all been guilty at times of “despising the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering…”  This simply means that we belittle the things that God has done despite the many flaws we have… We don’t give life to the grace and mercy that He has dispensed upon our lives; however we want to be critical about the paths that others travel… Whether we want to admit the truth today or decide to live a life of deceit; God knows that it is only by His desires for all to be saved and to repent that we are not consumed by the temptations and lust set before us by the enemy… We make mistakes, but we must know that God has given us a way to be victorious through His son Jesus Christ. The key to the mistakes you make is realizing that only Jesus Christ can cleanse you and wipe your slate clean… There is no sin that God can’t heal, no path that God can’t alter, and no mistakes that God can’t correct… Paul is charging us today to remember that we are to look on those around us with the same compassion and love that Christ showed us on the cross and His father showed by sending Him in the first place… Paul is asking us to remember that it was by God’s grace and mercy that we have been offered the opportunity to defeat the grasp of sin and be the victorious creation He called us to be… 

The “longsuffering” of God means that He has been patient despite our mess, despite our mistakes and despite our disobedience… Know the importance of what Paul is saying to the church… We all were bound to sin; however the sins that bound us before Christ bind us no more… The power the enemy has over you is what you give Him… He doesn’t want you to turn to the Lord; Satan doesn’t want you to acknowledge the “goodness of God…” If you do than your heart will be broken and contrite just like David and this will conduct the very work of God which will “leadeth thee to repentance…”  Paul writes one chapter later in Romans 3:23 that “we all have fallen short of the Glory of God!” It is only through your acknowledgement of sin that you can be healed and turn away from your transgressions which is what God desires and what Paul is writing about… God has not liked or been pleased by your path of sin and the choices you have made; however, He has tolerated the choices you made, He has bore the heavy burden of the decisions you choose and has always desired for you to seek him so that He can heal and restore you…  By His Grace, By His Mercy, By His Longsuffering are we here and have been presented the opportunity of a life-time… Take advantages of this chance, but more importantly, don’t condemn others… Allow them a chance to experience God’s love just like you…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Lord Cares For You

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

Deuteronomy 32:11-12

Despite what people may want you to believe, you are here by the grace, mercy and directive of God… The bible records in the book of Jeremiah that God know you before “…you were formed in your mother’s womb…” In Luke 12:7 we are informed that “God knows the very hairs on your head and therefore we should not fear for He knows what we stand in need of…” God is the creator and you are the creation, each person on this earth was designed for a specific task in the divine plan and will of God… You are a unique creation, one which literally means everything to God, this is the very reason why He sent His only begotten son and why He will watch over you just like a (n) eagle who oversees her offspring… Make no mistake about it today; even if you have accumulated multiple degrees, obtained a sound financial future and a good job; God is with you and has been with you in every facet of your life… In today’s focus verses, the historical book of Deuteronomy compares the care of God to that of a (n) eagle with her young… Look back at these verses and notice how many different avenues the mother takes to ensure the security of her offspring… She “stirreth the nest, fluttereth her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them and beareth them on her wings…” 

Remember in Isaiah we are told that they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they will mount up on wings like eagles… Know today that there is no point in time in your life where God is not present… A baby as it grows never really knows all the avenues and paths that their mother has taken to ensure their protection and security… When a child is born, it doesn’t know how a mother goes to check the temperature to make sure the baby is clothed correctly, a baby doesn’t see how much the life of their parent revolves around them and very rarely even come to understand how many things are sacrificed to tend to their needs; likewise, as we grow in Christ we never really understand how much effort, attention and love is poured out upon us from the windows of heaven each day of our lives… The bible often talks about God’s mercy and the book of Lamentations tells us that they are new every morning… God is going out into the day before you wake up, He checks the temperature of the obstacles you will face, He sets the thermostat for your path so that you can maintain a level of comfort and then He clothes you with His hedge of protection which you never physically can see… I live by the motto, “Things could always be worse…” You will never really understand or comprehend all that goes on in the workings of God in your favor; however, it is important to understand that He is working and that even though the picture may not conclude the way you imagined it, you need to know that it will conclude in victory… 

Just like a (n) eagle, God stirs your nest every night as He rocks you to sleep; He flutters His wings over you every morning and wakes you up; when you step out of your house He spreads His wings around you knowing that the enemy is lurking and takes you on the path that you should go… When you are weak and feel like giving up, God bears you on His wings, gives you a little more energy, a little more power, a little more perseverance to go the extra mile and not give up… This is why Paul penned the words “His grace is sufficient… Moses was called to lead the children of God out of bondage, He was called to go before Pharaoh and even with a speech impediment was able to lead God’s people to the edge of the promise land… Today know that God is leading you, people will say you can’t do it, they will question your ability based on what they see; however when you reach your appointed destination those same people who questioned your ability will come to know the power of God and that there is no “strange God with you…” Remember the story of Job and how Satan entered the courts of the Lord and when God told Him to consider Job as far as inflecting tribulations Satan replied and said that “you have a hedge around Him…” God has a hedge around you, a thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you if you make the Lord your dwelling place… God cares for you; He shows it every day in every way possible just like an Eagle over her young…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Lord Delivers

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

Psalm 34:19

Make no mistake about it, as a child of the Most High God you are guaranteed afflictions along this Christian journey… When you are walking upright, in honesty and blameless throughout this world (which are all characteristics of righteousness) you are assured to be persecuted and afflicted… There are none on this earth who are righteous; however, through the bloodshed of Jesus we can be clothed in righteousness and therefore walk in victory as oppose to darkness… I state this about righteousness because it is important to understand that when you face trials because of your desire to walk in righteousness you must remember that the attack isn’t’ against you but against the one you are clothed in… This is why the psalmist states that even though we are afflicted, “…the Lord delivereth him out of them all…” This battle is about the God you serve; remember this in the midst of your storm because it will help you to know that you are not alone and not fighting this battle within your own abilities… This Christian walk isn’t green pastures, it isn’t fields of orchards or streams of rivers and despite what you may want to believe, you must understand this so that you don’t find yourself susceptible to the attacks within your mind by the enemy… 

As we look to this day to celebrate love, let us remember the love of Christ and the afflictions He bore on our behalf… Today is a day that we associate with love and romance… We associate today with spending time with that special someone and enjoying the love that we have been blessed and fortunate to obtain… Let us remember the love that we have today, but let us more importantly remember the greatest display of love ever shown to mankind… The psalmist reminds us today that the afflictions of the righteous are many; affliction is suffering, burden, hardship or pain and today as we embrace love let us know that affliction is a very important key to that word we so easily throw around… I often tell people that love is a (n) action word and must be followed by actions in order to validate the notion that is being put forth out of your mouth... I don’t’ know about you, but the word of God has taught me the meaning of true love… When I say I love someone I am willing to suffer for them, I am willing to endure hardships and accept trials and tribulations… We, as children of God are called to endure the temptations of this world, we are called to suffer for the name of Christ in order to showcase the love and desire we have for Him… Remember that Christ said no greater love hath a man than this that he lay down his life for his friends…We are told in John 3:16, “…that God so loved the world…” After that we see Jesus enduring the afflictions of a whip, spit, punches and a cross… We see Jesus mocked, humiliated and pierced in His side; the love of God was on display through the affliction of that very night in which Christ was crucified… Know that love is not valid without suffering… 

True love is showcased in what you are willing to accept and/or overlook… I once heard a preacher say that when we love someone it isn’t a physical attraction, it means that we have come to a point where we say I know this persons faults and I am able to accept them and embrace them for who they are… Understanding love today is vital to our Christian growth and walk, if we are not willing to suffer for Christ, if we are not willing to endure the cross that is for us to bear than we are not really walking according to the will of God and are simply fooling ourselves… Know that there is not affliction that is insurmountable; there is no trial that you can’t overcome and no door that cannot be opened or closed by God… Notice that the psalmist says “Many are the afflictions of the righteous,” it is certain that trials will come knocking and storms will approach your door; however, it is also certain that “…the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” God knows that trials aren’t fun, His word tells us that in Hebrews 12:11 “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Trials come to make you stronger; love is showcased through the trials you face… Today when you say you love someone know that afflictions speak the words that you can’t and love is shown in times of adversity… In times of adversity God is going through it with you, that’s the only way that you make it out every single time and this is the greatest example of love…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Learn From Pass Experiences

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

The biggest challenge of a Christian is the ability to forget yesterday while striving for tomorrow… There are a lot of things in life I am not proud of, but in Christ we must make the decision that our past will not restrict or limit our future; in fact, the past will provide experiences for a foundation of better decision making and yearning to do the will of God… Not only must we be able to overcome failures and skeletons, we must also realize the weight and bondage associated with our past if we do not overcome and release it… Ponder this statement very closely as we study today’s verses from Paul’s epistle to the church of Philippi… The more you carry on your shoulders, the more energy that is required to take a step… We all are probably aware of the great work Paul completed or begin in his life upon this earth… Several missionary journeys, many letters of encouragement and/or reform and even through all the years, at this point in his life he pens to the church that “I count not myself to have apprehended…” Though we toil in the garden that we have been called to tend, we can never make the mistake of thinking we have reached the heights of success that we are called to meet… We can never be satisfied or become satisfied on this earth as we are clothed in imperfection from the womb… I contend that every day you see on this earth is a day in which God has something that you have been designed to do… You have more work in your vineyard, you have more toiling in your fields and to understand this you must be able to leave the past in the past… 

To leave the past in the past means that we must not only forget about failures and/or past mistakes, but that we cannot fall into the snare of the enemy to become complacent with a small, finite measure of success… There are so many people who have sold themselves short not only by holding on to things, but by also allowing themselves to believe that they have gone as far as they need to or can on this earth… This passage reminds us of how rugged this journey is in trying to live according the will of God and to travel through this Christian life each and every day... Paul starts out by saying that he did not count himself to have apprehended; this means that he had not gotten to high on his horse. This should also serve as a measuring stick for us, knowing that there is so much work in store for the people of God… Remember Paul was an educated man who influenced a lot of people throughout his life. He had the popularity and fame, but remained humble as we see in this passage. Notice Paul next states that he is forgetting those things which are behind; we know that before being given the name Paul he was known and referred to as Saul… Before being a (n) ambassador for Christ he was a persecutor of Him. Know that you have many dark corners in your life, many closets that you have tried to close and conceal from others… We all have fallen short and made wrong decisions, but we must overcome them and continue to push forward, this is what Paul means when he says, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling…” 

There is a level of success that God has for your life that cannot be seen by your physical eyes, there are rewards God has for your labor that will not be seen on this earth and when we walk by faith we press on despite what we see and endure knowing that there are greater things in store... Paul says and this is very important to note as well that he is forgetting, not that he has forgotten. This tells me that this is a (n) everyday action, we will never wake-up and not remember the things we have done (the devil won’t allow it), but we can remain steadfast on God’s word and continue to focus on Him so that we don’t lapse in our Faith. Just as Paul tells the church, we must reach for those things which are before us, don’t dwell in the past, look to the future. Press toward the mark, this is not a (n) easy journey, you have to fight, you have to sweat, you have to endure hardships in order to reach the prize of Christ. Remember Jesus said to keep in mind that they hated him first, meaning that he was the first to be hated, but not the last. You will go through some of the same things, but it is worth the pain when heaven is your eternal home and you come to know the words Paul penned in his letter to Rome as true, “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.” (Romans 8:18)

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Came To Destroy Evil

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:8

The path of life you travel does not have a happy ending without the bloodshed and nail-scarred hands of Jesus Christ… There are no works of our own which can justify our walk of life, you and I enter this world as sinners headed to hell and it is only through Jesus that we have a chance to inherit Eternal Life… Know that you are filthy rag and in need of a Savior, this is why John declares to us today that it was for this purpose the Son of God was manifested… The bondage of Sin was too great for us to overcome, the shackles could not be broken by our finite power, and there was a dire need for a Savior and Redeemer… Mankind was unfit for the task which would lead to liberation; there were none who could pay the penalty of sin which is another reason why it took the very Son of God… Today’s focus verse not only speaks to the damnation of mankind, it also speaks to the love and admiration which God displayed for His creation… 

There are very few of us who would give their son or daughter for the greater good of the world (let alone for a people which do not love and desire you); however, this is the very act which God partook in over 2,000 years ago… The bible declares that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us… It wasn’t that we love God, but that He loved us despite of… Before you were even in the midst of your situation, before you were neck deep in sin, Christ was born in a little town called Bethlehem… Before you even know God and the level of love and reverence you have for Him, the bible declares that Jesus laid down His life for you and destroyed the works of the devil… The works of the devil are the very snares and vices which we face each and every day of our lives… The works of the devil have trapped us and limited us in our walk; however, it is good to know that we don’t have to subject to the enemy’s desires as Christ has defeated Him and given us the ability to make the enemy our footstool if we so desire… You don’t have to live in bondage, you can desire a better tomorrow and brighter future; all this was and is made possible through Christ and this is why God manifested is very son in the flesh… 

Christ died so that you cal live, He was clothed in imperfection so that you could be perfected… Know today that Jesus came to this earth with a purpose already set by God; a mission ordained for Him before the beginning of time. This passage reminds me that just like Jesus, we too have a mission to complete on this earth. I am a firm believer that those who remain on this earth are here because they have not fulfilled the will God has placed upon their lives. If we recall, Jesus walked this earth for 33 years, and on the cross he said IT IS FINISHED and gave up the Ghost. Notice He knew that His purpose was fulfilled and know that now was the appointed time where He could prepare to return unto His Father in Glory (in 3 days). What have you left unfinished in your life, what goals has God set for you that you have not completed, take on the task, focus on His will and more importantly know that the devil cannot stop you even though often times he tries to trick you into believing that he can...

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Suffering Is Part Of The Plan (Part 2)

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.

Philippians 1:29

Paul writes to the church of Philippi encouraging them in there time of despair and need! The church is going and has gone through some rough spots and many have turned to idol worship… Paul reminds them today that Christ’s death is a privilege for us to partake of, to suffer for His name sake is also to be considered a (n) honor… The church was under heavy persecutions; many had become weary and begin to lose hope in the future and precious promises of God… Paul is reminding them that the same Christ that gave Himself up for you is the same Christ that will lead you through times of despair! Paul wants us to understand today that we will indeed be tested, we will indeed have weary days, we will indeed feel the pains of life, but we must overcome, we must hold to His unchanging hand, we must remember that Christ suffered and said that we would suffer for his name! 

We can take joy in our suffering because we are carrying out the will and word of God, we can smile in adversity because we know that Christ died and now lives for all eternity! Paul is informing the church that we have two things in this world that we can hold onto that will be certain as a child of God! The first thing we are guaranteed of is that we have something to believe in… Paul says we have been given something to believe in. A lot of times in life we are let down, we get our hopes up and things don’t go the way we planned! People don’t hold there word or oath and trust goes out of the proverbial window. Paul is saying to us that in times of uncertainty we have something that we can be certain about, in times of hardship we have a (n) anchor whose name is Jesus. The bible says that, “we don’t mourn as a people without hope!” The bible says, “behold, I show you a mystery!” The bible says, “All who come unto me will find rest!” Take courage in knowing that Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! The second guarantee is that we will suffer… 

Paul was stoned and imprisoned, but he told Timothy he had fought the good fight! John the Baptist was beheaded, but paved the way for the coming Messiah! Peter left the courtyard weeping, but ended up preaching a sermon that brought 3,000 souls to Christ! We will suffer in this life, but know that when you suffer for the Lord, you reap heavenly rewards! Know that every time you suffer for His name sake, you have earned that much more in the form of your eternal rest! Christ said,“I’ve gone to prepare a place for you, that where I am ye may be there also!” Go on and suffer through some hardships and trials, Christ is building your mansion and working every trial out for your benefit! We are called to believe on Him; however, it is the suffering part which we often times neglect… We believe in Christ and will even stand for Him if it is convenient, but we must stand for Christ and be willing to suffer for His name sake if we want to receive and achieve all that God has in store for us… This is why Paul told the Church of Philippi, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

ALL FOR  HIS GLORY!

Suffering Is Part Of The Plan

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Philippians 1:29

You may not think this to be true at first, but to believe in Christ and to suffer for His name sake is a gift… We would never truly equate suffering with a gift; however, in the body of Christ suffering is gaining… This is why Paul says “For unto you it is given…” You have been given a chance to allow your tears to water a seed, you have been afforded a (n) opportunity to allow your pain to produce growth and allow your work to not be in vain… We believe in a lot of things, when we are young we believe in Santa Clause, when we get a little older we believe in our friends and soon we believe in the first relationship we have… Each of these things are either untrue or lead to disappointment… Today, place your belief in something real, place your belief in something that will last throughout eternity, place your belief in Christ… It is only in Him that through suffering we can smile knowing what will eventually come to pass… It is only in Jesus that we can be cast down amongst our peers and have faith that we will be exalted… I was once told that if you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything… I was also told that when you don’t make a choice you have already made one… Today, many of us are trying to straddle the fence of life that divides good and evil… We want to “have our cake and eat it too;” however, for many of us the one thing we don’t want to do is work to succeed…

 Paul’s letter to the church of Philippi teaches us a very valuable lesson in life; this lesson is simply that suffering is inevitable… We are given a golden opportunity to suffer for the name of Christ as oppose to suffering for monetary gain and worldly riches… When one suffers, they bear, endure or go through something… Challenges are at every turn in life; however, the outcome can either be positive or negative… One who suffers for wealth will forsake their kids, sometimes their own health and will never be satisfied… One of the most interesting facts that I have learned is how many kids that come from wealthy families have become alcoholics or had bouts with drugs... Despite what you have been told or even what you have heard, we are afforded the opportunity of a lifetime, everything we suffer for can have true meaning, everything we endure can be worth the battle and everything we go through can add to our growth personally, spiritually and in the direction of our family when we are fighting the “good fight…” In suffering you find out so much; the people who you relied on won’t be as close when you are suffering, the power you thought you had will be finite when you suffer; however, through all this, suffering allows you to realize who’s “power is made perfect in weakness…” Make no mistake about it; if Christ would not have died on the cross you and I would not be alive today… Because of Christ (more importantly His suffering) you and I can do all things and overcome any obstacle… 

The bible teaches us in Matthew 10:22 that man will hate you and you will suffer for the name of Christ, but it concludes by telling us that we will stand and be saved… “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Whether you are trying to make millions or trying to save millions of souls, the only thing that these two very different avenues of life have in common is that you will suffer… Paul writes this letter to the Church of Philippi as he sits in prison (suffering) for preaching the word of God… As a Christian we always want to look at the Eternal Bliss that is promised us when Christ returns, we want to look at the promises that Jesus tells us in John 14:14 about prosperity and how we can have anything if we ask in His name “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” However, too often we want to turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to the suffering that we must endure… There isn’t one person in the bible that didn’t suffer before being exalted… Today let us look at our lives and see how much suffering we try to avoid for the name of Christ, take a look at how many times you have quenched your thirst for Christ because of what people might say or do, let’s see how often we refute His name around certain people or how often we put our religion on the shelf to fit in or get ahead… Like I said earlier, suffering is a part of life, the thing to note though, is that it can either lead to growth or death… Which path of suffering are you choosing today?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!