It's A Two-Way Street

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 10:32-33

Religion is not something that we take off of our bookshelves and wear 1 day a week; it isn’t something that we keep hidden in the crevices of our lives and display around certain individuals… As a child of God we are called to walk daily in His divine light and this means that we are to show forth our faith in Him and trust that this is the only way… When we second guess speaking up in defense of the name of Jesus or when we withhold comments concerning our Lord and Savior we are doing a disservice to those whom we have come in contact with as well as ourselves… It is through speaking up and standing that we display our belief and initiates the standing power of Jesus Christ who continues to make intercessions on our behalf… Peter denied Christ and left a courtyard weeping; however, when standing after receiving the Holy Ghost 3,000 souls were saved… The power that God has and is willing to display in our lives can only be exerted when we “confess him before men…” Make no mistake about it, you will not be able to wheel and deal your way into heaven… The bible declares that anyone who“confess with their mouth” and believes in their heart shall be saved… 

You are accountable to the call that God has on your life; however you are also accountable to bear witness to His name and walk in obedience… You disobey God when you “deny him before men” which is why Jesus will “also deny you before his father…” You are pretending, you are a (n) imposter, you are fraudulent… You cannot talk the talk; you have to walk the walk… Jesus said that He came that we may have life and have it more abundantly; however, He walked the walk when faced with the cross and humiliation… Today, you must carry your cross; you must walk through the cities declaring your love and appreciation for the most high… This is the only way that Christ will make intercession on your behalf and prepare the place for you in the heavens. In today’s focus verses, Matthew records the undeniable truth about salvation; this truth that we find here is that we control our own destiny… You have the power to unlock your God given destiny of settle for whatever you can obtain on this earth… Jesus is setting the stage as to how men can be saved, he says that whoever confesses him before men, he will confess before his father. In other words he is ready to provide the gift of eternal life unto you, but you control your own fate as to whether or not you would like to receive it. 

Notice Jesus says if you confess before men (plural), this confession is not limited to the church, it is not held bondage within the four walls of your sanctuary; but rather, Jesus is seeking for the true Christian to stand in your workplace, stand in your communities and in your homes! Many Christians have what I like to a call a “fashion faith,” they change with the seasons…. When they are around certain people they profess there love for Christ and there strong religious beliefs; however, when they go into the unknown they take a different approach toward each situation (they are like the candle that is lit but place under a bowl or like a ship at sea tossed and turned by the current tide). Jesus is not talking to the “fashion faith” individual, he is talking to the one who doesn’t understand that there spiritual prosperity lies within there hands, he is talking to the one who is at the fork in the road and is uncertain as to the path he shall take. The declaration is clear, eternal prosperity or damnation, happiness or sadness, exaltation or gnashing of teeth, either choice comes with consequences. To live in sin means you will be spiritual empty and unhappy within. Living in Christ means you must take up your cross and follow him. When men where crucified, they carried there cross through the cities so that all could see their fate! Does everyone you encounter know where you stand? After all, “the choice is yours…”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love Is Sacrificing Personal Agendas

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1 John 4:20-21

Paul, in his first letter to the church of Corinth pens the characteristics of love in the 13^thchapter… Throughout the verses he writes and describes how important love is; however, it is one particular piece from this chapter that we will look at today as it relates to John’s writings in our focus verses today… This particular piece is found in the 5^th verse where Paul says, “It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” You cannot be rude to someone, seek to do what is best for you, and become upset when things don’t go your way or keep a record as to why it is that you don’t like a particular person and then say that you are so “in love with God…” There are so many people who openly profess their love for Christ; however, they often fall short in showing it when that love must be displayed not only upward to Him but also horizontally to all that you come in contact with… The rich man had a love for God; however, He was not willing to give his possessions away (show a love for his brethren and thus he fell short… This is why John says that a person who claims to love God but hate his brother is “a liar…” Ask yourself today, how is it possible to love someone without displaying it? 

Love is an action word and it requires movement beyond your lips… The question I just posed to you is the question that we must ask ourselves as a child of God… John records in this passage that we can’t love God without loving our brother; this statement is very true because the only way we can show our love for the Lord is by loving our fellowman… Our father desires for us to extend a loving hand to one another, He desires for us to keep no record of wrongs, He desires for us to walk in humility never focusing on our own desires… These are the ways we show our love and appreciation to the Lord… The next time you cross a person who wronged you, show forth your love for the father by seeking resolution; the next time you are offended by a brother or sister, show your love for the father by going to that person and trying to mend the broken lines of communication instead of allowing your heart and mind to be occupied with resentment and anger… Again, never forget how many times Jesus said that He loved His father, but more importantly, never forget that He demonstrated it by giving up His life for all mankind… Get the point? Love is an action word and John informs us that we must extend a hand of love horizontally to display our vertical love to the Lord… The journey of a Christian in the world is likened to two people who are married and want a child together but can’t stand each other! You can’t have one without the other… You have to reach a compromise, you have to reach an understanding, and you must develop an attitude of love towards each other. 

As a Christian you can’t pick and choose who you want to like and dislike, who you want to befriend and turn you back on, or who you simply what to do without! Jesus even takes it a step farther by saying that we must love your enemies! John records here that if a man says he loves God and hates his brother, that he is a liar… So many of us have taken the very will of God and tried to personalize it for our own goals and achievements. We have tried to mold the will of God to fit our personal lifestyle when in reality we should be doing the exact opposite. Love is sacrifice, that’s why Jesus said not greater love has a man than this that he lay down his life for his friends (Jesus was referring to all mankind, but also the same people who turned their back on Him when He was arrested and fled the scene)! Jesus demonstrated his Love through His sacrifice on the cross! If we claim to love God, we MUST demonstrate it through our sacrifice of pride, ego, and self-worth. Instead, we must show our love through humbleness to receive all God’s creation as brothers and sisters with love. Many people will come and go in your life (some on good terms, some on bad), many will tear you down, while others build you up, some will enjoy your hardships, while others mourn with you, some will hold you back, while others want to witness your success! All these people serve a purpose in your life and God loves them (hate the sin, not the sinner), the question for you as a Christian, is can you do the same? If you can’t, then this passage is meant for you…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love Him And Let Him Work

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

There are positive outcomes to your circumstances that appear to be negative… Notice that I used the word “Appear”... Often times we equate obstacles with negativity, but Paul reminds us today that this concept is false… In the Old Testament Abraham had to relocate in order to be blessed and called the father of many nations, Joseph had to endure slavery to see His dream fulfilled, Jacob ran from Esau and was subject to countless attacks before being named Israel… The point is that when we are walking according to the will of God everything in our paths will be used as a tool to mold us and guide us toward the ultimate prize… Paul wrote a letter to the church of Corinth about the “thorn in his flesh”, he ended by saying that God told him “His grace is sufficient…” When storms rise learn to appreciate the rain because that is what helps flowers grow just like the sunny days… Paul declares to the Church of Rome that all things work together for the good of them that love God. Notice that he states all things work, the bad and the good will come together and fulfill God’s purpose. Some of us take this verse to read that everything will be peaches and cream, when in reality Paul is saying your suffering has a place in God’s divine will for your life! Every obstacle you face, every trial that is presented and every storm that comes knocking will align you and prepare you for a new level in the will of God… 

There is nothing that God will place in your life that you can’t handle and the end product will be better than the first… Job received double, Joseph was a prince and David became king… All faced trials, but (through faith) saw that God’s will was done… Joseph went on to say, “Though it was meant for evil, my God meant it for good…” Paul also informs the church that things will work for the good of those who love God. Many people are confused as to why their homes are divided and being destroyed, why their marriages aren’t working, or are confused at how everything they touch is demolished. These people say they are active in the church; they give there offering every Sunday, so how is it that my life makes no sense? The answer is because your love for God is not present; love is sacrifice, trust, and faith! When you love God you aren’t worried about tomorrow, you don’t allow society to dictate your decisions, and you believe in your heart that God is guiding you in the pathway of righteousness. More importantly, your love for God will show when you have found yourself in the midst of  a trial; remember Paul said that we are to do all things without murmurings and disputes, your love for God should be evident in all phases of life… 

We have to cling to God, seek His word and way daily, that’s how we show our love, not simply by going to church and saying the right things! The second part of today’s devotion deals with the aspect of work; all things work together for the good, but this means you must also do the work which your hands have been assigned to do…There are many Christians that are unhappy and unfruitful not because God dislikes them, but because they are trying to serve in the wrong capacity! The word of God says that titles without treatment lead to tragedy… Make sure that you are working in the capacity that God has called you for; make sure that you are not focused on titles instead of serving the Lord. The word says, “To whom much is given, much is required…” Don’t seek vain glory; don’t look for the applause of men, but serve the Lord in spirit and in truth. Everything will be fine if you have trusted in the Lord and accepted your rightful position in His kingdom of service… Not everyone is to preach, not everyone is to sing, not everyone is to usher… The bible says, “The body is made up of many members…” We can’t all be the head, we can’t all be the hands, some are the feet which make it possible to move and advance in His will… Make sure your walking in God’s calling, you will know because everything will work to your benefit and growth when you’re doing His will…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Chastens Those He Loves

My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:  For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Proverbs 3:11-12

Growing up I believe that I was whipped more than I was congratulated… I believe that scars and welts on my backside far outnumbered the hugs for a job well done… With that being said I look back on my childhood and thank my parents for correcting me back then instead of allowing me to suffer the consequences of my actions now… When a parent loves a child, correction is a form of throwing a life-line before it’s too late… There is nothing worse in life, than to lose the support of your parents… I can recall a time in my life when I was all about fitting the image and being amongst my friends… School was nothing to me and my grades showed that very thing. I can remember a time when I received my report card and it seemed as if my parents would have been proud just to see a “C” on the paper. There is one time in particular when my actions actually sunk in, my father looked at my report card and said, “If this is what you have decided that you want to be and do, fine…” I realized at that point that my father wasn’t going to beat me, he wasn’t going to ground me, but that he simply had come to the realization that his love to see me prosper was completely poured out. I could feel the disappointment, but more importantly I could feel the separation… The book of proverbs teaches us today that discipline is love, not that your parents love to beat you, but that they love you enough to try and get you on the right path and course. 

God demonstrated in love for the Israelites every time they were in captivity, He demonstrated His love when Job lost everything, Daniel was in the Lion’s Den, David was pursued by Saul, Joseph was sold to slavery and Paul was blind and in the desert… We live in a day an age where kids have become unruly… They have taken the roles of leaders and independence without even understanding the direction in which they are headed. Every time we turn on the television we are bombarded with the news of another teen taking another’s life, our day seems to be saddened when we see kids having kids, or committing heinous crimes that seem to make us cringe at the thought! Why is it that this is happening, why is it that this generation is lost and confused? The answer, because there is no father in the household, no rules to obey, and no consequences to be faced! We have strayed so far from the normal approach to children that we have caused the turmoil we currently see. It use to be, when a child cursed he was popped or beaten, now the parents will laugh and say he is too young to understand what he is saying. It use to be that we learned lullabies to sing at early ages, now we are rapping at the age of 4 along with Gucci Mane or Lil Wayne! This passage taken from Proverbs reminds us of the importance of discipline, the fact that we need not despise chastisement. This generation is dying off because they have not been corrected, they have not been punished, but more importantly because they have not been loved. 

These verses from Proverbs draw a parallel to the fact the correction equals love. When God punishes you, or corrects you it is in love! When he makes you face consequences its because He doesn’t want to see you fall by the wayside; but on the contrary, He wants to see you reach the heights and goals He has ordained for your life! So when you are dealing with hardships, when you are disciplined, when you are facing the corrective rod of God, know that He loves you and cares for you! One thing that I know is that if we don’t see the consequences of our actions, we will never understand the affect of the decisions that we make. As I stated earlier, the Israelites were in captivity multiple times, imagine where they would have been if God had not allowed them to be in bondage, imagine where Paul would have been if the Lord would not have humbled him on the Damascus road… Look at David and think about what he would have been doing if the Lord hadn’t struck down his son whom he had with Bathsheba… The image you draw in your mind about where these people would have been is seen right outside your door every day. They would have been lost, confused and falling by the wayside just like our societies and communities right now! If you are doing the things YOU want to do, without chastisement or correction, this is the time when you need to be concerned and worried…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Gods' Spirit Empowers You

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

There is nothing of this world that we should fear… In this world so many people have their minds filled with nonsense and things of no significant value that they inherit this worldly fear spoken of in this passage by the apostle Paul… We fear losing jobs, a lower income or alterations to our lifestyle; however, in the body of Christ we are reminded today that we have not been given a spirit of fear… More importantly, the spirit we have and have been given in Christ is a spirit that contradicts what the world things we should be afraid of… When you are under the spirit of fear there are elements in your life that you are scared to lose or allow to change; however, when you are in Christ you don’t fear these things but learn to trust that God doesn’t make mistakes and that He has my best interest at heart, this is why Paul says the spirit you have been given is a spirit of “power, and of love, and of a sound mind…” Understand today that you cannot be a child of God if you are walking in fear of things changing in this world or around you… A child resembles their parents; so if you call yourself a child of God then you shouldn’t fear what circumstances you face in this world or endure through your life’s journey… Jesus endured the most humiliating death known to mankind; however, His spirit didn’t fear and He stole the sting and victory of death and the grave… Remember who is writing this passage today, Paul was faced with many obstacles, trials and tribulations… 

Even through His trials, He goes on in the book of Romans to he asks the question, “Who can separate us from the love of God…?” He then goes on to say after dealing with much pain, controversy and suffering (remember throughout his missionary journeys that he was shipwrecked and stoned by a faction formed from Antioch and Iconium, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Paul wrote this at a time when several distractions were being presented before, the scholars of the law were trying to discredit him and punish him for his faith and these are the words that he spoke… We should echo these words when we face obstacles and hurdles knowing that nothing will separate us from God’s love and His divine will… In today’s focus verse, Paul writes a letter of encouragement to Timothy… Timothy was a man of God whom had begun to doubt his ability within the will of God… Timothy was a young man that was scrutinized and placed under a microscope; he desired to leave the ministry of the gospel and take a backseat to the views of the world… Paul is lifting up Timothy in his time of despair and reinforcing his belief… There will always be times in our lives where we feel like giving up.Timothy was dealing with a trial in his ministry and Paul is teaching him to understand that trials are a (n) apart of life. The words recorded here in 2 Timothy tell us that we have been given a spirit by God. We have something within us that will bring about better things out of us. 

This spirit is not of fear, you have nothing to be afraid of, you have no chains holding you back, no bondage or captivity, but the spirit has set you free to embark on the journey that God has ordained for your life. Remember when the Spirit of God (the spirit that ONLY God gives) descended on Jesus in the 4^th chapter of Matthew and He was tempted by the devil and made him flee, the Jews criticized Peter and the other believers on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit rain down on them by saying they had had too much wine. When God pours out His spirit the devil will try to thwart His plan and vision for your life, but know that His spirit will give you power to overcome any circumstance or attack that the devil may draw up against you. God has given you a spirit that will empower you to be the best child of God you can be, Jesus said “greater things than I, you will do…” Don’t allow your ability to be held captive because of fear, understand that trials are necessary to mature and grow in the word and will of God… Understand that trouble doesn’t last always and know that God will never leave you nor forsake you. The days that we live in now were made possible because the ones who lived before us were not controlled by fear… Likewise, you have been given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind! USE IT! 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Celebrate Everyday

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10

Even in times of despair, heartbreak and frustration you have a reason to celebrate… Whenever you feel down, your pick-me-up can be found in knowing that “the joy of the Lord is your strength…” When you go through things don’t fret because your weakness will open the door for God to display His strength. When you are faced with a daunting task, don’t give room to the debilitating fear that lurks because the joy of the Lord is your strength… We all have fallen short or missed the mark which was the case at the time of this word being recorded in the book of Nehemiah. You can take courage and find peace today in knowing that you will have provisions, protection and prosperity through the good and perfect gifts which only come from above. Even though we don’t like to make mistakes or mess up from time to time, in reading this passage we know that we as well as the people of that particular time should be overjoyed because God’s word has convicted them and paved the way to repentance… Today we mourn for Jesus, but we are overjoyed at the offering He poured out on Calvary knowing and believing that Salvation was made possible by His death and believing that He now sits at the right hand of the father with all power in His hand… 

Now is the time for us to build upon that foundation. We understand that God has paid the penalty of sin on our behalf; we understand that God has delivered us from captivity, now we must put our faith into action by living a life that pleases the Lord… Nehemiah writes today of the desire of the Lord for those who acknowledge Him… This passage of scriptures takes place at a point and time when the children of God are coming back together after being scattered and oppressed. The wall of Jerusalem had been destroyed previously and they have just begun to rebuild their respective lives. Ezra the priest has located the scroll of the Lord and in this chapter has read the word of God to the people. At hearing the word of God, the people begin to mourn for all the wrong they had down and felt the convictions of their actions. Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites are teaching the people of God that they need to listen to the word and be happy because God has given them a chance to live and turn over a new leaf. I believe that we to have felt the conviction of the word of God knowing that our sins placed Jesus on the cross. 

We mourn daily, knowing that we were just as guilty as Judas because we too have betrayed the Lord. Nehemiah is saying today that God loves your convictions, but desires for you to turn to Him… Nehemiah tells the people that they are to celebrate; they are to give thanks to God because the word of the Lord has been found and instilled in their hearts. We too should be thankful that while we were lost, God didn’t close the door, while we were concerned about our own agendas, God was still concerned about us. Nehemiah says, “Neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength…” Remember when Jesus was crucified, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and didn’t find His body, she began to mourn and Jesus approached her and asked her why she was crying… Sure, we have fallen short, we have messed up, we have strayed away but now that we are back with the father, now that we are in lock-step with the Lord, now that the lost sheep has been found, we should find joy in the strength of the Lord. Let people talk about your past while you allow God to lead you to your future. Sure we have been down, but now we are up. Sure, we were lost, but now we are found. Sure, our fate was sealed, but God has wiped the slate clean… Like Nehemiah said to the Israelites, “…go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet… neither be ye sorry, for the joy of the Lord is your strength…” We have a whole lot to be thankful for, our blessings outweigh our trials…. Praise be to God, for your battle has already been won…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Look Unto Him And Be Saved

"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." 

Isaiah 45:22

Your search ends here; all the crevices, nooks and crannies that you have checked which did not produce the results you were looking for can be forgotten… The Lord declares through the prophet Isaiah that if you “Look unto me” you will “be saved…” Simply put, if you aren’t looking to the Lord than you must be looking toward other things and all the wrong things… If you aren’t seeking Him than you must be seeking something else… Wherever you are today and whatever you seek, just know that if your focus is not on the Lord than the emptiness, void or empty space you seek to fill will never be obtained or resolved… Understanding the call to “Look unto me” today leads me to pose a question as we study this powerful verse; how many times have you tried to figure things out on your own? How many times have you tried to take matters into your own hands just to watch your plan fail or come up short…? Today, through the prophetic book of Isaiah we are reminded of how we obtain success; today we are called to remember how it is that we have life and have it more abundantly, today we are called to remember how it is that even in the worse times or situations we still have a reasonable portion of health, food on the table, a roof over our heads and clothes on our back… 

This passage starts off by saying, “Look unto me…” The reason that our plans have failed or keep coming up short is because they are not derived from the will of God… Isaiah writes this passage at a time when the Israelites were dealing with trials and tribulations, he writes this verse at a time when chaos was running wild and the very core of God’s people was being tested and shaken… Understanding what transpired in the lives of the children of God lead me to another realization at it pertains to hardships and focus… As a child of God we often think that we will not endure hardships or suffer the consequences of our actions; however the bondage, turmoil and pain that the Israelites endured was because of their disobedience and bad choices (they decided not to look toward the Lord)… The more you look toward things and not the Lord the more and more your life begins to spiral out of control and pave the way for a bigger gap between you and your divine destiny… The Israelites when through because they wavered in the reliance on the Lord, they endured trying times because of there faltering loyalty and heart… This is of the utmost to capture today because a lot of the consequences we face today are due to our lack of faith in the will of God…When we look unto the Lord we find strength, when we look unto the Lord we find peace, when we look unto the Lord we find understanding… Knowing this simply teaches us that when we look in another direction we are setting ourselves up for failure… Notice that the passage then says, “…and be ye saved…” 

When we look to God we not only are promised to have eternal life, but He will lift you out of the muck and mire that you are currently in and plant your feet on solid ground… It doesn’t matter where you are today, His love, grace, mercy and compassion can reach “all the ends of the earth…” God is here there and everywhere just waiting for you to look to Him…The bible tells a story of a man named Lot who was called to leave a perverse and crooked country; he was instructed to leave and not even look back… As his family departed Sodom and Gomorrah God began to reign down fire and brimstone destroying the cities… Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt… The moment we take our eyes of God we open the door to deception, temptation and doubt… It was David looking at Bathsheba bathing that drew him into murder, it was Sampson’s eye for Delilah that lead him to captivity, it was the appearance of the fruit (pleasing to the eye) that lead to the downfall of mankind (Adam and Eve)… Job endured much, but never took his eye off the Lord (he received double what he had), Jesus was mocked and beaten but never took His eye of the father’s will and now sits at his right hand… Don’t question God when he calls you to move, don’t question or second-guess what God desires for you to do or where He has called you to go… There is no reason to look away because there is no other way to inherit Eternal Life, there is no other way to be saved… Don’t look to your finances, your friends or your job stability as a means of comfort for all those things will pass away… Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the light, no man come unto the father but by me…” Isaiah echo’s the same thing today, “...for I am God, and there is none else…”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Call Unto Me And I Will Answer

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Jeremiah 33:3

Your life will never be complete nor accomplish all that it can until you realize that you must call on the Lord… It isn’t until you open your heart, mind and soul unto the Lord that He can begin to impart His divine will and plan for your life… This scripture speaks to the covenant that bonds us with the Lord; He will answer as evident in the many storms we have been able to endure and come through; however, the phone must ring in order for it to be answered and this is the step that often times is missed… I often times here people quote different scriptures about the saving power and grace that is our God, but do we realize that His saving power will be idle until we allow it to be manifested in our lives…? True, God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, He has promised to protect us from the fowler’s snare and be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path…All these promises are real; however they will never see fulfillment in one’s life unless they have faith which requires a connection or call of total submission to the Lord… The book of Jeremiah teaches that God promises to show us great and mighty things, Jesus said that He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly… Until we walk according to the will of God, until we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior we are not living nor do we have abundant life… Jeremiah starts this verse by saying, “Call unto me and I will answer thee…” 

The promises of God can’t be fulfilled until you step up and call upon His name… Jesus says in Matthew 11: 28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Notice we are promised rest in Jesus; however the first thing that must be done is that we turn from our own path and “Come to me…” We must call on the Lord to find strength, we must call unto the Lord to find healing, and we must call unto the Lord to gain direction, understanding and power… When we call on the Lord He will answer; however it will be in ways “which thou knowest not…” We never know how someone so battered down by life still can fight and stand tall, we never know how a person dealing with financial hardships can climb from underneath their debt, and we never know how relationships that seemed irreparable can be mended… These are the mighty things that we know not, but that God can do and perform for us when we call upon His name… We can agree with this verse in Jeremiah knowing that God will answer, He will make a way out of now way, He will do the mighty things that you thought were simply dreams, He will perform the very works that you didn’t think were possible… 

Look at what this verse says; Jeremiah records that God will show great and mighty things to us if we call upon Him, (if you wondering why things in your household haven’t improved, if you wondering why you are stuck in the same location, it’s because you haven’t called on the Lord…) so many of us have been waiting for a sign from God, waiting for Him to do a miraculous work in our lives so that we know and feel his presences. God has not performed these miracles, nor given you these signs because you have not called on His name! The bible records that the Israelites were in bondage during the prophecy of Jeremiah, “they worship me with their lips, but there hearts are far from me!” The Israelites had fallen by the wayside and had a false confidence that everything would be okay. I believe that often times we have a false confidence that everything in our life will be okay. We have a false confidence that God is a bellhop and that He is going to just show up and bless the situation and we will walk away unharmed; however, on the contrary, God is simply waiting for you to say enough is enough and call upon Him and adhere to His word! Nehemiah 1:9 says, “but if you return to me (Call unto Him) and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.”

God can’t answer the phone unless you call!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Christ Has Conquered All

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 

There are two things that we are promised in this life; one is obstacles and two is the ability to overcome them… Notice that Jesus didn’t say in the world you might have tribulation, He said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation…” As a child of God we are sure to endure hardships, we are sure to endure challenges and that’s why Paul said that we must “press toward the mark…” Today find joy in your challenges and obstacles because you know that Jesus has already overcome them and will provide all the tools that you need to do the same… Jesus assures us that there will be many days that we are left scratching our heads and wondering how is it that this young man can take another man’s life… This world is a diseased place that slowly is killing each person that resides within it (those who desire and adhere to worldly standards and ways of living). The desire of Christ is that nobody should perish and that we all be saved… Jesus is preparing for His departure from earth and instructing His disciples of the times which lie ahead of them… Jesus declares to His disciples in this passage that times of hardship will come, He says, “you will grieve while the world is filled with joy…” Speaking directly to His death and the torment that His followers would endure! Jesus goes on to say that “you will mourn but eventually will be filled with joy…” 

We all must suffer from time to time in the body of Christ, we all must endure tribulation on this earth, but we find joy in the fact that we can “be of good cheer” because He has overcome the world… Your victory is assured, your foundation is set and your breakthrough is guaranteed… We will indeed suffer in this world, but we take pride in nothing that this is not our permanent residence and that we are storing up our treasures in heaven “where thief’s cannot steal and moth cannot corrupt…” In this chapter Jesus compares the hardships of our suffering to the birth pains that a woman feels while she is in labor… He tells His disciples that she indeed is in anguish when going through that process, but when the child is born her joy trumps any pain that she has felt and she overcomes… Likewise, the birth pains that we face on this earth bring anguish into our homes, on our jobs and in our communities; but when we see the finished product of our suffering, when we take hold of the will of God and receive the precious promises and gifts of Christ, our joy will indeed overpower the suffering that we have dealt with… Paul wrote that “no suffering seeming joyous at the moment, but that it worketh a far more weight of glory in Christ Jesus…” Paul also said that we will never be tempted beyond what we can bare, but when we are tempted He will provide a way of escape… Notice what Jesus says in the beginning of this verse, “that in him we might have peace!” 

Notice the wording of this verse, He is not guaranteeing that you will not cry sometimes, He is not guaranteeing that will not feel the presences of evil or danger, He says you might have peace! In the world He says you shall have tribulations… There is no end to your suffering as long as you are focused on living in the world, there is no escape, and there is no salvation! In other words, Jesus is promising you a chance to succeed, He is promising you an avenue to escape, and He is assuring you an opportunity to be victorious. He can proclaim this because all you are facing He faced on the cross. He can declare that, because the evil that has been plotted against you is the same evil that pierced Him in His side. He knows what you are facing, He knows what is attacking you, but you need to just hold fast to the promise that He assured us when He said He will never leave us! Jesus says be of good cheer; always be happy and don’t let your joy be stolen. He is saying, don’t worry about the uncertainty in this life, don’t worry about the obstacles that you face, because He has already faced them and came out victorious. He has already overcome this world, and if you dwell within Him, you will overcome too! SO BE OF GOOD CHEER!!!!!!! I believe James said it best,“consider it pure joy when you face trials and tribulations…” The most peaceful place in a hurricane is in the eye (middle); however, you must endure the storms outer realm before getting there... As a Christian we desire to be with Christ, so endure the outer realm (devil) to get to the place where you will find peace…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

I Will Sing Unto The Lord

I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes...

Psalm 101:1-3a

What are the words that come from your lips when in dialogue or discussion about the Lord…? What do you utter from your mouth when you experience His favor or when you go through a rough situation…? Often times we are able to offer up praises to the Lord when things go well, but we indeed change our tune and begin to question Him when things don’t go as planned… These verses taken from the one hundred and first psalm echo the dedication that we must have to the Lord… We all know the story of David and the mistakes that he made, in this psalm we see the expression of David’s love… In the midst of trials and tribulations, let us recognize the beauty of God’s discipline and not think He is distant… Let us recognize that even in the mistakes we make in life God can turn a negative into a positive and help us to learn and mature in Christ… David declares to the Lord today that he will sing of His mercy and judgment… As we look throughout our lives we have a lot to praise God for… Often times we harp on the disappointments in life, but neglect the bountiful blessings that have already been bestowed! David remembers the provisions that God has/had already made in his life; delivering him from the hands of enemies, anointing Him to be king and forgiving him of all his missteps… 

Today let usremember the mercy (withholding) of punishment that God has shown to us! The fact that we should have been dead and suffered the penalty of sin, the fact that we (by one man’s sin) have fallen short of the Glory of God and the fact that we have turned our back on the Lord time and time again! Truth be told, we should all have perished by now, but because of God’s mercy, we have been given a chance to turn unto Him and have all sins forgiven, we indeed do have a lot to praise God for! David praises God not only for His mercy, but also His judgment, a judgment is a verdict, conclusion, finding, decision or result… David is praising God because He (just like the Israelites and us) suffered consequences of our actions, but even then were lifted up by the hand of God and planted on solid ground… Many times the Israelites were in bondage, but God still delivered them and blessed them through their trials and tribulations, the same can be said about you… We need to praise God because His verdict wasn’t eternal damnation, we need to praise God because His conclusion was to send His only begotten son, we need to praise God because His decision was that we should not perish but have everlasting life… This is why David doesn’t stop at singing about His mercy and judgment; David goes on to say not only will I praise you, but “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way… I will walk within my house with a perfect heart…” 

David has found his true love and he doesn’t want to mess things up! He knows the source of his strength and existence… He has found the true “Soul mate…” Think about the times when you have dated or married and you were in love with that “amazing person,” because of your devotion to that special someone you desired to walk your best and be perfect… You didn’t want that individual to find in fault within you and you sought to please them through your living! David desires to walk blamelessly before the Lord, we should desire to give God our very best and not mess this “sweet thing” up that He has graciously given to us… Jesus is that “special someone,” He is that “amazing person” and we need to model our lives accordingly… We celebrate “Good Friday” because of the good deeds which Christ bestowed on mankind by going to the Cross… I don’t know about you, but because of my love for Christ I will “set no wicked thing before mine eyes…” Because of my love for Christ I will continue to ask the question “O when wilt thou come unto me?”Because of my love for Christ I will praise Him all the days of my life; I will walk with a perfect heart and desire to serve Him unconditionally… Do you love him? If so, praise Him through the ups and downs and let your love be manifest in your life by the actions that you display everyday!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There's Power In Shutting Your Mouth

Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

Philippians 2:14-15

James 1:19 says, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Cutting straight to the heart of the matter, we must learn to simply shut up… What plagues most Christians in their pursuit of Christ is the ability to listen and hear; often times we become entrapped with words that we miss out on what it is that God has for us or the very blessings that will be manifested in our lives… Not only must we shut up and learn to listen, but Paul takes it a step further when He instructs us about refraining from disputes and conflict. If you believe God is at work in your life, it should be evident not only through your words but also through how you handle adversity… I have often wondered why is it that Christians believe that by accepting Christ as their personal Lord and Savior that the temptations of this world and trials will cease… The word of God tells me that when Jesus was baptized (accepted God’s call) and then He was tempted of the devil… One thing that we must come to understand and know is that by accepting Christ’s offering on Calvary we are subject to the schemes of the devil... 

One of the more true sayings I heard was this, “if it comes easy and with out much work or endurance to obtain it than it must not be worth much…” A good friend of mind told me this when I was going through a troubling time and I believe this words are what Paul is trying to convey to the church of Philippi… You have to work in order to achieve, greatness will not fall into you laps and that’s why we are to do all thing without complaining… Paul writes a clerical message to the church of Philippi informing them of the maturation process that a child of God goes through… He speaks today to the fact that as a child of the most high things will not always be the way you desire… Paul says “do all things without murmuring and disputes,” everything you receive of the Lord is not always going to be what you have asked for, but what Paul is saying today is that whether we like the position we are in or we wish things were different, don’t criticize God nor involve yourself in meaningless disputes with another person over things that you can’t control… These are the meaningless disputes that Paul speaks of, the devil will always try to distort the vision that God has for your life and he will use those closest to you to do it… Keep your faith in Jesus and stay the course… The bible is filled with passages that speak to the tribulation that a child of God will face, Isaiah said “this is the way, walk in it” in the 30^th chapter of his prophetic book and then stated that we will be given the bread of adversity and waters of affliction… 

When Paul was Saul and God struck down on the Damascus road, the Lord said that “he will see how much he will have to suffer for my name sake…” Jesus told his disciples to keep in mind that “they hated him first…” There will come times in your life where you are unhappy about your current situations or circumstances. There will certainly be times in your life when things may not make since to you, or you are simply bewildered at why or how these things are taking place within your life. The message on today is for you to simply shut-up (SMILE) J. So often we find ourselves complaining about this, complaining about that, or becoming so disheveled that we just need to rattle on and on about things that nobody else seem to be concerned with. Paul reminds us that we will have to deal with turmoil, we will have to deal with trials, and we need to simply remember who it is that we serve. Remember the story of Job and how he lost everything and his wife told him to “curse God and die…” Through all his trials and tribulations Job kept inquiring of God to no avail. Then God answered Job some time later with a question of his own! “WHO ASSEMBLED THE EARTH AND THE SEAS?” God has a testimony within you, and a light that needs to be shown to men. This can’t be accomplished if you are always complaining. Paul says do all things without murmurings and disputes; he put is nicely, but as I stated earlier, sometimes we just have to shut-up and walk in faith!!!!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Your Soul Is Priceless

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Isaiah 12:2-3

The enemy has launched a (n) all out assault on your divine destiny… He wants to fulfill the passage of scripture in John 10:10 where Jesus says that the enemy cometh not but to steal, kill and destroy…  The Israelites found themselves dealing with this principle from the time they were lead out of Egypt to the prophetic years of Isaiah… The children of God had to be reminded that the same God that delivered them before will deliver them now… Instead of giving in to the outlook of things, they are reminded to draw water out of the wells of salvation… Several times the enemy bogged down their minds with so much that they begin to defy God and act in disobedience; the message of today’s devotional is to accept the unacceptable (God’s will), be submissive to the unimaginable (God’s plan) and not cower in fear because of the appearance of your current circumstances… The key to your walk upon this earth is the trust that you carry within your heart… There will be several storms in your life, many situations which will test you; however, you must stand strong in your faith, trusting God and having the assurance that He will be glorified through it and you will be exalted because of it… This journey is not about avoiding the enemy but rather overcoming him… The tribulations and hardships that you face are not to break you but to affirm the strength of God in your life… The things that you face upon this earth each and every day are not to mislead you or destroy you but to give you a testimony and a song to sing… Isaiah calls to our remembrance today the fact that even though the battle may be intense, the love of God and the plan of salvation that He has for your life will win… 

Sing your song today and let the devil know that God is my salvation, serve notice to the land that the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song… All the enemy can do is try to get you to neglect the power and plan that God has and will bestow in your life if you follow Him… There are a lot of us that fall into the trap of forgoing our destiny because of the appearance of situations in our lives… The word of God does not tell you that the days of this earth will be peaceful and abundant; the bible doesn’t say that trouble will be non-existent or that joy will be experienced at every turn of your life… This is why Isaiah starts off by saying, Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid… There are things in your life which are strategically put in place by the enemy to bring fear upon you… The loss of a job, the death of a relative and/or in financial difficulties; all these things can have someone so bogged down that they forget who their salvation is derived from… The same grace that provided you a job, the same grace that allowed you to experience that warm embrace from a loved one and the same embrace that provided stability in your finances will always be there… Take a moment to reflect back on your life to this point… Think about the decisions that you have made the consequences you faced and the hills and valley’s that you have been through… Isaiah reminds us today that we can’t make it on our own, we are not able to overcome within our own power and if we continue to live this life according to our abilities we will end up never reaching the potential that is there through the eyes and might of God… Isaiah says “God is my salvation…”  I am reminded of the song, on Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand! I understand who my source of strength is, I realize who has the whole world in the palm of his hand and I know that my savior lives! It is because He lives that I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone… 

I will sing to the Lord a new song, because love lifted me, I will sing His praises because he brought me out of the mire and clay, He placed my feet on solid ground and therefore will I always be filled with joy at the mention of His name! I will draw my focus from His wells, I will draw my confidence from His wells, and I will draw my endurance from His wells and will not allow this world to change my heart and thoughts concerning Him! He is my shield in buckler, He is the lily of the valley, and He is the bright and morning star! Isaiah understood that captivity was on the horizon, bondage was approaching, sleepless nights were imminent and days of sorrow were assured… We too must come to the realization that not every day will be what we expect, not every situation will play out exactly as we desire, and that there will be times of confusion and isolation… The Israelites went through hundreds of years of bondage, but were brought forth praising and honoring God, you will go through adversity, but if you know that God is your salvation, if you know His wells run deep and nothing of this world can break His foundation than you are able to sing a new song in the midst of adversity. These are the words that should embody our walk with Christ! Isaiah reminds us today that we don’t need to be afraid; he reminds us that we have a song to sing, he reminds us that we can draw strength in the time of weakness! Paul said “when I am weak then I am strong for your grace is sufficient!” Paul later wrote that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” Isaiah knows today who is in control, he remembers who touched him in his vision with the live coals and sent him on his way! Let us remember who has brought us this far, let us remember who has become our salvation, and let us continue to run this race, knowing that it isn’t given to the swift (we don’t need to be in the fast lane) but to those who endure (don’t give up) and hold to His unchanging hand! When you thirsty, you can draw from His well; not only will you be quenched, but the water of God will give you the strength to run and not faint…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Is Able!

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

2 Corinthians 9:8

One thing that’s certain is that God desires for you to have a clear focus in life… He desires for you to prosper beyond your imagination and He doesn’t want to see you fail. Evidence of this desire being true can be found in God sending His only begotten son to die for us while we were still sinners and didn’t even love ourselves let alone Him… Paul makes a powerful statement today through this passage however, the first portion encompasses what the true Christian must come to obtain and remember as he simply states to the body of believers today that “God is able…” Despite the way things may appear, despite how gruesome the outlook may be, you must stand your ground, continue to fight the good fight of faith and hold on to the almighty’s unchanging hand knowing and having full confidence in the fact that He is able… There isn’t any problem He cannot solve, no pain He cannot heal no broken heart that He cannot mend… Wherever your storm wages its biggest attack on your life, wherever you feel like the weight that is upon your shoulders has increased and become unbearable know that not only is God able but that He can “make all grace abound toward you…” This is something that we must depend on and rely on in the basis of our faith… God is able to bring you through the storms of life, love and maturity! 

God is able to lift you up in times of despair, tragedy and hardship. In times of struggle, in times of tribulations, in times of turmoil, when we feel like giving up, when we feel like throwing in the towel, when we feel like the enemy has won, the bible says that we are to “stand still and know that I am God!” Remember where God has already brought you from, remember the things that He has promised to those who remain faithful, remember that God is able… This passage taken from Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth states that God is able to make all grace abound toward you, this tells us that if we walk within the will of God and live within the power of His being, we will be able to complete the task that are put before us and will receive all that we stand in need of. All grace implies that God won’t take any shortcuts, nor will He sell you short of reaching the ultimately goal… The bible says that we are to “seek ye first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness and everything else will be added unto you…” God won’t turn His back on you, He won’t put more on you than you can bare and will always bring you out victoriously… Remember the writer is Paul and He too had trials that he had to face, hills he had to climbs and storms that were purposely designed for him… Paul was given a “thorn in the flesh” and prayed for God to remove it… God did not honor Paul’s request, instead He said “my Grace is sufficient for thee, my strength is made perfect in weakness…” Through God’s grace you are strong even at your weakest moment, by God’s grace you can finish the race even when there is nothing left in the tank, by God’s grace you can endure this rugged road and make it through… 

The church of Corinth had endured many hardships; they were dealing with many false doctrines, and evil within the church. Paul is sending a letter of encouragement today for them to keep the faith, continue to trust in the Lord, and continue to hold to his unchanging hand. This encouragement is needed for us today, we need to remember that God has said that He will never leave us, we need to remember that He said he will never forsake us, we need to bring back to remembrance that He is able to make all grace abound to you. Paul says you will have sufficiency in all things, you will be capable of handling every obstacle, and you will be competent when the storms of life rage against your home… Paul stated on his death bed that he had fought the good fight; he tells the church that God will do all this to “every good work!” As long as you are doing the work of God all grace will abound, as long as you are serving our God all grace will abound, as long as you remained focused on the will and way of the Lord all grace will abound… So keep fighting the good fight, finish the course, run the race, keep plowing in the vineyard, and keep your faith alive because there is crown of glory waiting for you…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love Is Your Foundation

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

Matthew 22:37-39

This passage deals with the priorities that we set in life, a certain man inquired of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew as to which of the commandments is the greatest, Jesus replied that “thou shalt love the Lord they God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind…” These verses deal with the required level of commitment that one must have in living under the authority of our Lord and Savior… Simply put, God must be preeminent in you life and you must serve Him in all that you do… We cannot be unstable or double-minded when it comes to following Jesus; either we take up our cross or we live according to the will of the world! The book of revelations tells us that a lukewarm church will be vomited out of the mouth of God and Jesus is speaking to us today and telling us that we must be committed to serving the Lord in every aspect of our living. This requires that we believe even when things get tough, that we have faith even in times of uncertainty and that we praise Him even when storms have swept through our households! Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.To love is to sacrifice; to love is to take action towards something and that we are giving up ourselves to exalt another… 

So when you tell someone you love them, do you mean it? Are you willing to sacrifice your own desires to see them succeed, are you willing to humble yourself that they may be exalted, or are you merely saying what they want to hear? This journey takes total humility, reliability and accountability towards our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… Don’t ask it; don’t say it, unless you are ready to live it… This goes hand and hand with our spiritual journey to, are we speaking the words we believe God wants to hear, or are we living a life of love? Notice that this is the first commandment; this is the first and most important rule to live by. Of course, we are not to kill, we are not to steal, and we are not to covet, or speak the Lords name in vain. Yes we are to keep the Ten Commandments given to Moses, but Jesus is telling us that in order to keep those commandments, we must first build a foundation of love. Jesus goes on to say that the second is like unto it,“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself…” Again love is an action word; it requires expression through movement… In acknowledging our love for God, we must show it to our fellow man as well… Jesus said that, “if you enemy is hunger, fed him, if he is thirsty, give him drink…” 

We have a duty and responsibility to serve on this earth… Jesus came to serve, not be served and we are here on this earth to serve Him by serving others… We must give to those in need, lend a helping hand whenever it is needed and sacrifice our own desires to lift our brothers up… James said that it’s not enough to tell someone in need that they shall be well fed and go in peace! We must move and show the love that we claim we have… James also said, “Faith without works is dead…” Let us not be about lip service, but about serving the words that come from our lips by living a life that is pleasing to our king… We often talk of the life that Christ lived, but we never look at His life. He always gave of himself, from the time He was teaching in the synagogues up until the time He was strung out on the cross. His life was sacrifice, His life was obedience, His life was humility, His life was an offering to mankind, when we see all this; we can truly say that Christ life was love!!!! The bible says that we are co-heirs with Christ and are to follow Him, let us live accordingly and treat others as He desires and treated them!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!