Start The New Year Right; Pray For One Another

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,

Colossians 1:9

The journey in Christ which we all travel as believers is filled with trials and tribulations… I am of the mindset that as soon as you declare your allegiance to Christ the enemy begins the process of ramping up his attack against you… As you walk in Christ you will be tempted, your faith will be challenged and the best thing that people can do for you during this time is to pray for your strength and unwavering faith… You may not be able to physically give your shoulder to one who is crying or in pain; however, you can reach them wherever they are by casting all your cares for them upon the Lord knowing that He cares for you and will move on you behalf… It was the faith of the Churchof Colossae which compelled Paul to write this letter and today’s focus verse… This verse sheds light on the importance not only of prayer, but the fact that we must pray for those who are in Christ as well as for those who do not know Christ… Notice that this verse starts off with the words for this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you… The message for today is that we must keep our church families and believers in Christ in prayer; however, the biggest message that we must receive today is that we must not stop praying… Keep lifting up your brother and sisters in Christ, continue to lay before the throne of the Lord and make your petitions known… As we prepare to enter a new year lets us left up our co-laborers in the vineyard of Christ knowing that obstacles and challenges are sure to arise… We are assured to face hardships and snares and this is why Paul goes on to say that we continually ask God to fill you…  In this life we must be filled of God and by God in order to make it through the challenges of life… Our prayer to God should not be that we are able to obtain this or that but that we are filled with the knowledge of His will… This is the most important prayer that we can pray as a believer in Christ… To know the desires of God for our lives will allow us to be in the proper position to adhere to His will and plan… You must seek the will of God for you life if you want to live the life which God designed uniquely for you… As we grow in knowledge we will begin to see clearly the vision which God has for us and come to know that all things are made possible by Christ and God’s spirit which gives us the guidance and comfort to travel this journey in Him… Keep praying for others to walk in the will God has for them, keep believing that God Spirit will lead and guide and keep trusting that your prayers will be answered and the doors of your destiny will be opened…

ALL FOR CHRIST!

He Will Cleanse You

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

Ezekiel 36:25

The love of God is made evident in today’s passage taken from the prophetic book of Ezekiel… This verse comes at a time in point where the Israelites have been scattered throughout the country and word has been seen through the lips of Ezekiel to inform them that their restoration back to their own respective land and to God has been assured… Throughout the ups and downs that you experience in this life, through all the twist and turns that you endure, remember that you will be restored and reclaimed in and through the exaltation of the Lord… We don’t’ know how to handle success and the Lord knows that often times we become defiant and disobedient when we experience a small measure of it… This is and was the case with the children of God; they had become disobedient to His commands after dwelling in their Promise Land; despite the corrective measures that God had to use, He informs them that they will return to prominence… There are things that are taking place in your life not to harm or to defile you, but actually to take you back to your place of prominence in the Lord…God desires to exalt you so that you can exalt Him… The message for today is that God has a plan, He has a purpose and there is a method to the madness… You may not understand everything at the present time and there are some things which simply are not meant for you to understand; however, the reality is that in abiding in His will you will be victorious… The things written of in this chapter speak to the actions that the Lord Himself will take in dealing with His people… This is why He says in the 24^th verse of this chapter, “For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.” God has the ability to reach you wherever you are… No matter how far you have fallen, no matter how many mistakes you have made or even the depth or severity of your actions, we are reminded through the prophet Ezekiel that we are never out of the masters reach… This passage is written to the House of Israel at a time of bondage and despair… The warning was that disaster would come; captivity was immanent, but God wanted them to know that there was light at the end of the tunnel… The House of Israel would be renewed… 

Likewise today, know that even in your current situation, even in your current circumstance, even in your current hardship, you house will be renewed… God will “sprinkle clean water upon you…” Water represents life in the Bible; God will give you a clean slate, a new life, a new direction, a new path and a new vision… He will wipe the pain and tears of yesterday from you eyes and clothe you in his goodness and mercy… We must remember this fact today, the fact is that we enter this world as sinners and if we are not cleansed by the “clean water” of God we will leave the same way… Ezekiel reminds us today that without God we are filthy rags that will never be clean… In order to be cleansed the first step one must take is to know that you are in fact dirty… We must come to the realization that we all have fallen short of the glory of God, we all have made mistake and we all have been guilty of sin… God cannot cleanse us until we realize that we are in need of cleansing… Ezekiel tells us that we will be cleansed from all filthiness, and idols… Whatever is in your life that has defiled you as a person, whatever is in your life that has taken your focus and attention off God shall be removed… We can become filthy by giving in to peer pressure; we can become filthy by hanging out with the wrong kind of people… Idols are gods, statues or icons that we worship; there are many things in our lives that can become “gods” in our lives and rob us of walking according to the only true and wise God’s calling… Some of the idols that we face come in the form of relationships, fame, and fortune or even work… We strive to be so much that we allow whatever we want to be to overshadow the will and authority of our Lord and Savior… Ezekiel’s call today is for us to understand the errors of our ways, accept the mistakes we have made and turn to God to be cleansed…The word says, “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you…” Placing the emphasis on the “then” tells me that two things have to happen… The first is that we must come to recognize who God is and what it is that we need to do in order to develop a (n) intimate relationship with Him… The second thing is that we must embrace the consequences of our actions knowing that “God disciplines those He loves…” Stop allowing your current situations to destroy your relationship with God and stop acting as if you are perfect… We must go through and achieve these two important pieces if we want to truly be cleansed… 

There are steps in this cleansing process, there is a clear define direction that we must take in order to receive this clean water… God desires to cleanse you, He desires to give you a new lease on life, He desires to right the ship that you are on and plant your feet on solid ground…. It was up to the people of Israel to turn to the Lord, the choice is yours today to turn your life over to the Lord… This clean water cast all your cares away, this clean water gives you the ability to smile in the face of adversity, this clean water makes it possible to laugh during the rain, this clean water removes all doubt and gives you the chance to be called heirs to the promise of God… God says through Ezekiel “will I cleanse you…” It doesn’t matter how far you have fallen, it doesn’t matter how many mistakes you have made, it doesn’t matter how many bad choices you have made, it doesn’t matter how many temptations you have given in too, it doesn’t matter what your current standing is… God says that if you realize the filth that has cluttered your life, if you realize the idols that have eased God out, if you realize that you are headed down the wrong path you can still be cleansed and made whole… The Israelites were in bondage and suffering, yet God says I can still cleanse you… You may be in bondage right now, you may be suffering right now, you may be hurting right now, but there is still hope for you, there is still a future for you… Turn your life over to God and allow Him to pour out His spirit (clean water) upon you that will give you a new sense of direction, a new purpose and a new outlook that will help you reach the heights of prosperity that only God can take you too…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

True Love Is Unquenchable

Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

Song of Solomon 8:7

For quite sometime I have thought that many people don’t know what the true definition of Love is… Today, through this verse taken from the Song of Solomon we are given evidence that the notion I have thought to be true really is… When someone says I love you, it doesn’t mean that they care for you or that they like you… Love comes from the core of one’s being and is a passion and desire that cannot be redirected or shut off…The bible tells us that God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us… Love transcends situations, it looks beyond faults and it appeals to the levels of ones character that are beyond the surface that we see with our natural eye… Love is the mother who continues to seek her lost child though people tell her that he or she is too far gone, love is the father that yearns for a second chance even though they keep getting rejected, love is the child that turns from wickedness and temptations and continues to fight the battle that leads them down paths of loneliness and uncertainty… When we have love for someone of something, there is nothing that can stop it or prevent it from being manifested… Paul tells us the depth and importance of love in the 13^th chapter of His first letter to the Church of Corinth… If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 

In this passage we are reminded that love has to be the foundation of our actions; we cannot allow the things that we do to be derived from things that are not of love and therefore are meaningless ventures through this life… One who is full of love is priceless; this is why the verse starts off by saying that “Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.” There is nothing that can stop an act or a gesture when done in love… No words can overtake it, no steps can prohibit it and no man can hinder it… As we yearn to know the fullness of life and to have joy, we must remember that love is the most critical of things which we must obtain… The bible declares that God is love and in obtaining love you obtain God... This is why it cannot be quenched, nobody can stop God and nobody will be able to stop you when you come to know Him more intimately… Look at what Jesus endured because of love (not only endured but also overcame because of love)… Likewise, when you say that you love someone, ask yourself what you are willing to endure for them or on their behalf… When you ask yourself this question you will quickly find out if you love them or if it is simply a like or lust… I know I love Christ because there is nothing that will quench my thirst for Him, I know that I love my family because nothing will wash my desire to be close to them away (getting the point)… Even though I know where I stand, when I read this verse about waters not being able to quench love I ask myself if I really indeed do love the Lord… 

We live in a world where we are faced with so many distractions, so many temptations, so many obstacles that test us and our love for Christ… We must fight, we must resist, we must overcome; not only to reach the level that God has desired and planned for us, but also to demonstrate the love that we so easily profess for Him on Sunday mornings at our Praise and Worship services… This verse goes on to tell us that “If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned…” The last piece of this verse is a message of warning and gives a powerful incite into what we must be careful of and steer clear of as it pertains to desiring to be loved or have love in our lives… Again, I go back to Paul’s first letter to the Church of Corinth and how he concludes the 13^th chapter by saying, And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.Love is precious and of the highest value, as I stated before, love is priceless; however, you must be careful for what you give and are willing to do to find love (referring to this earth and not God)…  We have all heard the term “looking for love in the wrong places”, and the more and more we observe our surroundings, the more we see that term becoming true. Everyone in this world wants to be loved; many of our terrorist and murders grow up in environments where genuine love did not exist. Many of our troubled teens and young adults are vulnerable and being used because of a lack of love or companionship. We must know that giving all we have to receive love is only why when we give all we have to the Lord… There are so many people who have grown up in a (n) unloving environment and so they search for love and when the find someone or something that appears to simply give them attention they sell themselves short and fully invest all they have into that person or situation… A girl who is unloved can find herself on the streets selling herself for someone who she wants to believe loves her… A son who doesn’t know love will disrespect women or join gangs to feel love… 

We all want love in our lives, but we must be careful not to desire love from the wrong places nor give all that we have to obtain it when it is not of God… Solomon reminds us here that there is nothing we can do to obtain love from someone, but in the same regard, he also reminds us that love really is blind. This passage talks about giving your wealth for love, seeking to fit in will cause you scorn and surely we can see that in our societies today. Have you ever sacrificed yourself for a relationship only to see yourself regretting your decision and losing everything? Have you ever invested so much into someone because you wanted them to appreciate and “love” you and you ended up being used and left alone…? This isn’t love, but a desire to be love that will open the door for us to be taken advantage of and used… As I stated before, we all desire to be loved, but instead of looking for love trust God to “supply all your needs according to His riches in glory…” Solomon was a man that gave into his love of women, Sampson gave into his love for Delilah, the question is; what are you selling you self short for. Love can be seen in many forms, a relationship, power, money, independence and the list can go on. Christ didn’t sell himself short, He didn’t focus on the women around Him and forget His task, He didn’t focus on the finer things in life and forget His mission. However, He endured the mocking, He persevered through the beatings, He embraced the ridicule, He suffered on the cross and He gave His live for you… That’s the true definition of LOVE!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Be Christ-Like

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:1-4

The first verse of today’s devotion starts off with a series of conditional statements; Paul writes to the Church of Philippi regarding their relationship with and growth in the Lord… The conditional statements written above reflect the makeup that must be present in the body or image of a child of God; understand today that being a child of God is not something that is proclaimed verbally; in walking under the leadership of our Father we are called to demonstrate our love and faith in Him by the things which we partake in daily… Ifyou are a child of God than you will demonstrate these things; in the midst of uncertainty and danger you will have encouragement from the relationship that you have formed with Christ; despite the things that you are dealing with and the times of loneliness that you may endure, you have comfort from His love and fellowship with the Spirit… No matter what seen or unseen dangers that come your way, you have a stable atmosphere and mindset which is totally focused and dependent on the Lord… In reading this passage, it brings to light the fact that adversity and trials display the true depth of the relationship a person has with the Lord or how much their relationship truly is lacking… The bible declares that suffering, persecutions, trials and tribulations are a vital part of growth and maturation; however, I am also of the mindset that these things are vital to displaying our faith or the areas of our lives that still need work… If you become so bogged down with bad news that it keeps you from being encouraged in Christ you need to check the depth of your relationship in Him… If you feel so lonely that you run from house to house or bed to bed, you need to check your desire for love verses lust, if you find yourself constantly being surrounded by the wrong kind of people, you need to check your fellowship with the Spirit… In Jesus you can have abundant happiness and joy; this is why Paul says then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love… Jesus laid down His life and took on all insults, mocks and ridicule without mumbling a single word… We have the greatest demonstration of faith when Jesus gave up the ghost trusting that His Father would raise Him from the dead… The things of this earth could not shake Him because His life was a testimony to the love of God and the faithfulness that will be displayed when we walk in faith… 

This is why Jesus cried out from the cross and the bible says that an onlooker came to the conclusion that surely He was the son of God… When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" The things that you endure will not overtake you in Christ, they may be uncomfortable to endure; however, they will not cause you to neglect your ministry… As a matter of fact, when you are walking in the will of God the most trying time become the most impactful times in others lives… Your greatest sermon, your greatest teaching moment, your greatest proclamation of Jesus Christ is the scars that you have from the battles that you have fought… The disciples were scared and hiding; however, they begin to preach with confidence seeing the very image and scars of Jesus… You have to have a confidence that you will make it through simply because of who you serve… You cannot allow the enemy to toy with your mind and get you to start becoming frustrated and complaining about situations and circumstances… This is why Paul continues on and says being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit… Your purpose is to serve the Lord and this requires a total submission to Him… You come into this world worrying about me, myself and I; however, you must leave this world focused on the Lord and extending a helping hand to others… This life is about progression and preparation… You must make progress in knowing the Lord and completing the work assigned to you; you must continue through the ups and downs of life knowing that you are being prepared for the next stage and phase of this life and the one to come… 

As a child of God you have to have a desire to reach new heights everyday, the people who can get on your nerves today should not be able to pluck your nerves tomorrow when you are in Christ and are like-minded… The storms that have you running for shelter today will not deviate you from the divine plan and will of God tomorrow when you are growing daily in Him… There should be signs of your growth in Christ, there should be signs of your maturation and the things which were snares today should be in the process of becoming stepping stones for tomorrow… Again, all these conditional statements in the first verse today reflect the posture and stature a child of God will continue to strive for… The word God calls for us to let our light shine in the gospel of Matthew chapter 5 and verse 16; “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” This simple means that you cannot conceal your light to yourself, you cannot be focused on yourself and you cannot be timid when surrounded by darkness… There are people around you who cannot see and your light will not only provide direction for you, but will lead a multitude of people to Christ in the process… It’s not about you, but it about you helping; this is why Paul concludes by saying, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There's Only One Lord

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

When we experience success and deliverance it is very easy for us to forget about who paved the way or even the assistance that we had in overcoming… This passage of scripture is written at a time when the Israelites are on the very cusp of the Promise Land; they have experienced the very presences of God being with them as a cloud by day and fire by nigh; they were given a front seat to observe God’s powerful hand in their exodus from Egypt as well as the annihilation of the Egyptians under Pharaoh in the Red Sea… Through all this, in times of peace and comfort the children begin to complain and become disobedient… God is prepared to bless them; however, this blessing is not to be misunderstood and taken without a devotion and love toward Him… So often we can go to God in prayer about situations; however, we forget about Him when He shows up and shows out… You must be careful today that you remain humble in the modest times as well as the abundant times; you must remember to display humility in depressed states as well as delivered states, you have to be on guard that your prayer life in strong when in bondage as well as when you are freed… This is why Moses starts this chapter in his fifth book of the law by saying, “These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.” 

The Israelites were given commands from God to obey and observe; these perimeters were put in place to govern them and keep them on the straight and narrow… Lord knows we need to be governed especially when we experience a blessing and a new season… The Lord knew that His children would go astray, He know that His sheep would wonder off if not given structure and order before being given the keys to a new life… This same principle applies to us as well, you must have the foundation of who God is instilled in you before you can have the house built and furnish the home… Just like the Israelites, you have been given commands to follow and adhere too; these commands are not to be discarded when you take over your land flowing with milk and honey… This is what happened through the 40 years in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses… The children were delivered one day and disobeying and complaining the next; they were given the things they needed one day and upset about not getting what they wanted the next… No matter what happens in your life or what transpires from day to day, you have to remain under the leadership of God knowing that the Lord our God is one Lord… Even when you feel betrayed (as crazy as that may sound), know that you deliverance, abundance and divine direct are found and produced through your love for God… This is why Moses goes on to say that you must not only know that God is one Lord but that thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy might… We just looked the importance of love a few devotions ago and how it is love that covers a multitude of sins… You will not obey the commands of God, you will not observe His laws and decrees, you will not adhere to His desires if you do not love Him… 

With love there is a devotion and desire; when you love God you give Him your all (heart, soul and might) while also doing the very things He asks of you… Today’s message teaches us to stay focused and don’t allow ourselves to be distracted by the way things appear to be or the things we don’t have that we want… Stay true to the Lord and don’t allow yourself to be persuaded to think otherwise or believe in something else when things are not done according to your desires… There are many religions in the world, many different claims and thoughts; however, we are told in the scriptures today that there is only one Lord… We are called to hear, to understand, to realize and to listen… So many people get caught up in the wrong things, serving idols and other lords, but we are called today to know that when everything else fails and all the dust settles, there is only One Lord who reigns over all… The God that I serve is not made of gold; He is not formed through a fire, or molded by a potter. The God that I serve has been here before the beginning of time and surely will remain when time has run out. The God I serve stretched out his hand to his children through his son Jesus Christ and allowed us a second chance. The God I serve has the power to deliver, heal, and strength all that come before Him in humility. I serve a living God, one who is here, there, and everywhere; a God that is the same yesterday, today, and forever. My God has tasted death through His son, but has also brought life through the same, He spoke this world into existence, created man from the dust of the ground and has vowed to return to receive His children and take them to His home in glory. My Lord is one God, not Allah, not Baal, not an Asherah Pole, but a wonderful counselor, a prince of peace, the great I am; that is my God. If you understand who this God is that I am talking about, the same one that has brought you through seen and unseen dangerous, the same one that has brought you through the dark days and sleepless nights, if you know this God; the one who vowed to never leave you nor forsake you, the one who has always been your friend and comforter, your shield and buckler. If you know this God, then you can agree with this passage taken from Deuteronomy the 6^th chapter and Love Him with all your heart, soul and might, because He is worthy of all our praise and devotion!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Learn To Display Christ

“Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.” 

Titus 2:2

As a child of God you are to walk in the will of God; this means that you must adhere to His voice as well as His word… There are so many people today who are perishing because they are told what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear… Paul reminds Titus in this passage and reminds us today in this devotional, that even though people may not accept it at first or even may scorn you in the process, the word of God must come from your mouth in purity and unedited… You are not on this earth to please man, you are here to fulfill the will of God and hopefully lead others to Him in the process… Make no mistake about; a lot of people you encounter simply do not want to hear the truth… The word of God was not written to be altered or manipulated; it was recorded from the very will of God to provide direction, correction and hope for our eternal future… We enter this world as sinners and can only be saved by grace when we are shown the ugly reflection in the mirror that is us… In pains me today to see so many churches being filled because the Pastor speaks words that people want to hear verses what they actually need to hear… When someone tells you what you want to hear, they are in essence delaying and even creating a false hope in your destiny… 

As we studied yesterday about David and his desire for God to teach him His will, we know how many mistakes that he made… It was the prophet Nathan (used by God) who did not tell David what he wanted to hear, but rather told him about his errors which led to his repentance and increased his faith… In the 2^nd book of Samuel we find how Nathan went about confronting David and his fault against man as well as his sin against God…So the Lord sent Nathan to David. Nathan came to him and said, “There were two men in a certain city. One was rich, and the other was poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cows, but the poor man had only one little female lamb that he had bought. He raised her, and she grew up in his home with his children. She would eat his food and drink from his cup. She rested in his arms and was like a daughter. “Now, a visitor came to the rich man. The rich man thought it would be a pity to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler. So he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared her for the traveler.” David burned with anger against the man. “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives,” he said to Nathan, “the man who did this certainly deserves to die! And he must pay back four times the price of the lamb because he did this and had no pity.” “You are the man!” Nathan told David. 

The message today is simple, stand upon the word of God because the word of God stands alone… There is nothing that needs to be add to it, nothing that needs to be taken from it, don’t allow society or your community to keep you from abiding in the will of God and therefore walking in your calling… Now is a critically time in our nation where the word needs to be preached more and itching ears need to be pleased less… The children of today don’t know what respect is, there a knowledge transfer gap that has been created which has the child of today believing that they have more rights than their parents… This day and time says that you can have what you what when you want it and with vices such as internet, social media and other advances of technology the meaning of hard work has been lost or even simply forgotten… All the things that are not right at our fingertips have created a comfortable atmosphere so that we are blind to the very things which are allowing our demise… In this passage, I am reminded of the times of yesterday and understand the importance of capturing and using the tools of the bible which have been used for thousands of years… We have to get back to the basics, this is why Paul tells Titus to, teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Tell the truth and shame the devil…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Lord Have Your Way

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

Psalm 143:10

How often, when you pray do you ask the Lord to teach you verses leaving a request for His deliverance, power or presences to be manifested in your life…? Today’s devotion reminds us of the importance of prayer as we deal with learning the very will and divine plan of God… So many of us forget to pray when we feel like we can handle something and we hurry up and pray when the weight becomes unbearable… This verse simple teaches that we can avoid trying to bear an unnecessary weight if we first get in tune with the will of God… David was a man who made many mistakes; from adultery with Bathsheba to having Uriah killed on the front line to even fleeing Saul right into the enemy’s camp; the list of David’s mistakes goes on and on; however, through all these things David learned a great listen which he teaches us today so that we don’t have to travel the same path which he did… In your life, stop trying to figure things out on your own, stop trying to handle every situation that approaches your doorstep and stop being stubborn with your will when it doesn’t align with God’s… This last point is the one which causes the most trouble to occur in our lives… We don’t desire to know God’s will because we are scared that it will be different than ours… I have heard so many people quote Isaiah 55 when others endure trials and tribulations, but these same people never apply it to their lives when they are in the midst of a hardship… In Isaiah, verses 8 and 9 say, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” The word of God teaches us that His will is not the will which we are born with; however, these same people I spoke of previously will endure hell on earth instead of believing the will and plan of God which will lead them down a different path of life… I firmly believe that David would have spared Uriah’s life even after committing adultery if he had turn to the Lord and cried out to Him as he did in the beginning of this psalm… The 1^st verse of the 143^rd psalm says, Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. 

This very prayer acknowledges who God is and the mercy which we all need Him to bestow upon us… If we know that we need mercy (withholding of a just punishment) in our lives; we should also be able to come to the conclusion that we need to be taught His will so that we can avoid mistakes... In asking God to teach you His will, you are humbling yourself before the Lord in total submission to Him… David had never completely submitted to the Lord which is why He endured the temptations that led to the loss of his firstborn son… You can learn the right path, you can have your eyes opened and light pointed in the darkest areas of your life; however, the first thing you must do is acknowledge that Jesus is your God…So many of us have not actually taken this step; we may proclaim it verbally to our peers or even in church, but our lives reflect a different answer… Notice what David says, he starts off by saying teach me your will and then says for you are my God… If you don’t recognize that God is your God, how can He teach you His will and plan for your life… You must lay yourself before the Lord in total submission to Him in order for Him to begin to impart knowledge, wisdom and power upon you… The greatest example of this is Jesus Christ… In the garden of Gethsemane, the bible records that he laid prostrate before the Lord 3 times… When Judas came to betray Him, He was able to willingly be arrested and even heal the ear of a soldier which was struck by one of His disciples… There is power, peace and direction within the teaching of God’s will… You can endure the most trying situation when you know the will of God, you can go through the most treacherous storms when you are in the will of God and you can overcome the steepest of mountains when you are walking in the divine will of God… David defeated Goliath, outlasted Saul and received Solomon as his second child from Bathsheba… This came about because he sought the Lord at the loss of his firstborn, repented of His sins and recognized that God was God… You can transform your situation; you can alter your circumstances and change your direction in life… The will of God will give you a sound mind; it will give you peace amidst the storm and make ways out of no ways… Ask Him to teach you His will and when you are confused in lost, don’t turn to others or try to figure it out on your own; look up and request that the good Spirit lead me on level ground.” 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Agape Love Conquers All

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:7-8

The best thing that someone can ever say about you is that you were full of love… The bible declares that God is love and for someone to say you were full of love means that you were full of God… You cannot allow the distractions of this world to suffocate or destroy the seed of love planted in you… People will come to know God through your acts of love and this is why Peter not only says that charity covers a multitude of sins, but why he also says that you must be sober and watch unto prayer… The enemy doesn’t want to see the end result of the love which was poured out on Calvary taking root in the lives of all those who come to know and experience it… Satan cannot fathom what the world will be like if people were able to engage and speak words of love instead of criticism and gossip…  He doesn’t want to see this come to fruition, so he has you marred by your past and ignorant concerning your future in Christ… Today, know that we must live each and everyday as if it’s our last and this means we must love uncontrollably… This doesn’t mean that we should “live life to the fullest,” but that we must carry out the will of God each and every hour that He grants us upon this earth… We are reminded today that charity (love) covers a multitude of sins… It was Jesus love which He poured out on the cross that covered our sins… Likewise, in doing good deeds, extending a hand to someone in need, forgiving someone who has wronged you or looking beyond faults of another will allow your father to forgive you of the mistakes that you make… There is one unknown on this Christian journey and that is the time in which Christ will return; there is also one thing that we are assured of on this Christian Journey and that is that Christ will return… Peter tells us that the end of all days is at hand and to be sober, this is focusing not on drinking, but on the fact that we need to be vigilant and coherent to the word of God and live our lives as if He was coming within the next minute… 

The end of all things being at hand lets me know that there is nothing of this earth that will survive, there is no one on this earth that can save you and nothing that you can do on this earth to inherit Eternal Life… Being sober means that we must stop making stupid choices, stop procrastinating and stop allowing temptations to ensnare our God-given vision and mission… So many of us aren’t living a sober lifestyle, we are staggering through life, misusing our gifts, losing our identity and allowing this world to dictate our advancements and achievements; God is calling for us to stand upright and be an example in this world! He is waiting for you to detoxify yourself through prayer and study so that you can understand that we truly are living in the last days… When you aren’t sober you are unaware of things around you, you don’t appreciate things before you, so you end up in a helpless state which leaves you vulnerable to whatever may come your way... A drunken state of mind allows the devil to have his way with you… We aren’t talking about drinking literally, but rather being in position where you allow outside forces to dictate and direct your life… When you are sober you are sturdy, focused and grounded… Your purpose in life is clearly defined and you are determined… Many of us claim to be sober; however, we have no direction in our life, we aren’t focused nor grounded in the word of God and we allow people and situations to guide us down the wrong path…A sober mind is important; however, you must add a strong cornerstone to that foundation which is prayer… This is why Peter goes on to say that you must watch unto prayer… So many have a clear mind, but they have not taken the next step to allow the thoughts and desires of God to take root in that unoccupied space… Situations always come about, but in order to clear your mind and see results you must turn it over to God (prayer) and invite Him in… So many of us aren’t living a sober lifestyle, we are staggering through life, misusing our gifts, losing our identity and allowing this world to dictate our advancements and achievements; God is calling for us to stand upright and be an example in this world! He is waiting for you to detoxify yourself through prayer and study so that you can understand that we truly are living in the last days… 

Things you dealing with today shouldn’t be left tell tomorrow, turn it over to the Lord now and let Him lead you… When you turn it over to the Lord and invite Him in; you can now be filled with the love (charity) spoken of which will in the end cover the multitude of sins… The only way to be sober is to study and apply the word of God to your life… The psalmist said “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalms 119:11) We must have the word within if we desire to live it on the outside… Peter goes on to say that charity covers a multitude of sins and that we should be fervent in our charity… Charity is another word for love; the bible says that God is love… The reason your sins are forgiven (covered) through charity is because God’s spirit dwells within you when you have love within… When you love something, you want to see it grow, mature and be success… God imparted His love to us in the form of His son so we could grow, mature and be successful… When we love, we allow God to enter into our lives and become one with us… When God enters, sin is cast out and therefore we are covered by love! To be fervent is to be eager, passionate or zealous; we should give from our hearts and out of true love and kindness towards one another! This charity goes beyond money and is dealing with a sacrifice of self, Christ had to sacrifice Himself to cover our sins and we need to understand that when we give of ourselves to help others we purge ourselves of iniquities. We have all heard that we should live today as if it’s our last and that is so true; but in the term living we as Christians give that a different meaning than the world… We aren’t looking to have a good time, “live it up”, or spend all we have, for us to live is to sacrifice; this requires a watchful eye and a sober mind…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God's Plan Is On Schedule

That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. 

Ephesians 1:10

 

There is an appointed time where all things will be gathered together… The things of yesterday will join the things of today and all in the household of faith will be united… As a Christian we find strength through this passage taken from the letter to the church of Ephesus… We know that despite all the suffering, ridicule and scorn which we presently deal with, there is a sturdy foundation we can stand upon which simply declares that in the dispensation of the fullness of times… As we go through, the hour continues to draw near to when all the suffering will end, sin will be no more and everlasting life will become reality… Those who have fought the good fight before us will be reunited unto us in the return of the bridegroom to this earth… You can endure the struggles of life and overcome the deepest valleys by reminding yourself that the time has not come yet… Your time to be exalted has not come yet, your time to ascend has not arrive yet; this isn’t to say that it will not happen but that it just has not happen yet… As a child I was able to go outside and wash my fathers cab because of the payment I was guaranteed to receive; standing in the sun was tedious; however, knowing what was to come made it bearable… The same principle applied today in our focus verse can be applied to our lives as well; your reward for all your labor is guaranteed, the things you endure today are bearable because you know what is coming tomorrow… In the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things Christ… 

The work which God has started will be completed, Paul just reminds us today that will not happen when we want it too… There are so many things which we desire on this earth and this is why Paul again reminds us that it is on the timing and design of God that we must trust and have our being… Life doesn’t always make sense; there are times that have come and will come when we will not understand our current situation or what it is that God has in store for us… Paul reminds us today that in these times we are not to become discouraged, we are not to become dismayed, but that we are too remember that God indeed does have a plan… Paul unfolds the desire and plan of God as it deals with His disciples and creation… In his letter to the Church of Ephesus, Paul is writing to the body of Christ as well as those who have begun the transformation into Christianity… There were many souls that were being turned over to Christ; however, there were also many that were skeptical of Christ and being susceptible to prosecution by other religions and people… The truth of the matter is that when we turn our lives over to the Lord we are going through a transformation, as we are transformed, there will be many that will be skeptical, many that will criticize and many that will persecute… Because of these known hardships, many people are left asking the questions (why should I believe in God) or (why would God allow this)…? Both of these questions are answered in the study verse for today’s reading… Again, Paul says “that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ…” There is a period of time that will elapse, a period of time that we will endure hardship, a period of time that we will be ridiculed and a period of time that we will feel all alone… This period must be fulfilled, just like Christ had to suffer a period of time where He was separated from His father we too must go through, but we must also remember that there is a method to this madness… God has a plan that is at work right now in our lives, God has ordained steps that are being taken within His will and plan that we may not understand nor recognize at the present moment… 

“The dispensation” simply means God’s allowance… God is allowing certain things to happen, He is permitting certain things to take place, but know that in His allowance, He is also preparing to gather His body unto Him…While Jesus was separated from God, God was already preparing for His return…While you go through storms of life know that God is already a step ahead and planning your deliverance… You will be brought back into the fold, even though you may be drifting and battered by the storms of life you will reach land and find you feet planted firmly upon the strength of the Lord… We may suffer now, we may face hardships now, but we know that the bible says that when Christ left this earth He was going to prepare a place for us… Christ left to make room and setup our Eternal Rest, Christ left to prepare a place where we would suffer no more, we would cry no more, we would sin no more… Paul says that He will gather things in heaven and on the earth… The hope of a Christian is embodied in knowing that Christ plans to come back for us… We all shall gaze upon His face and hear Him say Well Done! Ephesus was a port city that had various people traveling through its towns daily… Knowing this, allows us to understand how diverse this location was… We too live amongst diversity; we see many religions, beliefs and people everywhere we turn… Our crown is not of this earth, but it indeed will be given to us when Christ returns and gathers all His people unto Himself… Today, find encouragement during your hard times, find peace in the storm and find perseverance during your struggle… You may not see it, you may not know how, but God is working it out and you will overcome… This walk isn’t one that we can bare on our own; however through faith we can make it and that requires us to trust in the Lord knowing that His ways and thoughts are not ours, but that they will produce more than we ever could… (Isaiah 55: 8, 9)

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You're Fearfully And Wonderfully Made

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Psalm 139:14

You were created in a beauty that uniquely defines who you are… I state this because so many of us spend our lifetime trying to be something that we aren’t or never were created to be… This passage speaks to those who are wasting time trying to please mankind or gather a measure of success according to the world’s viewpoint… There are a lot of things in our lives that we may not be proud of; however, this message today reminds us that praise should always pour from our lips as we are fearfully and wonderfully made… God set aside a portion of time to fully layout the exact person that you are today and the one that you will become tomorrow… Understand that there will never be another you; the path you travel is unique to the abilities that you possess which in turn is outlined by your thoughts and actions… This needs to be grasped today because a lot of us walk around unhappy and because of this are not able to live a full abundant life full of praise and joy… David had gone through stages of second-guessing himself; even probably had bouts with depression given the mistakes he made and all the things that transpired in His life and family… Despite losing a son and eventually a daughter; David turns to the Lord earlier in this psalm and says you no my coming in and going out… David could’ve played the why me card, he could’ve thrown in the towel; however, he found an answer in recognizing who God is and what He already knows… The things you face in life you were designed to be able to handle and overcome… You were designed in a fearful manner not to be afraid of things but to be in awe of your creator… You weren’t designed to run from things but to run to Him so that you can overcome things… Fear breeds unease and panic which leads to poor choices and bad results…You were fearfully made so that you could actually overcome fear…  The way God formed you was so that you would not be overcome by snares and hardships in this life… 

A fearful mindset will not bring about fear when storms rage in your life; a fearful mindset will not have you running for shelter but will in turn have you in a state of realizing that the water provided from the rain will help the seed that lives within you to grow… We have the wrong idea of what fear is in the eyes of God… Fear is strength not weakness, it bring light not darkness and it transforms not conforms… This is why we are reminded that we are not given a spirit of fear but that we are called to fear God and keep His commandments… Don’t be afraid of your circumstances, walk in the fear of the Lord knowing that He can and will provide… Being fearfully made is what unlocks your ability to stand still while everyone else runs… This fear is what allowed David to conquer Goliath with a slingshot and a smooth stone, this fear is what allowed David to lose His son and worship the Lord, this fear is what actually allowed David to spare Saul’s life (the very man trying to kill him) instead of taking it…Instead of trying to solve his problem, David left it in the hands of God because of the fear which resided in Him about the love God had for him… David could offer up praise unto the Lord because of situations in His life where He saw God show up and show out… You have a reason to offer praise today, you have a reason to give God the highest praise; things may not be the way you desire them to be, but you can praise Him just because you are hear and able to overcome every obstacle put before you… If you can’t see a reason to praise Him, just look at your life and the deep beauty that is you… 

When you are faced with a tough and trying situation, remind yourself that marvellous are thy works… When people try to say you won’t amount to anything or become anything, you can hold your head high and declare that you were wonderfully made... The wonder that is you relates to the reason why God designed you… He didn’t design you to be useless, He didn’t design you to be ridiculed and disrespected, there is more to you than people can see and so when the enemy tries to run you down you can let him know that my soul knoweth right well… I know that I have a purpose; I know that God devised a plan for me and I know that there is more to my life than what you have to see or think… Yes, you may not be where you want, but you can praise God that the fear in wonder that you were made in won’t allow you to sell yourself short and miss your divine destiny…  You cannot praise God if you think that you should be on another path and therefore are not happy with the plan He devised for you… We all have made bad decisions in life, some of which we greatly desire to change and or delete from our minds. This passage taken from this psalmist reminds us to praise God for his (our) creation. We must understand that as a child of God we are fearfully and wonderfully made; that means that you are a unique individual who was molded with a purpose. The psalmist understands that though he has trials and tribulations he is a man of character and his life has substance and meaning. Your life here on earth means something, your position that you hold here means something, you are a wonderful creature, a child of God, and you know the way in which you should live. Praise be to God!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Give God Your Best

...Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing.

2 Samuel 24:24

So many of us would love the idea of getting over when it comes to our walk with the Lord… We have experienced highs and lows, we have seen ups and downs and sometimes in our life we would love to get an easy pass or a shortcut through all the muck and mire of the day… In reading this passage we are challenged to reflect on the goodness of the Lord despite all the mistakes and bad choices that we have made… David says neither will I offer burnt offering unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing; David spoke these words from the sincerity or his heart knowing and realizing what God had done for him… When you begin to think about the goodness of Jesus, when you begin to think back to all the wrong you have done and come to the realization that it was God’s grace and mercy which kept you and brought you out, your mindset changes and you want to give your all to the Lord… In this passage, David is declaring that he is not worthy of the blessings being bestowed upon him (despite the plague that God was about to place on the Israelites); he wants the Lord to know the love that he has for Him… So he wants to sacrifice (in the form of payment) to the Lord… When you come to the point where you realize how awesome God is, you then will not give anything to Him which doesn’t cost you something… This gesture displays the attitude that a Christian must have; you cannot try to get over on the Lord in your giving and expect His unlimited favor… Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” You are called to test the Lord in your giving; this requires that you give something of value and not things that you deem replaceable… This same principle applied to the heart of David and led to this verse being recorded in the 24^th chapter of 2^nd Samuel… In studying this passage I am lead to pose this question, how valuable is your relationship with God…? How much do you treasure being in good standing with the Lord…? Are you someone who attends church out of obligation or to pay true respect and honor to the Lord…? 

These questions are questions that are posed all across the world; however they are answered through actions not words, through devotion and not presentation… This passage is written at a time when David knew that he had sinned against God; he knew that he had fallen short of His glory and understands that he had to restore his relationship with God… We too have made many mistakes; we have damaged our relationship with the Lord and the question now because “how bad do you want to repair it…?” What does God’s love mean to you, how much do you want to show God your appreciation and love…? What are you offering Him…? These are important factors in our life that we too must come to understand; God deserves all of our time and commitment because we have fallen short, he deserves the very best we have because we turned our backs on Him and lost sight of His Grace and Mercy! This is why David said I will not offer anything unto the Lord that cost me nothing, he realized all that it cost God to save us from sin, he realized all that God gave and invested in him to see him reign as King and he came to the realization that he was throwing it all away… We must never forget that God gave His only begotten son, we must never lose sight that Jesus died the most humiliating death known to man and all this was done to save us from our eternal death… When I sit and really ponder what God has done and how He bestows new mercies on us every morning I realize that there is nothing of this earth that I shouldn’t give unto Him… I know that God has given His very best in the form of His son and I dare not to acknowledge His sacrifice with meaningless words or things… God wants your heart, He wants your life; anything else is worthless… The cost that David speaks of in this verse refers to the amount that he puts out for the Lord… This doesn’t necessarily deal with money, but the amount of energy, time, devotion that we pour out to studying God’s word, praising His name and worshipping Him…David had a right perspective of who God is and what He means to him… So he wanted to show his devotion to the Lord by paying for the land to be offered back to God… 

When we trust God, when we desire to worship God we also act in faith knowing that God sees all things and will reward us by our giving and devotion… Think about how precious the gift is that God gave to you in the form of His son and ask yourself what gifts are you giving to God… The only thing that God wants is you, you are the gift that He desires and we give ourselves to Him by totally surrendering to His will and way… This is where the cost comes in, I have often thought and told myself that if it comes easy it isn’t what I need… Today, know that offering yourself to Christ is going to cost you some friendships, it’s going to cost you some fleshly desires and it’s going to cost you some aches and pains… Do we know how much it cost God to raise us up out of the pit of sin, how much it cost to release us from the handcuffs of death, and pave a way to salvation! It cost Him His only son, it cost Him pain and anguish to witness His son on the cross dying an agonizing and intensely painful death… It cost God a great deal to watch His son be spit on, mocked and beat, it cost God a great deal to see Him laid in a tomb and watch the throngs of people mourning… It cost God more than we could ever offer Him and we surely could never pay back to Him what He put out! Let us keep that in mind when we go to church, let us keep that in mind when we put down our bibles instead of reading, let us keep that in mind when we make God’s will and afterthought in our life… How much does God mean to you? How much do you really believe He poured out from on high to save you…? Show your belief in your actions and service to the Lord… David said I will not offer anything unless it cost me something, not because he wanted to spend, but because he knew how much God had already spent!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Glory > Suffering

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

 

Romans 8:18

 

The bible is filled with passages that speak to the amount of suffering that a Christian will endure within his/her lifetime… There is not a single scripture which speaks to the life of a Christian being easy; but on the contrary, there are many which depict suffering, hardships and tribulations… The writer of this passage (Paul) was a man who once found pleasure in persecuting others; however, in his conversion, God speaks to the suffering that Paul will endure in a conversation that takes place in the 9^th chapter of Acts with a man by the name of Ananias… But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”Suffering is a vital part to the Christian journey; faith is developed through suffering, rewards are accumulated through suffering and growth is displayed through suffering… So many people proclaim a relationship on the surface with Jesus Christ; however, in the suffering stages their actions say others… Even in the most uncomfortable situations we are reminded today that they are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us… 

The results that come from your suffering will negate the suffering that you experience… Nobody really likes to suffer, but as a child of God we must speak the truth and no that there are no shortcuts on this journey… One thing in life is certain and that is that you will experience hardships and obstacles… I don’t think a day goes by in our lives where there isn’t at least one thing that takes place in our lives that causes us heartache, stress or disappointment… I have heard so many people speak of problems that they are facing and I believe we all would agree with the saying,“You’re either in a storm, coming out of a storm or going into a storm…”  Although difficulties are never something you want to face, the bible tells us several times (today’s focus verse is an example) about the affliction that we will experience… As a Christian, trials and tribulations are a part of growing in Christ… When we face trials we are called to embrace them because they display your faith and God’s faithfulness… The bible says that faith without works is dead, so we must endure hardships to display our faith and by overcoming (working) we allow God’s sovereign light to shine in our lives…These trials that we face are not to intimidate us but for God’s glory and power to be manifested in your life… Paul was imprisoned and his praises broke the walls down, Job lost everything and gained double what he had, David was isolated in a cave before he came out as king of Israel, and Jesus was mocked and whip before he received all power in heaven and on earth! Understand that trials are common place for a Christian; every day we are facing trials and tribulations, not to strike fear in us, but to prepare us for Christ’s return and equip us to know that we can be victorious because every trail we face can be transformed into a stepping stone…

Paul is charging the Church of Rome just as he is charging us today; don’t become weary, don’t give up, don’t be discouraged because you have to go through some sad days or sleepless nights; don’t become fearful because it seems like the enemy has the upper hand. Your trails are tools for growth and purging, we are learning that through Christ all things are possible and that he should be our focus and strength. Later on in this chapter Paul says that we are more than conquers and that nothing can separate us from the Love of God! To be more than a conqueror you have to face your share of mountains and shadows of death, to be more than a conqueror you have to go through the pains of maturity and face puzzling and complicated days… Likewise, to know that nothing can separate us from the Love of God is encouraging for us to know, we are in God’s care and He will never put more on us than we can bear… In order to know that we can’t be separated from God’s love we must be tried and the enemy will come and try to end your divine appointment, he will come and try to kill God’s vision for you life, and destroy your hopes and dreams! Attacks will come, dismay will come, but it will not come near you if you make the Lord your dwelling place (Psalms 91)! Trials seem to weigh us down; however on the scale of life the blessing that are in store outweigh your suffering… Paul says the present sufferings don’t even compare… What I gather from this is that whatever I am going through right now isn’t going to outweigh what God has in store… This is simple equation – 1 obstacle = at least 2 blessings… You have suffered several challenges in your life, the blessings you receive from God will be double what you have faced on this earth … Yes we all have to go through the refining process, it’s painful, and hectic, but just as gold we will see our true value and the worth that we have in God’s kingdom… Suffer now, so that you don’t suffer later!

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!