Reconciliation Is Your Ministry

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

As you are blessed, your ministry is to bless others with the seed that has been planted in you… Christ came to this earth with a sole purpose in mind, to free us from the bondage and guilt of our sins… You are here to fulfill a God-given purpose; you are at your current location to reconcile yourself to the Lord through the reconciliation of relationships and people that may have been fractured or punctured through this course of life… This why Paul goes on to say that Jesus “hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation…” You were formed with a distinct plan from the Lord; you were created to fulfill a desire that the Lord had before you were even known to be in existence… The message that we are called to receive and understand today is a very powerful and true message regarding the purpose behind each day that you witness on this earth…  So many people have overlooked the things that God has deposited in their lives and therefore continue to miss the mark of pleasing Him… The bible declares that without faith it is impossible to please the Lord; you must walk in faith throughout your days and weeks and in order to do this you must come to the realization that you don’t have to be a minister to have ministry… We miss opportunities to bring people to Christ because we are focused on bringing them to church… 

You have been called to the ministry; however, it doesn’t mean you stand in a pulpit on Sunday mornings… The message that Paul pens to us today is that you have some reconciliation to do in your life… This could be forgiving a adversary or it could be seeking forgiveness from above… Whatever the case or situation, you must know that people are perishing because you have not walked in your ministry… Remember that we were separated from the Lord through the original sin of Adam, but we have been reconciled through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ… Sin separated us from God and ultimately from the right to salvation in Him and Christ came to reconcile our differences and provide us an opportunity to regain our inheritance. We would not be able to obtain salvation if it weren’t for Christ offering of Himself; but more importantly, the fact that God sought for us to be reconciled with Him! Today, choose to offer your self for the ministry of reconciliation… Extend a hand of love, offer help to a foe and allow the spirit of God to live in you and through you… Remember that you were that same person who was lost and confused; remember that if it weren’t for Jesus who laid down His life you and I would not be here… Offering our lives as a living sacrifice is a reasonable service as Paul suggest in his letter to the Church of Rome because we were reconciled through the offering of Jesus… Reconciliation is the foundation that leads to redemption and salvation… Someone needs to be redeemed today, someone needs to be saved today and that will all come about when you lay your pride and ego aside and take up your cross (reconciliation) and follow Him… Some body close to you needs to hear a word and that word is going to come from you… Jesus said, “greater things than I will you do…” Your ministry will alter lives, change the landscape and open up eyes… Everything we teach and regurgitate out of our mouths is founded on reconciliation… There would be no gospel to preach if reconciliation was non-existent; there would be no forgiveness of sin without the foundation of reconciliation and there would be no impact of love without first a touch of reconciliation… This is why Paul concludes by saying that He, “hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation…” 

Your ministry isn’t founded upon a heavy voice or even knowing the bible from front to back; when you profess that Jesus is Lord and that He has displayed His love by laying down His life for you, you have spoken the word of reconciliation and have taken hold of your God appointed ministry… People need to hear about the love that God has for them, they need to know what it is that Christ did on Calvary, they need to know about His nail-scarred hands, they need to know about His crown of thorns and they need to know about His agony and the cries that were heard from the cross… All of these things lead back to that ministry that is deposited in us, He died for you, He cried out for you, not because He wanted to, because He wanted to be reconciled with you…  There has to be a separation for there to be reconciliation… We were the one’s who turned our backs on Him, we were the one’s who choose the way of darkness and neglected our blessings to seek worldly desires! God has been the same merciful, loving, and faithful God as always, but we didn’t recognize His authority nor His love for mankind! This teaches us a powerful lesson today; the fact that as a Christian we need to seek reconciliation with our foes even when they aren’t looking to reconcile! We should seek to settle our differences and build bridges instead of tearing them down and feeling or leaving someone with the feeling of isolation! Through Christ, God has forgiven our trespasses; He remembers your sins no more. He minster to you and saved your soul; the question for the day, can you minster to someone else and do the same?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Overcoming Spiritual Blindness

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints

Ephesians 1:18

Ephesus was a city full of superstition, magic, and all the other works which resembled that of a cult… It was the missionary journey of Paul (led by the Holy Spirit) to enter the city of Ephesus and open their eyes… A lot of times we see people who have gone the wrong way, we speak words about them but we never speak words to them… This is the message that I find so important for us to grasp in today’s focus verse… The people you encounter may not know what they’re doing is wrong, some of them may have very well been brought up with the notion that all the things that are being done are right and it is up to you to allow the Holy Spirit to move so that “The eyes of there understanding may be enlightened…” Not everybody needs to hear a word of encouragement, not everybody needs a pat on the back, some people in your life need to hear the truth in love, some people in your life need a stern kick in their backside… The ministry that God has placed in your life, you are accountable for; every person you encounter everyday of your life should be impacted by the display of Christ in and through you… This is what Paul was saying in his letter to the Church of Rome when he said that we should be “a living sacrifice…” The problems that occur in most of the lives of people who live according to this world is that they place their hopes in and on material things… 

People of the world have the belief that a high paying job gives them hope for a bright future and stability; however, this is where their understanding must be enlightened… The eyes of this world must be opened and enlightened; this can only be accomplished when they are taught the hope for their existence, the hope for their family and friends is not found in the world but in his calling… Can you recall when you were focused on getting ahead and not bowing your head…? In all the things that you tried to do on this earth, what has gotten you to this point? It wasn’t the money, it wasn’t the stability and it wasn’t your family… You don’t have to believe in magic nor be superstitious concerning the steps that you take… If you want to reach the levels that no man can reach, if you want to be stable amidst whatever storm comes your way, you have to have anchor dropped in the faith that is Jesus Christ… This is the message that Paul is writing to the Church of Ephesus… Don’t get caught in the things around you, don’t allow the people around you to pull you down… You have to stand strong in the Lord and display your faith in Christ so that others will come to know Him… Instead of talking about someone who is lost or confused, extend a hand of grace which was the same hand that Christ extended to you…There was a time and we may still be experiencing a time when our eyes were dim… We couldn’t see our purpose or bring in to clear view the focus of our lives… Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus reminds us that as a child of God our eyes have been opened… There was a time when we sought the wrong approval; there was a time when we lived according to the wrong standards and a time when hell was assured to be our eternal resting place… 

Paul knows all too well of this state, he refers to himself as the“chief sinner,” but yet God opened his eyes too his calling and purpose… As we take this Christian journey and develop a more intimate relationship with God, we must remember that we are still maturing as disciples… There will be days when you don’t understand, there will be times when you are confused, and situations that make us uneasy… Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus tells us that we will be enlightened to know his calling; we have specific task in our life and we are developing into the Christians that God has called us to be. This growing process has begun since you accepted the call of God on your life! Everything that happens in your life serves a purpose and there are sure to be times of uncertainty or unfamiliarity… What Paul encourages us to do during this period is to reflect back to where we once were and know that we are growing… Your eyes will be enlightened, things will come into focus, your purpose will be revealed and you will gain the clear understanding that you desire… Your eyes are now being enlightened, through your hardships you see who your true friends are, through times of despair you see what love really is and Paul has gained that understanding and passed it on to us today… God will not fail, and He will not allow you to fail either, so continue to hold to His hand, continue to trust in the Lord and be about the work that He has called you to do! Your eyes are being enlightened and you are growing in Christ!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Every Knee Shall Bow

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:10-11

When you make Christ the head of your life and walk according to His will and plan you are assured two things, the first is trials and the second is victory… Jesus reminds the disciples in John 15:18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”However, we see in the scripture penned by Paul that people will be humbled before the mighty name of the one that we serve and face trials for… Paul writes a letter to the church of Philippi focused on imitating the life of Christ… When Jesus was resurrected from the dead He received all power in heaven and on earth, He was given authority over every matter and situation and defeated the devil with His sacrifice… Paul reminds us of the authority that Jesus has in today’s focus verses… “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Today we see the reasons as to why we can smile in the midst of tragedy, today we are given evidence of how we can hold our head up in the midst of a storm, through this passage we learn how to continue in praise despite the circumstances that we face… We have victory through the blood of Jesus; we have the ability to triumph because of His nail scarred hands and we have received a clean slate because of His humility… Paul says every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord… You may see some people going the wrong way right now, you may see some people smiling in while indulging in their life of sin and you may see others that appear to be better off than you; however, we must remember that Jesus experienced the same things when dealing with the Romans and Pharisees, Jesus was belittled on this earth, but now has a place next to the father (sitting on a throne) that everyone would love to have… 

He reigns because of His sacrifice and determination to fulfill the will of His father… Money, fame and popularity don’t bring success; it’s your sacrifice and determination that align you with the prosperity that only God can give… Paul reminds us that every knee will bow because there are many that disrespect the name of Jesus, many that have given Jesus a different name and many that have simply devalued His name… Paul’s words to the church of Philippi inform us that everybody will come to know Jesus whether it is on this earth or on the Day of Judgment… Everyone will stand before Him and the dead in Christ will be raised again… Jesus received authority and power because of His sacrifice… This scripture provides encouragement for the one who feels like they are being left behind or the one who feels that the way of Christ is a path too hard to travel… The more you work at something the more you appreciate it… We must work at this walk of faith knowing that we will appreciate the rewards for our perseverance all the more when we receive them… Matthew 20:16 says, "So the last will be first, and the first will be last." Take pride today because in the world you are in last place, your focus is on Christ and you will finish ahead of the rest when it comes to the true riches we can obtain… The bible tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from above, keep your mind on the perfect gift, the good gift and not the seemingly feasible things that this world offers… 

Paul writes this letter to a church that has seen some good days and bad, he writes today to a church that has laughed and cried; Paul records this letter and sends it to a church that has experienced highs and lows… His message to the church is that things will get better after they have gotten worse… The verses that precede these two scriptures speak of Jesus suffering… The previous verses speak of His humility and compassion… Often time we hear people talk about the authority that Christ has and how we have the same authority because we are heirs with Him… The truth of the matter is that we have been given a chance to inherit eternal life and reap bountiful blessings, but being a child of God is more than acceptance of His will, we must suffer in this life to achieve greatness in the life to come… Paul concludes by saying that all this is “…to the glory of God the father!” God’s name will be exalted by your suffering, God will smile when you persevere, God will rejoice when you overcome… Just like a child we experience growing pains, but our parents are most proud when we blossom into wonderful men and women… God looks at you in the same manner, Jesus (His son) suffered to gain all power and bring glory to God… Today you suffer, but in the end God will be glorified and you will be exalted…If you want to become the disciple God has called you to be than imitate Christ and suffer in and for His name…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Blessing Of Giving

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:7-8

Matthew 7:2 says, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” You have to give to receive, in order to have something put in your hand you must first remove what already exist in it… The bible says that the merciful are blessed not only because of their kind acts, but also because true mercy calls for one to be humble and solely focused upon the Lord… Mercy is withholding or forgiving someone who has wronged you and/or caused pain and strife within you… Mercy is something that we all naturally do not extend to our fellowman; when I was a little boy I was instructed that when someone hit me I should hit them back; however Jesus tells us that we must turn the other cheek… A merciful person is indeed blessed because they are walking in the will of God and therefore protected under His mighty hand… Matthew records that those who are merciful shall obtain mercy; we have all fallen short, we have all made bad choices and decisions, but as a child of God we cannot allow those things to be a stumble block which hinders our growth and future aspirations! 

We must learn from our mistakes and seek the forgiveness of God as well as our fellow man… More importantly, we must be able to extend forgiveness to one another in pure and unconditional love so that our sins and poor choices may be forgiven by our Lord and Savior! Jesus informs us in the 18^th chapter of Matthew that the forgiveness of our sins are made possible by the forgiveness (mercy) that we extend to others… "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” If you want to obtain mercy from above, you must first extend mercy on earth… So many of us walk around holding grudges, we are so bitter inside that we are of no value to God… We must release the anger, resentment and malice that we have in our hearts if we want God to reside within us, transform us and use us… The bible also teaches us about forgiveness even when praying unto the Lord… We are told that we should go to our brother and clear matters up before we even go before the Lord… God sees all that happens upon this earth and we must show Him what we desire of Him by doing the things that are pleasing to His sight… You will obtain when you give; however you will see God when you are pure in heart… Matthew states that the pure in heart will see God! A pure heart isn’t a perfect heart, but it is a heart that is opened unto the Lord… When gold reaches its highest value after the impurities have been burned from it… Your pure heart is developed through the trials you face and the obstacles you overcome… A pure heart is a heart that learns from its mistakes and has a clear focus toward doing the will of the Father… As we have talked about several times before, the heart is the foundation that all things are built upon… Jesus taught His disciples that every action taken or every move someone makes comes from the heart… 

David messed up several times, he ran from God when the heat became to much, he committed adultery and killed a (n) innocent man; yet God called David a man after His own heart… This passage doesn’t say the perfect in heart, it says the pure… So many of us forget that we are not perfect, and that is not what Christ desires, He desires a sincere approach to His thrown, a humbleness in your walk, and a faith that will move mountains! David was placed on the throne because God knew what the driving force was within David’s heart… In Psalm 51 (after David has killed Uriah) he pens these words, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” God knows that we enter this world as sinners and his desire is to change the desires of our heart so that we can become pure in the divine will that He has for us… We all make mistakes, but it is the desire that we have within that God looks at… What is the intent of your move, what was the purpose for your decision, who are you trying to please... People will judge you, people will criticize your every move, but you must make sure that your heart aligns with the will of God… To be pure in heart means that you are genuine in your love for Christ and trying to walk in His will…Yes there will be stumbles along the way, you will make mistakes, but remember that your heart is what matters and your sincere approach towards God and your fellow man is what counts! Be sincere, be forgiving, be faithful, then you will be aligning yourself for Christ return!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There's Always An Escape

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

 

1 Corinthians 10:13

 

Everybody faces temptations; the only thing that varies from person to person is how we handle them… Paul says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as if common to man…” This passage shines light on the fact that the enemy knows your common weaknesses; however, it also provides encouragement to the believer as you are told that the adversary is using the same old tired tricks that our Lord has already conquered… This is why, despite the temptations that are common snares in our lives that Paul goes on to say that “God is faithful…”This means that the things we face in life are things that have been here before; God knows your limitations… Everything that you endure is never going to overtake you if you remain focused and stay attentive to the will of God… The things you are dealing with God already knows and the reason you are subject to them is simply because He knows that you can handle it… 

Temptations display the true character and heart an individual… It is when we are tempted that we showcase the faith we have in Christ or the lack thereof… It is necessary for us to endure such temptations as we profess our faith and allow God’s faithfulness to work in and through us… Remember that the first portion of this scripture speaks about the common temptations that man faces; with that being said we can look to Jesus and know how to handle tempting situations…  When Jesus was led into the wilderness and fasted for forty days, the word of God tells us that He was tempted of the enemy… Through all the temptations that were hurled His way, by standing upon the word He was able to resist the enemy and eventually make him retreat… Understand today, that through the word of God you have the ability to overcome the obstacles in front of you… You can resist the enemy just as Jesus did and he will flee… The 4^th chapter of Matthew; verses 1-11 record the events of the tempting and how the word trumps the enemy… 

Just was able to overcome the temptation by uttering the words "It is written..." Knowing the word and how to apply it will keep you in times of temptations and touble. Jesus could have given in, but at His weakest point the word was His source of strength… When you encounter temptations, know that the word is your source of strength… You can defeat the enemy (not in your own power but with the sword that is the word of God)… This is what Jesus demonstrates in Matthew and how it is that we can rest assured amidst temptations knowing that God has us in the palm of His loving hand… When you face temptations and you be at peace knowing that it will not defeat you because “God is faithful…” He knows your limits and will never put more on you than you can bear… What I love about this passage is the fact that Paul says not only will God not allow this temptation to overtake us, but he goes on to say that the Lord will “make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it…” Jesus was attended to by the angels after His temptations… God will provide the things that you need in the midst of the temptations that you face…  Whether strength or a door; know that God will provide it and you will overcome it…

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Remember His Mercies

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

Isaiah 63:7

Do you every sit back and just recall all the lovingkindness that God has shown you…? When you truly examine your life you will come to the conclusion that you are beyond blessed… You should always approach the Lord with thanksgiving because even to have breath in your body is a blessing… Despite the different things that you may be going through or the various storms that you have encountered; Isaiah reminds us today that we need to meditate on the things that God had done in our lives, the paths that He has made and the doors that He has opened… When you feel like you are at the edge of the cliff remind yourself of God’s “great goodness toward the house of Israel…” Substitute the house of Israel with your name and rehash all the wonderful blessings that have been bestowed in your life… Israelites had been delivered from the hand of Pharaoh, feed manna from heaven and entered the Promise Land under the leadership of Joshua… Despite all there nagging and complaints, God still gave them water from a rock and defeated all their adversaries… It is in the days of Isaiah that the children of God have rekindled their rebellious nature and are finding themselves in the midst of coming bondage… It is very easy for us to focus on the problems in our lives instead of the solution… Nobody wants to endure discipline and correction; however, we can embrace these times in our life when we know that God is in the midst and His lovingkindness is still present… This focus chapter of Isaiah starts of speaking of God’s vengeance and redemption; but it ends with verses dealing with prayer and praise… You may be experiencing the first part of this chapter in your life today…

You may be feeling God’s vengeance in the storms that are pouring down on you; however, you can rest assured that storm is serving a purpose and you will be redeemed back to the Father… When redemption takes place, your prayers of heartache turn to prayers of praise… The message for today is to see the silver lining in the storm… You’ve been battling for a long time and sometimes your battle has been against the very will of God; wherever you are, whatever you are going through, see Jesus and not the task at hand… God is trying to get you refocused, He is trying to get you back on the right path and He needs for you to stop blaming Him and start praising Him… This is why Isaiah speaks of the lovingkindness and praises that are due to our God… He has looked beyond your faults and blessed you with what you need (even if that is a storm)… His plan for you is to prosper; so when you face a challenge, when you endure an obstacle, know that God is with you and has led you this far… The Lord hasn’t brought you this far to leave you, He’s brought you this far to show you the things that you can overcome and accomplish when you put your trust in Him… When you want to complain, think about His goodness, when you want to be ungrateful, think about all the things He has bestowed upon you; when you feel all alone, think about the lovingkindness that has been deposited in your life… Even when I am going through a tough time I can’t do anything but praise God because of the things He had done… 

He has done so much in our lives that we don’t have room to complain… The enemy wants you to believe that storms are signs that God is not present; however, Isaiah wants you to remember the storms that you have already been through so that you can praise God in advance knowing that this storm will not overtake you… This is Isaiah says“I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord…” I am a firm believer that the true character of an individual is shown in times of adversity and this is so critical to our lives a Christians… When you open your mouth during the storm; what is it that people hear? When you are going through a tough time do you mention God’s goodness or complain about His perceived absence…?  Whatever you do in the crunch is either winning souls to Christ or pushing your own soul away from Him… In this passage, Isaiah is speaking of the coming storm and the sunshine that can be seen through the clouds of rain… We all face storms in our lives; however, when we remember what God has already done we can begin to look beyond the clouds to the shining of the sun… Your life may not be where you want it to be; however, you should be thankful that your life isn’t as bad as if truly could be… Can you remember when you weren’t doing what God wanted you to? Can you think back to the point in time when church was an afterthought? If you can, answer this question, has God shown mercy to you in you undeserving state? Let the world know of His lovingkindness, of the grace and mercy bestowed upon you. Understand today that your shoes may not be comfortable for you, but there is always someone who is walking bare foot and would love to try yours on; that’s why Isaiah tells us to THANK GOD!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Hasn't Forgotten About You

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." 

Hebrews 13:5

Are you truly content with the things that you have? This is not to mean that you are satisfied with your standing, but that you appreciate everything that is in your life and don’t take them for granted… Today’s focus verse reminds us of the importance to be content with the things that we have or else we will become susceptible to coveting the things that our neighbor has… To covet means to desire, want or long for; when you covet something all your focus turns to obtaining that particular position or object and really leaves you vulnerable to losing what you already have… As a child of God we stand in faith that “he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee…”We don’t covet the possessions of our neighbors simply because we believe that in our faith in God, He will supply all of our needs…  When one takes on the mindset of coveting, they really expose themselves to all the devices and snares of the enemy… The minute you turn to material things you lose sight of God; this is one of the very reasons why Moses received one of the Ten Commandments which spoke to coveting… "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 

God indeed is in the blessing business (as I often hear people say), but you must first take care of the little you have (be content) and allow God to provide the abundance…  In taking care of the little things you have and appreciating all that you have; the quickest way that this is evident is in your speech… It never ceases to amaze me how many people constantly complain about what they don’t have and then in the next breath wonder why God has not open the door to their abundance… You may not have the mansion; however, you should be thankful that you have a place to call home and not a shelter or a curb… You might not have a fancy car, but it sure is nice to get to work in 20-30 minutes instead of an hour and half by bus… “Let your conversation be without covetousness…” means that you apply the same rules and principles that Paul laid out in is his letter to the church of Philippi; it is in the 2^nd chapter, 14^th and 15^th verses that you will find these words recorded… “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky” Understand today that as a child of God you are held to a higher standard in are called to think not as the world thinks but to walk in faith… 

Notice that when you do things without grumblings and arguing that Paul says “Then you will shine among them…” The Lord is ready to open up doors, He’s ready to increase your territory; however, you must stop the complaints and learn to be content… You must stop coveting what others have and become disgruntle towards your creator… When you accept your position and rely on the Lord you will come to know the power that He possesses and the words penned in the 75^th psalm “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another…” will come to life in your life as you begin to reach the heights and peeks that only can be obtained through Christ… God is in control and His plan is flawless... Your promotion comes from above; God is looking down on you and when you stop looking at others and start looking at Him, He is assure to bless you...Today’s message is simple, stop complaining and start trusting… The sooner you trust Him, the sooner you will realize that “the plans He has for you are not to harm you but to prosper you… To give you hope and a future…” There is a quote I have often heard that really has sunk deep down inside of me; the quote says “appreciate what you have today, before you realize how much it meant to you when it’s gone…” Your life could always be worse, there is someone looking at your life and they would love to be in your shoes… Be thankful and content with where you are and what you have… Tomorrow is not promised; this saying doesn’t just apply to life, but it also applies to your personal belongings…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Grace Is Given To The Humble

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

James 4:6

James teaches us the truth about God’s grace and how we experience it through this journey we call life… Jesus taught His disciples that in order to find your life you must lose it for His sake… We each have a cross to bear and Christ will give us the power, grace, energy and endurance to bear it… James informs us today that if you want to live you must die, if you want be rich you must become poor and if you want to be exalted you must be humbled… God is a God of faithfulness and He demonstrates it by lifting you up when you fall… Every trial that you encounter serves a purpose in your life, every obstacle that you face was ordained and appointed by God and every storm that approaches your door teaches you to lean and depend on our heavenly father… James says, “But he giveth more grace…” Grace is something that is given that isn’t deserved, a gift that is out of thoughtfulness, kindness and compassion… Even though you don’t deserve it, God gives you more, even when you mess up, He gives you another chance, when you walk through the wrong door (temptation), and He opens another to get you back on track… God cares about you, God’s compassion was demonstrated when He sent His only begotten son to die for our sins… 

Today we are reminded that God is able to make all grace abound to you, one of my sisters once told me, “You never tell God how big your storm is, you simply tell the storm how big your God is…” There is a lot of substance in that statement, James starts off his book by telling us that we should consider it pure joy when we face trials and temptations… We can be joyful in storms not because of the rain, but because you have shelter and will see the sun shine again… You can be joyful in times of sorrow, not because of the tears that flow, but because of the happiness soon to come… God has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us and the truth of the matter is the greater the hurdle in front of you, the more grace God is about to deposit into your life… James message today should encourage us to run on, it should inspire us to hold on and keep us determine to be victorious… James not only encourages us today about the grace that God will provide, but he also reminds us that we must remain humble… “God resisteth the proud…” A proud person becomes arrogant, self-exalting and only cares about things that will affect him/her… God resisteth them because we are called to put others before ourselves, we are called to love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us… 

This is not something that we can do on our own nor is this something that comes natural… It is because of this that we are told that God will give us more grace, the ability to love others, the ability to look beyond faults, the ability to forgive is deposited in us by the grace of God… The more we allow Him to deposit in us the more we grow in our faith and relationship with the Lord… As we humble ourselves, we always see people who are doing the exact opposite… It’s hard to remain humble and accept the position of low estate when we see men of this world seeming to thrive and be prosperous… As Paul taught, we are striving for the incorruptible crown, the crown of righteousness that is only rewarded to those who remain steadfast in their faith… We will experience people who will mock our Christianity, people who will make fun of our hardships, be we can take courage in knowing that those who labor in the Lord never labor in vain… Judgment Day is approaching; we all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of our lives… God isn’t going to ask about how many fancy cars you have, but He will ask how many rides you gave… God won’t ask about the house you built, but He will ask about how many people you gave shelter too… God won’t ask about how many five star restaurants you ate at, but He will ask about how many people you helped to feed… Take pride in you humble state, for you know that not only will God give you the grace to survive, but you will be exalted in due time… The bible says that we will reap a harvest if we faint not… Don’t faint because of what you see around you, don’t faint because of the promotion that others have received, keep the faith and you will experience the true and pure riches of Christ that will outweigh anything of this world…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Beware Of Tradition

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

Colossians 2:8

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

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

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

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Receiving Christ Is The Key To Receiving Power

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

John 1:12

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

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

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

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Life Begins And Ends With Your Heart

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

Proverbs 4:23

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

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

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

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

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Never Said It Would Be Easy

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

1 Timothy 4:10

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

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

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

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Endure Temptation; Your Crown Awaits

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

James 1:12

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

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

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

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!