God Allows U-Turns

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.

Daniel 9:9

Despite the mistakes that you have made or the wrong choices that you have applied in your walk of life; Daniel reminds us today that God still loves you and allows u-turns…The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving… It is only because of the mercy and forgiving nature of our God that we have not been consumed and still have a chance to right our wrongs… Today’s focus verse comes at a time in Daniel’s life when the children of God have been enslaved to the empire of Babylon; it is through the prophet Jeremiah’s word from God that Daniel knows that the bondage of the Israelites will not last forever…The children of God were enslaved because of their disobedience; however, the love of God is displayed at this particular time as He chooses to chasten them instead of abandoning them… 

This is a power message that we find hear in today’s devotion; God will allow things to happen in our lives to get our attention, refocus our steps and realign our vision with His will… These things are corrective measures and not displays of judgment as many may portray them to be… Daniel finds encouragement in knowing that this bondage would not last forever and offers up a sincere thanks to the most wise and everlasting father… The same hope which Daniel held onto in this passage of scripture is the same hope which we hold on to at this very time in our lives… There is no doubt that God has every right to pass judgment on mankind and there is no defense which we could offer; this only is reason enough to rejoice in knowing that God loves us, wants to spend eternity with us and has devised a way of escape for us… The season of correction will produce a season of maturation in Christ which will in turn bring you to closer to Him and His divine plan for you… 

Make no mistake about it, things in your life could always be worse and the mercy and forgiveness of God are the only two reasons for your life being spared… The discipline of God is unavoidable, the good news is that it will produce the results He desires and won’t last always… As I stated earlier, Daniel read that the bondage of the Israelites would last 70 years; the trials and tribulations that we face and endure will not last forever; the conflicts and circumstances that we are tried by will not stand against us forever and it is the hope of every Christian that the correction we endure promotes growth and a more intimate relationship with Christ… Proverbs chapter 3 verse 12 declares that God disciplines those he loves… As a child of God it is time to get use to the chastening of the Lord; it is only for your God and because He loves you that He spends the time and effort getting you back on track…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Christ Isn't A Title

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1

Not everyone who speaks the name of Jesus is a true believer of the sacrifice that He made on Calvary… Not everyone who you see at church is a member of the body of Christ and today we are charged to “try the spirits whether they are of God…” We must not be fooled in our walk with the Lord, I once was told that Satan isn’t actually dwelling in the world but in the church; he tries to take up residence in the church because people in the world are already under his control… This verse is such a powerful one penned by John because often times it isn’t that we are led astray by the world but by imposters who are “wolves in sheep’s clothing…” If I am walking down a dark alley at 11 o’clock at night than I will be very vigilant and apprehensive; however, if I am walking through a park on a nice Saturday afternoon than I tend to lower my guard and my apprehension is non-existent… This same analogy applies to our lives as Christians, when we are in the dark alleys that are this world, we are on guard and our eyes are wide open to see traps and snares; however, when we are in the church we open ourselves up to those who we see and whom we meet expecting them to have our best interest at heart… 

This is why so many have fallen and have found themselves wondering how they ended up where they are today and this is the very reason why John says we must try the spirit “…because many false prophets are gone out into the world…” One of the biggest things that plague the path of a child of God is the deception that lies in wait and redirects our focus… Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden and it was the deception put forth by Satan that caused the original sin of mankind… They were deceived not only by Satan, but also by the comforts that surrounded them… Being in Eden can be likened to a church in that we are in God’s territory; however, we must be on guard everyday and every hour of our lives in order to refute and rebuke the snares the enemy may lay before us… Make no mistake about it, today, we too are faced with deception; however, one of the most deceptive places in today’s time is where we go to find comfort and peace of mind, the church… John says that we must test to spirit to make sure it is of God; we can’t take people at face value anymore, nor can we assume that what comes from the pulpit is the unadulterated word of God… This passage taken from 1^st John reminds us that there are many spirits in the world… Many deceptive and manipulative spirits that have caused many to stumble along the way! A lot of times we find ourselves in situations where we assume that things that are spoken to us are true without seeking the truth on our own… 

We can look at the world today and see many churches that have been led astray, many people that have accepted false doctrine and believed lies… I find it interesting how we have more Pastors’ with doctorates in this day and age, but more and more churches falling by the way side… We have become believers of men and their titles instead of believers of Christ… Today we are instructed that we must test the spirit, instead of assuming things, learn to pray about each and every situation; learn to focus your attention on God and be lead by Him and Him alone! To test something, it must be examined, scrutinized and inspected; in other words, it must endure a season of trials in order to gain the full scope of its abilities… Your testing of the spirit must be a thorough examination of those near you and the trials of this life will display the true intent and abilities of the aforementioned spirit…  The book of Acts tells us that when the word was brought forth that the people of the land went home and read it for themselves… Understand that no man can save you; no man can guarantee your salvation; if we come to know that, we will come to know that this walk must be completed by us in order to secure our salvation and heavenly dwelling place… If we recognize that man can’t save us than why would we live by and follow his every word…There are many false prophet in the world, be sure that you don’t follow or become attached to one! Your soul (spirit) is at stake!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Sanctification Is A Process

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:18

It is good to know that the way we enter this world does not have to be the way we exit… Understand today that there is a transformation that takes place daily in the lives of Christians… Through the disobedience of Adam & Eve we all enter this world as sinners, but through the grace and sacrifice of Christ we don’t have to leave that way! Paul charges the church of Corinth to understand that they are being formed into the image of God by His Spirit. There is a progressive work called sanctification that begins in the lives of Christians when they accept Jesus as the personal Lord and Savior…The work of redefining your life is a process that begins at acceptance and is continued through the presences and aide of the Holy Spirit which will dwell inside you and mold you into the disciple that Christ has called you to be… 

This verse which we focus on today reminds me of the limitless love that God has for His creation... God has looked beyond your faults, established exactly what you needed and then carried out the measures which had to be completed in order to bring you to that expected in… God’s love for you was made known before you even knew the errors of your ways or the depth of your sin… In Christ we get a glimpse of what we were designed to be and the road which we must travel in order to achieve it… When Paul says that we all with open face behold the glory of God in a glass; he is speaking to the presences of God and how we can obtain Him! In the revelation that comes from this experience we must also know that a transformation or change must then follow… 

We must be open to change and know that reaching for God will cause us to be changed and transformed… When one is thirsty they must pick up the glass to drink, let us pickup the offering of Christ and thirst no more… God has put your breakthrough in reach, He has set your victory within grasp and you must open yourself up to Him, humble yourself before Him and seek His face! The church was being persecuted and torn down, but Paul is reminding the disciples to focus on the Lord and know that He can change things! We often hear that God isn’t a God of confusion and that is true, but let us not take that to think that God cannot work in confusion… Through the trials you face, God will show up if you turn to Him, He will be found if you seek Him and He will transform your spirit into His image if you let Him…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God's Fruit Is Without Restriction

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Galatians 5:22-23

A quick and easy way to tell a child of God isn’t through the things that come from people’s mouths; it is not through the praise they offer up in worship service, but the kind of fruit that they bare in their lives… The fruit which we produce is a direct reflection of the seed which lives within and this fruit can not be altered or changed from its original state… This is why Paul states the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit… These characteristics cannot be found in fruit that is not produced within the Spirit of God… For example, the bible teaches us that God is love; therefore, being a child of God one must have fruit of love in their lives which not only takes root in them but also produces offspring of love to enable them to extend a hand to their adversary or forgive one who has wronged them… You cannot straddle the fence with a mixed bag of fruit and call yourself a child of the most high… This is one exact reason why we find a passage in the gospel of Matthew which speaks to recognizing people by the fruit that they bare… “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? (Matthew 7:16)” This message is imperative for us today because as a child of God we are not known by what we claim but the fruit that we bare… Paul writes to the church of Galatia reminding them of the fruit that the Spirit indeed does bare; today let us read these verses and take a(n) inventory of our lives to see if we are baring these fruits, if we aren’t then it is time that we make sure that we are walking in the right spirit… 

As a child of God we are to be filled with His spirit and this is displayed in our daily actions in various forums… How we treat one another displays the spirit we walk in, how much time we devote to God displays the spirit that we walk in and how we deal with trials and tribulations display the spirit that we are walking in… If you treat your fellow man unkind, never spend time with the Lord and throw your hands up whenever a storm comes your way it is time for you to check the true direction that your life is headed… This fruit doesn’t correlate to Sunday or Sabbath Day worship, this fruit is produced 7 days a week 24 hours a day… We all know the death that Jesus offered on the cross, but we often time forget about the spirit He displayed in the moments leading up to the cross and even the time spent upon the cross… The bible says that while being mocked, spit upon and beaten Jesus never said a mumbling word; the bible says that on the cross Jesus prayed for forgiveness for His adversaries and that He extended salvation to a thief… Remember that Jesus told us that we would do greater things than Him and that is a pretty high bench mark for us to cross… In order to do greater things, we must first acknowledge what was done and strive to be the best that God can and has made us to be. This starts by first, walking in the right Spirit; secondly, we must produce fruit that carries these features and third impart them into every phase of our life and every person we come in contact with… Jesus drew large crowds not only because of the works He performed, but because of the Spirit in which He walked… People saw that there was something different about Him; they could feel that this man was no ordinary man and we should resemble these same things in our walk on this earth… 

People showed know that there is something different about you, you have something else going on in your life and the fruit is a great source for people to see the uniqueness you have through Christ… As a child of God the characteristics that we are to have are laid out in the verses above…We are to be full of love, this means that we look beyond faults, prayer for one another and seek to encourage one another… We are to be full of joy, this means that we must know that trials will come but have faith knowing that our victory is secure and trouble won’t last always… The joy we are to display shall never end nor should it be removed from our lips or hearts… We are to extend peace, everyday we hear of violence on the news, domestic arguments and various displays of anger, the bible says in Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God…” Paul goes on to speak to the true identity of God’s children when he says that the fruit of the spirit is “longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…” We have to be slow to anger; we must lift up our worse foe and display goodness all the days of our lives… Paul says that “…against such there is no law…” Nobody can deter you when you walk in the spirit, people may try to oppose you but they will fail, people may try to trip you up but they will become stepping stones… You will walk in the love and admiration of God and your fruit will be a beacon light to a dark and confused world…Walk in the spirit…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Yoke Is Easy And His Burden Is Light

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Are you tired of being alive but not living? Do you ever find yourself frustrated by the things of this world and wonder how you are going to make it…? The truth of the matter is the enemy wants you to be so bogged down by the cares of this world that you have no time to really start living (which is to give your life to Christ)… Matthew records the call that Jesus makes to all mankind, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden…” Jesus bids you to come out from the places you currently reside… This beckoning isn't a physical call, but a voice which desires to lead you in and on the path of truth and to give you life and give it to you more abundantly (Jesus declares this as the soul purpose of His arrival to this earth)… We labour daily trying to live up to other peoples expectations, we are heavy laden when we allow the thoughts of others and the temptations we face to weigh us down and strip our attention from the things that truly matter… This isn't to suggest or say that the life of a Christian is easy; however, it is to suggest that there are things that are worth laboring for and being burden by because they will lead to eternal rewards and joy… 

If you are laboring in the Lord than this message provides a since of comfort and stability in the heaviest laden times in your life… Jesus gives a message of hope today to all those who feel the weight of the world upon the shoulders, He gives a (n) encouraging word to all that are laboring and fighting the “good fight…” The message of hope today and the encouraging word that we take with us everywhere we go and through every challenge we face is that Christ is indeed with us… In the midst of trials and tribulations Jesus reminds us through the gospel of Matthew that we can cast our cares upon Him for He cares for us… A lot of storms will rise and chaos will approach your door, but Matthew 11:28-30 reminds us today that Christ’s yoke is easy, His burden is light; He has enough room to carry the load for you, He is mighty enough to hold you up and lead you to victory no matter what you are facing at this present time… Everyday of our lives is a fresh start, another chance or opportunity to live according to the will of God and develop a more intimate relationship with Him… Christ says come unto me because too often we try on our own… Often times we go to the Lord in prayer, but hold onto the things that we are praying for; Jesus is telling us today that we must leave it in His hands and stay focused on His word… Christ is calling for you to see the love He has for you, to see the compassion that He has bestowed and will bestow upon you by you turning your life over to Him! 

A yoke is something that is used to move objects, it balances the weight to decrease the energy exerted to move it; Christ is calling for you to take His yoke (let Him lighten the load, let Him balance you out and decrease the amount of energy you exert on a daily basis so the obstacles in your life can be moved…) Don’t worry about the trials you face, don’t worry about the obstacles, don’t get caught in the way things appear to be; in the Lord you will find rest, you will find help and you will find love… Remember, His yoke is easy and His burden is light... Keep this phrase in the forefronts of your mind; although you face hard times, your sure to claim victory in Christ Jesus and make it through… 2013 was filled with obstacles that you didn't think you would overcome, but by turning to the Lord you were able to see that God didn't put more on you than you could bare and that He made it possible for you to walk and hold your head up even in times of despair! Learn to walk in the love of God, He will sustain you, He will give you the peace to keep your mind sane and the resources to overcome and ascend to becoming the being He created you to be…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Through Christ All Things Are Possible

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Mark 16:17-18

As a child of God we are blessed with might and power that we probably don’t even realize that we have… These verses teach us of the supernatural power that we can tap into which only comes from the Lord… When we do things in the name of the Lord positive results will follow, Mark tells us that we can cast out devils, we can speak with new tongues and pick up serpents… All things are possible when we are in the care of our Lord and Savior; however, the key to unlocking these powers is the faith that we must have which cannot waver or be snuffed out… In times of despair, in times of turmoil, in times of chaos Mark teaches us today that with an unwavering faith and a (n) unquenchable fire or zeal for the Lord we will be able to do miraculous things… The words In my name speak to the connection and authority that we must receive through Christ in order to perform the impossible in our lives… 

Remember all the great things that Jesus did upon this earth, but also remember that He said, “Greater things than I will you do…”The mantle is ready to be passed, the limitless heights you can reach are in view, but you must walk according to the will of God and submit yourself totally to Him… We all have heard the saying, “You can tell a Leopard by its spots”, also true; is the fact that you can tell a Christian by their abilities. One who has a vague outlook on life has question marks in their walk with God, one who can’t consider it pure joy when trials comes needs to humble themselves a little more and the one who walks aimlessly through life must find the compass that is the Holy Spirit… Mark informs us today that we can distinguish a Christian by their actions on this earth as well as their faith in which they claim to serve. These instructions are given to the Disciples of Christ, we have the ability to cast out devils (resist and he will flee), speak in tongues (Acts 3^rd chapter), and take up serpents (be unafraid of danger). 

Nothing in this world can harm us as long as God is our shield and buckler. Again, notice the verse says these signs shall follow believers, then it says “IN MY NAME”, this is a great stumbling block for many, a lot of Christians have given up on their journey, tossed in the towel and have forfeit their right to Spiritual Ascension. This happens simply because for years they have been trying to do things on their own, you can defeat Satan, you can win back your children, you can overcome the trials and tribulations you face, just remember to call on the name of the Lord, remember to hold to His unchanging hand, remember to go into your secret closet, and walk in His ways. You must seek the kingdom of God first and everything else will be added unto you… Your victory is in His hands, your breakthrough is in His hands, and your peace is in His hands… Call upon His name, do it in His name, walk in His name and abide within His tabernacle… When David was faced with opposition and turmoil this is what he said,“Ye though I walk through the valley of the shadows of death, I will fear no evil… For thou art with me…” Christ is with you and when you realize that you will also come to know that you can do all things in and through His name…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Submit & Resist

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

In life we are assured of test and temptations, we will experience frustration and misfortune; however, the challenge for every believer in Christ is to stand and faith trusting and believing that God will take care of the very things that are out of our control… This passage taken from the book of James gives us instruction as to how we can overcome the storms and obstacles that plague our lives. In order to be victorious and be taken to another level in Christ, the first thing we must do is to submit ourselves to God, the word submit means to present or offer and this declares to us that if we want to be successful in life and be happy in this world we must present our bodies to the Lord, we must offer our time, gifts and resources to the Most High God. To submit you must humble yourself, you must surrender all; you must completely turn your life over into the hands of God… Understand today that submission requires admission… You must admit that your not perfect, that you can’t make it on your own and that you need the Lord to intervene in your life and guide you… You must acknowledge that without Him you are nothing, you will be nothing and hell awaits your arrival… 

Today let us understand that in order to inherit eternal life, in order to receive the precious promises of God, in order to find peace and happiness we MUST submit TOTALLY to Him… There are doors that will be opened and alteration to your life that will be made when and only if you submit to the Lord… Notice that you must submit first as James tells us and then proceed to the next step which is to resist the devil… You have to change your way of thinking and place a clear focus and perspective on the things of Christ instead of the things of this world if you truly want to receive His bountiful blessings and have life and have it more abundantly… Submission is not a weakness as many have classified it but rather a tool which actually leads to becoming more powerful… You can only resist the devil and make him flee when you have submitted yourself to Christ… It is through your submission that the power of God rest upon you and will provide the resources needed to overcome the temptations and snares that are placed before you… James using the word resist shines light on the fact that the Christian journey is not easy, but rather difficult because the Devil does not want to see you offer (submit) you life to the Lord. We must establish a common ground in our thinking today to know that being a child of God comes with trials and struggles; you will endure tough times and be subject to trying circumstances; however, as long as you hold to His unchanging hand you will be able to resist the Devil and through the power of your submission he will have no choice but to flee! 

In order to resist something you must learn to depreciate its value in your life… Resisting is a learning and growing process, it does not happen over night! This is why its important for you to submit to the Lord first, because you will give into the desires of the flesh otherwise, you will stumble along the way, but when you have turned it over to the Lord, He will come in and refocus your attention, He will shine light on the dark corners of your life and order your steps accordingly! Don’t try to make this journey on your own, the devil will indeed chew you up and spit you out… You must flee to the protective arms of Jesus; you must run to His care, dwell in His tabernacle and know that ONLY through His Grace and Mercy can you be saved! It is by and through Jesus that we have the ability to defeat every attack that we face, so submit to Him (give up everything unto the Lord), so you can gain your blessings and reach the levels of greatness which you were designed uniquely for!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Wants You Just As You Are

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

The psalmist makes a bold request unto the Lord, one that requires total devotion and acceptance of whatever happens next… In the darkest of hours, when all hope seems lost, when we have tried everything we can think of and can’t overcome the obstacle in front of us what do we do? The psalmist turns to the Lord and asks Him to search him… This is a concluding and submissive statement that says I give up, I am tired of living this life, I am tired of experiencing these same results and I desire more… The psalmist realizes that there are things in his life that must be holding him back, there are people in his life that may be causing him trouble and since he cannot figure it our nor can he overcome them, he ask God to search him… This is a powerful declaration today, one that speaks to the heart of man and poses a serious question as well… Have you asked God to search you? 

Are you tired of being tired, are you tired of hiding the skeletons in your closet and tired of lying to cover up the lies of your past, than ask God to search you… In searching you are seeking to find, God will search you today and seek the things that do not need to dwell in you or around you, it is only through His power and grace that you can be led in the way of everlasting… These verses cover a multitude of areas that we must allow God to inspect and clean… Have you asked God to try you and know your thoughts? The psalmist here wants us to understand what it is to have an intimate relationship with God. He has taken his life and placed it at the throne of the Most High. He has inquired of the Lord to cleanse him and mold him into the disciple that he has been called to be. In asking to be searched and tried there is a request being made, but also a pledge of acceptance of whatever painful experiences that must be endured in order to have this request fulfilled… You have to let God have His way in your life even if and when His way does not align with yours… I am pretty sure this psalmist attended church; he worked in the vineyard of the Lord, but still need to wholeheartedly give his life to God. Many of us attend church on a regular basis, we partake in communion and we are there for Bible Study, but have we totally committed ourselves to the Lord. Have we said Lord I want you to cleanse me? 

This means that I want you to take anyway anything that may cause me to stumble or lose focus of doing your will. This could be friends; it could be a relationship or even a job you currently have. Understand today that the psalmist desires to be made over, renewed in His mind and have a new lease or perspective on life… This is why He says, “if there is any wicked way in me…” We must remove all wickedness (even the smallest inkling) from our hearts, minds and souls; this can only be done when we accept Jesus Christ has our personal Lord and Savior and allow Him to cleanse us through the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1,2). What is it in your life that is holding you back? What are you holding on too? What is stopping you from reaching the spiritual levels that God has for? Pray, turn and seek the face and will of God! He will cleanse you, He will mold you and He will deliver you… Allow the Lord to search you, He will find the voids in your life and fill them with His love and compassion which will in turn lead you to greatness within His will!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Those Who Wait Find Strength

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:30-31  

Trying to make this trek on this journey called life within your own power guarantee’s you one thing and one thing only; FAILURE… It doesn’t matter how prosperous things may appear to be, it doesn’t matter how glowing your life may seem at the moment, Isaiah reminds us today that “Even the youths shall faint and be weary…” The strongest of all men will fail; the smartest of all mankind won’t be smart enough and all “…shall utterly fall…” No matter how much success you have or how good your health is; we must all rely and be solely dependent upon the Lord… This requires us to totally submit ourselves to the will and power of God… So many of us are wondering why it is that we aren’t able to stand, why it is that we aren’t able to maintain and the answer lies in the fact that there are still parts of your life which you are still trying to control; these parts are also the same places where the enemy utilizes his most crafty devices to ruin the being which God created you to be… This is a scary thought, but I can’t help but reemphasize that this passage tells us that there will come a time when the strongest will not be strong enough. 

The toughest will not be tough enough, and trials and tribulations will ravage the land to a point where nobody (walking in their own power) will be able to stand. This passage shines light on the fact that there will be days in our lives when our strength will be futile and our minds will want to give up and give into the ways of evil. The bible is clear that your faith will be tested (i.e. Job) and you will display your true devotion to the Lord or lack thereof…Isaiah reminds us today that those who fight on their own strength will lose, those who try and walk through this life’s journey on their own will surely fail, but he also gives a note of encouragement to those who seek the Lord daily. He provides a positive outlook in your perilous times if you find your dwelling place in the arms of the almighty. He says; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…Notice it does not say you will always be mighty, but what is does say is that when you are down and out, when you feel like giving up, or when you are ready to give in The Lord will step in and step up and give you the strength you need to come out of these circumstance and continue to run this race. The unknown author of the 91^st Psalm teaches us that we will see dangers, we will see chaos, we will experience hardships, but that if we make the Lord our dwelling place we will be covered and protected… “If you say, The LORD is my refuge, and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” (Psalms 91: 9-11) 

We won’t be harmed beyond what God will allow or He has given us the ability to withstand… Everything that you are enduring now will not be your end, but actually will make you stronger and perfect you in doing the will of God… This is how your strength is renewed in Christ… Isaiah goes on to say that you will mount up on wings like Eagles; when a storm comes, Eagles see it, but fly above it. When you trials come you will see them, when tribulations come, you will surely encounter them, but you will be lifted above and beyond those storms, you will be taken higher and placed on a security blanket that is Jesus Christ. Isaiah says that you will feel times of despair and see many trials; however, it will be by the strength of God (when you call on his name) that you will be delivered… People often say, “There is strength in numbers,” our mottos as Christians is that there is strength in Christ…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

It All Starts With Christ

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

This verse is a verse that clearly defines our religion and the foundation on which we stand… There are 4 non negotiable points that are highlighted below that separate light from darkness, life from death and sickness from health… There are many religions in our societies today, many different temples, churches and synagogues; however, today we must examine why the religions all differ and the piece of the puzzle that divides is Jesus in the declaration made here in the 14^th chapter of John… This passage taken from the gospel of John can be the focus of separation between religious beliefs, why because of the 4 things Jesus states about His divinity while being the very form of man!

The first thing that Jesus says is, “I am the way…” In traveling you can find many routes to reach your destination, you can sometimes stumble upon a shortcut or even find that your route is much longer than another path… Whatever the case maybe, today we are called to remember that there are no shortcuts in reaching heaven… There are no paths that will lead to an easy road of obtaining Salvation… The bible records that we can go in two directions in life; the broad path which lead to destruction or the narrow path which leads to life… The narrow path was paved when Jesus entered in to Jerusalem, it was paved when He carried His cross through the city and it was paved when He laid down His life

“I am the truth…” There are a lot of false doctrines, a lot of people trying to appease the itching ear and a lot of people who want to pick and choose which parts of the bible they want to hold as sacred and true… I don’t know about you, but I am tired of being lied too, tired of being suppressed and tired of being disrespected! Jesus tells us today that all truth is in Him; He has the direction for your life, you won’t find any gimmicks in Him, no tall tales, no hidden fees… James talks about looking in a mirror; the bible will reflect the flaws in our lives so that we can correct them by the aide of the Holy Spirit… Jesus is saying I will show you the correct approach; I will help you and mold you into the person that you have the ability to become… I will tell you the truth (as much as it hurts to hear, as much as it cuts deep to the marrow of your bones) and answer your every question!

“…and the life!” Jesus told us that He came to give life and give it more abundantly… This simply tells me that I am not living until I come to know Him… Ezekiel was faced with a valley of dry bones, they came together; however until He prophesied to the winds there was no life in them… This rule applies to us today; a lot of us are moving, but not living… We are active but not alive and this passage teaches us that without Jesus, death is certain. He came to this world to seek and save that which was lost; he died so that we could live and live more abundantly… Jesus is life and ONLY through Him can we live…

“…no man cometh to the father, but by me!” This is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for many who want to reach the destiny in which God has called them too… Remember that before Jesus death on the cross we could not go to the father in prayer; however as Jesus gave up His spirit the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom symbolizing the fact that we can now go to God in prayer… It is through Jesus and only through Him that we obtain the righteousness to be fit for the Kingdom of God…

In Jesus you have your being; it is only through Him that you can find your way, live in truth, have life and be with the Father for all Eternity…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

We Are One In Christ

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.

1 Corinthians 12:13-14

There is only one avenue paved by the blood of Jesus which leads to Eternal Life… Paul starts of these verses by declaring, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…” There are many religions in this world, many gods that people worship; however, it is important for us to know and remember just as Paul states to the church of Corinth that we serve the True God… We cannot in any way, shape or form negotiate our faith in Jesus Christ… More importantly, we cannot try and place ourselves above others who come into the Faith… There is a big problem in churches today where people are turned away because of others who look down on them… We are to be mindful that all people from all walks of life have been given a chance to inherit Eternal Life and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior… You weren't always saved, there were and are still dark areas in your life and just like Jesus has saved you by His bloodshed; you also must allow for His saving power to draw whomever to Him and embrace them with open arms… This very reason is why Paul says it doesn't matter what culture you are from, it doesn't matter “…whether we be Jews or Gentiles, weather we be bond or free…” 

Jesus proclaimed that He came for the sick (this taught the people of yesterday and today that there is no barrier to God’s love or what depths He can go to reach or save a soul)… It is of the utmost importance that we stop judging one another based on age, race or gender and realize that God looks at the heart of man and not the body that houses it… Jesus entered this world to make salvation possible… He died on the cross so that all may have a chance to live and live abundantly! Paul reminds the church of Corinth that there is no difference as to who may call on the name of Jesus; there aren't any color-bearers or physical requirements to receive the gift that Jesus poured out on Calvary… Simply by accepting Jesus as your personal savior and receiving the Holy Spirit we all shall be bound together in the Love of Christ… Paul says by one spirit are we all baptized into one body! This is as clear cut as you can make it, either you’re a child of God or you aren't… You live for Jesus or you don’t, there is no middle ground, no gray area or spots of inconsistency within the household of faith! It was through the bloodshed of Jesus that we have Eternal Life; it was by the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit that we have our direction and can obtain God’s promises… 

If you have been pushed aside; guess what, He died for you, if you have been through trials and tribulations; He shed His blood for you, if you have had ups and downs, He came to this earth to give you life and if you have been headed down the wrong path, He came to give you a clean slate… My bible says that we all enter this world as sinners through the disobedience of Adam and Eve… I state this to enforce the fact that Jesus came to save you, He came to save me, He came to save everyone that would turn from their wickedness and follow Him! It doesn't matter what your social status is (so stop trying to gain popularity), it doesn't matter what kind of background or pedigree you come from (stop trying to showboat), and it doesn't matter about your political affiliation or who you know (stop focusing on appearance)… Jesus is the way the truth and the light, no man goes to the father but by Him… He came to save all who would accept Him! Paul is simply reminding us not to become like the world and disenfranchise people based on things of the pass; for none of us deserved Christ and His sacrifice…

ALL IN FOR CHRIST!

The Earth Is Filled With His Glory

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Numbers 14:21

The bible records that at the creation of the world (darkness had covered the face of the deep)… There are so many dark areas in our lives, so many things that we are not proud of, so many choices that we have made that we don’t want people to know about nor do we want to acknowledge… Today, in the book of numbers we see that all darkness will be expunged from the earth… Truly the Lord does live and because He lives we can take pride today in knowing that “…all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord…” The glory of the Lord is His splendor, beauty and wonder; knowing that His beauty will fill the earth gives enough confidence to the believer today to smile in the midst of trials… His splendor will fill the earth, He will be exalted through the darkness of this land, His light will shine and your path will grow brighter and brighter as you walk according to His will and plan for you… It is imperative that we understand today that in reading this verse we confidently make the claim that the light of God shines in us and through us… 

Today’s focus verse starts off with the words, But as truly as I live; this is a statement of faith and confidence in God which should be the same claim that we make daily… As surely as I live I know that God loves me and will continue to mold me, I can allow all the mistakes of yesterday, all the dark areas of my life to be exposed after reading this passage because I don’t want to carry this weight anymore, I don’t want to give the enemy a foothold anymore (Ephesians 4:27) and I am tired of walking on egg shells… I know there is beauty in me and in the path which God has for me… He shall be revealed and the life I have in Him shall be fulfilled... This passage comes at a time when Moses instructed 12 men to go into the Promise land and spy; he told them to bring back a report of their findings as to the layout of the land and who currently possessed it… Of the 12 that came back only two were able to give a good report, because of this the children of God began an uproar wondering why they were at this point and why they were not allowed to simply die in Egypt or in the wilderness… How often to we forget the deliverance power that God has already displayed in our lives when we are faced or challenged with another obstacle? Today is the day we stay on track, this year we keep the ball rolling and hold to God’s unchanging hand… Moses listened to the good reports and spoke to the Lord on behalf of the people, God responds to Moses by saying,“But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord…”

Stay dedicated to God’s word this year because you know that great things are capable of happening and will indeed happen… The earth shall be filled with God’s glory, this lets us know that there is no power to great, no circumstance to tough, no obstacle too large for the Lord to breakdown or allow us to overcome… Don’t look back on yesterday; focus on the bright path ahead… Today, whether you are facing financial hardships or overcoming bad habits, know that your victory is secured in the blood of Christ and you will win… The statement that God’s glory shall fill the earth is God news, everyone will come to know the power He possesses, and everyone will see the ways that He can make and the paths that He ordains… You are a called today to walk according to His will so that others can see what you go through, but more importantly, so they can see you come out… God doesn’t need you, He wants you (there’s a big difference); He knows the flaws on the outside of you and desires to fill you with His purpose and plan so that the beauty within you can begin to shine through you…

ALL FOR CHRIST!

Christ's Death Saved Us

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

1 Peter 2:24

If it had not been for the Lord who was on my side, where would I be…? This is question that I desire to ask myself on a daily basis… I believe that in asking this question, we can break down strong holds and overcome temptations… Knowing that Jesus paid the price, knowing that my sins (past, present and future) have been forgiven and understanding that I have a chance to inherit Eternal Life I can rebuke the attacks and devices that the enemy uses… Our focus verse taken from 1 Peter starts off by saying, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…” Jesus took it upon Himself to bare our sins, He took upon Himself to receive them upon His own body and He took it upon Himself to carry them to the tree… There was nothing that we could offer Him, nothing that we could give or pay Him to do it; He did it “…his own self…” 

This is good news today because it speaks to the love and care that Jesus has for us; this is good news today because it demonstrates the desires of God to reconcile with His creation and this is a sweet verse to carry in the forefronts of our minds because it reminds us that God wants to see us at our best… Jesus laid down His life before we were formed in our mother’s womb, He paid our debt before we even were engulfed by it; recognize where you would be without the love of God, recognize today where you would be if His grace and mercy was not deposited in the form of His son, recognize today that things can and would be worse if it were not for the life shed on Calvary… The verse goes on to say “…we, being dead to sins…” We were powerless in the fight to overcome, man had fallen and there was no way (in our own power) that we could get up… Some of us have been battling within ourselves for a long time, we have been fighting and losing because we are using our own strength; however, we must turn to Him and know that it is not only through Him that we can live but that we can live unto righteousness… God will get us back on track; He will have you walking the right path which will lead to His expected end for your life… We can live and live abundantly, we can sow seeds that will sprout with much fruit, and we can allow the will of God to rework us, remake us and mold us into the beautiful creation that we are…You were dead to sin, but you don’t have to stay there… Jesus died and rose; you have the ability through the Savior to rise… There are obstacles in your life that have stripped you and made you appear as one who was dead… 

You are dead because you have not connected yourself or aligned yourself with God… You’re dead because you are giving the enemy power; you’re dead because your holding on to past hurts, you’re dead because you are concealing yourself to things that shouldn't have any authority or voice in your life… Jesus came to take your pain, this is why the writer goes on to say “…by whose stripes ye were healed…” The bottom line is the enemy wants you to think you are still wounded, He wants you to be deceived into believing that you can’t get better, you can’t turn and go a new direction; however, we must declare that this is the very reason Jesus came… He took the flaws through the lashes so that you can be flawless… He took the scars so that you can be without blemish… He hung on the tree so that you can hang all your impurities and infections upon Him… He bore your sins so that you would not be subject to carrying them through this life… You have the ability to succeed not because of the decisions that you make, but because of the decision that He made…

ALL FOR CHRIST!