In Christ, Haters Are Essential

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.

1 Peter 4:14

There is a joy that engulfs the hearts of believers as they are reproached for the name of Christ… To be reproached means to be criticized, scolded or reprimanded; and when this occurs one can actually fine peace and calmness in their lives… This is not to suggest that the individual or endures this in their life likes to deal with opposition and/or adversity, but this means that the heart of a Christian can place the time of this ordeal in the proper context knowing, trusting and believing that this challenge is a sign of their very development in the will of God… To be reproached in Christ you must demonstrate Christ in your life and therefore have someone or something come against you for that very reason… There has to be a beacon light of Christ which shines bright in and through you for someone to come against your faith; this simply means that someone has to be able to draw a clear picture of your stance as far as serving God and this really reflects your present condition like a mirror for you to see how much you have grown or how far you have come… This is why Peter refers to reproach and this says,happy are ye because the sign of struggle is really a sign of maturation and ascension in the designed plan for your life as it relates to the will of God… The bible informs us several different times that as a child of God we will endure persecutions and tribulations… We are guaranteed to encounter people in our lives that what to object to us simply because of the profession of faith that we have in Christ Jesus… Peter reminds us today, that since we have been informed of these things, we should be able to find happiness in times of objection and ridicule… I was once told and believe it to be true that you can tell if you walking the right path just by seeing how much opposition you face… This (in a nutshell) is what Peter is speaking about in this particular passage… “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye…” No that your suffering within the name of the Lord is not in vain, you can be happen when you suffer reproach (criticism, scolding or rebuke) because you know that your endurance displays your faith and stores up the rewards of eternity which no man can take from you nor can any moth or thief corrupt or steal… 

Satan isn’t worried about those who are in the world; however, he reproaches those who are of the household of faith… So you can be happy in times of despair because the enemy sees that you are going in the right direction and this should be a testimony to you that you indeed are taking the right steps… This is why Peter goes on to say, “…for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you…” The spirit of glory is the spirit of favor, the spirit of victory and the spirit of peace… To know that it rest upon you should tell you that everything will be okay, everything will workout and you will obtain all that God has in store for you… When someone comes against you because of the faith you have in Christ; Peter points out today that you should be happy for several reasons… Again, understand today that for someone to reproach you for the name of Christ means that you are walking according to His will and your light is shining for all to see… Secondly, we are promised in the scriptures that our work in the Lord will not be in vain and that they that labor in the Lord shall be prosperous and victorious in whatever trials or circumstances that are faced… When the spirit of the Lord rest upon you, you will be secure in His tabernacle, Psalms 91 teaches us that we will be able to overcome storms, that we may see dangers all around us but while in the bosom of the Lord we shall not be harmed… This is a good news for us today, we know that in walking with the Lord it doesn’t matter what people may say or do, it doesn’t matter what conflicts come our way, we can be happy because we know that in serving God trials will come and every obstacle will become a stepping stone… The book of James tells us that we are to “consider it pure joy whenever we face trials and tribulations…” Peter tells us today that we are to be happy when we are reproached for the name of Christ… 

To be reproached means we are criticized, blamed accused; and as we examine this passage we see that we are to be happy about being called a child of Christ! Jesus said that anybody who loses his life for My sake shall find it; today let us lose the things of this world so that we may find the eternal happiness and blessings that God has promised us… Let us deny ourselves and take up our cross today! Through your trials and tribulations God is preparing a reward that will outweigh the obstacles that you face! When you walk according to His will and don’t fall into the snares of the enemy, God is molding you and taking you to another level which the human eye cannot see… Joseph (the son of Jacob) was left for dead, sold into slavery by his brothers; eventually he would be imprisoned, but in the end he sat on the throne and his brothers came to him in their time of need… David encountered Goliath, Saul sought to kill him and he spent time in the hands of the enemy before becoming the king and being called “a man after God’s own heart! Job was stripped of all he had, illness plagued his body and his friends turned on him; in the end he received double what he had and was rewarded for his faith in the time of despair… Paul was persecuted, stoned and locked up for his faith in Christ; before he passed he told Timothy “I have ran the good race, I know that there is a crown laid up for me…” Jesus took the form of man, was mocked and spit on, beaten and falsely accused, hung on a cross and died; but He now sits at the right hand of the father with all power in His hands, He is the way, truth and light, no man can come to the father but by Him… Understand that trials are necessary, hardships are apart of growth and God’s name will produced trials, but will also open bountiful windows of blessings… Jesus said keep in mind that they hated Him first, He also said, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…” Matthew 5:10

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Speak The Truth Regardless of Who Likes It

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

The truth about every person on this earth is that they don’t typically like to hear words that expose or shine light on the errors of their ways… Nobody likes to be singled or called out; however, in Christ we are called to approach one anther regarding faults and failures (the key being in love) as this promotes growth and maturation… We all have made mistakes and acknowledging the mistake and learning from the experience is how we keep from repeating the same mistake and hindering our development in Christ…  Paul reminds this principle to Timothy in a second look at these key verses from his letter in today’s devotional… I don’t know about you, but I can speak from personal experience and tell you that is it painful for someone to speak words deemed (constructive criticism) when you are doing something that need to be changed or is just plain wrong… This is not only vital to our growth as Christians, but how we handle the truth will lead us in the right or wrong direction… This is what Paul is instructing Timothy about in this passage… People want to come to church and hear about all the good things and the blessings that God has in store for them, they want to hear about how He has all power and that in your walk with Him you will prosper; however, they don’t want to hear the fact that you must take up your cross, they don’t want to review the words of James and “look into the mirror…” The word of God is simply that, the word of God and you cannot deem what parts of pieces that you want to accept and what parts or pieces that you want to reject… As we grow in Christ and learn to speak the truth in love, we are reminded and instructed today to understand that not everyone wants to hear the pure and true word of God… 

Not everyone wants to find their flaws, not everyone once to go through the purging process and have their lives transformed… Paul teaches Timothy and us today of the times that we will indeed face and are facing… One of the biggest problems we find in the church today is a misguided message and a misguided church body… Paul charges Timothy today and us not to cave in to the pressures of the world… The bible teaches us that the word is sharper than a double-edge sword… When Josiah became king over Israel the word tells us that the book of the law was found in the temple… As the prophets read the book of the law to Josiah he tore his clothes in disgust… This passage teaches us that the word will and is here to convict and reform us… When we begin to please the ears of men, we devalue the word of God and the focus and direction that it brings… Paul charges Timothy today to remain steadfast in God’s word and not to allow the missteps of his peers to deter him or thwart God’s will and plan for his life… Paul was nearing the end of his life and passing the mantle to Timothy! Today we have seen many great leaders go on to see what the end would be and the mantle has been passed to us… Paul is saying to us today that there will be times when people will reject Christ and you because of your faith and your true words…The truth of their rejection is not a deterrent to you, but it shows that your words have hit them in a soar spot that can only be healed through the divine power of God… There will be times when people will skew or slant the word of God to fulfill the desires of the flesh… We can surely look at the times we are in today (prosperity gospel, scientology etc…) and see that this is the time that we must stand! One of the biggest and best witnesses we have is the life that we lead… 

Paul charges Timothy today as a leader to stay the course… We have a charge as Christians to stay the course… Don’t become weary when we see people go astray; don’t become disappointed when people reject the word of God… Jesus told the 72 to shake the dust off their feet when someone did not want to receive the word of the Lord… Understand that people are out in this world searching for happiness, they are searching for pleasure and they are searching for fulfillment…Whether the word of God is accepted or not, it’s our job to plant the word of God in all people we encounter and allow God to provide the increase… In the book of James we gain a better understanding of the power that lies within the tongue… Your words are powerful, your witness is undeniable and the Grace of God will protect and keep you! Peter denied knowing Christ three times in the courtyard and left weeping; however in the book of Acts he is seen standing tall denying the notions that the people surrounding him were drunk… As a result of his witness 3,000 souls were saved… They weren’t saved because Peter pleased their itching ear, but because he spoke the word of God…Likewise, Paul is reinforcing Timothy today, he is saying stand tall in the midst of this crooked world, hold on in the midst of darkness and ignite the spark of God that lies within… Paul was telling Timothy that your time is now! This world may reject you, but they need to hear your voice; they need to hear your message and the power that Christ has placed within you! Today is your day, today this world needs to see your witness, and they need to feel your presents and God’s power! Display your faith and God’s faithfulness… Trust in the Lord, don’t be overcome by the world, but overcome the world by good (which is the word of God)!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Blessed Is The Man That Feareth The Lord

Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

Psalm 112:1-2

Fear is a word that often carries a negative connotation… When reading this passage we must first understand that there are two kinds of fear; one which prohibits and one which ignites… The fear which the Psalmist refers to is one that will ignite the very will of God in your life while also igniting your ability to stand in faith no matter what obstacles or distractions are placed in your path… There is nothing in the will of God which will prohibit you from having life and having it more abundantly which is what Jesus declared as His mission and purpose in the gospel of John… You were made in the unique way that God planned for a unique purpose; however, so many of us lose sight of that purpose or stray from that path because of the fear which will debilitate and destroy you… In this world, we associate fear with weakness; however, today we are reminded in this 112^th psalm that true fear can bring promotion and blessings… The first part of verse one says, “Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord…” If you are going to be fearful, it is indeed only one fear that can lead to your blessings and that is found in the fear of the Lord… If I fear man, I allow him to control or dictate how I advance in my walk of life; however, if I fear God than I allow Him to lead me according to His will which is promised to lead me to great and marvelous things… I am thankful today that the fear of God leads me places instead of the fear that man can instill within someone that will allow them to control and manipulate situations… In fearing God you find delight in keeping His commandments… When you keep the commandments of God you are assured that you will not be cast down or be written off… 

You may encounter storms of life, you may experience trials and tribulations and you may face times of adversity and persecution; however, you are blessed because you are guaranteed to overcome every obstacle, you are assured to claim your victory and you are certain to obtain your incorruptible crown of life… Understand the power that is in fear; when you fear God you respect Him as creator and ruler, you submit your life to Him and acknowledge that all power resides in the palm of His hand… True fear, if channeled in the right direction can lead to true strength… This is why the next passage says, “His seed shall be mighty upon earth…” In your weak state you actually become stronger because you have accepted God’s will… In your submissive state you may appear vulnerable to some, but through God’s presences you become more than a conqueror… When you walk in the will of God you set examples for all mean to follow… When you trust in the Lord you find pleasure in your path because you know that He sees your faith and will bless your offspring… Because of Abraham’s faith in packing up and going to a foreign land He was promised that His seed would be blessed and we know He was the father of many nations and was blessed with Isaac… Understand today that we as Christians find power in fear… We don’t look at the word fear in a sense of lacking but in a sense of gaining… Fear is a strong word that provides perseverance and authority to all mankind… This is why the writer goes on to say, “…the generation of the upright shall be blessed…” To be upright you must have a strong stance, you must have a strong posture and all these things go against the negative connotation of the word fear… 

If you are upright in your walk you are not swayed to your left or right easily, if you are upright in your faith you don’t allow the things of this world to frustrate you or get you to overlook the grace and mercy that God has already dispensed upon your life… The generation of the upright will be blessed… Walk in the fear of the Lord today knowing that you can hold your head high in the midst of a storm, walk in the fear of the Lord today knowing that rains in your provide water to the seed that God has planted in you… Walk in the fear of God today trusting that every obstacle will become a stepping stone and you are being molded and perfected through these trials of life… No longer look at fear as a weakness but as strength… You are stronger today because of your fear of God… You don’t allow people to purse sway you to give in to temptations because you know what God has done and is doing in your life… You are fearful and wonderfully made!! The enemy wants you to fear Him because the truth of the matter is that he is scared of you… He is scared of seeing what you can become, he is scared of seeing God’s seed sprout in your life and he is scared of seeing doors open that will lead to bigger and better things… You will be blessed, you will be victorious, you will be crowned… The bible says that we are too “Fear God, and keep his commandments…” Bow down to Him with a humble halt, THEN; ye shall be exalted, take pride in your humility, knowing that God is above all and came to be servant unto us as the ultimate sacrifice…The enemy doesn’t want you to become what God designed you to be, so he places dark alleys between you and your destination so that you will fear the journey; however, today find strength in the fear of the Lord and speak just as David did… “Ye though I walk through the valleys of the shadows of death I will FEAR no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and the staff comfort me…” Don’t fear the valleys of shadows of death, fear God because He has already conquered them!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Beside Me There Is No God

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Isaiah 44:6

Despite the way things appear to be; the message on today is to serve notice to all mankind that God is still in control… There may be things in your life that may be challenging, situations that may be uncomfortable; however, the same God who spoke this world into existence is the same God that governs your everyday affairs… I make this point today to inform you that the things you are going through will accomplish the goal which God has designed them for… Notice that this verse starts off by saying thus saith the Lord the King of Israel… God is still the head, even though you might go through trials and tribulations, don’t lose sight of the fact that He is still over all things… The challenge that you are faced with today is to remember God and the position He holds when you face times of suffering and sorrow… The word of God doesn’t say that your days will be peaceful and uneventful, it doesn’t say that you will have green pastures and be free or toils and snares… You must take this thought into captivity today because this is only way to keep sanity amidst insane times… 

Remember all the things which you have already been delivered from and let those things serve as landmarks to remind you that you will come out of this process just the same… This passage taken from the book of Isaiah informs us and reminds us that there is only one God… At the time of this writing, the Israelites were in despair, bondage and captivity had come and they were growing concerned about the “true God” they served… It is in times of despair that we question God; we question his authority and sometimes even question his authenticity… Isaiah writes that the King of Israel is the first and the last; he has been there since the beginning and will be here when you are gone! Let us take note that we all must suffer from the decisions that we make, the Israelites we disobeying God and found themselves turned over into the hands of the enemy… This was not a sign of God’s absences, but a sign that they had forgotten who God is and what he had already done! Today let us not question God when we face consequences, but take the opportunity that is afforded to us to remember who God is… He was there when you were captive through the disobedience of Adam & Eve… 

He saw and heard your pleas when everyone had turned their back on you and he has been there when you faced trials and tribulations on every side! He spoke light into existence, formed you out of the dust of the earth, and breathed the breathe of life into your lungs… He has seen you through many seen and unseen dangerous; he has molded you through your obstacles and now has gone to prepare a place for you to spend eternity with him! Before you were formed in your mother’s womb he knew you and sanctified you, he knows every hair on you head and has promised to never leave you nor forsake you! He said the he will repay your enemies and has laid down his life that you may live! This is the God that we serve, this the God that we are to rejoice in, this is the God that we are to praise and adore… Let not the trials of this world and the circumstances that we face make us lose sight of God’s bountiful blessings and the things that he has already bestowed in our lives… The Israelites suffered because they forgot about their deliverance from Egypt and fell back into bondage… We have been delivered from the hand of Satan, we have been delivered from the traps and snares, let us remember God and hold to His hand so that we do not revert back to the old way of thinking and living…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Speak The Word Anyhow

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

In reading this passage I cannot help but begin to think about the tragedy that to place inConnecticut… 20 children stripped of life along with 6 adults; this is a time where God must be sought and His will made clear… There are different ways to handle trial and adversity; people will question God while we must take the stance of standing with Him… We don’t know why these things took place; however, what we do know is that God can do all things but fail, what we do know is that He has a plan and that everything that happens today will benefit us tomorrow… The task at hand for every Christian is to stay the course and abide in the will of God; I state this today as part of this devotional because there are so many distractions and measures of peer pressure which lead people astray… The message recorded in today’s focus verses deals with the unwavering faith that a child of God must have knowing that not everyone will open receive God’s word and even some will challenge you based on their desires to please their itching ears… Understand today that not everyone who you share Christ with will receive and accept; you will have people in your life that will serve as stumbling blocks along your Christian journey and Paul challenges us today to know that you will not stumble, but rather that you will ascend despite the choices that others make… Paul teaches Timothy and us today of the times that we will indeed face and are facing… One of the biggest problems we find in the church today is a misguided message and a misguided church body… Paul charges Timothy today and us not to cave in to the pressures of the world… Timothy was a young man called to lead the house of God; facing the fleshly desires of some which were in the congregation, Timothy struggles with advancing the kingdom of God and Paul writes this message to him… Know that some of the biggest obstacles you will face will come in the church body that you are apart of… 

Timothy was ready to walk away, ready to throw in the towel it Paul reminds him of the time which he is living in… Don’t lose sight of the times of today, the more corruption that is inching closer and closer to our doors, the more people try to scientifically dissolve the word of God and begin to erect other religions without a foundation in Christ… The word of God speaks of these times and the message for you today is to stay immersed in His word and don’t lose sight of His will; no matter the people who you offend or the relationships that you may lose, you have to speak the word of God boldly knowing that it will not come back void, but will accomplish all that it was sent out to do… Your faith is being tempted, your foundation is being tested and you must stand firm knowing that people will run away from God while you run too Him… The bible teaches us that the word is sharper than a double-edge sword… When Josiah became king over Israel the word tells us that the book of the law was found in the temple… As the prophets read the book of the law to Josiah he tore his clothes in disgust… This passage teaches us that the word will and is here to convict and reform us… When we begin to please the ears of men, we devalue the word of God and the focus and direction that it brings… Paul charges Timothy today to remain steadfast in God’s word and not to allow the missteps of his peers to deter him or thwart God’s will and plan for his life… Paul was nearing the end of his life and passing the mantle to Timothy! Today we have seen many great leaders go on to see what the end would be and the mantle has been passed to us… 

Paul is saying to us today that there will be times when people will reject Christ and you because of your faith… There will be times when people will skew or slant the word of God to fulfill the desires of the flesh… We can surely look at the times we are in today (prosperity gospel, scientology etc…) and see that this is the time that we must stand! One of the biggest and best witness we have is the life that we lead… Paul charges Timothy today as a leader to stay the course… We have a charge as Christians to stay the course… Don’t become weary when we see people go astray; don’t become disappointed when people reject the word of God… Jesus told the 72 to shake the dust off their feet when someone did not want to receive the word of the Lord… Understand that people are out in this world searching for happiness, they are searching for pleasure and they are searching for fulfillment… Whether it is accepted or not, it’s our job to plant the word of God in them and allow God to provide the increase… Your words are powerful, your witness is undeniable and the Grace of God will protect and keep you! Peter denied knowing Christ three times in the courtyard and left weeping; however in the book of Acts he is seen standing tall denying the notions that the people surrounding him were drunk… As a result of his witness 3,000 souls were saved… They weren’t saved because Peter please their itching ear, but because he spoke the word of God… Likewise, Paul is reinforcing Timothy today, he is saying stand tall in the midst of this crooked world, hold on in the midst of darkness and ignite the spark of God that lies within… Paul was telling Timothy that your time is now! This world may reject you, but they need to hear your voice; they need to hear your message and the power that Christ has placed within you! Today is your day, today this world needs to see your witness, and they need to feel your presents and God’s power! Display your faith and God’s faithfulness… Trust in the Lord, don’t be overcome by the world, but overcome the world by good!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Lord Makes Us Worthy

LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Psalm 15:1

There are so many things in life that we actually believe we deserve when truth of the matter is that we don’t deserve the very life that we have… The message of today’s devotion focuses on the holiness and sovereignty that defines our God… David poses a question today which should promote humility in the lives of all Christ children as he starts on this verse by saying Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle…? You are a live because of God’s mercy and the compassion which He poured out on all mankind through the offering of His son… I say this because there are so many of us that have our relationship with God twisted and act as if we are doing God a favor by living for Him… The bible tells us that “…narrow is the path that leads to salvation and few there be that find it…” There is only one way to rich heaven’s gates and the characteristics that must be within a individual are outlined in today’s study verse… As a people we are not worthy to abide in God’s tabernacle; however, through the righteousness of the son we have the ability to walk uprightly and speak truth within and out of our hearts… When we look at the two questions posed at the beginning of this verse it is very easy for one to read and disqualify themselves from answering in the affirmative… David writes this psalm in the midst of the muck and mire of his very one life… 

He knows that God looks at the heart of man; however, he also recognizes that even being called a man after God’s on heart, he was not worthy to dwell in the midst of the Lord… Today, remind yourself of the privilege that God extends through His grace and mercy which allows us to dwell in His presence… To dwell in God’s presences means that you have taken on a new approach to life and you are focused on other ways and avenues to prosper through faith and not worldly success… Don’t’ make the mistake of becoming complacent with where you are; what ever the case may be, know that where you are today isn’t good enough… The things of this world that you find fulfillment in aren’t even close to the levels and dreams that God has for you… To be called a child of God we must be clothed in His love and will… Again, two questions are raised today that our lives must answer… Who shall abide in thy tabernacle or who shall dwell in they holy hill? What does it take to be called a child of God? How do we gain a place in the heavens to be with the Lord for all Eternity…? The psalmists possess a question to the Lord regarding those that are His children! We have been called to a higher standard… The Lord expects more from your life and desires you to reach the highest of heights… In understanding the calling of the Lord, we see that we are to walk upright, be righteous and speak the truth… Everything outlined in this passage totally goes against the way in which we currently lead our lives… To be upright means that we stand tall and are honest; however, knowing that we enter this world as sinners teaches us that we have no desire too be honest nor stand for the values laid out by God… The things that are recorded here in this passage speak directly to one who desires to be transformed from their normal sinful ways into a child of the most high…

We naturally desire everything that goes against the will of God; however, if we want to be able to abide in His tabernacle, if we want to dwell in His holy hill, we must leave the former things behind us and press forward toward the mark of the prize of the high calling… David goes on to say that the person qualified to dwell with God “…speaketh the truth in his heart…” The word of God must not only be a part of your life, but it must take up residence within you… To speak the truth from your heart means that you’re most inner parts are totally devoted to the Lord… No matter what people may say or what storms may rise, you must be able to speak the truth in your heart… Don’t give the enemy power, don’t give Him a foot hold and don’t allow him to plant any seeds within you… If one reads this passage we very quickly come to the conclusion that there is no man on earth that qualifies to dwell with the Lord, realizing the characteristics that must be obtained to dwell in His holy hill puts all of us on the outside looking in… Today, knowing that we don’t deserve to be called His child, knowing that we don’t deserve to be considered a co-heir, knowing that we don’t deserve to even be alive today gives us reasons to be thankful… Through His grace, mercy and patience we can strive to walk according to His will… Through His forgiveness and love we have the ability to be transformed, washed white as snow and clothed in His righteousness… Understand that David was called a man after God’s own heart, he committed a lot of sins, but his heart was in the right place… We are far from perfect, we each have flaws and have fallen short of God’s glory; however, we know that God is saying today that if you take a step and seek my face that I will hear from heaven and heal the land.. Take a step today if you desire to enter His gates with thanksgiving, take a step today if you desire to enter His courts with praise, take a step if you desire to be counted in the number and go on to be with the Lord for all eternity… Who shall abide with the Lord? The one who humbles himself, the one who seeks God, the one who acknowledges their sin and the one who recognizes the True and ONLY Wise God in His heart…

All For His Glory!

His Righteousness Is Everlasting

Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

Psalm 119:142 

The righteousness of God is displayed in and through the life that His son lived on this earth… To be righteous means to upright, honorable, moral, virtuous and to walk in decency; if we really breakdown the meaning of this word than we know that there aren’t any people on this earth who are righteous… I make this point to also bring to light the grace and mercy that we all have received from the Lord; the fact that we are alive and are able to see another day declares the truthfulness of the opening statement in today's focus verse which says Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness...  God has spared you day after day and if it weren't for His perfection than you in I would be utterly cast down for all eternity... To enter this world as sinners already disqualifies us from obtaining the righteousness that is spoken of throughout the word of God and this particular verse… Understanding that I am not righteous brings me to a place of complete admiration and love for God… I love Him because of His righteous; the fact that He was upright toward me when I was down in out, the fact that He was just and honorable when I was unjust and shameful, the fact that He has paved a way for me to be clothed in His righteousness is alone enough for me to be thankful… However, my praise is taken to another level knowing that “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness…” God continues to be just toward me, He continues to be honorable in spite of my flaws and failures and even though I have fallen short, I take courage in knowing that everyday I see upon this earth is another day for me to move forward in my walk with Him… 

The everlasting righteousness of God gives me second, third, fourth and fifth chances to become what He desires and for that only we all should be thankful… As was stated earlier, righteousness is virtue, honesty, morality and decency… Just take a moment to think about where you would be if God was not righteous, think about what things you would be doing if God was not moral or decent… We often look at God as the Lord of our lives when it comes to things we stand in need of or want; however, we are called today to look at God in the form that He truly is, which is the God that has brought us out of bondage and created a path to Salvation that we never would have had nor been able to see… Today’s focus verse reminds simply of why we should always be thankful no matter where we are in life or what circumstances we are currently facing… The decency that God has shown us through the years has kept us from the reward of death that we all indeed do and did deserve… The honesty of God is shown through the consequences that we face; however, it is shown more so in the true and pure love that He has for us… The bible teaches us that God can make the rocks cry out in praise to Him, this speaks to the fact that God is all powerful and that everything is under His control; however, it also speaks to the honesty of God and how much He desires for mankind to turn toward Him and serve Him… The psalmist reminds us today of the grace and mercy that God has and is bestowing upon us… The psalmist is thankful unto the Lord; he is giving God praise because of His everlasting righteousness and the virtue that He has displayed… As we embark on the day that lies before us and prepare for this wonderful season of Christmas, let us remember who has made this day possible, and let us remember who has seen you through trial after trial and storm after storm… 

He is a righteous God, He is a (n) everlasting father and He is the beginning and the end…One last time, as we noted earlier, righteousness is virtue, honesty, morality and decency… This passage reminds us that God’s righteousness is everlasting, He will continue to be decent concerning you, despite your faults He will continue to love you, continue to work with you to mold you and form you through every obstacle you face… God has never turned His back on you, we have disrespected Him, we have put Him on the backburner, we have humiliated His name; however, even in the midst of this crooked world, God is still looking down with kindness, love and patience… Today we all can acknowledge the mistakes we made and know that God has always been by our side… Thy law is the truth; the will of God and the statues that He has placed for us to be governed by will lead us down a path of truth within our lives… It’s okay if the word of God convicts you, that is what it’s suppose to do… The saying that the “truth hurts” is real, but in the spiritual realm of thinking the truth doesn’t hurt, it heals… There is nothing that His word does not contain; there is no answer that we cannot find through His word or by seeking His face… His laws have been placed in our lives so that you may flourish, so that you may prosper and be blessed! As a human we often rebel at the sight of structure and law. We desire to make our own rules and walk according to our standards… Adam and Eve decided to disobey God’s law and forfeited the promises of God! Today let us not disobey, but let us trust God that the way in which He has called us to live will produce earthly and heavenly results knowing that we don’t need direction from any other source (as the Psalmist said, “…thy law is truth.”) and understanding that God’s righteousness is everlasting!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Focus On Him Instead of Your Problems

Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.

Hosea 6:3

Despite the way that situation appears to be, no matter how daunting the task at hand may in fact be, Hosea reminds us that we must acknowledge the Lord… This acknowledgment must take place before His presences is even felt… The real conflict that arises in the lives of the believers is acknowledging the power and authority of God in and over situations before His faithfulness is displayed and you are delivered…  The message for today is pressing to give God praise, honor and reverence as the storm approaches, being able to give God the highest respect and admiration while the storm looms over head instead of waiting until the rainbow is completely visible and recognized…  Too often we conceal our love for God until is love and compassion is shown and today we are challenged to do the opposite… You must acknowledge the Lord instead of acknowledging your current predicament, hardship or obstacle… In walking by faith you tell the storm how big your God is while knowing that as surely as the sun rises, He will appear; he will come to us like winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth… God sill show up and show out, He will complete the work that He has begun in you and you will see and feel His power in and through your life… Give Him praise for the outcome and stop focusing on your present condition… If you focus on the things that are happening around you and all the chaos in this world, you soon realize how difficult it is to acknowledge the Lord… 

As a Christian we are charged with this daunting task that calls for us to see sun through the clouds, peace within the storm and a rainbow after the rain… God knows how hard it is to focus on Him instead of matters that come up in everyday life and this is why Paul says that we walk by faith and not by sight… Hosea reminds us today that we are to take up this mantle and “press on” to acknowledge Him… The enemy wants you to focus on your problems instead of trusting that God has a solution… He wants you to become frustrated with the way things appear instead of crying out in awe of what God is doing and about to do… Every step you take toward God is another step the enemy will take toward a more violent attack towards you… The good news today is that your pressing is not in vain, the good news is that God is present and “he will appear…” No matter where you are today, no matter how dim things appear, no matter how much you feel like throwing in the towel; Hosea reminds us today that we need to stop and acknowledge the Lord… This is not just about praying and making note of His presences, but that we must walk by faith and know that He is faithful… Hosea says acknowledge the Lord, but than he takes it a step further and says that we should press on to acknowledge Him… Recognizing God isn’t easy, this world is filled with sin and we must give everything that we have to the Lord if we want to truly acknowledge Him and worship Him… In our acknowledgments of the Lord we are placing our live in His hands, we are not focused on public popularity or opinion, we are not worried about our social status or how many people will mock us… This is why Hosea goes on to say, “as surely as the sun rises, he will appear…” God has seen your struggles, He has heard your cries, He has observed people mocking you and discrediting His name… 

There is a time and place fore everything and God will indeed raise you up in “due time…” Hosea makes a comparison to the earth and how the rains water it at the right time and season… God will take care of you, when you least aspect it, when you feel like giving up, that’s when the “waters” will flow upon your life and you will be saturated in the love of God… The seasons are proof of God’s love and attention, we all go through seasons in life, but we continue to acknowledge God because we know that while we are in the season of winter and things become cold and confusing, the season of spring is right around the corner… Paul tells us in his letter to the church of Thessalonica that we are to “pray without ceasing…”Hosea reminds us today of that same principle… A lot of times we become flustered, frustrated and confused by the things that we face in this world; often we become bewildered, scarred and puzzled by the trials (fiery darts) that come our way! We are reminded today that in these times and every time we must continue to seek God… We must continue to kneel before Him and just as Hezekiah did “spread our every concern before the alter of the Lord…” Hosea reminds us that prayer is free, but it is the most valuable article that a Christian has! We must acknowledge Him, because through our prayers and perseverance He will appear! When Jesus died on the cross the Vail of the temple which essentially separated God from man was torn in two! We have the ability to go directly to the father… Every concern, every obstacle, every trial, every hardships can be taken to the Lord… This is one of the best gifts that God ever gave mankind to use while in this world… It is assured that we will have days of rain in our lives, we will have peeks and valleys and just as we know that to be true we also know that with every peek God is there and every valley He shines the light directing us in our greatest time of despair… Hold on to God’s unchanging hand, continue to pray and remain steadfast… Know that He hears your prayers, as James tells us; the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous availeth much… You can unveil God in your situation, you can unveil Him at work, and you can unveil Him in every trial and tribulation… He may not come when you want him, but because you have prayed you know that He will show up just like the“rains that water the earth!”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

We Owe It All To God

"For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

Romans 11:36

You live for Him because of the life that you have through Him and all of this is even possible because of His death on the cross, which simple means that you owe everything to Him… This is the crux of Paul’s message in our focus verse today… Everything that you do, everything that you accomplish and every goal you reach is because of Jesus Christ… It is only by the grace and mercy of God that you and I are here today… Make no mistake about it; don’t even think for a moment that you had anything to do with you getting up today nor the alarm clock that sounded this morning… It is for God’s glory (For Him) and exaltation that you saw another day; its through(through Him) His divine power and authority that you are here and because of this your days should be lived according to His precious promises knowing that you owe it all (to Him)… Everything you do in life should be prompted by your willingness to live so that God may be exalted… Because of all that He has already done and the doors that He has already opened; He indeed is due all honor and praise… Today let us look at the priorities that we have in life… Paul writes to the Church of Rome reminding them of who it is that comes first in all that we do… Every action that we partake in should be “of Him”, every blessing we receive is “through Him” and every praise and thanksgiving we render should be “to Him…” This message today is a powerful that we must really observe and understand… Often times we simply call the name of the Lord out of frustration, worry or impatience… The only time we utter Jesus name is when we are in need or simply blaming Him for our problems and predicaments… 

Paul’s letter emphasizes that fact that it is only by the power, grace and mercy of Christ that we are even alive, it is only by His love that we have a (n) opportunity to inherit Eternal Life and it is through His saving power that we can go approach the heavens through prayer… This passage serves as a reminder to all know matter where you are in life… If you are in a humble state you must learn to acknowledge the Lord and lean not to your own understanding… Likewise, if you have all the physical prosperities that one could desire, you must steal learn to praise God and be thankful for His bountiful blessings; it doesn’t matter where you are, but it does matter that you still see God the same way… Your promotion was made possible by Him, be thankful… Your tight budget that keeps the bills paid on time is proof that God hasn’t forgot about you, be thankful… Thank God for being God and this should be the foundation of your praise… This God has spared you time and time again, this God has allowed calamity in your life to build you up and not tear you down as the enemy has intended… You have a whole lot to be thankful for today because you under your own power would have loss a long time ago; however, through the Grace and Mercy of God you have been sustained and will prevail under His mighty hand and heart full of compassion… You should be giving God the highest praise in everything that you do or endure because you know that your very life is an act of Grace… The Church of Rome was subject to many kinds of people just as our churches are today… You have those who serve the Lord genuinely, those who serve out of tradition and those who serve for popularity… 

This message today applies to every category that was listed in the previous sentence; never forget that God is the reason you have got to where you are, never forget that He thought it not robbery to leave His home in glory, never forget that He looked beyond your faults and saw your needs, never forget that without Christ you are nothing and Eternal Life is not possible… The bible says that before the earth was formed God existed… Don’t become so bogged down in physical promotions and pleasing man that you take away from the true provider of the blessings you receive… Paul was a educated man with a serious void in his life until he met Jesus… There are many people that you encounter that appear to be well-off, but they have serious voids in their lives because they don’t know the Lord… It is of the utmost importance that you live your life as a Living Sacrifice… Every step you take is a testimony; your life either displays the love of God or detracts from it… Paul reminds us that we must acknowledge God in everything… Remember that He touched you this morning, He clothed you in your right mine, He has placed food on your table and clothes on your back… He deserves all the honor, all the glory and all the praise… Give your life to Him by living according to His will… Once we decide to walk under the direction of God, we fulfill the words of this scripture and we bring glory to God by our living… Paul said we are called to be living sacrifices because it’s our reasonable service… When you think of all the flaws God has looked past, when you think about all the mistakes He has wiped away, when you think about all the blessings He has provided that you didn’t deserve, it is more than reasonable to give it back to Him… It’s more than reasonable for you to acknowledge that “For of Him and through Him and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God's Got You Covered

The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

Deuteronomy 33:12 

The Lord will provide the shelter and safety that you life desires; however, it is your choice as to whether you dwell in it or not… The last book of the law reminds us that when we align ourselves with the will of God we don’t have to fear the circumstances or situations that we face as we know that we have safety in the arms of Christ… Those who walk in the will of God are promised safety… This is not to be confused with peace all the days of your life, but to say that when the enemy comes you will be able to win… You will see storms rage, wars take place, but you are to take comfort in knowing that these things will not overtake you and though you see them, they will not stand too long… We must come to accept and realize that everyday of our lives a battle is being fought, some days we take a step forward and some days we take a step back… Whatever the case, we are taught that the beloved (those who are dear to the heart of God) shall dwell in safety… When you choose the will of God you are then covered under the blood of Jesus… This is the same blood that paid your penalty, the same blood that made the death angel pass over the houses of God’s children and the same blood that Jesus sweat in the Garden of Gethsemane… Isaiah 26:3 says that “thou will keep you in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee!” We have a comforting assurance today through God’s word! He has promised that if we are the sheep of His pasture and the children of His blood we shall be protected and kept through the struggles of life! 

Today’s focus verse was penned to hearten and support the children of God… This word was written to encourage the Israelites as they battled for territories and prepared to enter the promise land, it was to inform them of the promises of God as they measured the task that laid before them, Moses leadership is ending and Joshua is taking the reigns, God is preparing them for great struggles and pains, but wants them to know that victory is on the horizon. You may be in a place of struggle right now, you may be in the midst of a battle right now and the message that I encourage you by today is to know that “the Lord shall cover him (you) all the day long…” He will uphold you, He will sustain you, He will see you through… The Israelites were on the cusp of the Promised Land, you are on the cusp of your breakthrough, you are on the edge of your new beginnings, and you are about to walk into your new territory… So today find encouragement in know that trouble doesn’t last always, realize that God is with you and nothing will stop you… Let us enjoy these truths today; realizing that the Promised Land is before us, but the measure of obstacles that awaits us seems insurmountable… We are filled with worry, we are filled with uncertainty and we have become hopeless (The Israelites wondered in the wilderness for forty years)… Just as the Israelites in this passage, we have been wondering in the wilderness thinking that our former days of bondage are better than the Blessings that God has stored up for us… My bible tells me that we will reap a harvest if we faint not; it tells me that we must remember that this world hated Him first, and we must acknowledge that God said He will never put more on us than we can bear! We have a cross to bear; we have burdens to carry, there are trials that await us and situations that we MUST face… 

God is informing us that we shall prosper; He is telling us that you will win, and He is assuring us that the devil will NOT be victorious… How are we guaranteed to win; because we aren’t fighting under our own power, but we find our strength in the Lord knowing that we “…shall dwell between his shoulders…” We use our shoulders to support and or carry things, today be encouraged to know that God is caring you… He is working it out in your favor and He will left you up and keep you going when you feel like you have nothing left… Paul asked a question in his letter to the Church of Rome… If God be for us, who can be against us? Who can stop the will of God? Who has the ability to thwart the plan of the King of kings Lord of lords…? Everything that has come against Him has failed and been cast down; your enemies are being made your footstool… Take courage today, because you have one fighting for you who has never lost and as long as you allow Jesus to lead the way you are guaranteed victory… You will see trouble, you will hear storms, but you will be lifted up and come through whatever you face… Plead the blood of Jesus over every situation and allow Him to work knowing that when His will is set in motion it will be fulfilled… The 91^st psalm says it best verse 1 says, ¹ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  Verses 7 and 8 say, “⁷ A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. ⁸ You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.” The enemy wants to stop you dead in your tracks; however, you need to remember that he can do nothing unless you step away from the safety-blanket that is Jesus…

You are covered by his blood; you are protected by his sacrifice, so live according to his will and fight the good fight!!!!!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Suffering Is Temporary

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:10-11

In reading this passage taken from the first epistle of Peter, understand today that you will suffer… There are things in life that you must endure, challenges that you must face and trials that you will have to encounter; the message today is that you must find peace amidst the storm knowing and trusting in our Lord knowing that He is the God of all grace… This opening statement declares the very authority and compassion of our God; He will never see you go through more than you can bear and His grace will give you all that you need to endure and overcome… As a child of God the biggest mistake we can make is thinking that we shouldn’t have to face adversity; the best way to grow is through experiences and this is the very purpose of your current situation or circumstance… God is working behind the scenes, taking you to another level in Him and you must keep this in mind while you face the daunting task ahead… Know today that God will give you grace which is His favor over every situation; in other words, He will give you the resources that you need to withstand and triumph; I point this out today to make the point that God will give you resources so that you will know that God is giving you the ability to fight not to flee… This is the problem that disrupts so many Christians in their faith walk, you have been praying to God about something and He has given you the ability to persevere while you are looking for a detour… 

This is the true meaning of Grace; God knows that you can’t do it on your own and so He deposits His abilities in your life so that you can have the strength and the power to endure and obtain the victory in and through Him… This why are challenged today to acknowledge God for who He is and not to call on Him out of necessity… God knows everything that is about to happen in your life as well as the things which you currently face; He will make sure that His will is accomplished in the storm which is approaching your doorstep and your faith needs to remain in tact for the maturation to be fulfilled… This is why Peter goes on to say that after that ye have suffered a while, He will make you perfect… God will finish the work that He has started in you and the things you face are only pieces to His divine puzzle… The enemy believes that He can laugh at your struggles, but in Christ you can smile amidst His laughter knowing that you will prevail and God will have the final laugh… Notice that Peter says you will suffer, but concludes the 11^th verse by saying, To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen…  You may not like the path He has for you, but you should still give Him glory because His plan will not fail; you may not agree with the choices He has made regarding your life, but you can declare that He has dominion because the end result is you win and He is exalted… When things become uncertain, when your foundation begins to sway, don’t throw your hands up in despair, don’t become frustrated about the appearance of the moment; instead, turn and pray knowing that the God of all grace will establish, strengthen and settle you… 

He will solidify your foundation, He will make your paths straight and He will lead you to victory… Peter promises us today that there is comfort after suffering… He says that the God of all grace; the unmerited favor that we don’t deserve but receive has focused on you and your life… Grace is a gift that is given out of compassion and care, Peter is saying that God knows truly that we deserve the suffering and eternal damnation, but because He is the God of all grace, He will deliver you from the end of Satan! Peter is reminding us today that God will not allow us to deal with too much, but will make sure that we go through just enough to understand the Grace that has been dispensed unto us… The bible says, “He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ return…” God is still at work in every situation you face, and he is molding you, perfecting you, and preparing you for Christ’s return… Notice that Peter says after you have suffered a while, we must understand that suffering is a step toward Salvation and Heaven… Jesus said to his disciples, “keep in mine, they hated me first…” he also said, “whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it…” Peter is reminding us today that Christ had to suffer before receiving all power and being placed at the right hand of God! We must suffer for a while! Understand that your suffering is a season (for a while), your suffering is a step (for a while), and your suffering is a stepping stone toward the word and will of God! We must go through so that we understand who brought us through… We must face trials and tribulations so that we know who has fought our every battle and fulfilled our every need! Through trials we recognize Christ’s power, through deliverance from those trials we see that He is full of ALL GRACE!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!