Be Strong And Of Good Courage

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." 

Deuteronomy 31:6

On the verge of your Promise Land you will surely find opposition…  Too often people present a false doctrine and make the voyage of following Christ appear to be a(n) easy task… We believe that we can win souls for Christ by presenting all the things that He will and can do for us and hope that the person we are entertaining doesn’t read the fine print or the disclaimer that informs them that they will deal with persecutions, hardships and trials… As a child of God we are to “consider it pure joy when we face trials” because we are being developed and molded… The pain you endure today releases the power you need to obtain victory tomorrow… Don’t be fooled by the way things may appear to be in your life; instead prepare yourself every morning to be attacked by the enemy… This is why we are charged by Paul to “Put on the whole amour of God…”  There is a battle taking place daily over your very soul and you must come to realization that this is a reality that will be in place until Christ returns and you are called home… The message we learn from this text today is simple yet powerful… If I had to sum up the charge put forth from this passage I would warn, challenge and encourage you by these words… God has already been were you are and where you are going… The path you are traveling had to be paved for you to travel it and the battles you encounter have already been won… With that being said, don’t let the appearance of things derail your divine reality…  

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Return Is Imminent

"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand." 

Joel 2:1

In today’s study we have a word of warning and a word of victory solely deriving from where you stand as a person of this world or a person of Christ… Through the message of warning, we find the directive to “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion,” this call to the priest was to let the people know of the divine judgment that is to come… There are so many people who we encounter in our daily lives that do not know Christ… Please come to the realization today and understand that there is a difference between not knowing Him and rejecting Him; a lot of times we meet people who have never had Christ shared with them, we engage with people daily that don’t know what Christ has done for us and as a child of God the great commission commands us, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”We are called to bear witness of Christ and let our light shine before men… It is our divine assignment to let people know of the joy we have which was not given of this world but made obtainable by the nail-scarred hands of Christ… The bible declares that “Faith cometh by hearing…” People cannot believe in something that they have never heard of; this is why the bible also declares “and how can they hear without a preacher…”You have a faith that was ignited in you to keep you going through this dark and dreary world; however, you also have a measure of faith that was distinctly deposited in you to be poured out into the lives of those you encounter… Today, sound the alarm when you encounter a wayward soul, sound the alarm when you entertain a guest that doesn’t know Christ; however, if you are going through you can also open your mouth in the midst of your situation, hardship or despair and “Blow the trumpet” knowing that this too shall pass and the only things that are certain in this life are that we shall die and Christ shall take His children home to glory…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Stay Humble

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Philippians 2:3  

As a child of God, one of the biggest signs of maturity is how you deal with situations and people… Just as Jesus made it clear that He wants you to give from your heart, Paul reminds the church of Philippi that we are to strive to do things out of love and not out of strife, which is friction, discord or rivalry… How do you respond when someone asks you to do something, do you act like it is the end of the world, do you pout and let out a despairing cry? This letter to the church of Philippi urges the true disciple to focus on living for God and not worldly respect! There are two main points that we must understand when it comes to dealing with things through strife… The bible says that we aren’t supposed to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing, this simple means that we are to be about the work of God without worrying about making sure that people see all that we do… First, many of us have lost sight of humbling ourselves before the Lord and exalting God through our living. Instead, we have wanted to make sure that everyone and their mother knows what we have been asked to do or how difficult people are making our lives… We will throw our hands up with a massive sigh as if to say that this is a ton of bricks which have been placed upon our shoulders. The second thing to this is that we try to draw attention to ourselves so that the people around us will praise our efforts… Jesus said wherever your treasures are there your heart will be… If you are focused on pleasing men and seeking their approval, you have lost sight of God and His approval which is the only one that matters… Paul says to us today that we need to stop acting foolish, stop looking for physical gain and popularity (vainglory); instead, we need to be focused on understanding what being a child of God intels. We are called to lift each other up (not tear each other down), but in lifting each other we are to do it without murmurings or disputes… Paul says we are to be in a lowly state; this calls for you to check your ego at the door, this informs us that we must examine the motives behind our actions and ensure that our focus is for God to be glorified and not us… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Blessed Is He That Trust In The Lord

Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Psalm 40:4

How you live your life demonstrates who the head of your life is and what matters most to you… The Lord cannot be “our trust” if we give up the value He has within our lives to fit in with others… This verse taken from the 40^th psalm informs us of what it takes to be called BLESSED! So often we hear people say that they are blessed and highly favored… Highly favored coming from the announcement made to Mary by the angels that she would give birth to Christ! Notice that Mary was an upright woman who lived a life adhering to God’s will and standard of living, she adapted to every situation she faced and never gained an ego nor lived by worldly views… One who trusts in the Lord remains humble while being exalted; they stay the course in rocky situations and seek to fulfill the desires of God… There are stipulations that come with this territory of being called BLESSED. If you claim that you are blessed, then that means you trust the Lord, aren’t concerned about the respect of peers and aren’t caught up in the ways of this world… To be a blessed individual, there are a lot of sacrifices that you must make and they are broken down below: Keep in mind that we all are blessed, but we must understand that this doesn’t just mean that God has favored us or brought us through storms, to be blessed is indeed a validation to where you stand as a child of God!

1)   You must trust the Lord: Trusting is not only believing but also expecting in any and every situation (whether good or bad)… This means that even in the dark days of your life you must continue to hold to God’s word, when things are uncertain, your faith must remain certain and when tribulations face you daily you must believe that HE is, and that HE is a reward of them that diligently seek him! Trusting God's not simply praying, but withstanding the test without complaining… Do you trust Him?

2)   Respect NOT the Proud: How hard is it for you to ignore what the world views as success, how hard is it for you to stand still despite what people may say and hold to God’s hand? There will be many chances in this life for you to show your trust in the Lord and dealing with peer pressure is one of them. Christ came to this earth and went against the Sanhedrin and Pharisees; He turned the tide and went against the grain… To be blessed you must do the same, it is a lot easier to be of the world then to just be in it, but a true BLESSED child of God will go against the status quo and deliver a powerful witness against those who proclaim the ways of evil!

3)   Nor turn aside to Lies: This last task may be the most daunting of them all, we are called to walk upright before the Lord and this means that we must avoid the temptations of this world and sacrifice our sinful nature daily… Walking a Christian journey is filled with ups and downs strengths and weaknesses… Due to this fact there will be many opportunities for you to lean away from God’s calling. People will come against the Lord at your weakest hour, they will blaspheme Him when you feel alone and isolated, but you must be capable of rising against the falsehoods and staying focused on the one who is THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF YOUR FAITH! God has started a masterpiece in your life, but you will not see the full value until every stroke has been completed. Sadness is a stroke, pain is a stroke, healing is a stroke, perseverance is a stroke, endurance is a stroke, and these things will mold you into the masterpiece He has called you to be! 

It is in the weak hours that Satan will try to plant lies within you that will lead you to

question your faith; you must turn them aside and stay the course… In other words, 

Trust In The Lord!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Sheep Know His Name

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 10:27-28

A sheep is a (n) animal that is steered and directed towards a certain destination; unlike many animals, sheep are aimless, harmless creatures that must be guided daily and must be protected… The bible refers to mankind as sheep and this analogy fits us to a tee… Just as sheep, we wander through this life aimlessly with no sense of direction and if we aren’t guided will end up in harm’s way and be devoured…Sheep not only must be watched over just as we need to be, but they also must develop a sense of trust and obedience with their shepherd… Over time sheep learn the voice of their master and will follow without hesitation, we as Christians must mature in the same way, because of our sinful nature, we are not willingly to follow Jesus at the outset of our lives; but with time, will not only learn to trust Him, but we learn to decipher His voice from the voice of the enemy… Christ says in this passage taken from John that His sheep hear His voice and that He knows them just as they know Him! Notice the first statement is rather general to the point that His sheep hear His voice, but the next statement shows that intimacy that must be present within our lives as a Christian… Christ says, I know them and they follow me… Christ understands that you aren’t perfect, He knows that you make mistakes and what this passage informs me of is that He is ready and willing to protect you, but you must first hear His voice and follow Him… So many people hear the voice of the Lord calling them, but they don’t follow, they pretend to be okay and don’t seek the help and cure that only God can provide… A shepherd must protect His sheep or they will be lost, Jesus wants to protect you, but you must follow Him or you will indeed be lost… Jesus goes on to say, “I give them eternal life and they shall never perish…” As I stated earlier, sheep are aimless creatures, but here Jesus reminds us that He will give your life a sense of purpose, He will guide you in all your ways and will make sure that you don’t’ perish… 

Listen to his voice, continue to walk in his path and believe in his word!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Provides All That You Need

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Isaiah 40:28-29

Do you know the God that you serve? I hope that you know and understand that as a co-heir with Jesus Christ we serve a God that is limitless and all mighty… Even though you may have experienced a setback or may not be where you desire; Isaiah has a question for you while you are in the midst of your current circumstance… “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard…?” If you really feel like giving up or throwing in the towel today, you must not realize the authority and power which lies in the hand of the God you serve… If you are waving your white flag in the direction of the enemy as a sign of surrender, than you must not know the everlasting God that is bigger than any situation or conflict… The bible declares that God is every present, the bible also declares that we must run this race with perseverance… This means that we must believe and stand in faith that the word of God is true when it says that “you will reap a harvest in due time if you faint not…” No matter what has taken place in your life, no matter how great or mighty the storm may appear to be, you can find comfort and solace in knowing that you serve a God that is unmatched and like no other… He is as Isaiah records in today’s focus verses “the everlasting God, the Lord, the creator…” Despite what you me be facing right now, proclaim through your faith that the word is true and serve notice to the enemy today that God is not a man that He should lie nor the son of man that he should repent… Does he speak and not act, does he promise and not fulfill (Numbers 23:19)… His promises are real and will be manifested as He said… He will provide all that you need! You can smile in the face of adversity, not because you enjoy the current predicament, but because you know  and have heard of the God you serve which is mightier than any tribulation… The Israelites went through bondage and the desert before reaching the Promised Land, your journey will produce the same steps but more importantly, it will produce the same results…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Cross Demonstrates His Power

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

When I want to give up on this journey I find strength in the cross… When I feel like I can’t make it another day, I can go to sleep with a smile on my face because of the cross… It is through the cross that children of God find hope and strength… In suffering the most humiliating death on earth Jesus obtained the greatest victory known to man which is victory over death… The cross reminds me that nothing thrust against me will overcome the will and divine plan of God… The cross reminds me to accept challenges, endure hardships and embrace obstacles because in the midst of my pain and suffering a victory is being obtained that will far surpass my current predicament… There are people who are in this world and don’t know the hope that they have or can have in Christ Jesus… There are people who you encounter on a daily basis that don’t know the authority the enemy has over them is only given to him by them. People don’t know that they have been freed and are in bondage by choice and not circumstance… Since people don’t realize what Jesus did and haven’t realized that the situations they face and the chaos that surrounds their everyday lives is a result of their own actions “the message of the cross is foolishness…” Your life can be better than it is, you can have a peace that is stable amidst this unstable world, but you must let go and allow God to work… Jesus let go after praying for the cup to pass from Him, as a result God not only delivered Him but placed Him in high esteem… As a Christian, our faith lives in what took place on the cross… Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth reminds us today of the biggest obstacle that stands not only between believers and non-believers, but also what separates us from all other religions… All religions believe in a form of God; however, the discrepancy comes into play when you focus on who Jesus is… Most religions see Jesus as a prophet, most recognize Him as a messenger, but only Christianity sees Him as God in the flesh and the savior of all who believe in His name… The message of the cross is our inspiration as a Christian; the message of the cross represents a new beginning and the ability to overcome insurmountable odds... The cross represents death for all who don’t believe, it also represents life for all who call on His name…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

My Peace I Give To You

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

You may not see Him, but there is evidence of His presences in your life… Jesus encourages us today to know that we can find comfort through our sleepless nights and tear-soaked pillow cases… You have been going through a rough patch in your life, you have been challenged and have felt the weight of the world upon your shoulders; however, know that you have a symbol of hope in the remnant of God’s peace… Jesus says,“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you…” It was the peace of knowing that He would have victory that allowed Him to be mocked and whipped… It was the peace of knowing that He would be reunited to the Father that allowed Him to be strung out on the Cross and it was the peace of His ascending which allowed Him to descend into the belly of this earth… Christ calls for you to take courage in knowing that you can be at peace today because the war has already been won… He leaves His peace to you today so you can know that storms on the horizon have already been passed through by His nail scarred hands and His blood will keep you safe from all harm… Psalms 91 says “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you if you make the Lord your dwelling place…” Today, even as you encounter obstacles and hardships, you have the opportunity to be at peace with the trials and tribulations that you will face or are facing… Don’t be troubled today by what you see or what transpires in your life… Jesus said that “He has gone to prepare a place for you…” The best is yet to come, so you can be at peace with where you are today… Go ahead and speak peace over your household knowing your relationship can be restored, speak peace over your children knowing that even though they may be of the world now they will return home… Smile today no matter what you are going through because you know that you will be okay and everything will work out; in other words, be at PEACE…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Door Is Still Open

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Revelation 3:8

Despite what people may have told you or even have attempted to persuade you to believe, this Christian journey isn’t easy… From the time we wake up until the time we lay down again we are surrounded by temptations and snares... While you are resting the enemy is devising new plans to be carried out against you to steal, kill and destroy all that God has in store for you… You may be wondering why the minute you come out of a storm there is another one on the horizon; this coming and going of obstacles can wreak havoc on you physically and mentally; however, through John’s revelation today we are reminded that God “knows thy works…” No matter how daunting the task may appear to be, no matter how much sweat and tears are poured out or energy is exerted through your ordeals, be encouraged today that your perseverance will pay off and even though it may feel at times that God isn’t there, the truth of the matter is that He is right by your side… The Lord sees your struggles; He knows the desires of your heart and has provided you a way of escape and a means of obtaining victory by “setting before thee an open door…” Often times we can get overwhelmed by the things that we are faced with and never realize the path which God has already paved for us to not only make it through but to overcome and excel… I can recall a very strong piece of advice that my sister once told me; she said, “don’t tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how big your God is…” I quote this powerful statement as a means to challenge you to accept the hand that you have and know that the God you serve will make sure that it plays out in a way that you will not only survive it, but will come out better than you were going in… Instead of focusing on the why; learn to be thankful for the when… No man can thwart God’s plan, so keep the faith and know that God has prepared your exaltation!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

In Time It Will Be Revealed

For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Luke 8:17

There are times in life when we don’t understand, there are points in your Christian journey where we are puzzled by some of the situations that we face… Today, Luke reminds us that everything will be revealed to us in time…The songwriter said “Ooo by and by when the morning comes, all the saints of God are gathered home, we will tell the story of how we overcome and we’ll understand it better by and by…” Let us realize today that as the years pass and we grow in Christ, the understanding as to the path and reason behind every turn will be clearer and clearer for us... You may not understand why this or that happened right now, you may not have a clue as to what impact this situation that you are going through will have on your life, but Luke assures us that at God’s appointed time, we will understand… God informed us in the 55^th chapter of Isaiah about the lack of understanding that we would have at times in our lives… We can’t comprehend the magnitude of God’s actions; the word says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Our faith shouldn’t rely on living a life of harmony, but on accepting every avenue that this Christian journey takes us on, knowing and believing that God knows what’s best for us… God has a special and ordained plan for your life! The turmoil you face is for a reason, the heartache and pain has a purpose, and the chaos and confusion is divine. You may not understand right now, but keep running because it will be revealed for all mankind to see…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Will Save

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

If you want the experience the power and might of God allow Him into the midst of you… Jesus said behold I stand at the door and knock and we are informed today that God is mighty and when we allow Him in He will save us! Zephaniah reminds us today that it doesn’t matter how far you have fallen, it doesn’t matter how far you have strayed away or even how many mistakes that you have made; God still sits high and looks low, He still has all power in the palm of His hand and can save you… One of the most interesting things that I also see in this passage is that God’s power can only be manifested by your allowance! This verse starts off by saying that “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty…” God must first dwell in you in order to display His mighty hand… You must sacrifice your desires of the flesh and strive to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord… We often talk about the trials that we are facing and how much anguish we are in, but the bigger storm in our lives is whether or not God is in the midst of thee… Is God the head of your life, is He the focus of your daily walk, is He the driving force behind your purpose in life? If so, Zephaniah tells us that the God who dwells in you will surely save you… It is of the utmost importance that we establish a relationship with God in order for Him to enter in and mend our heart… Zephaniah is speaking to a people who are in a confused and dark place, he is speaking to the hearts of a people that have rebelled against God and found themselves in the lowest of places, Zephaniah is speaking to a people who have lost hope and feel as if there is no way out… Zephaniah is speaking to you when you feel that the pain is too much to bear, he is speaking to you when you feel that your household is in shambles, the prophet is speaking to you when your job becomes so hectic, your finances are in flux and your children have strayed off the course of promise and hope… This message is for the true believer in God when you feel that God isn’t present, this message is for the person in prayer that hasn’t seen any results, it’s for the parent who is trying to make ends meet but can’t seem to stay afloat… The answer to all your struggles begins with your relationship with God! Zephaniah reminds us that if we have a relationship with God, He will surely be there in times of trouble and hardship… God knows how much we can bear, but also will always provide a way of escape… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Watch & Pray

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Matthew 26:41

As a child of God you must always be on guard… The moment you become comfortable is the same moment when you become susceptible to the devices of the enemy… Being alert is not a(n) optional trait that we carry, but a command from the very mouth of Jesus which was spoken to His disciples as He begins to prepare for crucifixion… If you want to reach the levels that God desire and has planned for you to reach, you must learn to “watch and pray…” Today, through this passage we learn how easy temptation can seep into our hearts and minds… It is through these words that we learn how much danger lies at our doorstep every morning or even cuddles beside us in our beds… Jesus speaks to the disciples about temptation knowing that they didn’t even realize what was taking place… A lot of times we overlook the small things (like falling asleep) but Jesus teaches us today that we need to learn to deal with the small issues in life before they lead to bigger problems… There are a lot of things that lead us to temptation; there are a lot of doors that we have left up in our lives that entice us to do wrong… Some of these doors could be acquaintances that we need to shut off, some of these doors could be old habits that we never fully removed from our lives or even places that we visit. The point that we need to learn today is that no matter where you are in life temptation is around you… So many people think that they are above certain things based on their economic or social standing; however, the truth of the matter is that when you begin to put confidence in your flesh you open the door to the enemy taking advantage of your weaknesses which is why Jesus goes on to say “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak….” You can overcome the attack of the enemy; however, the only way to conquer him is through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit which is realized by submission and prayer… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Judge Them By Their Walk

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand." 

Psalm 37:23-24

From the time you are born until the time you die; your life will travel in whatever direction you choose… Even if you decide to remain where you are, you have chosen to travel in a stagnant direction which will produce lackluster results… The psalmist reminds us today that every man or woman will take steps in life (whether it is a step in the right or wrong direction is your choice)… The steps you take can produce many different outcomes; however, when your steps are ordered in the Lord, victory is the certain result… Despite how many hardships or storms you have encountered, you are charged to be encouraged today that even when you slip, even when you want to give up, even when you feel like you are at the end of your rope; “the Lord will uphold you with His hand…” God won’t let you fall too far, He won’t let your life spiral out of control beyond what you can stand and in the end the stumbling blocks you overcome now will transform into stepping stones leading you to your divine destiny. If you allow Him to order you steps, know that even when a storm arises in your life, the steps taken in the Lord are the right steps that you are to take… Looking at this passage in another aspect brings me to two quotes that I am sure we all at some point have heard… Often have heard women say that a “good man is hard to find”, I have heard men say that a “good woman is a rare catch”; however the psalmist tells us today how we can identify the man or woman that we seek… A lot of times we get caught up in the physical attractions, the financial security and what someone can do for us, but today we learn that if we want to find the right mix we need to look no further than the Lord… The bible tells us that “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…” This informs me that there are many imposters in the world, many that appear to be good; however the definition of what is good and what is bad comes from whom or what it is that orders their steps… Judge them by their walk... If their steps are ordered by the Lord, you will see good even in the worst of times.

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You Have To Make A Choice

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 6:24

The bible is clear on the fact that you cannot serve two masters. No matter how much effort you put forth, this cannot be done because the God you are involved with desires your full attention… Deuteronomy 6:15 says, “for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.” There are some of us who are wondering right now why it is that your prayers haven’t been answered, why it is that you have not been able to get out of the rut you are in or even why it seems like the ditch you are in keeps getting deeper and deeper… If you are that person today, the question I have for you is quite simple; is the shovel in your hands or Gods…? Are you stuck because you are trying to figure your own way out or have you really turned it over to the Lord…? The bible declares in Jeremiah 29:13 that, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” The only way for you to find God is to seek Him with all your heart; this in turn requires that you leave the other master spoken of in our focus verse from the book of Matthew alone… The problem in your life isn’t that God hasn’t heard or doesn’t hear your prayers; the problem is that you are so distracted by the things of this world and your peers that you cannot recognize the answer that He has placed right before you… This is why you feel like you’ve been praying all this time and haven’t gotten a response, this is why the walls keep closing in on you; you say you're waiting on God and the reality is that He is waiting on you… Life is full of choices, we choose whether we want to go to work, we choose whether we want to get up in the morning, and we choose whether or not we are going to be committed to this Christian journey!

So what is your choice, answer this question by your service and not your words?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

It's Possible Because Of His Mercy

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Titus 3:5-6

Humility is a trait that is easily carried out when the things around us appear to be humbling; however, the true test of a Christian is your submission to the will of God when you have little and when you have abundance… It never ceases to amaze me how many people can blame God when they are dealing with a misfortune, but they take the credit when they receive a blessings or promotion… There is nothing that you can do on this earth to deserve a heavenly home… Today we reminded that we must remember who has made Salvation possible for us and who has opened up doors in our lives that provide us opportunities to prosper and receive blessings from above… Without the offering that Jesus Christ poured out on the cross we would not be here, without the blood that ran down His side there would be no remission of sins and if it were not for His resurrection we would not be able to overcome any obstacle that we face…Simply put, don’t get it twisted; you have done nothing to deserve the saving power that came through God’s beloved son. Don’t lose sight of the fact that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God, through His mercy gave us a clean slate and refocused our minds on Him by the sending of the comforter the Holy Ghost. All this was made possible because Christ thought it not robbery to leave his home in Glory, all this came into existence because the stone they rejected became the corner or capstone. Through the blood of Jesus we can inherit eternal life, through His poverty we can become rich, through His suffering we can go to a place where they’re will be no pain, by Him laying down his life we can live! As much as you want to take credit for things in your life, start to take credit for all the things that are messed up with your life instead… Recognize today that you aren’t perfect and start to seek the perfection of Jesus… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There's No God Like Thee

LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart.

1 Kings 8:23

Elijah, a prophet of the Lord teaches us today that despite what we may hear or what people may do, there is no other God besides the Lord… This scripture is written at a time when the Israelites have forsaken the way of the Lord, the prophets of Baal have built alters to their gods and destroyed the alters of the Lord… Elijah in the next set of verses call the people together and instructs the prophets of Baal to lay a sacrifice on their alter and call on their god for fire to consume it… Through morning until midday the prophets called and received no answer, they were mocked by Elijah who told them to shout louder and suggested that maybe their God was in deep thought… After failing to reach their god, Elijah resurrects the alter of the Lord and places the offering upon it, he orders the children to bring jars of water to soak the wood and the offering… At that time, Elijah calls on the Lord in front of the children and the 450 prophets of Baal and the Lord responds by consuming the soaked offering by fire and even drying of the trenches with the overflow (1 Kings 18: 16-38)… This passage teaches us today that there is no god like our God… Many today call on other things or place confidence in other places, but we are assured that in the heat of battle, when the going gets tough, when all eyes are on us that God will show up and show out… When you realize in life that all you have is Jesus, that’s when you realize that Jesus is all that you need… There were many times in bible that the enemy outnumbered the children of God; however, the minorities (believers in Christ) soon were empowered and achieved greatness by the hand of God… Today we are reminded to understand the power that lies within the hand of the Only True God… The scriptures that we examine today remind us that there is “No God like thee…” There may be many claims, and you may be approached by many witnesses from other religions, but we must remember who it is that came to your aide in your time of need, who was it that brought you out of darkness, or who has remained faithful while you lost your faith! There is no God like thee... 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Knowing Christ Matters Most

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

Philippians 3:7-8

The riches we seek on earth cannot compare to the riches we will receive in heaven for forsaking the things of this earth… Saul (Paul before his conversion) was held in high esteem amongst his peers… He was a (n) educated man who was a member of the counsel; however, we see that even the highest position in this world doesn’t bring true happiness nor contentment…  Saul was always seeking to appease the crowd, he was always seeking the accolades and the praise from his fellowman; however, when he heard the voice on the Damascus road, he writes to the church of Philippi “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ…” This passage taken from Paul’s letter to the church of Philippi examines the element of sacrifice that one must have as a child of God. Paul states that the things he gained in and of the world he counted as a loss for Christ! Not only is it worth noting that nothing in this world can compare to the love and direction of God, but also we see here that true happiness cannot be obtained nor is it defined by material prosperity... Today, so many choose to seek vain glory and even if they obtain it they are left with a void that cannot be filled by man… Paul is saying that we must come to know and understand the fulfillment that we will have in doing the will of God… Paul was “living the dream,” but wasn’t actually living until Jesus appeared to him on the Damascus road… So many of us have dreams today, we have a model of success in our minds and we will stop at nothing to achieve it; however, what we learn today is if that model is not centered around Jesus Christ, we will find out (one way or another) that it is truly meaningless and will leave us empty and void… When you are immersed in the word of God and see the blessing that He will pour out on your life, you will agree with Paul and say, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ…” It doesn’t matter what kind of car you drive if you don’t know where you’re going… It doesn’t matter how much money you have if you don’t spend it appropriately… Knowing the plan that God has for you and fulfilling God’s desires will place you in the body of the Lord for all eternity… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Seek Him With Your Whole Heart

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity.

Jeremiah 29:13-14

There’s a song sung by Hezekiah Walking entitled “99 and ½”… The lyrics go as follows, “Lord I'm running trying to make 100 because 99 and a half won't do…”The words sung in this song apply to our lives as Christians in that we must be totally under the authority of the living God… There are so many people who have been praying and seeking answers from the Lord; however the prayers have gone unanswered and the things that have been sought haven’t been found simply because their search didn’t involve all of their heart… We must come to the realization that we exist because Jesus sought our deliverance with His whole heart… So many of us are wondering why we can’t overcome, why we are in the same circumstances or why we have not advanced and the answer lies within you… You will never be promoted if you only show up to work once a week, you will never be trusted if you only tell the truth every blue moon and you will not be exalted by the Lord if you only serve Him Sunday mornings… Have you ever found yourself wondering why it seem that there are times in your life when God is not there? The Israelites pondered this very question while they were in captivity under the Babylonian kingdom… Jeremiah informs us today of the answer as to why we find ourselves in “hopeless” situations and feel as if our prayers have fallen on deaf ears…We feel at times as if God is not present not because He has abandoned us but because we have gone astray… The answer to the question of bondage, captivity and trials lie within you… The Lord is always present; however, the only way for you to feel His presences is when you are totally focused on His will… This passage says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart…”God shines light on the strongholds that we have been oppressed by in the form of sin… We haven’t heard from the Lord because we haven’t sought Him wholeheartedly… You can unlock the door to your future; however, you must seek the keys with everything you have… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Listen More And Talk Less

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

James 1:19-20

As a child of God; our number one focus is bringing souls to Christ… Despite how many various ways we accomplish this task, we all must first give an ear to the cries of the people with whom we come in contact with… No matter how much we study the word of God, no matter how much time we spend in devotion to the Lord; the mission that we have will fail if we do not learn to listen to others… We can quote many scriptures from our hearts or minds; however, the scripture or the words which the person needs most to hear from you may not be spoken simply because we don’t know where they are in their lives… James reminds us today that we must be swift to hear… Every person you come in contact with has a story; every person you meet has a past and as a child of God you must respect the paths that we have all traveled so that lives can be touched and altered… People are turned away from God not because of His ways, but because of ours… We allow wrath to rear its ugly head in our lives when we confront an obstacle and so instead of showing our faith, we show how much we still need to learn and mature… Growing up with 7 siblings (yes, seven), arguments seem to be a daily routine within our household; whether someone was wronged, an item was taken or the channel on the television was switched; it was never a matter of talking through things but rather yelling out of control until our parents stepped in and took whatever we were arguing about away from us… Being rebellious and retaliatory are natural traits of human nature… To be able to refrain from what comes naturally is a testament to your faith and advancement in the will of God… Sin is natural; however when we make attempts to avoid sin and live a life that is pleasing to God we are displaying the characteristics that a child of God should display and we are living the life that James speaks of in our focus verses today… Self control demonstrates how far we have grown in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… James reminds us today that we must be swift to hear, but slow to speak (I have often been told that we were given one mouth and two ears for a reason)… I was once told that the reasoning behind this was so that we would speak half as much as we listen… If we speak more than we listen, James teaches us today that we are not walking in the will of God... In conclusion, listen more, talk less! 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Compassion Defines Our God

"The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.  The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works." 

Psalm 145:8-9

The only thing you have ever deserved in this life is condemnation… The sooner you grasp this, the sooner you can open the door to experiencing God’s love and desires for your life… The bible records in Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus in the second chapter the foundation by which we have life and success, in this passage, Paul proclaims, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” No matter what you do on this earth, no matter how much you try to live peacefully in this life, you can only be saved and find you name in the book of life by the grace of God… Understand that Grace is something that you cannot obtain nor do you deserve… The grace that Jesus bestowed from the cross allowed Him to look beyond the ugly makeup that we presented before Him and fulfill the needs that we had which was the payment of sin’s ransom… Take note today that you are only here because of God’s grace and mercy… There are so many people today who act as if they never knew sin, they act as if God didn’t die for them because in their minds they are perfect; however, it is in the passage taken from the 145^th psalm that we find the love of God abounding beyond our valueless thoughts and silhouettes… “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion…” You didn’t deserve to wake up this morning, you didn’t deserve to sleep peacefully last night; however, the compassion of God moved on your behalf and despite how ugly your life may be, He still loves you and can’t just turn His back on you… This is why the Psalmist goes on to say that the Lord is “slow to anger…” If God really showed the full extent of His anger toward us we would be wiped from the face of the is earth… See oftentimes we confuse discipline with anger… Anger is a fury, rage or resentment; God distills His anger and continues to discipline us which means that He desires to redirect our paths instead of annihilating us from the face of the earth… God choices discipline over anger. He doesn't resent us, to the contract he guides us and continues to pour into our lives with the hopes that we will ascend to the heights he defined for us. This at its core is what compassion looks like and why it is defined by God...

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love Ye Your Enemies

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Luke 6:35-36

Love is a word that often times is misused… Paul defined love in His first epistle to the church of Corinth; it is in the 13^th chapter that we find these words recorded, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” When we utter the word love to a close friend or relative it should be without conditions; we should be speaking to one whom we desire the very best for and will in no way change our desires or motives to serve… Love is a word that can be spoken very easy but carries a high standard which is very hard to live up to… Here in the gospel of Luke we are exposed to some of the challenges that face a Christian along thei journey in growing and maturing in the will of God... Oftentimes we talk about how much we love and adore God, but Luke informs us today that we must demonstrate our Love toward God and the love that lives within us by extending a loving hand (not only to our family and friends) but to our enemies and adversaries as well… How hard is it for you to love someone who doesn’t love you back, or to give something to someone who will not repay your efforts? As hard as these two tasks may seem to be, these are two of the main objectives that a true Christian is to live by… Jesus healed many throughout His life that didn’t’ deserve His blessings; He died on the cross to save our souls and I know (speaking for myself) that I was not worthy of that sacrifice nor can I ever repay Jesus for what He has done… The bible says, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…” Jesus wasn’t expecting anything in return; He isn’t waiting in heaven for Judgment Day to hold His hand out seeking a payment for His services… He died because of the Love for His father and us, He died to fulfill the will of God and provide a chance for Salvation to all mankind and we are reminded that as we journey through this life we must take on the mindset of Christ and love all people regardless of what we receive in return.

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Pray For More Labourers

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Matthew 9:37-38

Many times we go to God in prayer when we are in need of a miracle, when we are in need of healing or we simply are seeking an answer… Jesus reminds us today that we should continually pray for the increase of labors in the vineyard of the Lord…Surely we can agree that there is a lot of wickedness in the world that we live in! One can simply look out of their windows to see kids having kids, the red and blue lights flashing throughout the night, and diseases spiraling out of control. There are many who have lost their sense of direction, there are many that have never known their direction, and there are many that have chosen the wrong direction. Whatever the case maybe, Jesus has declared to His disciples (us) in the gospel of Matthew that the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. We don’t need to seek an opportunity to witness; the opportunity presents itself everywhere we look… It is so easy to find evil in this world, but very hard to find good… Jesus is telling us today to pray for people to take action, to stop living unfruitful lives and to turn to Him… This passage informs me of two things, one that there are a lot of souls to be saved and second, that there aren’t enough true laborers in the vineyard. Jesus said for us to pray for laborers. One of the biggest reasons that wickedness is continuing to rise in our societies is because we don’t have the commitment to witnessing from the church… Harvesting is more than just dropping a seed; it takes time, effort, and a sense of where to plant! This holds true to the fact that we must give the time in our societies, we must make an effort in our communities, and we must know when and where to plant the seeds of the gospel… Your service to the Lord is not shown by how many times you go to church in a week; your service to the Lord will be called into account on Judgment Day when God asks you, “what have you done with the talents I gave you…”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Has A Plan For You

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

Jeremiah 29:11-12

Though things appear dim or the chances seem slim, take courage in knowing that God has a plan… … Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet, he lived during the bondage that the Israelites encountered under the hand of the Babylonians and witnessed the oppression of God’s children… Even while in captivity and seeing the hand of the enemy prevailing, Jeremiah records this message that we all can live by today… Jeremiah records that God knows the thoughts that He thinks towards you, He knows the path that He wants you to travel; He knows the levels of greatness which He wants to see you reach! His thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace (tranquility, happiness, and joy); not of evil or wickedness! He has an expected end for you life… Here in the midst of trials and tribulations, Jeremiah is reminding the people of God that the Lord has not forgotten about them; he is preaching to the masses that even though storms have entered their lives, they need to recognize that God is still there and He will deliver… This scripture has as two-fold meaning; the first is that God has thoughts of peace for your life; He wants to give you the best… However, the second is that your bondage is a result of the choices that you have made… Often times we want to blame God for the snares we face, we want to question God’s authority when we face trials, but Jeremiah reminds us today that God wants nothing but the best for you, your family and your life, but just like a parent, He must allow you to learn from your mistakes and sometimes you will have to take the rough road and rugged terrain of hardships to experience the promises of God… Proverbs 3: 11,12 says,“¹¹ My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, ¹² because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”Even though the trials seem evil and the storm seems wicked, know that God’s plan is to produce in you a crop that will last longer than your temporary pain…  

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!