The Skies The Limit

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:1-2

In reading today’s focus verse I am reminded of the old saying talk is cheap; there are a lot of Christians that do the talking, but in the heat of the moment they are the same Christians which fold under the pressures of this world… There are a lot of pretenders and procrastinators in the body of believers and this is also why verse 1 starts off by using the word if… In other words you may say that you are of the body of Christ, but if your actions say differently than there is a disconnect somewhere… Paul uses the word “if” because the words which follow it serve as a filter to separate the real from the phony… When we read the word if we can then grasp the words that follow and apply them to our lives and ask the question as to whether we really are a child of God or not… The things which motivate you to act on this earth are the things which you desire to obtain and/or please… There are a lot of us which pledge our allegiance to Christ, but when our lives are examined under the proverbial microscope of life, we find that there are a lot of other things which come before our Savior… We say that we love Christ; however, He doesn’t hold priority in our lives… We say that we love the Lord; however, prayer is an afterthought in our daily routine… We remember when to get up for work, we remember that our physical bodies needs nourishment, but someone we have to be reminded to pray… To be in Christ is to live; therefore, your thoughts should reflect life, they should reflect joy, they should reflect hope…To be in Christ means that we look beyond our current situations, we are able to focus on the faith we have instead of the storms we are facing. We look beyond the realm of our possibilities and focus on the mighty hand of our Lord and Savior… In Christ you have been called to a higher standard, so don’t set your own ceiling in your ministry or in your home which will cause you to settle for less than what God has already ordained for your life…  The skies the limit! 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Think Positive

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

 

Be mindful of the things you contemplate; your thoughts are powerful shackles which  impact your direction in life… We are reminded in today’s focus verse about the importance of guarding your thoughts… Eve was deceived by the serpent because He was able to appeal to her thoughts concerning the tree of knowledge of good and evil… Remember how Eve states that her and Adam were instructed not to eat of the tree nor even touch it; however, the serpent instills in her that she will not die and will be like God… The same ploy that led to the fall of man is a familiar vice which ensnares the craftiest of men today… You may be in a situation where you are waiting on God to move and in the moment in which the temptation is the greatest or the storm is the most fierce, the enemy will whisper in your ear and tell you that God isn’t coming and that you must act… So many of us have fallen victim to this plot and scheme; the enemy has got you to worry, in the thick of the circumstance he has you becoming unsettled about the situation and as a directive from the voice you hear, you turn from the prayer which you sent up earlier in the day and take matters into your own hands… This is why Paul gives us very specific thoughts we must take captive of in this epistle; this is also why we are reminded in his letter to the Church of Corinth to be mindful of what infiltrates our minds…  In that letter Paul says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” Your thoughts are very powerful, they are the ignition of every action and decision which is developed in the heart… No matter the experience or the outcome of particular situation, think positive and know that God is still in control...

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You Have Value

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Matthew 13:45-46

 

The value of finding your name written in the book of life and having a mansion in heaven is priceless… Nothing of this earth can compare; the most precious gem isn’t comparable to the divine words well done… This passage simply puts my everyday affairs into perspective… So many of us find ourselves daily struggling and fighting to reach heights defined by our peers; however, when we come to know the truest of treasures (the kingdom of heaven) we will be like this merchant man spoken of in the gospel of Matthew and sell all of our goods to obtain it… On earth we always believe we have the best until we see something better… A new car we love today, but strive for the one which comes off the assembly line tomorrow; a new job we embrace today, but will soon find ourselves seeking other employment with a higher salary… You will never be satisfied on this earth... Nothing will fill the void within unless you cast all your value in Eternal Life…There is nothing of this earth which I can obtain that will bring the happiness and immeasurable joys of heaven… There are two ways for us to understand this story told here in Matthew, on the one hand we see the Love of God and on the other we see the love that we must display toward Him…If we are able to read these verses and contemplate the Love of God, we can see that just like this merchant man, God sold all He had for us to buy us and bring us back into a right relationship with Him… We need to look at these verses in that light because we are the pearls that are being talked about in this chapter… Stop allowing people to put price tags on your life or tell you that you are of no value… My bible tells me that Christ died for me and thought it not robbery to leave His home in glory… If Christ was willing to do that than I must have a value that you simply cannot see… God says you’re priceless and because of that He sold all He had (gave His son) to purchase you… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Always Fulfills His Promise

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

Don’t get confused today with the assumption that since God hasn’t answered as rapidly as you had liked that He will not answer at all… Understand today that the enemy is busy; the best way for Him to deceive the Christian is by consuming their minds with thoughts that God has forgotten about us… You might even be in a situation right now where things don’t appear to be going as you planned and it seems as though your prayers are going unanswered; if this is you today, be encouraged to know that God is working in and through you to touch others and exalt you through your storm… This is why Peter says that we endure long suffering; simply because God is not willing that any should perish… The storm you are going through will water the seed that has already been planted in you and cultivate the hearts of all that watch your perseverance… Long story short, God hasn’t forgotten about you; He’s simply using you for His glory… See, God knows His promises to you, He knows what He has said and will not withhold what He has promised to those who walk within His will! Oftentimes we confuse longsuffering with an unfulfilled promise… In the verse that precedes this one we are told not to forget time as it appears to the Lord… The 8^th verse of this chapter says, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” This is vital to remember when you feel like a promise hasn’t been met or that the Lord isn’t by your side… God desires that all mankind would come to know Him, because of this, He has prolonged the coming of His kingdom to allow every man, woman, boy and girl to come to know Him and the love that He possesses and has dispensed upon mankind… The word of God must travel throughout the world so that men and women have the opportunity to experience His love, grace and mercy… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Keep Trusting In The Lord

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

A lot of us confess to having a relationship with the Lord; however, one must do a personal inventory to figure out how deep that relationship is… It is so easy to claim to love the Lord, but when things go south we often ask the question why me… As we ask this question, God answers us with a question of His own, do you trust me…? Is you trust in the Lord or in the things that you accredit Him for putting in your life…? Do you truly trust the Lord not only when things are calm in your life, but also when the storms are raging and you feel all alone…? When the storms of life are raging and adversity is present, then we display the true trust that we have either in things or in God… I can recall growing up and how it was instilled in me at a young age that the most important component to a relationship is trust… After thinking about this statement, I soon realized how many things branch off from that very word… If I cannot trust someone, I cannot have confidence in them, I cannot believe in them and I cannot love them… Solomon writes today a couple of verses that we often here people quote; however, notice that the first thing Solomon writes is that we must “trust the Lord…” The desires that I have is to allow the Lord to direct my path, I want Him to lead me because I know that He won’t lead me down the wrong road; however, if I don’t “trust” Him than I will not follow His lead… Likewise, we must have complete confidence in the Lord in order to develop a secure foundation with/in Him… Think of it this way, if you didn’t trust your spouse or your boyfriend/girlfriend… How can you grow with them? Trust in the Lord, it’s the key to unlocking your God given ability and destination…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Humility Proceeds Exaltation

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 14:11

The standards of this world are not the standards of Jesus Christ… The sooner that we grasp this concept, the sooner that we can start to reach higher levels than we ever thought possible within our own finite power… This is the lesson that Luke teaches us today in his gospel… There are so many people who have been confused and found themselves falling short because they have not align themselves with the will and desires of God… The people that fall into this category are the ones who have been in prayer; however, they have not totally turned the situation over to the Lord which means that they are lacking in humility… There is something missing in their lives and even though they call on the Lord they have not sought Him with their whole hearts for Him to be found… This is the same thing that plagued the rich young ruler in the gospel of Mark… Even though He knew who the Lord was, He measured his happiness by his wealth and not his faith… Today, make the decision to be humble so that God doesn’t have to humble you… This is a very scary truth and is also why Luke starts off by saying, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled…” Make no mistake about it, even though it may appear that people with pride and ego’s are flourishing, this passage tells us that it won’t last and that they will reach a point where their high horse comes crashing down… We see this all too often with image based celebrities who fall back to earth through the most precarious situations… Today, even though the majority may choose otherwise, you must make a decision… Are you climbing the ladder of success defined by the world or by God… The latter being the one which appears lease acceptable but is the most profitable… The way to ascend is to go down and the way to fall is to stand up…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Be Steadfast & Unmovable

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

As you grow in the knowledge and will of God you are assured to be subject to many temptations and snares placed in your life by the enemy… There will be many tests that you must endure and many hardships that you must face; however, in the midst of your circumstances you can find courage in knowing that your sweat, blood and tears are not in vain… I know that it is very easy to become discouraged when you face opposition and it appears that all of the seeds that you have planted are not bearing fruit; however, you must “be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…”Today’s focus verse challenges us to walk by faith and trust that the Lord knows all and sees all… The enemy wants you to believe that you have lost, he wants you to believe that you cannot obtain victory; however, Paul wants you to know that every stumbling block will eventually become a stepping stone and you will have a testimony that will lead others to Christ… No seed, when planted sprouts immediately; this principle applies to our lives as Christians as well… 

You have a seed that God planted in you and the storms of life that you face provide the water and nutrients needed for that seed to grow…This is why we must be steadfast; don’t let Satan corrupt your seed… Don’t let him dig up what God has planted in you while it tries to take root… The things that you face in life will either provide water to your seed or a shovel to the dirt which protects and keeps it… Despite what people may say (being that shovel that the enemy will use), you must continue to abound in the work of the Lord… No matter what the appearance of your current predicament may seem, you must continue to fight the good fight and walk in faith… Don’t get caught up in the moment, continue to look ahead at the big picture which is God’s plan and His expected in for you… 

Be encouraged and always remember you are favored by the KING!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love God And Others

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Matthew 22:37-39

The foundation of our being starts with love… Love has to be the cornerstone and driving force and that means that you must have a relationship with the Lord… The bible says that “God is love…” So you are not walking in love if you are not walking in Christ… Make no mistake about it, you are not here by your own doing, but through the love of God… It was the love God has for us that allowed Him to sacrifice His son and pave the road to forgiveness and salvation, it was the love Christ had for us to hang on the cross and go down into the belly of this earth and it is the love that we have for God that keeps us in His will and striving to become more and more like Him… This walk as a Christian calls for a total commitment to the will of God! Jesus is instructing us today through the gospel of Matthew about the foundation that will lead to eternal salvation. True love is formed or born through trials and tribulations… I can always say I love you to someone, but until my love is tested (and grounded in the Lord) you will never know the severity of how much or deep my love goes. A lot of us mistake lust for love and the difference of the two is evident in our commitment to that particular person of thing… Jesus says that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind! We can’t say we love Him when we feel like it or when He has blessed us and curse Him when things aren’t going as we planned… We can’t throw our hands up in praise for His goodness, and drop our head in defeat when the storms of life begin to rage… James tells us to consider it pure joy when we face trials! Understanding God’s goodness and faithfulness will bring about spiritual freedom and peace that will keep you smiling no matter what task or hurdle lay before you! Your life should be full of love, which means it should be full of sacrifice!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love Fervently

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

1 Peter 1:22

How hard is it to lend to someone who you feel doesn’t deserve it? How hard is it to speak a kind word to someone who despises you? How hard is it to turn the other cheek and walk away? On the contrary, how easy is it to speak your mind? How easy is it to wish bad on someone? How easy is it to retaliate and turn the other person’s cheek…? These are the questions that we must answer within ourselves today… These are the things that we face on a daily basis and these things show where we are currently in our spiritual walk and how much further we still have to go… Taking on the mind of Christ leads us to extend a helping hand and not dig a pit for another to fall in… In today’s study verse Peter speaks about the love and desire we should have as a child of God walking under the influence of the Lord… Notice that this passage says that you have purified your souls through obeying the truth by the Spirit. Before we can walk we must first stand up, before we can speak we must first open our mouths; Peter reminds us today that we are called to love one another, we are called to exalt one another, and we are called to have unfeigned love one for another as a child of God… 

The love that Peter talks about is instilled in us by God and only can be placed within us when we first turn unto Him… We are purified through the Spirit which guides and directs our lives; to be purified means that you have been cleansed, sanitized or filtered…  The love that Peter is speaking of isn’t gained overnight, but is learned through the experiences we go through and the mindset that we have… Again, before you can walk you must learn to stand; before you can love fervently you must learn how to simply be kind and overcome evil with good… Love is a word that is better described and defined by actions… When someone has zeal, they have a willingness, a (n) excitement or passion for something; and it is shown by how they approach a task or mission… When we talk about loving as Christ loved, I should be able to see all those traits in your lifestyle as a Christian. Remember, greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends!!!!!! That is Jesus showing His fervent love for us! HOW ABOUT YOU!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Guard Your Heart

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

Proverbs 4:23

The heart is a very sacred and vital organ both to your physical and spiritual life… If we take the analogy of the heart being a pump, we know that whatever is inside the heart will be pumped out (in the physical since this is the blood that travels through our veins, in the spiritual we are talking about whatever Godly or worldly things that reside within)…This is why we are reminded that if we want to live we must keep our heart…  The heart is the source, it’s the critical point and it’s the very place you’re most likely attacked by the devil… Luke 6:45 says, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” How often do you give your heart to others? How many times have you found yourself allowing someone or something to have authority over you by controlling your heart…Whether we have come to realize it or have not comprehended it yet, the heart is the center of our living and being… David wrote in Psalm 37 that if we delight in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart… God knows how critical it is that we maintain our heart; He knows the importance of the heart and has told us that if we make Him first in our lives He will give us the things that we seek… God knows the things that we seek are love, appreciation, acceptance and happiness… Today we are reminded that just because we seek those things doesn’t mean we try to obtain them at all cost… The proverb today reminds us that we must “Keep thy heart with all diligence…” 

The bottom line is that you must protect yourself and your life… If you’re careless with your heart and give it to any and everybody, it will be shown by how torn and tattered your life is…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Your Struggle Will Be Over Soon

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

Malachi 4:2

When you feel dejected and ready to throw in the towel, just know that “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings…” Jesus was persecuted and appeared to lose; however the death on the cross produced His greatest ministry (and victory)… Today, know that you will be persecuted, but in your most troubling days, your ministry will be that much more intense and exalted…  God knows that walking under His guidelines subject you to many obstacles and hardships… The Lord realizes that every time you choose to follow Him, you run the risk of losing friends and having sleepless nights; however, He wants us to find encouragement in today’s study verse knowing that we will run free in victory and overcome the storms we face… This first starts by saying, “But for you who revere my name…” We must stay the course and revere (honor, respect and admire) the name of the Lord… Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” No matter what you face or what opposition comes before you, stand upon the promises of God and trust Him knowing that when you revere His name He will protect and keep you… Malachi goes on to inform us that the sun of righteousness will rise again, there is a day marked on the eternal calendar, an hour when the clouds will part and Jesus will return unto this earth… 

When the sun goes down darkness covers the earth; this very principle is one that we must apply today knowing that dark has covered the earth… If we understand that He will rise again we must understand that things must appear to have fallen first; situations must seem to be insurmountable, trials must seem unconquerable, sin must feel too tempting and Satan must appear to be winning… Understand that our hope may not be evident in the present sufferings that we may be encountering right now; however, Malachi reminds us today that in revering God we patiently await His return and our rescue from this world of sin… We all have been enslaved at one point in time in our lives… We have been imprisoned by our bad choices, locked up behind our fleshly desires, and hindered by our own transgressions… There is good news today for those who revere the Lord, those who serve Him in spirit (within) and in truth (through circumstances)… When Christ returns (rises again) He will escort us into His kingdom and Sabbath will have no end… It is because of Christ healing that we are even alive and reading this message, it’s because of His sacrifice that we will be able to leap like calves released from the stall. The stall is your current circumstance, your stall is the way you feel when you don’t think things can get better, your stall is the ceiling that has been placed in your life when you think that you can’t go any higher… Your stall is your current limitations, but when you know the one and only true God, when you understand who is the author and finisher of your faith, you will be able to hold to God’s hand, you will be able to keep your joy through sorrow and suffering! For there is healing in His wings, He has heard your cry, He has understood your moans and He will deliver you from your current bondage (stall) unto the eternal Promise Land!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Do Your Part So God Can Do His

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Revelation 2:17

Hold on just a little while longer; keep fighting and running the race that has been laid before you… The words of today’s focus verse provide encouragement for what lies ahead for the believer… Those who have exhausted high levels of energy; those who have pressed through sweat and tears should find comfort in knowing that your work is not in vain. The Lord teaches us today that “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna…” All your aches and pains will be eased; all the tears that you have shed will water the seed of abundance that God has planted in you… The bible declares that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning… This verse provides hope to the man or woman who is walking in the spirit of faith; understand today that joy may not come tomorrow morning, but as a child of God you are assured that it will come… Let us not become weary in well doing, for in due time we shall reap a harvest if we faint not… These are the words that Paul uttered to the church of Galatia as the endured the storms of life… Today, we must live by those same words, being reminded that we must overcome to receive the good and perfect gifts from the Lord… John reveals to us today some of the most precious promises God offers; however the first thing that we must do is overcome… To overcome something, you must recognize that it is a (n) obstacle, trial or hardship… This is the first and greatest step that we must take… Understand today that a lot of things which we face in life hinder our faith walk because we fail to recognize what they are or represent… 

A close friend can be a stumbling block, a desire for a particular person can be a hindrance and a false since of security can lead to your demise… This verse penned in John’s revelation calls for all to pay attention to the things that God will reveal unto us, we will eat of the hidden manna and receive a white stone which will have a new name written for us… The promises put forth unto us today are that we will no longer suffer from the things of this world; the offer put forth is that God will reveal himself unto us and we shall be revealed unto ourselves as to who we really are… John reveals to us that we will have a new name, we will receive blessings from the Lord and come to know some of the secrets of God, but in order to receive the revelations and promises, we must accept the will of God for our lives on this earth and overcome the battles we have faced, are facing and will face in the future… The battle of temptation must be overcome, the battle of retaliation must be overcome, the battle of peer pressure must be overcome, the battle of priorities must be overcome, the battle of addiction must be overcome… God made several covenants with many people in the bible, today He makes a covenant with us through the revelation of John… A covenant is a vow, promise or contract… To fulfill a covenant, both parties must meet the obligation they have agreed too… God vows to blot out your sins and make you whole; now we must turn and seek His face… “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Avoid Worldly Thoughts

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 16:15

As a child of God we seek to please our Creator; not those who were created like us… Luke reminds us today that we can fool people as we seek to find justification in and through them; however, the heart with which your actions derive from is what God takes note of… I know how hard it is to accept people not liking or accepting you; however, Luke brings our attention to the fact that the people we seek to please cannot get us to the Eternal Rest that we desire… As you journey through life, what is your objective each and every day? When you open your eyes, when you open the door to leave; what is your mind set on to accomplish… Are you striving to hear the words well done from your supervisor or your father…? When you are faced with a choice and it will lead you to your divine destiny or away from it, which path do you choose…? Despite what people may want you to believe, pleasing God and obtaining His approval is all that matters…The question that must be asked at this time, do we really believe…? The answer to this question is not given verbally, but lies in our walk upon this earth… It isn’t about what you say you’re about; it's about what you display… Yes, you can be highly esteemed among men and yet find yourself being an abomination in the sight of God… There are a lot of us walking this earth that fit this description… We have completely strayed away from the path that God outlined for us; however, we believe that everything is under control because we are getting the proverbial pat on the back from our friends and colleagues… There are so many people who are fooling themselves because they believe that they actually can fool God since they are able to fool others… Luke writes today about the difference between being men pleasers and a pleaser of God… The bible tells us that you cannot serve two masters and Luke reminds us today that when we are justified by men, our heart is known by God and it is indeed a (n) abomination to Him… Seek the only approval that matters...His!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love Is Required

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 13:34-35

The sooner that we learn to love; the sooner we will be able to walk in the commandments that God has given us… Love is a (n) essential part of our everyday life and daily affairs… When we walk in love we are able to build relationships instead of tearing people down… Love is the key to opening the doors of people’s hearts around you; which therefore will allow them to receive the word that God has placed in you to provide to them… Love can be the difference between offending someone and providing constructive criticism that is received… This is why Christ provides a new commandment for us in the gospel of John… Did you know that there are actually 624 commandments in the bible? You have the original ten given by the Lord to Moses, then 613 that were adopted under Moses as the Mosaic Law and last but not least the commandment found in today’s scripture lesson… Jesus Christ teaches the disciples about the importance of love and abounding compassion… This commandment does not void the previous ones recorded in the bible; it simply sums up how all these things can be accomplished… When you love you won’t steal or kill; when you walk in love you won’t covet your neighbors things nor disrespect your mother and father… Ill-will, wickedness, malice or resentment cannot live in a garden when a seed of love is planted… Love Is Required!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Love Has Covered Us

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

Song of Songs 2:4 

As sinners, we are outsiders looking in… We don’t have the right, nor the ability to enter the presence of God nor can we sit at His table; however, we are reminded that through His great mercy and His extended hand of Grace we have been called from darkness into light… Solomon writes at the very beginning of this verse that, “He brought me”; understand that he couldn’t get there on his own; likewise, we (through the banner of love) have been brought to this point in life and have been given a chance of Eternal Life through the outpouring of Jesus Christ… A banquet is a formal meal, feast or dinner… When someone is hosting a banquet, it is a special event that specific people or individuals are invited too, a banquet is something which people will remember and cherish… Again, Solomon says that God “brought me to the banqueting house…” Solomon recognized that this was not a place that he could go on his own, we must come to realize that we cannot enter in without God’s escort (love) right by our side… To bring someone in, you must first go and get them… God saw the place where Solomon had been, the things he had done and went to him, picked him up and turned him around… Today God has sent you invitation to His glorious banquet… When someone throws a banquet people usually go and buy a nice dress or tuxedo, they make sure they display the very best they have to offer; God’s banquet is a little different, the attire is that you simply come as you are and he will dress you in royalty… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Walk In The Will of God

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.

Jeremiah 6:16

Jeremiah reminds us today that if we desire to advance in life, we must ask for the older paths… Since we enter this world as sinners; our first steps upon this earth are on a course which leads to death… The “old paths” that Jeremiah speaks of is the path that God paved when we were created… It’s the path that leads the Israelites out of Egypt and made the forgiveness of sin possible… This path is spoken of by Jesus in the New Testament, Matthew 7: 13, 14 say, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” We must seek the old path because the new path isn’t the right path… The new path is broader than the old, but it leads to destruction… This is why Jeremiah says we must stand, see, ask and walk… So many of us have wondered aimlessly through this life thus far, wherever the wind blows is the direction in which we travel… 

Today, we come to know and understand the direction that we not only should travel, but the way in which we can identify the purpose that we have on this earth… Jeremiah was called by God to speak to the house of Israel; however, he (being young) was reluctant to go… A lot of us have been called by God for a specific purpose or task, we have been ordained before the foundation of this earth, but many of us have been reluctant to accept God’s calling upon our lives… We are afraid of what people will say, we are scared of failing and we are hesitant to take the leap of faith that being a child of God calls for… Let us take hold of today's devotion and grow in faith to to the following: 

Step 1: “Stand ye in the ways…” God has already shined His light of mercy and grace upon your life, He has already opened up doors and made ways out of no way; when you face trials, change or misfortune, you must stand… You must be planted like a tree by the rivers; you must be unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord… Trials display your character and help to identify your purpose, stand strong in the Lord and in the power of His might…

Step 2: “…ask for the old paths…” We must seek the ways of the Lord instead of our own direction… The bible teaches us that there is nothing new under the sun; the same God that delivered in the Old Testament is the same God that delivers today… Look at the “old paths” God made, look at the miracles that He has already performed and seek His guidance in everything that you do…

Step 3: “…and walk therein…” You must be committed to the will of God; you must not only stand and seek, but you must be willing to walk… When you walk you are taking steps, there is direction in your life, there is purpose to your movements and you are accepting your calling…

Jeremiah new that the road placed before him would be difficult, but he also knew and trusted God… Today we come to know and understand this by standing when everyone around you sits down so that you obtain success, it is by seeking the ways of old and looking back on the past that you identify your purpose and by walking in the will of God that you will fulfill the calling that He has on your life and “find rest for your souls…”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

It's Not About Flesh and Blood

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12

In today’s focus verse we learn two important things that we must not only understand, but carry with us daily… The first lesson is that upon this earth we will wrestle… There is a battle that takes place daily, the problem is that it comes in many forms… Laziness (a desire not to get up or go to work), jealousy (a desire to have what others have obtained) and malice (hatred, spite or cruelty) which will cause us to be nasty to people or disrespectful just to name a few… Know that battles are at your door and sometimes have already invaded your house… You must follow the guidelines that are outlined in this letter to the church of Ephesus… Paul teaches us in the verse that precedes this one that we are to put on the full amour of God… After instructing us about the importance of being prepared, he goes on in today’s focus verse to explain why we need to equip ourselves… Again, whether we recognize it or not, daily we are at war within ourselves and our societies…  We see many young men and women becoming chalk outlines, many kids having kids and more and more decisions being made that lead to catastrophic outcomes… 

To understand the war that we are fighting (this is the second lesson that we must learn and comprehend), we must understand who the enemy really is… When someone commits a heinous crime we are quick to pass judgment, but the truth of the matter is that we should be praying for that individual to be released from the bondage of evil that has taken His life captive… This war that we are fighting isn’t about the flesh; it’s not about what you see but about the motives and where the decisions are derived from… Consider Job from the old testament as an example; he lost everything (children, cattle) and then his wife told him to curse God and die… The physical things that we see on the surface of Job’s life weren’t the real problem, it was the decision to curse God or not… Paul’s letter speaks to us and Job’s situation confirms it… We wrestle not against the flesh (what we can see), but rather against the devil and all the traps that aren’t visible…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There's A Blessing In The Storm

The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress. Therefore men, revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?

Job 37:23-24

It is so easy for us to become frustrated when we face difficulties in life, it is so easy for us to get upset and dejected when it appears as though things are falling apart; in these times in our lives, we are reminded today that we must maintain the reverence that we have for the Lord “for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart…” God knows what you can take and what you can stand, He knows the weight which you can handle and He wants you to walk in faith instead of the sight of things around you… Job was a man that was considered righteous, but even he was tested… In the end he received double what he had originally… Today, ask yourself (without knowing the end results) if you can stand the test that is assured to come to your doorstep… Even if you believe that you are walking according to the will of God, do you truly believe you can stand the test…? I often hear people speak about how God has the final say and that He is in control when something occurs in life; however, the question that I have is how do we handle or feel when God’s final say is to test your faith and belief…? God may be challenging your faith in Him by removing something that you hold dear to your heart…  Even in the midst of your storm, know that God not only knows what you’re going through, but He also has a plan that is being carried out… These verses today taken from Job teach us about trusting God's plan and also that sin has caused the captivity and oppression that we face… Through God’s justice and great righteousness we are able to live and obtain victory… The desire of God is not to oppress you, but to rekindle that intimate relationship with you… The storms you face serve a purpose and they are well worth it when they bring you closer to the Lord… The bigger the storm/trial is, the closer you are to your God appointed destiny when you overcome it…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There's Power In The Blood

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Revelation 12:11

Your ability to become all that God has designed you to be, your ability to defeat the enemy and your ability to persevere through the test, trials and tribulations are found in“the blood of the lamb…” Satan knows that he can defeat you when you try to take him on in your own power; however, he also knows that he doesn’t stand a snowball's chance in hell to defeat you when you call on the name of Jesus… The storms you are enduring are developing your testimony which will bear witness to the power you didn’t have and the power that God bestowed on your behalf… When you go through challenges and oppositions in life and know that God brought you out, your approach to life will change; the things that mattered most to you will become less significant in your life and you will display a form of humility that was never seen before in you… As you mature in Christ, the life that you sought in this world will be transformed into a life seeking to please Christ. This is what John is referring to when he starts off this verse by proclaiming how to overcome; he concludes this verse by saying, “they loved not their lives unto the death…” You won’t care about pleasing men when you realize that those same men can’t help you when you are in the midst of tragedy or trial… You will care less about what people say about you when you begin to understand that God’s words produce life and fruit… John reveals the secret to overcoming and being victorious… It's all through “...the blood of the lamb…”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Reconciliation Is Your Ministry

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

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

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

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Overcoming Spiritual Blindness

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

Ephesians 1:18

Ephesus was a city full of superstition, magic, and all the other works which resembled that of a cult… It was the missionary journey of Paul (led by the Holy Spirit) to enter the city of Ephesus and open their eyes… A lot of times we see people who have gone the wrong way, we speak words about them but we never speak words to them… This is the message that I find so important for us to grasp in today’s focus verse… The people you encounter may not know what they’re doing is wrong, some of them may have very well been brought up with the notion that all the things that are being done are right and it is up to you to allow the Holy Spirit to move so that “The eyes of there understanding may be enlightened…” Not everybody needs to hear a word of encouragement, not everybody needs a pat on the back, some people in your life need to hear the truth in love, some people in your life need a stern kick in their backside… The ministry that God has placed in your life, you are accountable for; every person you encounter everyday of your life should be impacted by the display of Christ in and through you… This is what Paul was saying in his letter to the Church of Rome when he said that we should be “a living sacrifice…” The problems that occur in most of the lives of people who live according to this world is that they place their hopes in and on material things… People of the world have the belief that a high paying job gives them hope for a bright future and stability; however, this is where their understanding must be enlightened… The eyes of this world must be opened and enlightened; this can only be accomplished when they are taught the hope for their existence, the hope for their family and friends is not found in the world but in his calling… God will not fail, and He will not allow you to fail either, so continue to hold to His hand, continue to trust in the Lord and be about the work that He has called you to do! Your eyes are being enlightened and you are growing in Christ!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Every Knee Shall Bow

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

Philippians 2:10-11

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

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Blessings Of Giving

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

Matthew 5:7-8

Matthew 7:2 says, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” You have to give to receive, in order to have something put in your hand you must first remove what already exist in it… The bible says that the merciful are blessed not only because of their kind acts, but also because true mercy calls for one to be humble and solely focused upon the Lord… Mercy is withholding or forgiving someone who has wronged you and/or caused pain and strife within you… Mercy is something that we all naturally do not extend to our fellowman; when I was a little boy I was instructed that when someone hit me I should hit them back; however Jesus tells us that we must turn the other cheek… A merciful person is indeed blessed because they are walking in the will of God and therefore protected under His mighty hand… Matthew records that those who are merciful shall obtain mercy; we have all fallen short, we have all made bad choices and decisions, but as a child of God we cannot allow those things to be a stumble block which hinders our growth and future aspirations! We must learn from our mistakes and seek the forgiveness of God as well as our fellow man… More importantly, we must be able to extend forgiveness to one another in pure and unconditional love so that our sins and poor choices may be forgiven by our Lord and Savior! Jesus informs us in the 18^th chapter of Matthew that the forgiveness of our sins are made possible by the forgiveness (mercy) that we extend to others… "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” If you want to obtain mercy from above, you must first extend mercy on earth… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There's Always An Escape

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

 

1 Corinthians 10:13

 

Everybody faces temptations; the only thing that varies from person to person is how we handle them… Paul says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as if common to man…” This passage shines light on the fact that the enemy knows your common weaknesses; however, it also provides encouragement to the believer as you are told that the adversary is using the same old tired tricks that our Lord has already conquered… This is why, despite the temptations that are common snares in our lives that Paul goes on to say that “God is faithful…”This means that the things we face in life are things that have been here before; God knows your limitations… Everything that you endure is never going to overtake you if you remain focused and stay attentive to the will of God… The things you are dealing with God already knows and the reason you are subject to them is simply because He knows that you can handle it… Temptations display the true character and heart of an individual… It is when we are tempted that we showcase the faith we have in Christ or the lack thereof… It is necessary for us to endure such temptations as we profess our faith and allow God’s faithfulness to work in and through us… Remember that the first portion of this scripture speaks about the common temptations that man faces; with that being said we can look to Jesus and know how to handle tempting situations…  When Jesus was led into the wilderness and fasted for forty days, the word of God tells us that He was tempted of the enemy… Through all the temptations that were hurled His way, by standing upon the word He was able to resist the enemy and eventually make him retreat… Understand today, that through the word of God you have the ability to overcome the obstacles in front of you… You can resist the enemy just as Jesus did and he will flee… 

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Remember His Mercies

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

Isaiah 63:7

Do you ever sit back and just recall all the lovingkindness that God has shown you…? When you truly examine your life you will come to the conclusion that you are beyond blessed… You should always approach the Lord with thanksgiving because even to have breath in your body is a blessing… Despite the different things that you may be going through or the various storms that you have encountered; Isaiah reminds us today that we need to meditate on the things that God has done in our lives, the paths that He has made and the doors that He has opened… When you feel like you are at the edge of the cliff, remind yourself of God’s “great goodness toward the house of Israel…” Substitute the house of Israel with your name and rehash all the wonderful blessings that have been bestowed in your life… At this point in time in the scriptures, the Israelites had already been delivered from the hand of Pharaoh, feed manna from heaven and entered the Promise Land under the leadership of Joshua… Despite all their nagging and complaints, God still gave them water from a rock and defeated all their adversaries… It is in the days of Isaiah that the children of God have rekindled their rebellious nature and are finding themselves in the midst of coming bondage… It is very easy for us to focus on the problems in our lives instead of the solution… Nobody wants to endure discipline and correction; however, we can embrace these times in our life when we know that God is in the midst and His lovingkindness is still present… Can you remember when you weren’t doing what God wanted you to? Can you think back to the point in time when church was an afterthought? If you can, answer this question, has God shown mercy to you in your undeserving state? Let the world know of His lovingkindness, of the grace and mercy bestowed upon you. Understand today that your shoes may not be comfortable for you, but there is always someone who is walking barefoot and would love to try yours on; that’s why Isaiah tells us to THANK GOD!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!