Ask, Seek and Knock (Three Keys To Victory)

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8

As a Christian, these verses taken from the gospel of Matthew display how it is that we obtain the vision and will God has for our lives. To obtain what it is that God has for you, to walk in the will of God, and to ensure your eternal resting place, these three steps outlined below must be taken… First, you must ask God; this means that you inquire of Him and develop a relationship with Him, knowing that He is the source of your being and happiness. Asking implies that there is an answer you seek and Jesus is reminding us today that God has all the answers and we must indeed turn and ask the proper person to find the correct answer… The Bible says we have not because we ask not!!! 

After asking God, the Second thing you must do is seek Him; oftentimes, we take the first step but become frustrated and irritated with the second… The Bible says that God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory; many people quote this scripture to imply that God will give you everything you ask for at the drop of a hat; however, the bible also says in Jeremiah 29:13 that, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Study God’s word, fast, and pray with earnest. 

After asking and seeking, the third thing we must do is knock; this is the most important decision that a Christian must make, to knock means that something is separating you from where you want to be and where you are presently. When you knock on a door, you are awaiting the door to be opened and you stand in anticipation. We must knock on the door of heaven, but we must also knock down the obstacle that WILL be placed in front of us as we seek to live within God’s will. 

SO, ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK!!!! Surely you will find what you need even if it isn’t what you expected!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Eternal Life Is Found In Knowing Christ

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

John 17:3

Eternal Life was deposited upon this earth in the form of God’s son, it was laid before you in His outstretched arms and all He endured on the cross… John reminds us today that Eternal Life is found in the “The Only True God…” There is only one God; there is only one prince of peace and one savior… A good friend of mine once told me that the distance between you and salvation is the same distance that your mouth is from your heart… Eternal Life is free, but it only comes through knowing (faith), acknowledging (mouth), and accepting (heart) the only True God… Some religions believe that good deeds are rewarded with eternal life, but my Bible tells me that Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the light, no man come to the Father but by me…” This is life eternal, this is all that we have and all that we should cling to; that we may know the ONLY true God! There are many gods in this world, but notice this passage says to know thee only true God. After we have ventured the wrong way, sought the wrong things, and turned to vain glory, we see that Christ still remains… When we have placed idols in our lives such as money, relationships, and pride, we see in the end that Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever… John reminds us today that there is only One true God and that salvation was made possible through the sacrifice of His beloved son! 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God's Given You The Power

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luke 10:19

What plagues this world that we live in is not sin; but that we have ignored the power that we can obtain as a child of God… Jesus says that He gives us all power; it is through Jesus we can obtain all the might that we need to overcome trials, endure hardships, and move mountains… In light of this passage and the words that Jesus speaks today, the question I have is a simple one, why do you live as a captive when you have been freed? Why do we settle for less when God has given us so much more? This passage declares that we have the power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Serpents and Scorpions are two of the most feared and dangerous creatures on this earth, we know the devil took the form of a serpent and deceived mankind; however, we are being told that we can overcome and face any challenge or obstacle in this life. Jesus uses these two reptiles to display the limitless power we receive as a child of God! The Bible says you will be tried, you will be persecuted, but Jesus assures us today that no weapon formed against you shall prosper and that you will be victorious according to His name… You are surrounded by scorpions and serpents, but know that you can turn those stumbling blocks into stepping stones…

Greater is He...

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Magnify The Lord With Me

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:3-4

Read this next line very carefully, when we try things on our own we will never experience what could be… These verses taken from the book of Psalms remind us of the grace and mercy that is accredited to us daily… David calls for us to “magnify the Lord” and “exalt his name”… You might ask the question why (as if you don’t know that God is deserving of all praise, honor confidence, and love – Revelations 4:11); however, David proclaims this because God has made ways out of no way and has always delivered us even when we didn’t deserve it… It is important to note the time in which these verses were penned… Let us examine these verses written by King David in the 34th Psalm and come to understand the period that David “sought the Lord…” This psalm is recorded while David was under attack by Saul and fled to the land of Gath… He ended up in the camp of Abimelech who was the King of Shechem and despised the Israelites… 

While living in the land of the enemy, David decided to change his behavior and act crazy so that he would not be killed by the Philistines! It was a statue or tradition that they didn’t kill people who were insane, so Abimelech decided to drive him away, and David left. David was faced with opposition on both sides (Saul on one and Abimelech on the other) and although he fled to the enemy’s camp and caused more anguish to come upon himself, God still showed up and delivered him out of his circumstances, this is why David finds complete joy in the Lord, so much so that he encourages you today and says “O Magnify the Lord with me!” In reading this psalm and knowing the background, we can draw a direct parallel to our lives… We have tried to handle situations on our own and face trials with our own agenda in mind and as a result, made things worse… We have made the gap wider or the hole deeper and we find ourselves in a worse position than we started off in… Even though we have walked in opposition to what God has purposed and planned for us, God still has shown mercy on our behalf and raised us up out of the pit we had dug… David is saying that we should all magnify the Lord with him, we should exalt His name together because of His Grace and Mercy, because of His faithfulness and Compassion, and because He has delivered us from all our fears… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Peacemakers - The Children of God

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Matthew 5:9

To be at peace, one is calm, quiet, or walking in harmony with others… All these traits are very rarely displayed or obtained as we go throughout this journey of life… We find people who pluck our nerves, get under our skin, or encounter situations that leave us disgusted and confused… Either way, you look at it, the circumstances that we face daily make it very easy for us to showcase or display the exact opposite of what we are called to do and/or be in today’s focus verse… Make no mistake about it; the enemy wants you to do the things that are not pleasing to God… Satan doesn’t want you to be“called the children of God” as outlined in this verse, so he brings confusion, chaos, and destruction as storms to wreak havoc in your everyday affairs… Matthew records in the fifth chapter the “beatitudes” of Christ or the blessings that Christ bestowed in His sermon on the mountain… In these words, Christ describes the rewards that each child will receive when they walk in the uniqueness that they were created… Today we examine one verse in particular that speaks to the heart of a child of God! Jesus says, “blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”One of the central focuses of Christianity is that we know how to control ourselves when dealing with flesh and anger… To be a peacemaker, we must kill the uncontrolled emotions within, we must look beyond faults and see needs… We must see every trial as a measuring stick to gauge our progress within this Christian walk. As a peacemaker, we must model Christ, after all, that’s the only way we can be called a “child of God!”

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

I was once told you were given one mouth and two ears for a reason… You should listen twice as much as you speak… Growing up with 7 siblings, arguments seemed 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 our human nature… When someone has wronged us we naturally want to get them back or at the very least let them know our thoughts (most of the time these are not kind words)… If we come to the realization that the state we enter this world in produces negative things, then we will understand that as a child of God, we show our maturity and growth in how we resolve issues and communicate with others… Personally speaking, my father will tell you that I was beaten the most of any of my siblings and that I caused the most chaos. There was no question that if you negatively crossed my path, you were susceptible to my wrath; however, over the years I can truly say that I have grown as a child of God because I can turn situations over to the Lord in prayer and not allow my emotions to get the best of me… 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… In other words, it’s best that you shut your mouth and open your ears… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Christ Bore Our Iniquities

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6

No one upon this earth is blameless or without flaw… The biggest step toward becoming what you were created to be is realizing that you aren’t what you were designed to be…  Isaiah says, “All we like sheep have gone astray…” A sheep is an animal that needs guidance, discipline, and structure provided for them… Sheep are frequently thought of as extremely unintelligent animals who can become frightened easily, intimidated, and subdued… We “being like sheep” can easily be led astray because of the self-discipline we lack and the fear of the unknown that leads us to cling to the inferiority of the present… Sheep have to be monitored and guided because they can very easily wander off… The same is true of the body of Christ; we need the presence of the Holy Spirit and fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ to keep from wandering off and becoming subject to many snares and traps… This verse taken from Isaiah tells me that since my birth I have wandered aimlessly through life, I have wandered away from the destiny God has for me and have turned away from Him… It is because of this that “…the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all...” This is why Isaiah says in the previous verse “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed.” We have lost our way through the fall of mankind and it was only through the blood of the savior that we have a guiding light that will lead us back to the path that we were created to travel… I once read a billboard that had this recorded, “Lost??? Try GPS – God’s Plan of Salvation…” Remember when Jesus was on this earth, He told His disciples, “No greater love has a man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends…” Amid our crooked and perverse ways, while we were yet sinners, while we continued to disobey the will of God, Christ died for us… He indeed bore our iniquities!!! 

PRAISE GOD!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Grace Is Given When Pride Is Resisted

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1 Peter 5:5

As a child, it was very challenging for me to respect my elders growing up, especially if I felt that they were wrong or not understanding me… I can recall as if it was yesterday how often I would become upset and feel a sense of anger toward those who thought that just because of their years on this earth, respect was due to them… There is no tougher situation I recall facing in this life than to respect and submit to someone who I didn’t or don’t think deserves it… Rolling back 3 chapters in this book and looking at verse 9 you will find these words, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” The reason why I bring this verse to the forefront of our study today is because we indeed are a chosen generation and called a peculiar people… Understand today that you are held to a higher standard, though others may talk about people and slander their brothers or sisters, we are “chosen” to extend a hand to the needy and to not give way to our own vengeance… 

In walking this Christian journey, remember that you are a “peculiar people,” this means that you will handle situations differently than the norm and you will find happiness in things the world counts as useless… This is the very reason why Jesus was able to call Judas “friend” even though he had come to betray Him. It’s the same reason why Jesus prayed for forgiveness on the cross and healed the soldier’s ear which had been cut off… The work we do on this earth is to build God’s kingdom… We willingly submit knowing that there is power in submission… Christ submitted to the will of His Father and received all power in heaven and on earth…  We are called to remain humble and “be subject one to another” simply because we need each other… We have to keep ourselves grounded in God’s word and desires to carry out this directive recorded by Peter. If you seek to be humble, God will provide the things you need to obtain that level of humility so that you will be respected and be able to give respect to one another!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You'll Know Them By Their Fruit

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 7:20-21

This passage taken from Matthew simply reminds us that talk is cheap. This verse declares in the very beginning that by their fruits you will know them; this means that we have to be careful to observe the people we interact with and the kind of fruit they bear. So many of us get caught up in the elaborate or eloquent words people use, but Jesus reminds us today that we must look deeper than the outward appearance… Taking this to a worldly view, we see many mega-churches today and so much corruption at the same time! How is this possible you ask, because people are following the messenger with his/her style and swag instead of heeding and seeking the word of God! So many people end up in abusive relationships or get hurt because they focus on the wrong things in a person and ignore the fruit that they bear… These are the things that we are being warned about today, as a child of God, we must be proactive in defeating the enemy; this is accomplished by seeking the will of God and not allowing others to deter us from his divine paths… Jesus says, “Not every one that saith Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven…” This tells me that not everyone who speaks the word of God is about the word of God, not everyone who goes to church is a part of the church, and that it is only by the fruit that they bear that we can know who they are… Let us remember today that it is not about appearance when it comes to the will of God, it’s not about what you say, it is not about how well you talk or how intelligent you are, but rather how you profess your love for Christ through your actions and your lifestyle! In short, TALK IS CHEAP!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Prayer + Faith = Saved

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

James 5:15

If you want to see the sick healed, pray; if you want to see the one in the midst of adversity lifted up, pray; if you want to have sins forgiven and blotted out, pray… This is not to suggest that every healing sought through prayer will always be granted (as God has a perfect plan which at times we may not understand; this passage just teaches us that the most powerful tool that we have is the ability to go directly to the Father in prayer casting all our cares upon Him knowing that He cares for us... The very next verse in this chapter says that the prayers of the righteous availeth much… Understand that when we pray, the key is not the words that are uttered, but the foundation of faith that your prayers stand on… James says the prayer of faith, when we pray in faith, we leave it with God, we don’t get consumed with the outcome or results, we simply pray knowing that God has the authority and power to change and transform situations… This passage today focuses on the importance of Prayer, not in the sense of closing your eyes and speaking to God, but that we must believe in what we are doing… So many of us pray every day over our lives, but we don’t feel or see God moving because we haven’t trusted in His word… The Bible says that we can go “boldly before the Lord…” Through the Holy Spirit, we cast all our cares upon the Lord, we don’t hold on to them and we don’t simply go to God just to vent… Let your prayers be prayers of faith; knowing, trusting, believing, and focusing on the power of God! This saying is indeed true and we see it in this passage; PRAYER CHANGES THINGS!!!!!!!”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Christ Is Coming Back

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Revelation 1:7

There is one thing guaranteed in life and that is that Jesus is coming back… Paul states in his letter to the church of Philippi “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” The “secret” Paul is referring to is trusting and having faith in Christ… No matter what you face or encounter in this life, you must have the understanding that Christ will be exalted, and through all things, His name will be glorified… As I go through life, my hope is neither in the present nor in the conditions of this earth, but in the promise of Christ’s return to this earth… Through John’s suffering and isolation, God reveals a plan and purpose behind all that we go through… We are reminded in the 22 chapter of Revelations (12^th verse) that the Lord’s coming is approaching “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”… As a Christian, we are to live every day as if it’s our last (not live it up according to the world but live knowing that pleasing Christ should be our desire, knowing that tomorrow isn’t promised… We are called to leave no stone unturned and always go about conducting business as if we are doing it for the Lord. Tomorrow is not promised, but the return of Christ is. No man knows the day nor the hour; we must be prepared and that means that we daily must complete the work and walk in the will and purpose of God.

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

It Was Christ Who Delivered You

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

It is only through the mercy of God and the grace of His son that you have been “delivered from darkness…” This passage cautions me to be thankful for the mercy and saving power of our God… As I read these verses, this epistle informs me that there is news for the one who thinks more highly of himself than he ought to think, this letter provides a bit of information for the one who places all his care into the hands of physical wealth or power… Paul asks a question to the church of Colossae that should be echoed to us today, “who hath delivered us from the power of darkness…?” As the songwriter said, “If it were not for the Lord who was on my side, tell me where would we be?” Make no mistake about it, you are here by the grace of God and are alive because He has allowed you to experience His love, affection, and tender mercies… It is of the utmost importance that we remember who has delivered us from darkness. Paul posed this question to the body of believers and it is very germane to today’s church as well… The Bible cautions us several times that we “are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think…” You cannot do it on your own, if you look at your life when you have tried to handle things in your own power, I am sure you can agree with that statement knowing that nothing worked as you planned… We couldn’t save ourselves and the filth that we are wasn’t nor is it worthy of heaven… Jesus paid the price for our sins and not we ourselves… We didn’t have the pure sacrifice that was needed to pay the debt that we owed and if we understand that, we can understand and know that Christ has delivered us and wiped our sins away!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Victory Is In Christ

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

John 15:7

The word of God declares that you have the ability through the offering of Jesus Christ to “come boldly before the throne of grace…” We are promised that “ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you…” This is very good news to know as we are assured that our prayers do not fall on deaf ears; however, in order to see these promises come to fruition, you must first choose the correct path of life… Notice that Jesus says before you can ask and it will be done that you must“…abide in me…” Your prayers haven’t been answered because your life hasn't been submitted or surrendered… How many times have you heard people say that God will do whatever it is that you ask? How many times have you heard people recite John 14:14 or say that if you ask God He indeed will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19)…? These sayings and the reciting of these scriptures are frequently uttered in the church or serve as reminders when we are in the face of adversity or opposition; however, we are called today to remember that asking God to do something or praying for a breakthrough is one thing that can be done, but in order to experience God’s goodness, we must first submit to Him… The bible says that “when you seek me with your WHOLE heart, then you will find me…” You must have a desire to totally give your life to Christ; you must be abiding in the plan for your life and make the word of God a part of your every day being to see these promises come to light…This command is not negotiable, there is no reading between the lines or loopholes to a quick turnaround; if you abide in Him, He will abide in you!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Edification Requires Thought Before Action

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

Ephesians 4:29

When I was a little child I can recall how often my father would instruct me to think before I speak… Even though I never really paid attention to his instructions, today I have come to know and understand exactly what he meant… Words are powerful, the things that we speak can produce seeds of abundance or failure in one’s life; this is why James writes in the 3^rd chapter of his book about the importance of taming our tongue… In this chapter he says, “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. ...” Your tongue has the ability to transform lives or tear them down, your tongue has the ability to reap corruption or alter the atmosphere; because of the power that lies in its use, we are reminded today that we must not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouth… When I read this passage, there are two points that jump out to me; either you think before you speak or you need to just learn to shut up… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Purification Works From The Inside Out

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

Notice that this passage says that you have purified your souls through obeying the truth by the Spirit. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit residing in you, you can not accomplish anything. We have to be led by the spirit; we have to have the Holy Spirit abiding within us. Remember Christ spoke to the disciples prior to His departure and said that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes; we, through the Spirit have the ability to overcome and be victorious on this earth. It is also through the Spirit that we can love unconditionally; we can help our enemies, and be kind to those who show no kindness towards us. This passage emphasizes the fact that I should be able to tell your spiritual makeup, by the way you fervently love one too another. To be fervent means that you are passionate, eager, zealous about something, I should be able to see all those traits in your lifestyle as a Christian. Remember, greater man has no love than this, that he lay down his life for his friends!!!!!! That is Jesus showing his fervent love for us! This is the same love we are to show and will show through the aid and presence of the Holy Spirit… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Study To Show Thyself Approved

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 

There is no exaltation in the kingdom of God without being diligent in the word and will of God… We are reminded through this scripture that DAILY we must study the word of God; we must continue to grow and mature in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… This passage reminds us simply that talk is cheap. Many claim to be Christian, but we are to study to show ourselves approved. We must be immersed in God’s word, this is not to be confused with going to church; or attending Sunday School, but rather that we open the bible to start the day, we meditate on God’s word, and consume what He has given us (Ezekiel before going before the people was told to “eat the scroll”). When you get to that point where you are about God’s word and studying, then you can be a workman who is not ashamed, this means that you are confident in your faith knowing that the scriptures are true. You are confident in approaching any situation or even other religious beliefs because you are able to stand against the enemy… Not being ashamed means that you know the truth and you are not ashamed of what people may say nor the obstacles or trials you may face… Every situation, every obstacle you encounter shows the strides you have taken in the will of God or the lack thereof… When you study, God approves you for bigger and better things, He increases your territory which gives you chances to witness to others and grow into the man or woman of God that He has called you to be…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Lift Him Up And Let Him Draw

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

John 12:32

The promise Jesus makes in the Gospel of John today to His disciples is a promise of simplicity and a promise of power… The simple task we have (which isn’t actually that simple given our sinful nature and natural desires) is to lift up Jesus and it is through this very act that the power comes through His exaltation which “will draw all men unto him…” This very passage recorded in the 12^th chapter is the key to our life on this earth and serves as a great tool for witnessing for those who do not know Christ or have gone astray... As Christians, we have the faith that Christ is the center of our being. This says that if we lift him up, He will draw. In all things focus on Him; continue to lift His name above your pain and suffering, lift Him in your worry and tribulation, exalt Him during your storms; knowing that if you focus on Him, He will bring you out. He will deliver you from the muck and mire; and you will be just like a tree planted by the waters; you shall not be moved!!! When something is lifted it is exalted, raised, or elevated above. This speaks to the true heart of a Christian! It is very easy to praise God when you or your family and friends are blessed, but is His name lifted in and through your life when storms rise? Is He receiving your praise when tribulations come knocking on your door? Christ is posing a thought to us today, “if I be lifted up…” He is seeking for you to lift Him above every situation; He wants you to speak His name over every obstacle and blessing you incur or encounter… Don’t lose sight of God’s goodness and the power that lies in the name of Jesus! 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God's Goodness Preserves You

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Romans 2:4

I was once told you can tell a leader not by their title but by how many people are following them… In today’s focus verse, Paul is writing to the religious leaders of the Church of Rome… This church had not been visited by Paul; however, the religious structure and advancement of the church were brought to His attention which compelled this letter… Paul is instructing the leaders to look within themselves before they pass judgment on another person! Oftentimes we find ourselves downplaying the sins that we have committed by trying to magnify the sins of our colleagues… We take a stance of being “holier than thou” and not having any fault within us. Paul is saying that we must remember that God has tolerated all of our sins, we must remember that He will stand as judge; and that He desires for all to be saved… We have all been guilty at times of “despising the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering…”  This simply means that we belittle the things that God has done despite the many flaws we have… We don’t give life to the grace and mercy that He has dispensed upon our lives; however, we want to be critical about the paths that others travel… Whether we want to admit the truth today or decide to live a life of deceit; God knows that it is only by His desires for all to be saved and to repent that we are not consumed by the temptations and lust set before us by the enemy… By His Grace, By His Mercy, By His Longsuffering are we here and have been presented the opportunity of a lifetime… Take advantage of this chance, but more importantly, don’t condemn others… Allow them a chance to experience God’s love just like you…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Lord Cares For You

"As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him."

Deuteronomy 32:11-12

Despite what people may want you to believe, you are here by the grace, mercy and directive of God… The bible records in the book of Jeremiah that God knew you before “…you were formed in your mother’s womb…” In Luke 12:7 we are informed that “God knows the very hairs on your head and therefore we should not fear for He knows what we stand in need of…” God is the creator and you are the creation, each person on this earth was designed for a specific task in the divine plan and will of God… You are a unique creation, one which literally means everything to God, this is the very reason why He sent His only begotten son and why He will watch over you just like an eagle who oversees her offspring… Make no mistake about it today; even if you have accumulated multiple degrees, obtained a sound financial future and a good job; God is with you and has been with you in every facet of your life… In today’s focus verses, the historical book of Deuteronomy compares the care of God to that of an eagle with her young… Look back at these verses and notice how many different avenues the mother takes to ensure the security of her offspring… She “stirreth the nest, fluttereth her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them and beareth them on her wings…” Just like an eagle, God stirs your nest every night as He rocks you to sleep; He flutters His wings over you every morning and wakes you up; when you step out of your house He spreads His wings around you knowing that the enemy is lurking and takes you on the path that you should go… When you are weak and feel like giving up, God bears you on His wings, gives you a little more energy, a little more power, a little more perseverance to go the extra mile and not give up… This is why Paul penned the words “His grace is sufficient… God cares for you; He shows it every day in every way possible just like an Eagle over her young…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Lord Delivers

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

Psalm 34:19

Make no mistake about it, as a child of the Most High God you are guaranteed afflictions along this Christian journey… When you are walking upright, in honesty and blameless throughout this world (which are all characteristics of righteousness) you are assured to be persecuted and afflicted… No one on this earth is righteous; however, through the bloodshed of Jesus, we can be clothed in righteousness and therefore walk in victory as opposed to darkness… I state this about righteousness because it is important to understand that when you face trials because of your desire to walk in righteousness you must remember that the attack isn’t’ against you but against the one you are clothed in… This is why the psalmist states that even though we are afflicted, “…the Lord delivereth him out of them all…” This battle is about the God you serve; remember this in the midst of your storm because it will help you to know that you are not alone and not fighting this battle within your own abilities… This Christian walk isn’t green pastures, it isn’t fields of orchards or streams of rivers and despite what you may want to believe, you must understand this so that you don’t find yourself susceptible to the attacks within your mind by the enemy… The psalmist reminds us today that the afflictions of the righteous are many; affliction is suffering, burden, hardship, or pain and we are reminded today that those in right standing with God will endure them. Although one may find this difficult to accept and digest, we find comfort and a strengthening of our faith in knowing that no matter the affliction, ...the Lord delivereth him out of them all...

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Learn From Past Experiences

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

The biggest challenge of a Christian is the ability to forget yesterday while striving for tomorrow… There are a lot of things in life I am not proud of, but in Christ, we must make the decision that our past will not restrict or limit our future; in fact, the past will provide experiences for a foundation of better decision-making and yearning to do the will of God… Not only must we be able to overcome failures and skeletons, but we must also realize the weight and bondage associated with our past if we do not overcome and release it… Ponder this statement very closely as we study today’s verses from Paul’s epistle to the church of Philippi… The more you carry on your shoulders, the more energy that is required to take a step… We all are probably aware of the great work Paul completed or began in his life on this earth… Several missionary journeys, many letters of encouragement and/or reform and even through all the years, at this point in his life he pens to the church that “I count not myself to have apprehended…” Though we toil in the garden that we have been called to tend, we can never make the mistake of thinking we have reached the heights of success that we are called to reach… We can never be satisfied or become satisfied on this earth as we are clothed in imperfection from the womb… I contend that every day you see on this earth is a day in which God has something that you have been designed to do… You have more work in your vineyard, you have more toiling in your fields and to understand this you must be able to leave the past in the past… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Came To Destroy Evil

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:8

The path of life you travel does not have a happy ending without the bloodshed and nail-scarred hands of Jesus Christ… There are no works of our own which can justify our walk of life, you and I enter this world as sinners headed to hell and it is only through Jesus that we have a chance to inherit Eternal Life… Know that you are a filthy rag in need of a Savior, this is why John declares to us today that it was for this purpose the Son of God was manifested… The bondage of Sin was too great for us to overcome, the shackles could not be broken by our finite power, and there was a dire need for a Savior and Redeemer… Mankind was unfit for the task that would lead to liberation; no one on this earth could pay the penalty of sin which is another reason why it took the very Son of God… Today’s focus verse not only speaks to the damnation of mankind, but it also speaks to the love and admiration that God displayed for His creation... There are very few of us who would give their son or daughter for the greater good of the world (let alone for a people which do not love and desire you); however, this is the very act which God partook in over 2,000 years ago… The Bible declares that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us… It wasn’t that we loved God, but that He loved in despite of… Before you were even in the midst of your situation, before you were neck deep in sin, Christ was born in a little town called Bethlehem… Before you even knew God and the level of love and reverence you have for Him, the Bible declares that Jesus laid down His life for you and destroyed the works of the devil… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Suffering Is Part Of The Plan

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Philippians 1:29

You may not think this to be true at first, but to believe in Christ and to suffer for His name sake is a gift… We would never truly equate suffering with a gift; however, in the body of Christ suffering is gaining… This is why Paul says “For unto you it is given…” You have been given a chance to allow your tears to water a seed, you have been afforded an opportunity to allow your pain to produce growth and allow your work to not be in vain… We believe in a lot of things, when we are young, we believe in Santa Clause, when we get a little older we believe in our friends and soon we believe in the first relationship we have… Each of these things are either untrue or lead to disappointment… Today, place your belief in something real, place your belief in something that will last throughout eternity, place your belief in Christ… It is only in Him that through suffering we can smile knowing what will eventually come to pass… It is only in Jesus that we can be cast down amongst our peers and have faith that we will be exalted… I was once told that if you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything… I was also told that when you don’t make a choice you have already made one… Today, many of us are trying to straddle the fence of life that divides good and evil… We want to “have our cake and eat it too;” however, for many of us the one thing we don’t want to do is work to succeed… Today, let us look at our lives and see how much suffering we try to avoid for the name of Christ, take a look at how many times you have quenched your thirst for Christ because of what people might say or do, let’s see how often we refute His name around certain people or how often we put our religion on the shelf to fit in or get ahead… Like I said earlier, suffering is a part of life, the thing to note though, is that it can either lead to growth or death… Which path of suffering are you choosing today?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Life Or Death Is A Choice

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 16:24-25

There are two paths that one can travel in this life, the first is the path of eternal life paved with submission, humility, and modesty while on this earth… This path requires one to sacrifice the desires of the eye in order to store up rewards for when this physical life has ended… The second path is the path of worldly lust; this path is paved with all the fine riches and measures of success as decreed by the standards of the world we live in… In choosing this path, one is required to focus on self, seek the advancement of their life at any cost, and reject future rewards always desiring to have things now… As we come to understand these two contrasting paths, the question I pose to you today is simple, what is your spiritual destination worth to you? So many of us proclaim that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, but how much does Christ really mean to you and the direction in which your life will go? These two profound and critical questions are the questions that we must ask as we decide on whether we will pursue the dreams that the world lays out or the vision that God has for us which will not bear its truest rewards on this earth… You must deny yourself to receive the precious promises of God; you must deny yourself to find the true gem that you are… You must lose sight of the world to gain the sight of Christ! We are commanded to walk by faith and not by sight! Take up our cross today, don’t be troubled by the ways of the world or the views that people may hold; know that by giving up yourself you will find your true worth and live life more abundantly!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!