Seek Him With Your Whole Heart

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

Jeremiah 29:13-14

There’s a song sung by Hezekiah Walking entitled “99 and ½”… The lyrics go, “Lord I'm running trying to make 100 because 99 and a half won't do…”The words sung in this song apply to our lives as Christians in that we must be totally under the authority of the living God… So many people have been praying and seeking answers from the Lord; however, the prayers have gone unanswered and the things that have been sought haven’t been found simply because their search didn’t involve all of their heart… We must realize that we exist because Jesus sought our deliverance with His whole heart… So many of us are wondering why we can’t overcome, why we are in the same circumstances, or why we have not advanced and the answer lies within you… You will never be promoted if you only show up to work once a week, you will never be trusted if you only tell the truth every blue moon and you will not be exalted by the Lord if you only serve Him Sunday mornings… 

Have you ever wondered why there seem to be times in your life when God is not there? The Israelites pondered this very question while they were in captivity under the Babylonian kingdom… Jeremiah informs us today of the answer as to why we find ourselves in “hopeless” situations and feel as if our prayers have fallen on deaf ears…We feel at times as if God is not present not because He has abandoned us but because we have gone astray… The answer to the question of bondage, captivity, and trials lies within you… The Lord is always present; however, the only way for you to feel His presence is when you are totally focused on His will… This passage says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart…”God shines a light on the strongholds that we have been oppressed by in the form of sin… We haven’t heard from the Lord because we haven’t sought Him wholeheartedly… You can unlock the door to your future; however, you must seek the keys with everything you have… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Listen More And Talk Less

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

James 1:19-20

As a child of God; our number one focus is bringing souls to Christ… Despite how many various ways we accomplish this task, we all must first give an ear to the cries of the people with whom we come in contact… No matter how much we study the word of God, no matter how much time we spend in devotion to the Lord; the mission that we have will fail if we do not learn to listen to others… We can quote many scriptures from our hearts or minds; however, the scripture or the words that the person needs most to hear from you may not be spoken simply because we don’t know where they are in their lives… James reminds us today that we must be swift to hear… Every person you come in contact with has a story; every person you meet has a past and as a child of God you must respect the paths that we have all traveled so that lives can be touched and altered… People are turned away from God not because of His ways, but because of ours… We allow wrath to rear its ugly head in our lives when we confront an obstacle and so instead of showing our faith, we show how much we still need to learn and mature… 

Growing up with 7 siblings (yes, seven), arguments 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 human nature… To be able to refrain from what comes naturally is a testament to your faith and advancement in the will of God… Sin is natural; however, when we make attempts to avoid sin and live a life that is pleasing to God, we are displaying the characteristics that a child of God should display and we are living the life that James speaks of in our focus verses today… Self-control demonstrates how far we have grown in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… James reminds us today that we must be swift to hear, but slow to speak (I have often been told that we were given one mouth and two ears for a reason)… I was once told that the reasoning behind this was so that we would speak half as much as we listen… If we speak more than we listen, James teaches us today that we are not walking in the will of God... In conclusion, listen more, talk less! 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Compassion Defines Our God

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

Psalm 145:8-9

The only thing you have ever deserved in this life is condemnation… The sooner you grasp this, the sooner you can open the door to experiencing God’s love and desires for your life… The Bible records in Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus in the second chapter the foundation by which we have life and success, in this passage, Paul proclaims, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” No matter what you do on this earth, no matter how much you try to live peacefully in this life, you can only be saved and find your name in the Book of Life by the grace of God… Understand that Grace is something that you cannot obtain nor do you deserve… The grace that Jesus bestowed from the cross allowed Him to look beyond the ugly makeup that we presented before Him and fulfill our needs, which was the payment of sin’s ransom… Today, you are only here because of God’s grace and mercy… 

There are so many people today who act as if they never knew sin, they act as if God didn’t die for them because in their minds they are perfect; however, it is in the passage taken from the 145^th Psalm that we find the love of God abounding beyond our valueless thoughts and silhouettes… “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion…” You didn’t deserve to wake up this morning, you didn’t deserve to sleep peacefully last night; however, the compassion of God moved on your behalf and despite how ugly your life may be, He still loves you and can’t just turn His back on you… This is why the Psalmist goes on to say that the Lord is “slow to anger…” If God really showed the full extent of His anger toward us, we would be wiped from the face of the earth… See oftentimes we confuse discipline with anger… Anger is a fury, rage, or resentment; God distills His anger and continues to discipline us which means that He desires to redirect our paths instead of annihilating us from the face of the earth… God chooses discipline over anger. He doesn't resent us, to the contrary, he guides us and continues to pour into our lives with the hopes that we will ascend to the heights he defined for us. This at its core is what compassion looks like and why it is defined by God...

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love Ye Your Enemies

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

Luke 6:35-36

Love is a word that oftentimes is misused… Paul defined love in His first epistle to the church of Corinth; it is in the 13^th chapter that we find these words recorded, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” When we utter the word love to a close friend or relative it should be without conditions; we should be speaking to one whom we desire the very best for and will in no way change our desires or motives to serve… Love is a word that can be spoken very easy but carries a high standard which is very hard to live up to… Here in the gospel of Luke we are exposed to some of the challenges that face a Christian along their journey of growing and maturing in the will of God... 

Oftentimes we talk about how much we love and adore God, but Luke informs us today that we must demonstrate our Love toward God and the love that lives within us by extending a loving hand (not only to our family and friends) but to our enemies and adversaries as well… How hard is it for you to love someone who doesn’t love you back, or to give something to someone who will not repay your efforts? As hard as these two tasks may seem to be, these are two of the main objectives that a true Christian is to live by… Jesus healed many throughout His life that didn’t’ deserve His blessings; He died on the cross to save our souls and I know (speaking for myself) that I was not worthy of that sacrifice nor can I ever repay Jesus for what He has done… The Bible says, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…” Jesus wasn’t expecting anything in return; He isn’t waiting in heaven for Judgment Day to hold His hand out seeking payment for His services… He died because of the Love for His father and us, He died to fulfill the will of God and provide a chance for Salvation to all mankind and we are reminded that as we journey through this life we must take on the mindset of Christ and love all people regardless of what we receive in return.

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Pray For More Labourers

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

Matthew 9:37-38

Many times we go to God in prayer when we need a miracle, when we need healing or when we simply are seeking an answer… Jesus reminds us today that we should continually pray for the increase of laborers in the vineyard of the Lord…Surely we can agree that there is a lot of wickedness in the world that we live in! One can simply look out of their windows to see kids having kids, the red and blue lights flashing throughout the night, and diseases spiraling out of control. Many have lost their sense of direction, many have never known their direction, and many have chosen the wrong direction. Whatever the case may be, Jesus has declared to His disciples (us) in the gospel of Matthew that the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. We don’t need to seek an opportunity to witness; the opportunity presents itself everywhere we look… It is so easy to find evil in this world, but very hard to find good… 

Jesus is telling us today to pray for people to take action, to stop living unfruitful lives, and to turn to Him… This passage informs me of two things, one that there are a lot of souls to be saved, and second, that there aren’t enough true laborers in the vineyard. Jesus said for us to pray for laborers. One of the biggest reasons that wickedness is continuing to rise in our societies is because we don’t have the commitment to witnessing from the church… Harvesting is more than just dropping a seed; it takes time, effort, and a sense of where to plant! This holds true to the fact that we must give time in our societies, we must make an effort in our communities, and we must know when and where to plant the seeds of the gospel… Your service to the Lord is not shown by how many times you go to church in a week; your service to the Lord will be called into account on Judgment Day when God asks you, “What have you done with the talents I gave you…”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Has A Plan For You

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

Jeremiah 29:11-12

Though things appear dim or the chances seem slim, take courage in knowing that God has a plan… … Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet, he lived during the bondage that the Israelites encountered under the hand of the Babylonians and witnessed the oppression of God’s children… Even in captivity and seeing the hand of the enemy prevailing, Jeremiah records this message that we all can live by today… Jeremiah records that God knows the thoughts that He thinks towards you, He knows the path that He wants you to travel; He knows the levels of greatness which He wants to see you reach! His thoughts toward you are peace (tranquility, happiness, and joy); not evil or wickedness! He has an expected end for your life… Here in the midst of trials and tribulations, Jeremiah is reminding the people of God that the Lord has not forgotten about them; he is preaching to the masses that even though storms have entered their lives, they need to recognize that God is still there and He will deliver… 

This scripture has a two-fold meaning; the first is that God has thoughts of peace for your life; He wants to give you the best… However, the second is that your bondage is a result of the choices that you have made… Oftentimes we want to blame God for the snares we face, and we want to question God’s authority when we face trials, but Jeremiah reminds us today that God wants nothing but the best for you, your family, and your life, but just like a parent, He must allow you to learn from your mistakes and sometimes you will have to take the rough road and rugged terrain of hardships to experience the promises of God… Proverbs 3: 11,12 says, “¹¹ My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, ¹² because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”Even though the trials seem evil and the storm seems wicked, know that God’s plan is to produce in you a crop that will last longer than your temporary pain…  

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Seek Him Now

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 55:6-7

Today’s message is simple and direct, the Lord desires to have you back in the fold and it is not too late for you no matter how many mistakes you have made or how big a ditch you have dug… This passage is certainly the key for us today as we learn to not focus on things of the earth but rather on God… Oftentimes we make plans for tomorrow not knowing if tomorrow will ever come… Isaiah reminds us today of the importance of placing God number one in our lives; his reminder is not only to place God as the center of our lives but to seek Him now while we still have breath within our lungs and warm blood in our veins… The word of God declares that Jesus said, “BEHOLD I COME QUICKLY!” This means that He will come at a time when we least expect. We must remember that tomorrow is never promised and that today is a gift; that’s why it’s called the present! I can recall a very bad accident that took place several years ago involving a group of teenagers in drag racing in Montgomery County. One of the teens lost control and hit a tree… The driver was rushed to the ER and survived; however, his passenger wasn’t so fortunate and was found ejected several feet from the vehicle… Through all the highs and thrilling times in our lives, we often neglect the importance of having a right relationship with the Lord… 

We think we have time to fix the wrongs or repair the broken hearts… Do you think the seventeen-year-old boy who died that day on Veirs Mill Road in Rockville, Maryland a couple of years ago believed that his “now” had come? Do you believe that the passengers aboard the planes on September 11^th knew that this was their last day, what about the lacrosse girl at UVA and the shootings at VA Tech? We don't even really need to go that far back in time. Just look at George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.... Regardless of the particulars surrounding the incidents which occurred that led to their lives on this earth ending, all of these events serve as a sobering reminder that tomorrow is not promised. Whether we want to accept it or not, the bottom line is that we have to prepare ourselves for the end; we have to live each and every day as if it’s our last. By living in this manner and placing God first, we will be prepared and have our priorities set in the right order whenever the death angel arrives at our doorstep and we will be assured to ascend unto God's unmerited bliss and favor…  Seek Him now while he may be found... The time will come when the Lord cannot be found, don't be in that number...

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Desires You To Live

As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Ezekiel 33:11

Ezekiel brings to the forefront the matchless love and compassion that God has for His creation… The God you serve is happy that you serve Him, but He desires for all to come to accept Him and be saved… This is why God spoke to Ezekiel in the third chapter of his prophetic book and commanded him “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel…” No matter how much you resist, no matter how much you reject, no matter how much you refuse; God still loves you and desires to develop an intimate relationship with you… Anything you can think of, the children of God were doing during the time of Ezekiel; however, God wants them to know through his prophet that “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked…” Even though you deserve death, God finds no pleasure in losing your soul…  The love of God is evident in the fact that He sent His only begotten son to die for us; the love of God is evident as well in today’s passage taken from Ezekiel which teaches us that no matter how messed up you are, God desires that you turn unto Him and not suffer the Eternal Damnation that awaits you… 

When people wronged me growing up there was no way on earth that I would wish well on them, but we learn today that God has always desired the best for us even when we have been the worse we could be to Him… Ezekiel writes this letter to the children of God at a time when they have turned there backs on the Lord… They have found themselves in bondage under the authority of Babylon and even then, have not turned to the Lord… The book of Ezekiel starts off with God preparing the prophet by telling him to (eat the scroll) and then informing him to go to a rebellious people… Today, God speaking through Ezekiel is letting us know that He desires for us to enjoy prosperity for all eternity… God’s life has no end (As I live…) and the compassion of the Lord is manifest in this scripture because He longs for your life to have no end as well… The verse ends by asking, “For why will ye die…” What on this earth is worth dying for? Why would you choose to perish, why would you give up all the precious promises God has for you, what’s worth your soul? If only you would turn from your wickedness, then you would realize how much God has in store…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

One Day With Christ............Priceless

"For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." 

Psalm 84:10

No matter how nice your day may go or appear to be going; it simply doesn’t compare to a day in the realm of the supernatural… Being in the very presence of God is more than we can even begin to imagine or comprehend. Think about this for a moment, have you ever imagined a world filled with peace and harmony? Have you ever taken time out of your day to contemplate what life would be like without violence, suffering, or sin? The psalmist today reminds us of the hope we have to live in a world outlined just like that… As a child of God, we yearn to dwell within His courts, we desire to have peace within our hearts and have love poured out all around us… I don’t know about you, but I yearn for that moment when trouble will cease and sin will be no more… Through this psalm, we learn the value that we should place on life; but more importantly, we learn about the value that we should place on the life to come… This verse starts off by saying, “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand…” A thousand days of success on this Earth will never lead to the completeness that we will feel on the day when we hear God say “well done…” 

Most of us probably find this hard to believe, and most probably don’t even think that this is possible, but to understand this concept we must appreciate what a day in the courts of the Lord is… Imagine a day when happiness is present from the time you awake to the time you slumber, imagine a day when your kids walked in the will of God and not according to the ways of the world. Imagine a day when you could smile and tears would run down your face because of uncontrollable joy… This is the day that the psalmist is writing about; this is the day that we await when Christ returns… One day with the Lord is more valuable than a thousand on this earth… Today let us stop putting trust in temporary things, let us stop running to a protective covering that won’t last always… Some of the protective coverings are alcohol, drugs, and even lustful relationships… These tents appear safe and they may make you feel protected for a moment, but if you want to be secure all the days of your life, if you want to be covered from any hurt, harm, or danger, then you must place your hand in the hand of the one who sticks closer than a brother…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

To Obtain His Promise, You Must Overcome

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:5-6

Jesus is ready to “confess your name before His father and before his angels”, He’s ready to open the door to eternity and record your name in the Book of Life… Through John's revelation, we are reminded of all these things Jesus has said in the bible that He will and would do on your behalf. Jesus declares the promises afforded to you and me; however, for these promises to become a reality, you must hold up your end of the covenant; you must do your part and “overcome (as we see in our focus verses)”… The question may be posed at this time: what must we overcome? The sin that we are born with is a sin that we do not recognize is present until we encounter Jesus… Saul thought that he was doing the right thing until Jesus spoke to Him, the rich young man thought he had done everything right until his heart was brought into question and Nicodemus observed the law as best he could; however, he became a follower of Jesus when he learned from the savior that “you must be born again…” 

The world will have you think that the things of this life are what you need to be focused on; it is far easier for us to go with the flow than to go against the grain; however, this is what we are called and challenged to do… This is what John means when he speaks about overcoming; the desires and temptations you face must be overcome and your life must be placed in the savior's hands… Sin is a natural pleasure and it is one that we (just like babies) must be weaned off of… Oftentimes people talk about Jesus and the saving power that is bestowed through His sacrifice of love; however, they forget to mention that you must choose to accept this offering, and to do that you must first turn from your natural way of thinking…. Despite what people may try to portray to you, this journey in seeking the very presence and will of God is no “cakewalk”… Remember that passage starts off by saying, HE THAT OVERCOMETH, it will be hard, but every hurdle can be jumped, every test can be passed, and the devil can be defeated… You have the ability to succeed on this journey no matter what comes your way; the question is whether or not you want to!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Your Existence Is Evidence That God Is Real

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2:14

The word of God was never intended to be concealed or stored away within you… The Bible declares that God desires all men to come to know Him and be saved… The greatest work for all followers of Christ is to spread His word wherever we go and whenever the opportunity presents itself… The things that you endure in life are a witness of your faith and God’s faithfulness; you have been through a lot of storms and may be battling with the enemy as we speak, remind yourself that all people will have an opportunity to know “of the glory of the Lord” and sometimes this comes about through your struggles… Despite the way things are done according to today’s standards, no matter how ridiculous things may appear to be according to the opinions of misguided leadership, the Bible calls us to be encouraged in these chaotic times because we have faith and are assured that “the earth shall be filled with knowledge…” People will come to know that there is only one God, people will come to realize the error of their ways and despite how many people may go against you, you can claim victory and extend a hand of love and peace toward them because you know that the God you serve will have His name revealed and revered before all mankind… The way things appear may not be the reality of what they are… The message of Habakkuk the minor prophet challenges the wayward man as well as the man of faith… The wayward man is challenged to repent and turn before it is too late… The man of faith is called to take his foundation of faith and build upon it through the removal of any traces of doubt. As Christians, we thrive upon this message which assures us that the devil has not won, nor has God withdrawn himself from us. He is ever present and in due time He will crack the sky!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Abilities Are Unfathomable

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

When Paul wrote this letter to the church of Ephesus, the church had been dealing with various hardships and tumultuous situations. There were many instances where the church had become valuable monetarily and not spiritually. The people in the church had become very ego-friendly and self-worth-driven. Everything in this church began to fall apart, every battle seemed to have been lost and the members who cling to the promises of God were slowly starting to question their faith. Through this background, we can draw a parallel from the circumstances of yesterday to our present standing. Church has become big business, the devil seems to have control over the pulpit and those who hold to their faith have begun to believe that the “church age” is over. 

Paul reasons with us today how we are to keep our composure through these frustrating times. The first thing we see is that we must remember that God can do exceeding and abundantly more than we can ever imagine. Paul says that God is able to do exceeding above all we can ask or think… Paul is encouraging the believers at the church of Ephesus to remember the God they serve… It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are or what people may be saying; God is able… It doesn’t matter what the doctor has told you, God is able… You may be at a low point in your life and Paul is saying that you can be lifted up! Even the best things that you can imagine happening in your life, Paul is saying that God can and will go above and beyond your greatest imagination... His abilities are unfathomable.

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!