Christ Came To Defeat The Enemy; Not You

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… We should note that you and I are filthy rags and 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 which would lead to liberation; none 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 which God displayed for His creation… There are very few of us who would give our son or daughter for the greater good of the world (let alone for a people who 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 us in spite 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 know 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… Know today that Jesus came to this earth with a purpose already set by God; a mission ordained for Him before the beginning of time. His mission was to defeat the enemy and allow you to live.

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Suffering Is Part Of Your Calling (Part 2)

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

Paul writes to the church of Philippi, encouraging them in their time of despair and need! The church is going and has gone through some rough spots, and many have turned to idol worship… Paul reminds them today that Christ’s death is a privilege for us to partake in, to suffer for His name's sake is also to be considered an honor… The church was under heavy persecution; many had become weary and began to lose hope in the future and precious promises of God… Paul is reminding them that the same Christ who gave Himself up for you is the same Christ who will lead you through times of despair! Paul wants us to understand today that we will indeed be tested, we will indeed have weary days, we will indeed feel the pains of life, but we must overcome, we must hold to His unchanging hand, we must remember that Christ suffered and said that we would suffer for His name! We can take joy in our suffering because we are carrying out the will and word of God, we can smile in adversity because we know that Christ died and now lives for all eternity!  We believe in Christ and will even stand for Him even in times of inconvenience. No matter what you are facing or dealing with, you must stand for Christ and be willing to suffer for His name's sake. This is how we are able to receive and achieve all that God has in store for us… This is why Paul told the Church of Philippi, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Suffering Is Part of Your Calling (Part 1)

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's 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 Claus, 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 is either untrue or leads 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… 

Paul’s letter to the church of Philippi teaches us a very valuable life lesson; this lesson is simply that suffering is inevitable… We are given a golden opportunity to suffer for the name of Christ as opposed to suffering for monetary gain and worldly riches… When one suffers, they bear, endure, or go through something… Challenges are at every turn in life; however, the outcome can either be positive or negative… One who suffers for wealth will forsake their kids, sometimes their own health, and will never be satisfied… One of the most interesting facts that I have learned is how many kids who come from wealthy families have become alcoholics or had bouts with drugs... Despite what you have been told or even what you have heard, we are afforded the opportunity of a lifetime, everything we suffer for can have true meaning, everything we endure can be worth the battle, and everything we go through can add to our growth personally, spiritually and in the direction of our family when we are fighting the “good fight…”  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!

There's Still Room For You

Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger forever.

Jeremiah 3:12 

Despite the many avenues you have traveled in life and the dark paths you may be on right now, be encouraged to know that God desires for you to “Return…” Just like the prodigal son; no matter your current situation or how far you have fallen, God is standing with open arms waiting for you to come home… In a vision concerning Jerusalem and Judea, Isaiah the son of Amoz records words from the mouth of God in the 1st chapter and 18th verse of his prophetic book, the words, "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Make no mistake about it today, you are a filthy rag, and without the cleansing blood of Jesus, hell has an RSVP with your name on it… Even as ugly as it may be or however hard it may seem to acknowledge, know that you have made mistakes, and acknowledge that you have given in to temptation. You must acknowledge the errors of your ways; however, in doing so, you must also come to the realization that you can overcome and be victorious through the saving power of Jesus Christ… Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet; his words were recorded in light of the coming destruction that the house of Israel would face… His tears were sown knowing of the coming doom and bondage that was on the horizon… Today, know that these same tears are sown in your life when others see you heading down the wrong path; these tears are sown in your life when people see the direction in which you are headed and how your life seems to be spiraling out of control… These tears are sown not because of the destruction, but because God’s desire is not for you to go against His will… The destruction you face is because of the trials of life that have conquered you and the temptation you have given in to… You have “backslid,” and God is indeed angry; however, He wants you to know that if you return to Him, that “… I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you…” God wants you to turn to Him; He is tired of watching you fall, He is tired of watching you struggle, and He wants you to know that He is merciful… Jesus is waiting with open arms, saying, “WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM COME”.

The question of the day is, is He speaking to you?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Stay Positive; Things Could Always Be Worse

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The challenge of every Christian is to live every day and every hour of their life with the purpose of fulfilling God’s will… This doesn’t mean simply inquiring about God’s will, but executing the very steps outlined in today’s devotional scriptures… We are called to rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances… The part we tend to lose sight of is the “in all circumstances” as we find ourselves from time to time becoming distracted by situations both positive and negative, and ultimately losing sight of what God’s will is… Understand today that it is very easy and even natural to rejoice when things are pleasant; it can become second nature to pray when things become difficult… But how do we handle the opposite; are we able to rejoice when things or situations are unpleasant? Can you continue to pray to the Father when the storm has left your doorstep? Can you give thanks when you don’t receive what you desire…? These are the questions that we must ask ourselves today, knowing that we are to live these points in every area and situation of our lives. As a Christian, we are to rejoice no matter what, we are to pray without ceasing, and we are to be thankful for everything… God has a plan for you, and it is perfect. You rejoice because your Master is in control, you pray because this is your communication line directly to the father and you remain thankful because things could always be worse…  Always walk in the will of God, because I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18).

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 22nd 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 and that Christ is Coming Back!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

It Was Christ Which 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 unto 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 I 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 that you can agree with this 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… This is why Paul goes on to ask not only who delivered us but also who “hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son…?” To be translated in this sense is to be converted, transformed, or turned… God has converted us from what we were, He has transformed our way of thinking and what we truly desire, and He has turned us from our path of sin…  God has delivered us from the bondage of sin and has provided us a golden opportunity to come back to Him through the sacrifice of His very own beloved son, Jesus Christ! 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 Found 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 this promise come to fruition, you must first choose the path of life that you desire to travel… 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 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 God's plan for your life and making the word of God a part of your everyday being to see these promises come to light… God is calling and desires an intimate relationship with you, a relationship that you put your full trust in and will adhere to as it relates to His divine plans... THEN and only then, you can ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. This command is not negotiable; there is no reading between the lines or loopholes for a quick turnaround; if you abide in Him, He will abide in you!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!