Abide In Me

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, 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 the 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!

Edification Requires Thinking Before Speaking

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 his instructions any mind, 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 can transform lives or tear them down, your tongue can 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… “What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.” People will always talk about you, they will always say things that you may not agree with or may be hurt by, but the ultimate sign of a true Christian is not your response in words to the accusations, but how you flip this trial so that God receives glory and honor. Isaiah 53:7 says,” He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Bottom line, think before you speak, and if that doesn’t work, just shut up…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!